Introduction
This evaluation features the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5070 EAGLE OC ICE SFF 12G (GV-N5070EAGLEOC ICE-12GD), which is typically around the $659.99 price point today, but has been higher in pricing as well. We will have a look at this RTX 5070 video card from GIGABYTE and also have an opportunity to discuss a bit about the NVIDIA SFF (Small Form Factor) program.
First of all, GIGABYTE features a total of seven video cards in its GeForce RTX 5070 lineup. The flagship is the AORUS MASTER, followed by the GAMING OC, AERO, EAGLE, and finally the more reference offering the WINDFORCE. The EAGLE and WINFORCE are both offered in SFF exclusively, with the remaining cards full-sized. All of the video cards are overclocked from the factory to some extent, with the WINDFORCE offering a non-OC version as well. The AERO and EAGLE OC ICE SFF are white cards. Key features listed for this video card by GIGABYTE are the Windforce cooling system featuring “Hawk” fans, server-grade thermal gel application, NVIDIA SFF ready, RGB lighting, and reinforced structure (backplate with screen cooling).
We have a very detailed launch article that discusses all the nitty-gritty of the RTX 5070, and we invite you to give that a look. Briefly, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 consists of 5 GPCs, 24 TPCs, and 48 SMs with 128 CUDA Cores per SM. When you add all this up, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 has 6,144 CUDA Cores, 192 5th Gen Tensor Cores, 48 4th Gen RT Cores, 80 ROPs, and 192 Texture Units. The L1 Data Cache/Shared memory size is 6144KB, and the L2 cache size is 49152 KB. The GPU Boost Clock is set at 2512MHz. Memory consists of 12GB of GDDR7 on a 192-bit memory bus at 28Gbps, giving it 672GB/s of memory bandwidth. The TGP (Total Graphics Power) is 250W.
In the current pricing market, the listed price of the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5070 EAGLE OC ICE SFF 12G is $659.99 at the time of publishing, but according to PC Part Picker and Newegg has been over $700, or higher, with a GIGABYTE three-year warranty. Check out our pricing widget below for the latest current prices.
The SFF program
To be brief, NVIDIA has started a program, “SFF-Ready Enthusiast GeForce Cards,” that will ensure both builders and DIY enthusiasts that they can locate video cards that meet strict Small Form Factor specifications. At one time, SFF was a very small fraction of PC building, but it has grown quite popular in the last few years. To help make building easier, NVIDIA has begun its program with a number of video card manufacturing partners.
From NVIDIA: “Manufacturer product pages and listings on global retailers have text labeling graphics cards that meet the guideline as “SFF-Ready Enthusiast GeForce Cards”, and cases as being “Compatible with SFF-Ready Enthusiast GeForce Cards”, instantly identifying parts that fit together and allowing you to buy and build with confidence. SFF-Ready Enthusiast GeForce Cards are RTX 70-class or higher from the GeForce RTX 50 and GeForce RTX 40 Series, with the following dimensions: 50mm or 2.5 slots maximum depth, 151mm maximum height including power cable bend radius, and 304mm maximum length.
In keeping with this program, NVIDIA hopes to give some security to builders and DIY enthusiasts that they will be able to both locate and upgrade components that are compatible with an SFF chassis. This is aimed at reducing time spent looking up specifications and scouring forums for information on “will this fit ?”
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5070 EAGLE OC ICE SFF 12G Features and Photos
We received the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5070 EAGLE OC ICE SFF 12G directly from GIGABYTE in a retail package. The box-in-box was as we have come to expect. The contents, in addition to the video card, were a quick start booklet and a two-headed HPWR adapter.
Obviously, the most striking aspect of this video card is the white color. The shroud is also characterized by raised and textured areas to enhance the overall appearance. The three fans are 90mm “Hawk” fans. These are designed by GIGABYTE with textures to both increase air flow and reduce noise. The goal here is to improve cooling in a small form factor, so GIGABYTE also uses their “Windforce” system, which enlists “server-grade thermal conductive gel, innovative Hawk fans with alternate spinning, composite copper heat pipes, a large copper plate, 3D active fans, and screen cooling.”
The top shroud is full plastic, while the backplate on this card is powder-coated metal with a large cut-out on the far end, known as “screen-cooling”. We can see that the heatsink is generous and runs the entire length of the shroud. There is even RGB if you are after that. Actually there is a quite subtle LED strip along the top edge, a nice touch for this all-white video card. The control of lighting is within the GIGABYTE Control Center software under the RGB Fusion tab.
In the introduction, we spoke about overclocks. The GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5070 EAGLE OC ICE SFF 12G comes from the factory with a Boost clock of 2587MHz (reference value 2512MHz), or just under a 3% increase. The card TDP is listed at 250 Watts with a recommended 750 Watts PSU minimum. This card is PCIe Gen 5.0 x 16 compatible. The front I/O has the customary three Display 2.1 ports and one HDMI 2.1 port.
The supplemental power connector is the 12V 6×2 HPWR (adapter included). There is a small LED at the power connector that will light up if there is an error in connection, which is a nice touch. Dimensions, which comply with SFF criteria, are 290x120x50mm for you metric fans and 11 3/8 x 4 3/4 x 2 inches if you still believe in US customary (English Imperial) measure. Fun Fact: an inch is based on the width of your thumb. The weight of the video card is 2 pounds 3 ounces.
Please note that there are three photos in the gallery that compare the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5070 EAGLE OC ICE SFF 12G to a “Normal” sized RTX 5070. (The card used is an MSI GeForce RTX 5070 Gaming TRIO OC.)