[CAD] Best bang for buck; GTX970 or GTX980?

[MattGameDev]

I've been playing with the idea of getting a 980 instead of 970. No reason in particular other than i have a GTX480 now and i love the performance of it and how long it has lasted me (about 5 years). I know upgrading to a 970 will still be a MASSIVE improvement, however, is it worth spending the extra cash on getting a 980? For me, it's not so much about the money (i'll have a job in about 2 months, currently in college) but rather the best performing card for the money.

 

 

Here's how the money will break down in my area:

 

GTX970 @ $420 + $10 shipping (for argument sake) = $485

GTX980 @ $690 + $10 shipping (again, for argument sake) = $789

 

It's definitely a big jump cash wise (aprox. $300). AMD is not an option!

 

 

Other PC Specs:

 

Computer case: Corsair 240 mATX

Motherboard: TBD (mATX)

Power supply: TBD based on the GPU

RAM: DDR3 16GB

Processor: i7-2600k

 

 

 

So LTT's community, what's the overall answer! Thank-you guys so damn much for all the feedback in advance. I've been out of the PC building game for well over two years now.

Edited May 5, 2015 by Nofatchx

[Kinda Bottlenecked]

For the money: 970

For the epeen: 980

[I need a better name]

970

[brokencross]

If you want bang for buck you're looking on the wrong team.

But... 970 if you don't plan on going 4K.

[Lord_Karango17]

I've been playing with the idea of getting a 980 instead of 970. No reason in particular other than i have a GTX480 now and i love the performance of it and how long it has lasted me (about 5 years). I know upgrading to a 970 will still be a MASSIVE improvement, however, is it worth spending the extra cash on getting a 980? For me, it's not so much about the money (i'll have a job in about 2 months, currently in college) but rather the best performing card for the money.

 

 

Here's how the money will break down in my area:

 

GTX970 @ $420 + $10 shipping (for argument sake) = $485

GTX980 @ $690 + $10 shipping (again, for argument sake) = $789

 

It's definitely a big jump cash wise (aprox. $300)

 

 

Other PC Specs:

 

Computer case: Corsair 240 mATX

Motherboard: TBD (mATX)

Power supply: TBD based on the GPU

RAM: DDR3 16GB

Processor: i7-2600k

 

 

 

So LTT's community, what's the overall answer! Thank-you guys so damn much for all the feedback in advance. I've been out of the PC building game for well over two years now.

the 980 demands a large jump in price for the arguably small jump in performance it gives...

 

It is no doubt faster, but personally i think the 970 is where its at...

(I dont want to be that guy that recommends completely random cards, but the 290 here in Norway is dirt cheap, so it might be worth taking a look at that as well)

[MattGameDev]

I should have added (and maybe i will) that AMD is not an option. I've an NVIDIA fan 

[incarnate]

The evga 970 ftw edition nips at the heels of the reference 980, the performance is that close between the two models. The price is far and way higher than that performance gap, especially in Canada. I'd recommend either a 970 g1 gaming from gigabyte or the ftw+ or ssc from evga. The 970 is just too close to the 980 in performance

[MattGameDev]

The evga 970 ftw edition nips at the heels of the reference 980, the performance is that close between the two models. The price is far and way higher than that performance gap, especially in Canada. I'd recommend either a 970 g1 gaming from gigabyte or the ftw+ or ssc from evga. The 970 is just too close to the 980 in performance

 

That's what i've seen as well, i just didn't know if driver updates or firmware updates may make the GTX980 better in the long run. I've been looking at the EVGA SSC and the MSI TwinFrozr cards the most (for cooling/noise). Asus was also an option.

[incarnate]

That's what i've seen as well, i just didn't know if driver updates or firmware updates may make the GTX980 better in the long run. I've been looking at the EVGA SSC and the MSI TwinFrozr cards the most (for cooling/noise). Asus was also an option.

The two graphics cards are the same gpu chip (the 970 being slightly cut down) so drivers will improve both roughly equally

[MattGameDev]

The two graphics cards are the same gpu chip (the 970 being slightly cut down) so drivers will improve both roughly equally

 

Ahhh gotcha. So would it be worth while to get a power supply that could handle two GTX970's if i ever decide to upgrade the later on? Seeing how DX12 could possibly share VRAM between GPU's, that could smoke a 980 out of the water.

[incarnate]

Ahhh gotcha. So would it be worth while to get a power supply that could handle two GTX970's if i ever decide to upgrade the later on? Seeing how DX12 could possibly share VRAM between GPU's, that could smoke a 980 out of the water.

