MoonDoggy-X

Judging by his interface he doesn't have mods.

Cap the game at 60fps in the Nvidia driver

Can you post your mod load order?
Also if Skyrim runs over 60fps the physics breaks so try enabling v-sync or an fps cap. This is what we have to thank for random flying mammoths.

You tried without sli ?

The truly BEST gaming monitor in all aspects is coming out in a few months. Two of them.
 
1300$ Acer x34 - 34inch, IPS, 3440x1440, 100hz + gsync 1300$ Asus pg348q - 34inch, IPS, 3440x1440, 100hz + gsync   Thats the best, no compromise. Since you asked.

It's doesn't do anything to fps, it basically creates smoother gameplay

with your cards G-sync isn't needed - you will be above 60 fps so just use V-sync to cap it and save some cash - maybe buy a cat - those are cool

How much of a fps hit is there with gsin
 
Hellz yeah Free sync is cheaper! I already have Nvidia cards, though...
 
How much of a hit to fps can I expect with gsync?

my bad i didnt even look

1440p 144hz imo is the sweetspot for gaming

He has 2 980s - not going to be an issue

1440p 144hz but..... you need to have gpus that can handle 144fps or close to it at that res.

1440p - 4K is not worth.
G-sync isn't really worth the extra 200$ when Free-sync is basically free.

1440p 144Hz is almost best. If you can get G-sync with it too then you have the best experience. 

Not really but you'll be saving on power consumption, heat and noise.

You could return both 980s and get a single 980ti

It's not too much stuggle but you have to be careful who you sell to, being second hand people have all sorts of complaints and will try blame you for anything

I have a Kraken x61 and a 4790k... 4.8ghz, no problem. I haven't tried higher yet.

The whole purpose of a backplate is to make the card more rigid -- reduce the PCB from flexing.
It can help cool the components on the back of the card, but in some situations, the backplate doesn't actually make contact with the components.
 
I probably would not get a backplate. You don't have a whole lot of space in between as it is -- adding one would just introduce MORE blockage.
 
For the fan to be the most effective, you want it very close to the GPU -- basically touching (or close to). Zip-Tie a case fan to the HDD cage.

 
 
Example, I have a 120 mm fan zip-tie'd in the top 5.25" drive bay (where you normally install DVD-RW drives, etc)
Also, you can see, with my motherboard, the PCI-E X16 slots are spaced more further apart for multi-GPU set-ups.
 

Spoiler

The cause for the higher temperature on the top GPU is due to the lack of spacing/separation between the two GPU's. The heat generated by the bottom GPU is rising (hot air rises) and heating up the top card.
 
Due to how your EVGA motherboard's PCI-E X16/X8 slots are arranged, you can't really do much...
 
You some-what help with the temperatures by "rigging" a fan to blow cool air in between the two GPU's. It won't look pretty though, especially since the NZXT 530 has a side window. The fan is helping force cool fresh air in between the cards.
 

Yep,I'd Rather Wait Then Get A Bad Prot Cough Batman Cough

DX12 most definably will help, how much so depends on the individual developers ability to use the new API.
However, just like DX11, its likely DX12 will only be adopted by a handful of games, those games will be the ones where the developers can justify creating 2 versions of the game for PC, DX9 and DX12. 
 
As for upgrading for the specific games ur current setup cant handle, I would say yes. Best time to upgrade is right after a flagship card has been released. The 980ti came out at the end of May iirc, so I'd say ur ok getting one still , the next generation of cards is likely going to come out some time next year, I would 'guestimate' Q2.
If the games u want better FPS in are ones ur playing a lot of and they are definably hampered by ur GPU's (check GPU usage) then yea go for it.

Every now and then u'll find people who seem to think that a SINGLE r9 390x, 780, 780ti, 970, 980, Fury X, Titan X , 980ti, are all overkill for 1080p gaming.
 
They are wrong.
 
There are indeed games, optimised or not, that can crush a single GPU setup and force FPS down below the 60 fps average threshold once you Max every setting and add MSAA (or other AA that isn't crappy FXAA or the like) at 1080p.
 
If you want 60fps + on all games at 1080p at max settings + AA, u need SLI 780/970 or better (IMO).
 
But it isn't recommended to do that, and spend all that money, for only a handful of games that do require that much grunt at 1080p, most games can be handled with a single high end GPU.
 
And remember we are still only talking average frame rates atm.... not minimums.

also entitlement. people seem to think their entitled to a card performing a single way...it never works like and never will.

So what you've said is that no one should buy a new 960 but instead buy bstock and second hand gpus?