Reference GTX 780 vs. Non-Reference

[JDS]

As the title suggests, which card would suit my scenario the best.  Firstly, I am using an NZXT H440 case, with moderately adequate cooling, and there is more than enough room for the actual card.  I am looking specifically at the EVGA Superclock GTX 780 with ACX.  How would this cards cooling really differ from the blower type cooling in the reference? And because my case is smaller, would it be smart to choose the blower cooling rather than disperse heat into my other components? 

[Izaya Orihara]

Th H440 has plenty of space. Get the ACX one. It will do a better job. 

[CowsGoRoar]

It has enough space. The graphics card is probably the only thing that will heat up the most anyway. The ACX cooler is one of the best non-ref cooler, so I highly recommend you get the non-ref.

[AMD Lover]

My ACX 780 heats my 4770 on an H100i to around 50°C when the GPU ONLY is folding and i have a 750D. Its up to you, i would pick the ACX anyways just because i like those Mhz

[JDS]

My ACX 780 heats my 4770 on an H100i to around 50°C when the GPU ONLY is folding and i have a 750D. Its up to you, i would pick the ACX anyways just because i like those Mhz

How impossible would it be get the extra Mhz. by overclocking a reference card?  Also, wouldn't blowing the heat to the back of the case be more beneficial? 

[AMD Lover]

Uh not at all i think Linus got like a high 13ØØMhz range or maybe 14ØØMhz range on his reference card. idk you can check his OC doc. You CAN get very good reference cards its just more LIKELY that you will get an OKAY to GREAT card when you buy non-reference. idk what you mean by that last sentence but my SouthBridge "Chipset" gets really hot when my GPU is going. Doesnt hurt it but i still dont like it.

 

 

I would go with a ACX card. If you really want a blower style i believe the PCB is actually the same layout so you could buy a reference cooler on eBay for $30 and slap it on there

[JDS]

Uh not at all i think Linus got like a high 13ØØMhz range or maybe 14ØØMhz range on his reference card. idk you can check his OC doc. You CAN get very good reference cards its just more LIKELY that you will get an OKAY to GREAT card when you buy non-reference. idk what you mean by that last sentence but my SouthBridge "Chipset" gets really hot when my GPU is going. Doesnt hurt it but i still dont like it.

 

 

I would go with a ACX card. If you really want a blower style i believe the PCB is actually the same layout so you could buy a reference cooler on eBay for $30 and slap it on there

Upon further investigation, I fell across the Galaxy GTX 780 HOF.  What do you think of that card?

[AMD Lover]

Upon further investigation, I fell across the Galaxy GTX 780 HOF.  What do you think of that card?

Cant find it for sale anywhere but cool. Looks like it had good reviews

[MonkeyFace]

Upon further investigation, I fell across the Galaxy GTX 780 HOF.  What do you think of that card?

 

That card is absolutely worthless at $699. You might as well buy a 780ti.  

 

Back to the original question...ACX cooler is fantastic for keeping things cool and relatively quiet. It's not going to give you more or less overclocking ability than reference cooler though.   

[TacticlTwinkie]

Also, wouldn't blowing the heat to the back of the case be more beneficial? 

It helps is very small form factor builds, like an itx build. But for regular mid tower builds, the open style coolers are more ideal. They cool a little better but spill that hot air into the case. Those bigger cases can have more, bigger fans, so the more hot air becomes a non-issue.

[Ahimoth]

ACX, reference PCB design, nice cooler, easy to install.

[PillowSmoke]

As the title suggests, which card would suit my scenario the best.  Firstly, I am using an NZXT H440 case, with moderately adequate cooling, and there is more than enough room for the actual card.  I am looking specifically at the EVGA Superclock GTX 780 with ACX.  How would this cards cooling really differ from the blower type cooling in the reference? And because my case is smaller, would it be smart to choose the blower cooling rather than disperse heat into my other components? 

 

Well, I'd recommend you get the acx cooler if you're going to go like 1 way, and then the reference cooler if you're going to be either water-cooling or doing a sli solution. But then again it's a personal preference, if you don't mind the slightly increased in temps with sli. 

[droidxd00d]

Acx or another non reference card. I love my Asus 780.