MSI GTX 1080 Ti Gaming X Tear-Down

[@GamersNexus]

Thanks for watching! Our coverage ft. Buildzoid is coming up this week for the VRM analysis, and we'll be reviewing & overclocking the GPU in short order. Stay tuned for that. Unrelated: We now have a GN merch store online! You can find a link to that in the description above.

[@BadIronTree]

Good job man :D

[@oldschoolbeat1984]

At last! :) Been waiting for this for weeks :D

[@joemama069]

Gamers Nexus whats the difference between MSI's Gaming Z and Gaming X video cards? I dont get it.

[@RapttorX]

@Proj3ctX Gaming Z offers higher factory oc than X and another RGB thing...

[@bartekowca666]

B U I L D Z O I D B O Y Z

[@mrolinad]

If you're looking for the pads thickness, here it is. 3.5mm 1x 100x10mm 2.5mm 1x 100x6mm 1mm 12x 10x15mm 1x 6x35mm 1x 8x110mm 1.5mm 1x 5x10mm 1x 6x100mm 2x 7x7mm 3.5 and 2.5 for the blacks 1.0 for the darker grays 1.5 for the lighter grays

[@gaspump]

Bless your soul. I'm about to go on a blitz of re-pasting electronics and on scanning through this video it made me realize that I should really do the pads on the card too. Cheers for that.

[@BreakoutBort]

Grats on 1k videos ...just 24 to go until a big round-number milestone!

[@GamersNexus]

Best comment.

[@danielparks9035]

that would make it a kilovideo i guess? EDIT: or a kibivideo haha

[@positivemelon7578]

xbdc anyone?

[@leofisher1280]

xkcd reference, I like

[@Hazard2005]

Better adding a pointless thermal pad than none, especially when you pay premium price for the card, EVGA...

[@GamersNexus]

Agreed. Better to be safe.

[@Lukescomment]

titan x dont do aftermarket coolers Lol

[@TheRguru1]

gigabyte once sold the maxwell titan x with their xtreme gaming cooler (although the pcb was from reference cards) and so did EVGA with their titan x hybrid

[@MrtHazza]

u know for what the thermal pad is? every 1080ti is unique/ a different vram chip is dead/left....so in theory its an defective titan

[@TheRguru1]

Maybe because the thermal pads are made in batches of 12 and they figured instead of throwing away one, to just Chuck it on the empty space.

[@YaboiMatoi]

3:55 That sound, I thought he was gonna put it in a sizzling frying pan LMAO

[@khmergodhobbies]

can't wait to see the whole chart of all the aib partners load temps. my money is on asus for lowest load temps. that thermal paste coverage looks amazing.

[@johanhagg1934]

I ordered this one on friday, store getting in stock on the 7th... I am fucking stoked!

[@michaelkreitzer1369]

I think I'm the only person in the world that really dislikes the back plate. Circuit boards are a work of art, why on earth would you hide them?! :( I'm also hoping the EVGA FTW3 version of this card is well made since there's no way I could install a >2 slot wide card without removing something else.

[@JoshTruff]

Do you do a power ranking of the different 1080ti's? Power ranking as ones you like the best?

[@haris525]

I think these aftermarket cards are in a weird spot. The cost a bit more compared to reference design, cool a bit better and are also silent, but they don't overclock better than a reference card (usually equal) - take up a lot of space. I would just get a reference card, put a water block on it and call it a day

[@panusilgrande2649]

and pay 300$ for the watercooling or keeping stock FE cooler that keeps card at nice 85°c

[@DZdiode]

not 300$ we can buy EVGA Hybrid AIO for 135$ and ending with a decent system! looking sharp and awesome performances.

[@OGPatriot03]

I love the AIO cooler that came stock on the FuryX.

[@panusilgrande2649]

FE: 500-550$ Strix:550$ a FE would come to cost 635-685$ for ~ -5°c and a bit higher OC. not worth it.

[@tntdude64]

Almost every time I see a build with a Gaming X card there is normally some crazy card sag, it's either all the build I see that use the Gaming X card have really weak PCIe slots, they don't screw in the card, or that card is super heavy.

[@voyagertechnologies]

9:24 maybe to hold it firmly in place so the soder doesn't become soft and plate won't fall off!

[@Ootlander]

The VRam were isolated like that with MSI's 980Ti's as well.

