EVGA Corporation explained

EVGA Corporation
Type:Private
Founders:Andrew Han
Keith Rochford
Location City:Brea and Santa Clara, California
Location Country:United States
Locations:8
Industry:Computer hardware
Consumer electronics
Num Employees:250+
Divisions:EVGA GmbH
EVGA Technology Inc.

EVGA Corporation is an American computer hardware company that produces motherboards, gaming laptops, power supplies, all-in-one liquid coolers, computer cases, and gaming mice. Founded on April 13, 1999,[1] its headquarters are in Brea, California. EVGA also produced Nvidia GPU-based video cards[2] until 2022.[3] [4]

Products

EVGA products include motherboards, power supply units, and related accessories.

History

EVGA initially made graphics cards, dating back to the RIVA TNT2 in 1999.[5] Some of their graphics card models included the SC, SSC, Classified, Kingpin (stylized as K|NGP|N), and FTW editions (as well as special KO editions in the past).[6] In September 2022, the company ended its relationship with Nvidia and also stopped manufacturing graphics cards.[7]

Initially, its motherboards were limited to Nvidia reference designs and expanded to non-reference designs based on Nvidia chipsets until Nvidia exited the motherboard market around 2009.[8] EVGA motherboards began using Intel chipsets starting with the announcement of the "X58 SLI" in November 2008, which was a motherboard supporting 3-way SLI.[9] In March 2009 EVGA released the "X58 Classified" (E759) that increased the PCI Express (PCIe) capabilities by adding more physical slots and added an Nvidia NF200 bridging chip that increased the electronic PCIe lanes available, as well as other overclocking features.[10]

In September 2009, EVGA released a motherboard (XL-ATX form factor) that allows up to four GPUs to run in a 4-way SLI configuration. The first graphics processing unit to support 4-way SLI was the EVGA GTX 285 Classified; more recent GPUs like the GTX 980 also support 4-way SLI. The company released a dual-socket motherboard based on the Intel 5520 chip set with overclocking features. Named Classified SR-2, this motherboard supports dual Socket LGA 1366 Xeon-based Intel CPUs and 4-way SLI. It was the first HPTX form factor motherboard.[11]

In August 2010, EVGA released the Classified SR-2 power supply with 1200 watts of power at 6 +12 volts.[12]

In May 2011, EVGA entered the CPU air cooler market with the introduction of the Super clock CPU cooler.

In November 2013, EVGA released its first tablet computer, the EVGA Tegra Note 7, in the United States. It is a 7-inch Android tablet powered by a Tegra 4 processor.[13]

In May 2016, EVGA released its first gaming laptop called the EVGA SC17.[14] [15] [16]

In June 2021, EVGA announced its first AMD-based motherboards starting with the X570 Dark (A579), which was released in September.[17] Later that year, EVGA also released the X570 FTW (A577).[18]

Recalls and design issues

In April 2007, EVGA & Nvidia confirmed that there was an issue running high performance DIMM modules on 680i-chipset motherboards.[19]

In May 2012, EVGA issued a recall of Geforce GTX 670 SC (SuperClocked), model# 02G-P3-2672-KR graphics cards due to a quality assurance (QA) issue. Affected models were replaced with a faster FTW Edition.[20]

In November 2013, EVGA issued a recall of SuperNova PSUs models 1000G2, 1000 P2 and 1300 G2 models manufactured prior to October 1, 2013 due to a manufacturing flaw. All affected models were replaced by updated units.[21]

In September 2014, owners of GTX 970 SC (SuperClocked) pointed out that the ACX cooler design only had 2 heatpipes touching the core, with a 3rd unsealed "dummy" heatpipe attached to the cooler.[22]

In October 2016, lower-end SKUs of GTX 1070 and GTX 1080 models with the ACX cooler design started reportedly failing, or even catching on fire.[23] This was due to the VRMs not being cooled by the heatsink due to missing thermal pads.[24] In November 2016, EVGA issued a VBIOS update to attempt to help alleviate the issue.[25] They also announced a program for users to either receive thermal pads to self-install while retaining warranty [26] [27] or send in affected GPUs for factory replacement.

In August 2018, pre-orders for the RTX 2080 Ti, SKU XC Gaming were advertised as having the upgraded iCX2 cooler. However, users reported that upon ordering, they found that the SKU did not have the redesigned cooler, and EVGA support would only upgrade for a fee.[28]

In September 2021, players of New World reported their RTX 3090 cards "bricking". The issue was traced via X-ray analysis to poor workmanship on soldering around the MOSFET circuits.[29] The company said they would replace all affected cards under warranty. However, further testing by Igor Wallossek revealed that RTX 3080 cards were also affected.[30]

