{"id":15088,"date":"2022-01-13T18:05:11","date_gmt":"2022-01-13T17:05:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/g100.us\/?p=15088"},"modified":"2022-04-27T19:23:00","modified_gmt":"2022-04-27T17:23:00","slug":"founders-edition-gpus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/g100.us\/founders-edition-gpus\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Founders Edition GPUs Any Good?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_39 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-668443d56f43f\" class=\"cssicon\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-668443d56f43f\" class=\"cssiconcheckbox\">1<\/label><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-668443d56f43f\" checked><nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 \"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/founders-edition-gpus\/#What_is_a_Founders_Edition_GPU\" title=\"What is a Founders Edition GPU?\">What is a Founders Edition GPU?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/founders-edition-gpus\/#Does_AMD_Have_Founders_Edition_GPUs\" title=\"Does AMD Have Founders Edition GPUs?\">Does AMD Have Founders Edition GPUs?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/founders-edition-gpus\/#Are_Founders_Edition_GPUs_Always_Blower-Style\" title=\"Are Founders Edition GPUs Always Blower-Style?\">Are Founders Edition GPUs Always Blower-Style?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/founders-edition-gpus\/#What_Makes_Founders_Edition_GPUs_Better_Than_Other_GPUs\" title=\"What Makes Founders Edition GPUs Better Than Other GPUs?\">What Makes Founders Edition GPUs Better Than Other GPUs?<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/founders-edition-gpus\/#Binning\" title=\"Binning\">Binning<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/founders-edition-gpus\/#Where_Do_Founders_Edition_GPUs_Falter_Compared_To_Other_GPUs\" title=\"Where Do Founders Edition GPUs Falter Compared To Other GPUs?\">Where Do Founders Edition GPUs Falter Compared To Other GPUs?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/founders-edition-gpus\/#FAQ\" title=\"FAQ\">FAQ<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/founders-edition-gpus\/#Are_Reference_Design_GPUs_The_Same_as_Founders_Edition_GPUs\" title=\"Are Reference Design GPUs The Same as Founder\u2019s Edition GPUs?\">Are Reference Design GPUs The Same as Founder\u2019s Edition GPUs?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/founders-edition-gpus\/#What_Alternatives_Should_I_Consider_To_A_Founders_Edition_Card\" title=\"What Alternatives Should I Consider To A Founders Edition Card?\">What Alternatives Should I Consider To A Founders Edition Card?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/founders-edition-gpus\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/founders-edition-gpus\/#Over_to_You\" title=\"Over to You\">Over to You<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>Are Founders Edition GPUs any good? If so, are they worth picking over other GPU options?<\/p>\n<p>Today, I\u2019m going to teach you everything you need to know about Founders Edition graphics cards, and by the time I\u2019m done, you\u2019ll know for sure whether or not you should pick one.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_a_Founders_Edition_GPU\"><\/span>What is a Founders Edition GPU?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Before I properly explain what a Founders Edition GPU is, it\u2019s important to understand how graphics cards are distributed.<\/p>\n<p>While all current PC graphics cards are manufactured by <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/nvidia-graphics-cards-order-performance\/\">Nvidia<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/amd-graphic-cards-order-of-performance\/\">AMD<\/a> (eventually Intel), you\u2019ll most likely be buying the graphics card from <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/gpu-brands-amd-nvidia\/\">one of their hardware partners<\/a> rather than AMD or Nvidia themselves.<\/p>\n<p><strong>For non-Founders Edition graphics cards, the process goes something like this:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Nvidia manufactures the GPU. Not the full graphics card, but rather the necessary GPU chip for the graphics card to function.<\/li>\n<li>Once the GPU has been manufactured, it\u2019s sent to something called an AIB (Add-In Board) Partner. These are your GPU brands like EVGA and Gigabyte.<\/li>\n<li>Once the AIB Partner in question has the chip, they can do what they want with it before putting out a card (within limits). This means adding their own cooling to it, binning chips for higher-end overclocked versions of the graphics card, and so on.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15098\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Higher-clocked-GPU-cooler-design.jpg\" alt=\"Higher clocked GPU cooler design\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Higher-clocked-GPU-cooler-design.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Higher-clocked-GPU-cooler-design-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Higher-clocked-GPU-cooler-design-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Higher-clocked-GPU-cooler-design-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Higher-clocked-GPU-cooler-design-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15098 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Higher clocked GPU cooler design\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Higher-clocked-GPU-cooler-design.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Higher-clocked-GPU-cooler-design-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Higher-clocked-GPU-cooler-design-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Higher-clocked-GPU-cooler-design-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Higher-clocked-GPU-cooler-design-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Higher-clocked-GPU-cooler-design.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>With a <em>Founders Edition<\/em> graphics card, the process instead goes like this:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Nvidia manufactures the GPU, and \u201cbins\u201d some high-quality chips. The ones they don\u2019t keep for themselves go to AIB partners in the process described above.<\/li>\n<li>Once Nvidia has their ideal chips, they can slap them into their own Founders Edition cards with their custom cooling setup.