Different 1080 Ti designs - which one to pick?

[alexander.o]

Hey, looking for a used 1080 Ti, and I'm unsure which model to pick. Don't need a Galax HOF type 1080 Ti, but looking for something better than a MSI Armor design. A midrange design in other words. Either a B-rank or a C-rank design from the LTT GPU VRM/Cooling list. I've had good experience with EVGA cards, and I do have a slight EVGA bias. 

 

Thinking about a) the ROG Strix one, b) The MSI Gaming X one, or c) the EVGA SC2 one.

 

All around the same price. Which one would you choose? Or does anyone have any other suggestions for card designs that I might want to have a look at?

 

Thanks in advance to all who answer!

[Levent]

I would pick the Strix one. I know for a fact that there is a modded bios that allows higher power draw thus more overclocking for it (if you want to). Pick either one, none of them are bad choices imo.

[alexander.o]

1 minute ago, Levent said:

I would pick the Strix one. I know for a fact that there is a modded bios that allows higher power draw thus more overclocking for it (if you want to). Pick either one, none of them are bad choices imo.

Thanks for that info! Do you know if the Strix card is dual BIOS?

[FRD]

I personally would choose the ROG Strix one. Nice RGB, not over the top, 3 fans and clean design.

EVGA SC2 would be my second choice, but I actually like the FTW ACX design more, which is the one I have. It's just more neat looking and nicer RGB.

MSI is my least favorite, but I found that a lot of people like this one. It's too simple for me and your PC has to match the red/black combo to make it stand out I think. For the EVGA and Asus, the grey or black pretty much always matches.

 

Other nice 1080 Ti designs are the white Gigabyte one, MSI Gaming X Trio, Gigabyte Aorus and Gainward Phoenix. And finally the Inno3D X4 Ultra. One of the craziest designs for the GTX 1000 line up, using a total of 4 fans on the card.

[alexander.o]

Just now, FRD said:

I personally would choose the ROG Strix one. Nice RGB, not over the top, 3 fans and clean design.

EVGA SC2 would be my second choice, but I actually like the FTW ACX design more, which is the one I have. It's just more neat looking and nicer RGB.

MSI is my least favorite, but I found that a lot of people like this one. It's too simple for me and your PC has to match the red/black combo to make it stand out I think. For the EVGA and Asus, the grey or black pretty much always matches.

 

Other nice 1080 Ti designs are the white Gigabyte one, MSI Gaming X Trio, Gigabyte Aorus and Gainward Phoenix. And finally the Inno3D X4 Ultra. One of the craziest designs for the GTX 1000 line up, using a total of 4 fans on the card.

The Strix one fits well as there are a lot more out there, on the market. Would you say around 750$ is a fair price (6000 NOK)?

 

Thanks for the detailed answer though!

[For Science!]

I have 2x Strix and quite happy with them, I don't think they have dual bios (more of an EVGA feature iirc). From the two, I think the strix -> EVGA -> Msi are my preference order

[Levent]

4 minutes ago, alexander.o said:

Thanks for that info! Do you know if the Strix card is dual BIOS?

I don't think so, I believe EVGA Kingpin and FTW3 ones should have one.

[alexander.o]

Just now, Levent said:

I don't think so, I believe EVGA Kingpin and FTW3 ones should have one.

Yeah I'd personally get a FTW3 card, but I can never find them for sale in Norway, so I'd rather get a Strix card then.

 

So I'll go with the Strix card. Is it advisable to repaste/repad Strix 1080Ti  cards (are the factory paste/pads bad)?

[Levent]

Just now, alexander.o said:

Yeah I'd personally get a FTW3 card, but I can never find them for sale in Norway, so I'd rather get a Strix card then.

 

So I'll go with the Strix card. Is it advisable to repaste/repad Strix 1080Ti  cards (are the factory paste/pads bad)?

It's a while its out of the case sort of thing for me. I usually always repaste my cards when they are new to me or out of my case.

[SavageNeo]

2 minutes ago, alexander.o said:

Is it advisable to repaste/repad Strix 1080Ti  cards (are the factory paste/pads bad)?

if they have not been repasted before, then yes repaste them. but first test that it works and record temps using superposition benchmark and msi afterburner for example.

after rapeaste do that again

[alexander.o]

Just now, Levent said:

It's a while its out of the case sort of thing for me. I usually always repaste my cards when they are new to me or out of my case.

That was my plan, yep. Anything else I should be careful about/know about the card/generation (anything nice to know about the 1080 Ti)?

[alexander.o]

Just now, SavageNeo said:

if they have not been repasted before, then yes repaste them. but first test that it works and record temps using superposition benchmark and msi afterburner for example.

after rapeaste do that again

Good idea. I was going to repaste it with Kryonaut, but wondering if the card is known for having bad factory paste

[alexander.o]

On 5/18/2021 at 3:45 PM, Levent said:

It's a while its out of the case sort of thing for me. I usually always repaste my cards when they are new to me or out of my case.

I decided to get a Gaming X Trio instead. Bought in november 2017 and was used lighty since then according to the seller. Was local and a nice deal. 

Repasted with Kryonaut (I'm quite sure I used wayyy too much, it was 99% perfect and I needed 0.1 grams more but I accidentaly put a huge blob on the GPU), results after the temperature had stabilized in Furmark at 8x MSAA and 1080p windowed:

 

 

Before: 66C and 1911 MHz boost with power limit cranked to 117%, otherwise fully stock. 60% on the fans. 

After: 57C and 1923 MHz boost, with power limit cranked to 117%, otherwise fully stock. 60% fan speed. 

 

Quite a nice bump. 

 

Overall very happy with the 1080 Ti, runs all games at Ultra at over 60 fps on my 1440p monitor.