[@m0rtl]

I love these tear-downs

[@nicholasthomas4344]

I am assuming that whichever VRAM chip is not used depends on which ROP/Cache/Mem Controller they disable in the chip (if they are disabling portions that have errors)...that will be wired to go to a certain place in the board. If so, then during manufacture of the boards, MSI makes the base plate common for all (with pads for all VRAM chip locations) so as to not have 12 different part numbers and the headache of keeping track of which board has which chip missing.

[@GamersNexus]

Interesting theory. So far, both our 1080 Tis are missing the same chip -- could be chance, though. We'll have to pay close attention to the next ones!

[@nicholasthomas4344]

Which is funny because even though that is my theory, I remarked while watching your video, even before you mentioned the thermal pad, that I was surprised that this is now the third of three boards I have seen where that specific chip is missing. So, i could be wrong, but it would be weird to me that they only disable 1 specific ROP/Cache/Controller module. Anyway, thanks for the videos. Keep up the great work.

[@TheOfficialDuBsTeC]

Isnt that Black and Red Cable for the shroud LEDs when your looking towards the fans?

[@dinxsy8069]

Looks like 5mm Thermal pad on the chokes :P let you off though Steve as you're working with Metric.

[@mdnobles88]

Will you do a ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1080 Ti AMP Extreme teardown and thermals?

[@mountedpatrolman]

Also want to know if the Titan EK water blocks will fit said card

[@BlueTheRage]

Its a custom PCB so its unlikely the titan EK water block will fit it, Titan XP cards all come in that same blower design so.

[@MrFreeman1981]

NO WHY DID YOU DO THIS MSI?? WHHYY THE COOLING IS VERTICAL ;w; rip all the things on the motherboard overheating.

[@Jadeee094]

They really need to ditch the red on the cooler...

[@Damian-ys9wc]

Roses are red, my name is Dave, this makes no sense, microwave!

[@NikolaPlivelic]

No, your name is Damian

[@TheNike0223]

microwave powa

[@rephankaydurst3756]

Any chance of making a video if which among the 1080 Ti has the highest OC rate/ capabilty?

[@jatinjindal2528]

How memory is cooled !

[@GrumpyFelo]

Do custom (non reference) gpu makers have like an "embargo" of some sort to not sell their cards at the same time as the reference cards?

[@TheNike0223]

sometimes

[@obzen33]

that card is giving zotac a run for their money. The battle for the largest heatsink is on haha.

[@OrganicStuff1]

Is three fans better than 2 like the strix

[@two_number_nines]

12:10 someone should get 2 msi 1080ti's and solder a memory module to see if it would make the card 12 gb

[@two_number_nines]

the controller part is what i was concerned about. thx

[@nickerson8310]

He said that removing the 1080 Ti GP102 chip and putting a Titan XP chip would work, but it would be way too much work for only one extra gig of VRAM, especially when both cards have more than 10GB.

[@wizard.1816]

Im just gonna wait for the gaming z for better overclocks

[@chenkaneki9952]

is the geforce gtx label removable? looks too gaudy.

[@Arek_R.]

I think it's extremly retarded to mark GPUs "GEFORCE GTX" Why not "GTX1080Ti"???

[@nickerson8310]

Agreed, but it looks like they just removed the logo from the founders edition card and slapped it into the shroud. EVGA 1080 Tis will have "GEFORCE GTX 1080 TI"

[@M82Predator]

FTW3 vs Gaming X?

[@mewimi]

Star screws? :P

[@Pakadork]

when msi makes F A T T cards

[@panusilgrande2649]

MSI 1080ti t h i c c version

[@RyanCanning]

You can only get reference Titans, but maybe you could put this Twin Frozr cooler on a Titan (if this card uses a reference 1080Ti PCB, I know my Gaming X RX 480 uses a custom board)

[@alawyibra]

msi gpus is the best

[@jonnyc4744]

Why not the review first? :(

[@UbiquitousDIY]

Soldered not SODDERED!!!!!!

[@Laynethestain]

throw it to the wall why don't ya

[@betarik30]

your hair is so cool, I want to kiss you :D :*

[@iurabordei933]

Notification Squad! First!! xD

[@IamMortui]

Iura Bordei Someone who said first was actually first to comment congrats.