Definitely, higher wattage power supplies aren't much more expensive and I don't think you'd need more than a 750w if you get a quality one

[MattGameDev]

Definitely, higher wattage power supplies aren't much more expensive and I don't think you'd need more than a 750w if you get a quality one

 

I've already got an OCZ 1000W PS Gold cert. from my existing ATX build which has been nothing short of fantastic.

[MattGameDev]

If you want bang for buck you're looking on the wrong team.

But... 970 if you don't plan on going 4K.

 

I never really planned on going 4K, as i don't see it being worth it for a mATX machine.

[incarnate]

I've already got an OCZ 1000W PS Gold cert. from my existing ATX build which has been nothing short of fantastic.

Then you already have a psu that could handle sli 970s

[AsGoodAsAHacker]

Bang for buck? Your looking for team red. For team green, 970. The 980 is waaaaay overpriced. For example a good 980 is the same price as a 295x2. Don't let people say, "her, becuz 980 is bettur yur upgrayde in future" 1200$ for 980 sli is rediculous. Not to mention nvidia cards are not much better than amd at all for heat production this year. My 290 does not run at 95c. It runs at 72c. I have two of them, xf. So I would consider either a 970 or a 290x or 295x2

[MattGameDev]

Then you already have a psu that could handle sli 970s

 

Indeed!

 

Bang for buck? Your looking for team red. For team green, 970. The 980 is waaaaay overpriced. For example a good 980 is the same price as a 295x2. Don't let people say, "her, becuz 980 is bettur yur upgrayde in future" 1200$ for 980 sli is rediculous. Not to mention nvidia cards are not much better than amd at all for heat production this year. My 290 does not run at 95c. It runs at 72c. I have two of them, xf. So I would consider either a 970 or a 290x or 295x2

 

 

Seems most people are expressing the 970 is the best way to go. I've had recommendations for AMD cards, but i'm not a fan personally (nothing against them, just always had NVIDIA).

[Briggsy]

I voted 980 simply because neither are really a good bang for the bird in Canada, but you can get a 980 for 600-650 CAD on NCIX if you catch a good deal, while the 970 always seems to be in the 400-500 dollar range at least.

[MattGameDev]

I voted 980 simply because neither are really a good bang for the bird in Canada, but you can get a 980 for 600-650 CAD on NCIX if you catch a good deal, while the 970 always seems to be in the 400-500 dollar range at least.

 

Yeah, the Canadian dollar has dropped so damn much. I kinda wish i knew someone going to the US so they could pick me up one down there for cheaper.

[Briggsy]

Yeah, the Canadian dollar has dropped so damn much. I kinda wish i knew someone going to the US so they could pick me up one down there for cheaper.

 

I just checked out of curiosity. At the current CAD/USD exchange rate the prices are pretty close. The Canadian dollar has increased by 5 cents USD since March, which seems to be helping.

 

currently, a 980 for $650 CAD is $540 USD, and a 970 for $380 CAD is $315 USD... so the prices aren't as far off as I was thinking before. I changed my vote because the 970 prices are coming down (In Canada).

[MattGameDev]

I just checked out of curiosity. At the current CAD/USD exchange rate the prices are pretty close. The Canadian dollar has increased by 5 cents USD since March, which seems to be helping.

 

currently, a 980 for $650 CAD is $540 USD, and a 970 for $380 CAD is $315 USD... so the prices aren't as far off as I was thinking before. I changed my vote because the 970 prices are coming down.

 

I think the fact that the 970 prices are coming down means that people are voting for the 970. Not to mention, it's very close performance wise to the 980 and two of those bad boys in an SLI config would rock a 980's world.

[Aphala]

For the money: 970

For the epeen: 980

 

[insert genetic 3.5/4 joke here] Couldn't have a thread without one ?

 

But yeah Price wise probably 970 since there is minimal performance boost from 970 to 980.

[Kinda Bottlenecked]

[insert genetic 3.5/4 joke here] Couldn't have a thread without one ?

 

But yeah Price wise probably 970 since there is minimal performance boost from 970 to 980.

 

Well its essentially a 980 

Just a tad bit lazier 

[MattGameDev]

Well its essentially a 980 

Just a tad bit lazier 

 

So, you could say it's a limp 980? 

[R_Golden]

So, you could say it's a limp 980?

Lol

[MattGameDev]

Lol

 

Penis puns. Nothing better.

 

On-topic: Looks like the 970 is winning by a landslide. I guess that's what i'm going with!