Exit from GPU partnerships and manufacturing

On September 16, 2022, EVGA announced that it would be exiting the GPU business and terminating its partnership with Nvidia. At the time of the announcement, GPU sales accounted for close to 80% of EVGA's gross revenue.[31] EVGA's CEO, Andrew Han, explained that the company did not have an interest in becoming an add-in board partner for other GPU vendors, such as AMD or Intel, nor did EVGA plan to sell to another company.[32] EVGA planned to continue to sell remaining RTX 30 series stock through the end of 2022 to complete the exit from the Nvidia partnership. Han further explained that Nvidia's conduct with its business partners was causing it to be difficult to maintain a consistent profit margin and thus the company would instead focus on other products with higher margins, such as power supply units.[33]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Articles of Incorporation of EVGA Corporation . July 16, 2022 . . California Secretary of State Business Database.
  2. Web site: NVIDIA Partner Program. NVIDIA.
  3. Web site: EVGA stops making video cards and blames Nvidia's bad behavior . 2022-09-16 . The Verge . September 16, 2022 . en-US.
  4. Web site: 2022-09-16 . EVGA, Popular Graphics Card Maker, Parts Ways With Nvidia In Messy Breakup . 2022-09-16 . Kotaku . en-us.
  5. Web site: Wilde . Tyler. September 16, 2022 . EVGA is reportedly so sick of working with Nvidia that it's going to stop making graphics cards altogether . September 17, 2022 . PC Gamer . en.
  6. Web site: The Differences between EVGA GTX REF, Founder's Edition, Ti, ACX, ICX, SC, SSC, FTW, FTW DT and Classified Video Cards . 2017 . custompcguide.net. 18 September 2022.
  7. Web site: Burke . Stephen . September 16, 2022 . EVGA Terminates NVIDIA Partnership, Cites Disrespectful Treatment . September 16, 2022 . Gamers Nexus . YouTube.
  8. Web site: Adrian. Kingsley-Hughes. End of the line for NVIDIA chipsets, and that's official. 2009-10-08. ZDNet.
  9. Web site: EVGA - EVGA X58 SLI Motherboard - EVGA X58 SLI Motherboard. 2008-11-17. EVGA.
  10. Web site: EVGA - EVGA X58 Classified Edition - EVGA X58 Classified Edition. EVGA.
  11. Web site: EVGA - Articles - EVGA Classified Super Record 2. EVGA.
  12. Web site: EVGA - Articles - EVGA Classified SR-2 Power Supply. EVGA.
  13. Web site: Evga Tegra Note 7 specs. cnet.
  14. News: Peñaflorida . Rexly . March 30, 2016 . EVGA's SC17 Gaming Laptop, Priced At $2,699, Arrives Mid-April . Tom's Hardware . September 18, 2022.
  15. News: Savov . Vlad . August 18, 2016 . 17-inch gaming laptops are one big compromise . The Verge . September 18, 2022.
  16. Web site: EVGA - Articles - EVGA SC17 Gaming Laptop . EVGA - Articles - EVGA SC17 Gaming Laptop.
  17. News: Bonshor . Gavin . September 23, 2021 . EVGA Releases the X570 Dark: First Ryzen Motherboard from EVGA, Built for OC . AnandTech . September 18, 2022.
  18. News: Wilson . Jason . November 13, 2021 . EVGA Intros X570 FTW WiFi motherboard, adding to their current AMD Socket AM4 line . Wccftech . September 18, 2022.
  19. Web site: Discuss . malware . 2007-04-02 . Important Message Regarding Memory and the EVGA 680i Motherboard . 2023-05-28 . TechPowerUp . en.
  20. Web site: Discuss . btarunr . 2012-05-17 . EVGA Undertakes Mini Recall Of GeForce GTX 670 SC, Owners To Get FTW as Replacements . 2023-05-28 . TechPowerUp . en.
  21. Web site: Discuss . btarunr . 2013-11-27 . EVGA Recalls Bad Batches of SuperNova PSUs . 2023-05-28 . TechPowerUp . en.
  22. Web site: eTeknix.com . 2014-09-23 . EVGA Respond to Possible Design Flaw on GTX 970 ACX . 2023-05-28 . eTeknix . en-GB.
  23. Web site: MachoTaco24 . 2021-08-02 . GTX 1070 Spontaneously Catches Fire . 2023-05-28 . r/EVGA.
  24. Web site: Burke . Steve . EVGA MOSFET Failure Possible From Runaway Thermal Scenario . 2023-05-28 . www.gamersnexus.net.
  25. Web site: Discuss . Raevenlord . 2016-11-02 . EVGA GTX 1070/1080 Overheating Issues Update - New BIOS Revision To Be Released . 2023-05-28 . TechPowerUp . en.
  26. Web site: Burke . Steve . How to Install Thermal Pads on EVGA GTX 1080 & 1070 . 2023-05-28 . www.gamersnexus.net.
  27. Web site: 2016-10-27 . EVGA - EVGA Thermal Pad Mod Request . 2023-05-28 . October 27, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161027035835/http://www.evga.com/thermalmod/ . bot: unknown .
  28. Web site: _aesynk . 2018-09-07 . EVGA RTX2080TI iCX2 Misrepresentation . 2023-05-28 . r/nvidia.
  29. Web site: EVGA explains how Amazon's MMO bricked 24 GeForce RTX 3090s . 2023-05-28 . PCWorld . en.
  30. Web site: Wallossek . Igor . 2021-07-25 . EVGA GeForce RTX 3080, RTX 3090 and (not only) New World - when design flaws cause graphics cards to run amok Tests . 2023-05-28 . igor'sLAB . en-US.
  31. Web site: Cunningham . Andrew . 2022-09-16 . GeForce GPUs are 80% of EVGA's revenue—but it's cutting ties with Nvidia anyway . 2022-09-16 . Ars Technica . en-us.
  32. Web site: 2022-09-16 . EVGA Terminates Relationship With Nvidia, Leaves GPU Business . 2022-09-16 . GameSpot . en-US.
  33. Web site: 2022-09-16 . Bombshell: EVGA Terminates Relationship with Nvidia - ExtremeTech . 2022-09-16 . www.extremetech.com.