[@iurabordei933]

I saw the opportunity and I didn't want to miss it... I promise I'm not doing this again anymore... Thanks for being respectful about my shitty comment.

[@GetBigODT]

i think nVidia should retarget their 1080ti's for christians, since these works better to signal abstinence than actual abstinence rings does...

[@GetBigODT]

i mean they do work as chick magnets, but repelling ones

[@DZdiode]

what are you talking about? O_o

[@GetBigODT]

if you buy a gpu for 1k$ you are a virgin.

[@TommyNation]

The PCB is so clean. on my reference card looks like new york city...

[@098Xzibit]

I wish MSI would made these cards in black and white, I love that cooler design but they should jump on that neutral RGB colour design like many others did.

[@HayateAzekura]

I have a MSI GTX 1070 Quicksilver to bad they never made a 1080 but its super nice,

[@098Xzibit]

Damn that card does indeed look really nice

[@098Xzibit]

Nowhere near as cool looking + it has no back plate

[@HayateAzekura]

Yeah the Quicksilver has a nice silver backplate, its soo clean. It came out in November of 2016. I was about to buy the red one and then I saw news about a white and black one. Jumped right on it.

[@vivekpatel4641]

Nebula there was a limited silver version

[@professorgoat1099]

I've had this card since release. Oc'd to 2005mhz. Never go over 76°c even after hours of hard play. Truly an amazing gpu.

[@Pazo139]

Aww MSI removed the cool looking diagonal heat pipes from the sides of the heatsink. It made it look like an engine.

[@a.p.980]

I loved those pipes. Now they look like every other card out there.

[@Pazo139]

@@a.p.980 Indeed. Now i'm missing my EVGA 1070 SC because of its design and such, it died on me after like 3-4 years just the other day. I got an MSI 2070 Ventus now though. But will miss the 1070's design

[@MichalHalczuk]

I think the extra thermal pad is purely for isolation. Imagine these solder points shorting out on the metal plate. Not very likely, but let's just make sure this doesn't happen.

[@arooz098]

Ryzen 5 up there?

[@CornishCommando]

Good spot

[@mazedmarky]

LOL

[@SuperJosteen]

arooz098 i think he deliberately put it there lmao.

[@LargeBlueCircle]

Oooo sorry jayz2cents totally stopped you two minutes in when i saw gamers nexus covering the same GTX. Illcome back to you jay. Priorities.

[@cccalhoun]

Thank you for this. Any plans to tear down the 1080 Ti STRIX? I'm having a hard time trying to decide between the Gaming X and the STRIX on the cooler quality. I'm a bit ignorant on the PCB component differences.

[@MrGeesikser]

Steve, you have 1000 videos now, so, it's time to make a video about channel history and everything! Keep it up :)

[@sebastianh8252]

Do you know the dimensions of the screws and/or thermal pads and optional where to get them =) ?

[@overclockedamd123]

Please let this get a good review. My 970 sli can sustain nearly 1600mhz for a daily gaming overclock on both. I would like to go MSI again. If not imma just snag up a EVGA FTW3. Nearly hit the preorder on a Aorus extreme but That cooler is just not my taste looks wise.

[@davidmiller5832]

Thanks for reviewing this card. Really interested in adding this card to my system.

[@CryT4x]

It's funny. I watched the Video when the card was published and now, 5 years later, I'm watching it again, because I want to renew the thermal pads and paste of my own :D TY for this Video

[@matthewkinney5474]

A 1080TI with DVI. Interesting.

[@Pastechi]

that cooler looks like an engine now that they removed the heatpipe from the side. Looking forward to "watercooled 1080ti" :D

[@evilqtip7098]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ LOVE THESE VIDEO'S 😂😂😂😂😂😂❤❤❤ I BOUGHT THE GTX1080 TI 11GB OC'D MSI DRAGON. I BUILT A HIGH END RYZEN 9 JUST FOR THIS CARD 😂😂😂 IT DESERVES IT.. 😅😅😅😅😅😅 DRAGON TOWER ALL LITE UP RED LIKE DARTH VADAR COLORS LAVA

[@ellypsis603]

Beefy cooler just like on the 390 Series, i have been really disappointed by MSI coolers ( Armor 3X , MSI Gaming, Golden edition ) on The 980Ti, all models were overheating, it was awful, but that's because cooling solution had small radiator i guess

[@dtune30]

"star" heads are called torx. Friendly FYI. Nice Tear-Down vid. Looking forward to the always top notch metrics from this channel.