<br>\nAdditionally, these Founders Edition cards will often run at higher clocks than the \u201creference\u201d spec that is sent to AIB partners, but AIB partners tend to overclock and tweak their cards anyways.<\/li>\n<li>Since there is no longer a middle man, Nvidia is now free to sell their Founders Edition graphics cards and pocket more of the profit than they would if an AIB partner sold it instead.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15097\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Founders-edition-vs-AIB-cards-1.jpg\" alt=\"Founders edition vs AIB cards\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Founders-edition-vs-AIB-cards-1.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Founders-edition-vs-AIB-cards-1-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Founders-edition-vs-AIB-cards-1-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Founders-edition-vs-AIB-cards-1-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Founders-edition-vs-AIB-cards-1-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15097 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Founders edition vs AIB cards\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Founders-edition-vs-AIB-cards-1.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Founders-edition-vs-AIB-cards-1-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Founders-edition-vs-AIB-cards-1-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Founders-edition-vs-AIB-cards-1-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Founders-edition-vs-AIB-cards-1-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Founders-edition-vs-AIB-cards-1.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>So basically, a Founders Edition GPU is a GPU that you buy directly from Nvidia rather than a partner. This is similar in concept to buying a reference design or \u201cstock\u201d GPU, but those are actually meant to be as cheap as possible.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast, since Nvidia launched the Founders Edition line in 2016, Founders Edition cards are instead seen as premium products with a <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/gpu-msrp-list\/\">markup from the base GPU\u2019s MSRP<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_AMD_Have_Founders_Edition_GPUs\"><\/span>Does AMD Have Founders Edition GPUs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>No.<\/p>\n<p>While AMD <em>does<\/em> have reference design cards that it sells directly to consumers, they have no marketing or price markup compared to non-reference cards.<\/p>\n<p>This is how Nvidia used to do things prior to the GTX 10-series\u2019 release in 2016, but since then only AMD has been carrying the torch of selling cheap reference design cards directly to consumers.<\/p>\n<p>This doesn\u2019t make buying reference GPUs from AMD an inferior option by any means, though, especially not if you\u2019re picking a card that\u2019s outperforming a similar Nvidia option for the price.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_Founders_Edition_GPUs_Always_Blower-Style\"><\/span>Are Founders Edition GPUs Always Blower-Style?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A common myth these days is that all Founders Edition graphics cards are <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/open-air-vs-blower-style-gpus\/\">blower-style<\/a>, but this is a myth that\u2019s actually rooted in some fact.<\/p>\n<p>While this is no longer the case, there was a time when both Nvidia and AMD\u2019s stock designs were <strong>only<\/strong> blower style, rather than <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/open-air-vs-blower-style-gpus\/\">open-air<\/a> or any kind of alternatives.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15105\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Blower-style-vs-open-air-GPU.jpg\" alt=\"Blower style vs open-air GPU\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Blower-style-vs-open-air-GPU.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Blower-style-vs-open-air-GPU-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Blower-style-vs-open-air-GPU-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Blower-style-vs-open-air-GPU-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Blower-style-vs-open-air-GPU-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15105 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Blower style vs open-air GPU\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Blower-style-vs-open-air-GPU.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Blower-style-vs-open-air-GPU-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Blower-style-vs-open-air-GPU-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Blower-style-vs-open-air-GPU-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Blower-style-vs-open-air-GPU-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Blower-style-vs-open-air-GPU.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>Starting with the RTX 20 series\u2019 release, Nvidia began using a dual-fan open-air cooling design for their Founders Edition graphics cards instead of their previously-traditional blower-style cooler design.<\/p>\n<p>The RTX 30 series still uses dual fans, but is something of a hybrid between the two styles of design, since one fan serves to exhaust air out of the case while another serves to push air up through the heatsink (and exhaust some heat into the case).<\/p>\n<p>There are some mixed <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/open-air-vs-blower-style-gpus\/\">pros and cons to adopting an open-air design over a blower-style design<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>For a well-ventilated, non-Mini ITX case, an open air styled graphics card will generally be preferred.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15101\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Performance-Open-air-GPUs.jpg\" alt=\"Performance - Open-air GPUs\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Performance-Open-air-GPUs.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Performance-Open-air-GPUs-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Performance-Open-air-GPUs-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Performance-Open-air-GPUs-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Performance-Open-air-GPUs-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15101 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201500%201500%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Performance - Open-air GPUs\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201500%201500%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Performance-Open-air-GPUs.