there be a lot to cover about EVGA 's FTW gtx 670 , so I will try to be succinct and address the major point . one thing to get out of the way first - these card must be keep at a operating temperature lower than 69 degree Celsius -lrb- C -rrb- . once that threshold be surpass these card automatically downclock , thereby hobble the capability of you $ 400 part . so if you read comment talk about hit temp in the 70s under load please be aware of the disadvantaged performance these `` reviewer '' be oblivious of . now , back to the evga ftw ; forget everything you have read on forum about this card be cool and quiet . although some people may have receive golden specimen the average card be likely to run hot -lrb- and therefore loud -rrb- due to design . Technically speak the reference cooler will keep the card below 70C , if just barely , but it do so at the cost of human decency - once the fan speed hit 70 % this thing sound like a turbine . loud . after go through three of these card -lrb- each with its own `` unique '' quirk , my favorite by far the one that run solitaire at 53c -rrb- I feel confident prognosticate you will likely hit the 70 % mark as well since waste heat be trap by the shroud , thus the card get baked good and proper while the lone fan struggle to expel it out the back . people who opine this setup be advantageous be dead wrong . or deaf , perhaps . let I save you some trouble : the ftw I receive could not run at a tolerable volume while adequately cool the card . period . I have invest more unpaid man hour dink around with fan curve in precision x than I care to count , so hopefully you will not have to endure the same . grant , if you be use to a noisy 4000-6000 series radeon or 400-500 series gtx then yes , this card might sound comparatively `` good . '' to you . to everyone else it sound like Barbie and she pal be throw a hairdryer slumber party in you computer case Malibu dream house . Let 's talk about overclocking . some interweb denizen have be vocal about hit 1300MHz core . well , I do test the ftw card and find none of they come even close to that speed . and the small bump they be able to hit ? meaningless , as the card automatically throttle at 70c . I do realize individual mileage vary and some people be get great card but I do not think this be by any mean the norm base on the three example I have . I would characterize the OC potential of these card as `` abysmal '' due to the horrific thermal profile and also the fact most of the oc headroom have already be squeeze out -lrb- first by Nvidia , then evga -rrb- . again , I could not keep these thing cool and quiet at STOCK so my oc forecast be decidedly grim . unless you love noise . lot and lot of noise . it may sound like I loathe the evga 670 ftw . I do not . the same do not hold true for the trove of hype and misinformation about this particular model card , however , which be why I have take the time to write . still , I will end on a positive note because this card do have a purpose in life -lrb- just not my life -rrb- . so who should buy this card ? - folk that do not oc or ever plan to , who be look for a good stock card - this one 's factory oc would at reference price , a no-brainer . - folk that do not care about noise , who game at crazy stupid volume or with headphone . - parent -lrb- evga be a U.S. company with good customer support , so if you buy this for you spoil progeny you 'll be well cover for 3 year -rrb- . - amd fanboi . I would like to take a moment to comment on how astronomically incredible Amazon have be throughout this entire ordeal . from the glittery pixeljunque card to the 50c + solitaire card to the freak ramjet-on-my-desk card they have be totally commit to resolve thing positively , and have deal with these rma courteously , pleasantly and swiftly . bravo - chalk up another lifelong customer and advocate . my fellow consumer , you would be wise to follow suit and shop with the best lest you be leave with , ahem , egg on you face . P.S. Case airflow and static pressure be excellent , ambient temp be 68f , 700W PSU with 50a on the rail , no old driver etc. etc. . will give 600 series one final shot before I defect to the red ...