[@Penofhell]

dtune30 can't believe i had to go half way down in the comments to see something regarding these "star" screws, thanks for pointing that out.

[@JoJoDaClown2]

Torx, is a trademarked name. Star is the ISO official generic name. Similar to calling the item to blow your nose a tissue instead of Kleenex. Friendly FYI.

[@Penofhell]

The official ISO denomination is hexalobular internal as per ISO 10664 (at least in the 2005 rev. I had on hand earlier), I think we can all agree that it's not a very practical name. Star is a popular name but not official, and as such can be applied to any type of star-shaped head while Torx is specifically referring to the Textron design from 40 years ago (i confess I had to google that date ;) ). Friendly FYI.

[@dispiedark8682]

Well the MSI GTX 1060 gaming X lacks all termal strips on the VRM also around the cpu there now extra metal square its just like the old AMD ones and the cpu chip is half the size damn did not think there would be so much difference.

[@Shermingtan]

The way you use a table saw makes me ill. NEVER make free unsupported cuts like that in your thumbnail EVER again! Please! For your own safety and your 10 fingers. And never ever use gloves when working with a table saw either. Also never draw the workpiece towards yourself, always cut away from you with different tools and supports to keep the workpiece steady.

[@Juriku]

Steve, if "stupid star screws" are torx head screws, they are not stupid, they are the superior screw >:( All the good qualities of both philips and flathead screw with none of the bad ones! (you don't have to aim the screwdriver like you do with a flathead but it also doesn't slip like a philips) Preach! EDIT: Allen head also cool

[@1IFoxGamer]

OMG WHY ARE YOU GOING SO HARD ON THAT 1080ti. STOP IT PLEASE! I DON'T WANT TO CRY

[@steverx4460]

If he runs out of things to tear down, his cat starts to get nervous.

[@1IFoxGamer]

LMFAO 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@TheNike0223]

nice one

[@UmVtCg]

12:05 It is not pointless it problably cost more to adjust the machinery to leave out that thermal pad. And looks silly to who? 0.01% of the users will tear down a card. Guess MSI did not cout on the 50000 views on this channel who now are baffled with sillyness.

[@FrankThaThird]

Even though I don't totally understand all the vernacular and such, I still enjoy these vids. Was also wondering, in your guys opinion what is the best gtx 1080 to buy right now?

[@pallerunqvist1]

How nice of them to add extra thermal pad in case you lose one. No that's what i call a good customer service :)

[@TommiHonkonen]

Stupid star screws? You must mean torx, the best head available. Worst screws are the ones that FE cards use for back plate.

[@POCKATA]

Will we be seeing a benchmark comparison between all the Ti variants: FE, Asus, MSI, Gigabyte?

[@jadua1]

Those "Star" screws are tensions screws but i hardly knew them a year ago, i wish i could afford one of those... vets these days you know :P

[@bigfutus]

After 3 years, the fans started squeaking, so this video comes handy!

[@epencrep]

only EVGA has Titian X direct from Nvidia website no other manufacturers currently offer Titan X

[@DFG21]

Anyone know if I could put the gaming z gtx 1070 cooler and heatsink on a 1080ti

[@ReQleq]

At the production line, it's better to instruct the assembler to fill out all the spaces with thermal pads than to have him/her making a mistake and miss out on one that matters.

[@m0rtl]

I hate that ugly Geforce GTX sticker Nvidia forced on the cards.

[@spacemanwithraygun3933]

I don't think they put enough thermal paste lel applied with a caulking gun.