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Performance-Open-air-GPUs-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Performance-Open-air-GPUs-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Performance-Open-air-GPUs-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Performance-Open-air-GPUs-768x768.jpg 768w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Performance-Open-air-GPUs.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>Open-air graphics cards tend to run a little quieter, colder, and faster than their blower-style counterparts, especially with the factory overclocking that\u2019s common from both Nvidia and other GPU providers.<\/p>\n<p>However, there are scenarios where a blower-style graphics card is better than an open-air alternative.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re building in a Mini ITX case or hoping to run a multi-GPU setup (both scenarios where an open-air card would be choked of airflow and exhaust more heat into the rest of the PC\/components), a blower-style graphics card will actually run much cooler.<\/p>\n<p>This is because the two different styles of graphics card cooling get rid of heat differently.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15102\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Performance-Blower-style-GPUs.jpg\" alt=\"Performance - Blower style GPUs\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Performance-Blower-style-GPUs.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Performance-Blower-style-GPUs-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Performance-Blower-style-GPUs-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Performance-Blower-style-GPUs-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Performance-Blower-style-GPUs-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15102 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Performance - Blower style GPUs\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Performance-Blower-style-GPUs.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Performance-Blower-style-GPUs-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Performance-Blower-style-GPUs-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Performance-Blower-style-GPUs-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Performance-Blower-style-GPUs-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Performance-Blower-style-GPUs.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>An open-air graphics card gets rid of heat by exhausting it in pretty much every direction after taking in cool air from the fans. This is fine in <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/120-vs-140mm-case-fans\/\">a larger case with good airflow<\/a>, but becomes problematic if the cooling fans don\u2019t have sufficient room to breathe.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, if your airflow isn\u2019t up to par, you run the risk of your graphics card making other components in your system run hotter, since it\u2019s heat isn\u2019t being effectively dissipated from your machine.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, a blower-style graphics card intakes all of its air from a single fan...and exhausts it all in one go, outside of the case.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11976\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/05\/Blower-style-cooler-Airflow.jpg\" alt=\"Blower style cooler Airflow\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/05\/Blower-style-cooler-Airflow.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/05\/Blower-style-cooler-Airflow-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/05\/Blower-style-cooler-Airflow-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/05\/Blower-style-cooler-Airflow-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/05\/Blower-style-cooler-Airflow-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11976 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Blower style cooler Airflow\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/05\/Blower-style-cooler-Airflow.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/05\/Blower-style-cooler-Airflow-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/05\/Blower-style-cooler-Airflow-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/05\/Blower-style-cooler-Airflow-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/05\/Blower-style-cooler-Airflow-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/05\/Blower-style-cooler-Airflow.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re stacking graphics cards in a multi-GPU setup (or a NVLink setup, if you\u2019re thinking Nvidia) or building in a Mini ITX case, you can achieve some pretty great results with a blower-style card.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking of Founders Edition cards specifically, the RTX 30-series Founders Edition cards are somewhat well-balanced for both scenarios.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Want to learn more about GPU cooler designs? <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/open-air-vs-blower-style-gpus\/\"><strong>Check out Alex\u2019s full article on Open-Air vs Blower-Style Coolers<\/strong><\/a><strong>!<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Makes_Founders_Edition_GPUs_Better_Than_Other_GPUs\"><\/span>What Makes Founders Edition GPUs Better Than Other GPUs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>So if Nvidia is willing to mark up the price and amp up the advertising for a Founders Edition graphics card, what makes them so much better than other options?<\/p>\n<p>Founders Edition cards have replaced cheaper reference design cards in the market, and indicate a willingness from Nvidia to compete directly with their partners.<\/p>\n<p>I think it\u2019s fair to say that Nvidia had better be willing to back that up:<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Binning\"><\/span>Binning<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>To help answer this question, let\u2019s discuss <strong>binning<\/strong>. We\u2019ve mentioned this process in passing earlier in the article, but now it\u2019s time to explain it a little more.<\/p>\n<p>Basically, when any processor (GPU or CPU) is being manufactured, there\u2019s something called a binning process that occurs.