Best upgrade from gtx 760 sli

[Ragin Asian]

Options are either r9 290(x) or gtx 970. Budget is around $400 and I'm gaming at 1080p.

[connorpiper]

760 SLI is more than enough for 1080p. (Can run 1440p, or Surround)

Why upgrade?

[Ragin Asian]

760 SLI is more than enough for 1080p. (Can run 1440p, or Surround)

Why upgrade?

 

Honestly SLI is kind of a hassle to deal with. Also I plan on water cooling down the line and one gpu is easier than two as well as msi uses a non reference pcb.

[connorpiper]

Honestly SLI is kind of a hassle to deal with. Also I plan on water cooling down the line and one gpu is easier than two as well as msi uses a non reference pcb.

 

Ah, I see.

Though, SLI for me is really easy. 

 

I would say 970. Keeps you with Nvidia. And ShadowPlay is quite nice.

[Ragin Asian]

Ah, I see.

Though, SLI for me is really easy. 

 

I would say 970. Keeps you with Nvidia. And ShadowPlay is quite nice.

 

Getting SLI to work with games that don't support it out of the box isn't difficult but it's annoying having to dig and find the profiles for them everytime a driver update rolls out.

[TheRunningOtaku]

Getting SLI to work with games that don't support it out of the box isn't difficult but it's annoying having to dig and find the profiles for them everytime a driver update rolls out.

If you don't use nVidia features and you're gonna watercool anyways the 290X is a great deal after the price cuts ($299-$360 290X after Mail In Rebate)

290X generally performs slightly below the 980, but above the 970. 

Downside is that it generates a ton of heat and uses a ton of power.

[Ragin Asian]

If you don't use nVidia features and you're gonna watercool anyways the 290X is a great deal after the price cuts ($299-$360 290X after Mail In Rebate)

290X generally performs slightly below the 980, but above the 970. 

Downside is that it generates a ton of heat and uses a ton of power.

The features are a major reason I can't decide. Shadowplay is cool for when you have a "holy crap" moment and I use it pretty often but mantle looks like the future with lots of games possibly supporting it.

[connorpiper]

The features are a major reason I can't decide. Shadowplay is cool for when you have a "holy crap" moment and I use it pretty often but mantle looks like the future with lots of games possibly supporting it.

 

Or you get banned, but for a stupid reason. Proof!

 

The 970 is a better overclocking card by far. And i'm guessing that's what you are going to do with Watercooling. 

[Ragin Asian]

Or you get banned, but for a stupid reason. Proof!

 

The 970 is a better overclocking card by far. And i'm guessing that's what you are going to do with Watercooling.

Are there waterblocks for the 970 though?

[TheProfosist]

Keep them as they should be plenty for now. If you really must upgrade 980's would be the better path showing more improvement.

[TheRunningOtaku]

Are there waterblocks for the 970 though?

 

The features are a major reason I can't decide. Shadowplay is cool for when you have a "holy crap" moment and I use it pretty often but mantle looks like the future with lots of games possibly supporting it.

I'm sure there'll be waterblocks for it down the road.

Mantle probably won't make it seeing as how DX12 is much like mantle, supported by all modern cards and coming out next year.

If the features are a plus then go for the 970. Personally I think given that the 970 OCs like a beast, it'll edge out the 290X for you (if you use the features)