Palit Launches GeForce GTX 1070 for Mini-ITX PCs with GALAX and KFA2 Brands
by Anton Shilov on February 4, 2017 1:00 PM ESTPalit has quietly released a GeForce GTX 1070-based video card for Mini-ITX systems under the GALAX and KFA2 brands. The product uses a unique PCB design and will be the third GeForce GTX 1070 graphics adapter for Mini-ITX PCs on the market.
Just like competing GeForce GTX 1070s in an ITX form-factor, the GALAX GeForce GTX 1070 OC Mini and KFA2 GeForce GTX 1070 OC Mini graphics cards offer the same level of performance as a full-size GTX 1070. Both boards carry NVIDIA’s GP104 GPU (with 1920 stream processors, 120 texture units and 64 ROPs) that operates at 1518/1708 MHz (base/boost) as well as 8 GB of Micron’s GDDR5 memory running at 8 Gbps. While the card runs a bit faster than NVIDIA’s reference frequencies (+12/25 MHz for base/boost frequencies), its TDP remains the same at around 150W.
Both video cards use the same PCB design with a 4+1 VRM and one 8-pin PCIe power connector, which is inline what NVIDIA’s reference boards offer. The VRM uses solid-state chokes, whereas its MOSFETs are cooled down by a separate heatsink. The main cooling system features a copper base, three thick nickel-plated heat pipes, a relatively large aluminum radiator, two fans and a metal cover. In fact, the cooler is larger when compared to cooling systems of some other Mini-ITX graphics cards and the adapter itself is a bit longer when compared to direct rivals (195/181 mm with/without a bracket, whereas a mini-ITX motherboard is 170mm).
The dimensions of the GALAX/KFA2 GeForce GTX OC Mini cards are not going to become a problem in the vast majority of situations where a good performance mini-ITX gaming PC is concerned, however some users aiming at very small form-factor builds may end up finding it a tight squeeze.
As for connectivity, Palit decided to offer something different from NVIDIA’s reference designs and appeal to owners of older monitors (who use more than one of them) with DVI interface. Both cards are equipped with one DisplayPort 1.4 connector, an HDMI 2.0b port as well as two dual-link DVI-D ports. By contrast, NVIDIA-designed boards come with two DPs, an HDMI and only one DVI header.
Specifications of GeForce GTX 1070 for Mini-ITX PCs | |||||||||
GALAX GeForce GTX 1070 OC Mini | KFA2 GeForce GTX 1070 OC Mini | ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1070 Mini | GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1070 Mini-ITX | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Founders Edition |
|||||
Stream Processors | 1920 | ||||||||
Texture Units | 120 | ||||||||
ROPs | 64 | ||||||||
Core Clock (MHz) | 1518 | 1531 - 1556 | 1506 | ||||||
Boost Clock (MHz) | 1708 | 1721 - 1746 | 1683 | ||||||
Memory | Capacity | 8 GB | |||||||
Type | GDDR5 | ||||||||
Clock | 8 Gbps | ||||||||
TDP | 150 W | ||||||||
Length | 195 mm | 210 mm | 169 mm | 280 mm | |||||
Launch Date | Q1-2017 | 12/2016 | 7/2016 | 6/2016 | |||||
Launch Price | unknown | $395 | unknown | $449 |
Palit did not announce MSRP and ETA of its GALAX GeForce GTX 1070 OC Mini and KFA2 GeForce GTX 1070 OC Mini boards, but given that they are listed at respective web sites, expect them to show up on the shelves in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, as examples of other high-end Mini-ITX graphics cards show, the GPU manufacturers do not tend to charge a much more for an SFF card and prices of such adapters are very close to NVIDIA’s MSRPs (which for the GTX 1070 is $379).
Related Reading:
17 Comments
View All Comments
vailr - Saturday, February 4, 2017 - link
The author should probably add some information on geographic areas of availability. AFAIK, GALAX/KFA2 brands aren't locally sold in the U.S., although perhaps via Hong Kong or other Asian based online retailers.Penti - Saturday, February 4, 2017 - link
They are in Europe at least, here in Sweden both Galax and KFA2 cards is usually available so I'm not really sure how they really target which card goes where, it's just different names on the same cards since some time. Palit is of course available too. It wouldn't surprise me if these cards, whatever brand would make it to the US market too.ddriver - Saturday, February 4, 2017 - link
Yeah, and AT is really committed to outside-US audience. Wouldn't even allow europeans in a screwdriver giveaway LOL. Sorry guys, outside the US we only ship screw-yourself-drivers :Dthesavvymage - Sunday, February 5, 2017 - link
that is entirely to do with legal reasons surrounding giveaways, not because they chose not to allow it. even within the united states there are a few states they cant ship giveaway items toStevoLincolnite - Sunday, February 5, 2017 - link
Other websites don't have such "restrictions" concerning giveaways.Nothing also stops them from doing a Europe-only giveaway.
Anandtech has also stated on numerous occassions that they will try to do a world-wide giveaway, yet after years... Hasn't materialised.
And this is also why I have no qualms about using Ad-Block on Anandtech and thus contributing to their Ad revenue. ;)
DanNeely - Sunday, February 5, 2017 - link
You've got two categories for sites doing international giveaways. Tiny companies that are either unaware of the issue, or are hoping to fly under the radar and without a lawyer on the payroll to jump up and down screaming. And on the other end, you've got enormous companies who actually do have enough international lawyers on hand to do global compliance. The latter generally do everywhere in the world except for a handful of countries on the USA's forbidden list and unless based in Canada often Quebec as well. (Quebec law requires a substantial payment to the province govt, IIRC 10% of the total value of all prizes, to run a give-away; making compliance onerously expensive for giveaways where the majority will go to non-Quebecois.)Mid-size media companies like Purch have enough legal presence on staff to prevent them from doing anything technically illegal; but not enough to actually make sure they're following all the needed laws of dozens of countries where they have readers. As a result, they can only do giveaways in what amounts to their home base; where they have an existing legal staff (or at least a lawyer already on retainer),
eldakka - Sunday, February 5, 2017 - link
Do you have any examples of said legal reasons? I am curious as I've never heard of that to do with giveaways.Penti - Sunday, February 5, 2017 - link
Anandtech has several editors in Europe, and I'm not really concerned about giveaways. There's sites in Europe that you can get that stuff from. You probably have a better chance to actually get any stuff then too. Purch has to follow whatever regulation applies to them and it would be a pain to actually ship stuff to anywhere in the world, with customs, sales tax and what not.Leyawiin - Sunday, February 26, 2017 - link
They available in the US direct through Galax Store. http://galaxstore.net/Michael Bay - Saturday, February 4, 2017 - link
Freddy Krueger branding is a great idea.