<\/p>\n<p>The binning process involves testing each and every chip that is manufactured and \u201cbinning\u201d them based on performance.<\/p>\n<p>An interesting thing about binning is that it can sometimes result in entirely new products.<\/p>\n<p>For instance, let\u2019s say Intel tries to make a six-core Intel CPU, but learn during the binning process that two of those cores aren\u2019t working well enough to sell the whole package.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019d be a waste of good materials to just throw it all away at that point, so instead the CPU is rebranded as a four-core part, the dysfunctional cores are disabled, and the final product is sold to consumers.<\/p>\n<p>In the case of Founders Edition graphics cards, binning is part of the reason why they\u2019re considered a good option.<\/p>\n<p>Since Nvidia is in charge of manufacturing all of its GPU chips, it can selectively bin high-performing chips to use with its Founders Edition graphics cards before selling the others to its partners.<\/p>\n<p>However, this doesn\u2019t mean that every partner card has an inferior chip- many on the high-end are also thoroughly binned.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15104\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Benefits-of-Binned-Components.jpg\" alt=\"Benefits of Binned Components\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Benefits-of-Binned-Components.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Benefits-of-Binned-Components-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Benefits-of-Binned-Components-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Benefits-of-Binned-Components-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Benefits-of-Binned-Components-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15104 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Benefits of Binned Components\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Benefits-of-Binned-Components.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Benefits-of-Binned-Components-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Benefits-of-Binned-Components-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Benefits-of-Binned-Components-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Benefits-of-Binned-Components-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Benefits-of-Binned-Components.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>Besides binning, it\u2019s also worth discussing <strong>pricing<\/strong> and <strong>cooling<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If you\u2019re lucky enough to check out a Founders Edition graphics card when it\u2019s available in a direct sale from Nvidia\u2019s website, you\u2019ll be getting the card at MSRP instead of the dramatically inflated prices of other outlets<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>This isn\u2019t usually an option, though, and outside of this scenario, Founders Edition cards can actually be <em>more<\/em> expensive than alternative options.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, current-gen Founders Edition cards are actually <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/lower-gpu-temperature\/\">fairly well-cooled<\/a>, thanks to their hybrid approach to GPU cooler design.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_15103\" style=\"width: 708px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15103\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-15103 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/RTX-30-Series-Hybrid-Cooling.jpg\" alt=\"RTX 30 Series Hybrid Cooling\" width=\"708\" height=\"463\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/RTX-30-Series-Hybrid-Cooling.jpg 708w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/RTX-30-Series-Hybrid-Cooling-300x196.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 708px) 100vw, 708px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15103\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-15103 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20708%20463%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"RTX 30 Series Hybrid Cooling\" width=\"708\" height=\"463\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20708%20463%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 708w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 708px) 100vw, 708px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/RTX-30-Series-Hybrid-Cooling.jpg 708w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/RTX-30-Series-Hybrid-Cooling-300x196.jpg 300w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/RTX-30-Series-Hybrid-Cooling.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-15103\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cooling Setup of Nvidia RTX 30 Series Founder Edition GPUs - Image-Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nvidia.com\/en-us\/geforce\/graphics-cards\/30-series\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nvidia<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>With good binning on top of good cooling, it also makes Founders Edition cards a viable choice for GPU overclocking, which can help enthusiasts squeeze just that extra bit of performance and lifespan out of a graphics card.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_Do_Founders_Edition_GPUs_Falter_Compared_To_Other_GPUs\"><\/span>Where Do Founders Edition GPUs Falter Compared To Other GPUs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Now, let\u2019s discuss where Founders Edition graphics cards fall short.<\/p>\n<p>One big issue is pricing, especially if you aren\u2019t buying directly from Nvidia. Even prior to chip shortages, Founders Edition cards came with a price premium over budget options from AIB partners.<\/p>\n<p>During the pandemic, where most cards are sold on storefronts or by scalpers at MUCH higher prices than MSRP, this difference has become a lot less apparent...but it\u2019s not what I would call a win for Founders Edition cards.<\/p>\n<p>Next is actually still raw performance and overclocking potential.<\/p>\n<p>While it\u2019s true that Founders Edition cards are pretty good in this regard still, they don\u2019t quite match up to the highest-end graphics cards from Nvidia\u2019s partners. I\u2019d choose a high-end EVGA RTX 3060 over a Founders Edition RTX 3060 any day of the week, for instance, and not just because of more powerful cooling or a slightly higher overclock.