[@hophopcu]

What is the thermal pads thickness for vrm, memory and mosfets? I would like to change them but i dont know what should i buy? Anyone can please help me out? @Gamers Nexus

[@DragonProtector]

Im thinking 2mm or 1.5mm

[@AndreyPanfilov]

the backplate really traps heat. I have three MSI 1070Ti which have similar to 1080ti design. Plus, one Gigabyte 1070 at the very last slot. Two MSI card that are placed in first slots are the hottest. The third one, is pretty cool. The difference between these three MSI cards is that there is one 1070 card without backplate in front of the third (the coolest) MSI card. First two MSI have almost no space in-front of the fans. The third card has twice larger space in-front of the fans. The temperature of the first two cards after 15 minutes of rendering 87-90deg, third one 10!!!-15!!! deg lower. I added a big fan blowing air towards MSI cards, as it was suggested by an IT guy. Didn't help much, but made the third MSI a bit cooler. First two cards are still hot. He suggested to install an extremely powerful and very noisy super fan. I said to him that he is bad person )))) Again, there is only one difference between three of them, the volume of free space between cards. Removing backplates can really help to cool down the cards. You can even use a formula to find how airflows changes with increasing or decreasing volume of free space in front of the fans. Luckily it's very easy to do ))) Have no idea why some IT guys are so lazy to just to spent 10 minutes for calculation and then just carefully look at the system they have built to understand what is the problem in. Knowledge is a power! :)

[@cheescake98]

Would it help to buy a sheet of thermal pad and slap that on the back of the pcb?

[@Dante199006]

Should I grab this one now or wait for the EVGA custom ones to come back in Stock? I really want a Ti to go with my new PC build. But I'm having a really hard time picking the right Ti. I considered the Founders Ones but I read the air flow isn't as great and it's missing the DVI port. Some help would be appreciated.

[@NexXxus86]

I think removing one 1GB chip was kinda pointless. Why not have 12GB instead? You don't really save much money from that 1GB less.

[@hadoryu]

Just used this video to properly disassemble my MSI 1080ti Gaming X and apply liquid metal. Thanks, Gamer's Nexus!

[@JackLe1127]

Gotta cool them exposed pins.

[@Brodda-Syd]

Does anyone know if it possible to remove the plastic shroud only without removing the back-plate or aluminium heat-sink? I'm thinking of spraying the shroud.

[@KTPsama]

Is Gaming X better than new Asus strix 1080 ti?

[@ByroamsTV]

Hi GN! What thermal pad should i use for choke inductors? Like the black thermal pads in 10:01?

[@Caffeine.And.Carvings]

I plan on getting this card for an upcoming build. In advance, I know that red wont fit my color sceme so: Does thered plastic on the left fan come off easily (maybe even without taking the complete cooler off, and do the red "scrathes" on the right cooler come off? And do those "scratches" light up? I would paint them as well.

[@xPlatiinHD]

Bought it today used for 500$ 👍🏼 i will get it in next 3 days I’m so hyped ❤️

[@xPlatiinHD]

Francisco Santos naah it’s ok. Volta FE not before june and I always buy the ones with good coolers wich won’t come out before August.

[@drewb242]

I like the NZXT pucks hanging in the background lol. Oh and my 1060 and even my 760 msi gaming both also have that plate over the memory modules. I would be interested to see it tested.

[@PutinIsKing]

The red/black Cable is for the red Leds, you have 2 cables for 2 leds, its because you can control lighting individually.

[@dangdiggity9916]

what would happen if you lets say had a spare 1080ti msi x card, mand didnt wanna sli them sop you soldered off a vram chip and soldered it on the missing slot?

[@alexandreesquenet3736]

I noticed that they use full aluminium and dropped the Copper heat exchanger for a while now.

[@crazymigdet247]

So is it a 2.5 slot? im trying to find out which 1080 ti's are 2 slot max for sli with a 0 slot sli bridge

[@MistahMOB]

Its so *beautiful* Cant wait trade in the 980Ti Gaming X for that bad boy :)

[@khmergodhobbies]

are any other gpus other than asus using full automated process? are all founders editions of pascals 100% automated or hand made?

[@BERSERKERDEMON1]

Are the fans of the 1080ti directly screwed on the radiator ? or are they monted on the plastic of the red and black shroud/carter ?

[@idkthetime]

Hey, have you ever tried to put case fans of such a beefy cooler? Would be fun to see cooling performance and acoustics.

[@IAmcjI]

Nice video but damn why filming at 60fps my brain can't process it xD

[@cheescake98]

I like my cards T H I C C

[@Kyntteri]

9:42 That pad, is not a thermal pad, but a sound dampening pad. Edit: I had that since my MSI 980 Ti and with same thickness.

[@hulkhogan4778]

Thickness?

[@cheescake98]

I whist they did 2.5 slot versions of lower cards aswell. All for complete silence