<\/p>\n<p>Founders Edition cards may be straight-up superior to budget partner cards, but when the partners themselves choose to compete with their own binning and cooling...Nvidia doesn\u2019t always come out on top. Thus, is the nature of competing with your own hardware partners, it seems.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_Reference_Design_GPUs_The_Same_as_Founders_Edition_GPUs\"><\/span>Are Reference Design GPUs The Same as Founder\u2019s Edition GPUs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>No. While some partners are still putting out reference design GPUs for Nvidia, Founders Edition cards are meaningfully different from the reference cards that Nvidia used to sell themselves.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve discussed why in detail in the article above, but the short version is that a Founders Edition graphics card is meant to directly compete with custom designs from partners rather than provide a cheaper point of entry.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Alternatives_Should_I_Consider_To_A_Founders_Edition_Card\"><\/span>What Alternatives Should I Consider To A Founders Edition Card?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you aren\u2019t sure about getting a Founders Edition card, or you just want a good idea of what else to consider, you\u2019re in the right place.<\/p>\n<p>First, let\u2019s talk about a few options that become available when you get an Nvidia graphics card from a partner instead of Nvidia.<\/p>\n<p>These options include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Smaller versions of the GPU in question.<br>\nNot all GPUs have more compact partner versions, but for the ones that do, getting a smaller card that can actually fit in a more compact case may be the better option than a bulkier design from a Founders Edition card or a partner.<\/li>\n<li>High-end cards with better cooling, better overclocking potential, or both.<br>\nEspecially from brands like EVGA, there are ample options for great Nvidia graphics cards without needing to buy a Founders Edition.<br>\nYou aren\u2019t gonna liquid cool that Founders Edition, but an EVGA card can come with a liquid cooler!<\/li>\n<li>Full blower-style cards for use in multi-GPU configurations or Mini ITX PC builds.<br>\nAs discussed earlier in the article, blower-style cooling has its own unique benefits and the current generation of Founders Edition cards still exhaust some heat into the rest of the case.<br>\nAn informed purchase of a blower-style card can be a better option for many customers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15100\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Single-Fan-vs-Dual-Fan-Design.jpg\" alt=\"Single Fan vs Dual Fan Design\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Single-Fan-vs-Dual-Fan-Design.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Single-Fan-vs-Dual-Fan-Design-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Single-Fan-vs-Dual-Fan-Design-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Single-Fan-vs-Dual-Fan-Design-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Single-Fan-vs-Dual-Fan-Design-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15100 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Single Fan vs Dual Fan Design\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Single-Fan-vs-Dual-Fan-Design.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Single-Fan-vs-Dual-Fan-Design-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Single-Fan-vs-Dual-Fan-Design-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Single-Fan-vs-Dual-Fan-Design-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Single-Fan-vs-Dual-Fan-Design-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Single-Fan-vs-Dual-Fan-Design.jpg\"><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This is about where I\u2019m ready to wrap things up, but before I go, remember that you\u2019re welcome to ask any lingering questions you may have in the comments section.<\/p>\n<p><strong>I\u2019d also like to point you in the direction of <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/gpu-brands-amd-nvidia\/\"><strong>Best GPU Brands for AMD and Nvidia<\/strong><\/a><strong> for further reading since you\u2019ll get a better idea of the alternative options available to you (compared to Founders Edition cards)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>To tie a neat little bow on this whole thing, let\u2019s rewind back to the initial question: <strong>are Founders Edition GPUs any good?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Certainly<\/strong>. They aren\u2019t the <em>best<\/em> by any stretch of the imagination, though.<\/p>\n<p>Do your research and choose the card that\u2019s best for your particular needs- that could be a Founders Edition card, but it could also be any number of competing alternatives.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Over_to_You\"><\/span>Over to You<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong><em>If you have any other questions about founders edition GPUs, let us know in the <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"#comments\"><strong><em>comments<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em> below or our <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/forum\/\"><strong><em>forum<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em>!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are Founders Edition GPUs any good? If so, are they worth picking over other GPU options? Today, I\u2019m going to teach you everything you need to know about Founders Edition graphics cards, and by the time I\u2019m done, you\u2019ll know for sure whether or not you should pick one. What is a Founders Edition GPU?...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2339,"featured_media":15090,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[74],"tags":[118],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15088"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2339"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15088"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15088\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19637,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15088\/revisions\/19637"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15090"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15088"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15088"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15088"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}