Should I use step-up?

[aduman]

I've just seen the official benchmarks of 980. Performance is better than a 780Ti on stock clocks. It's not far better but still better. And looking at the TDP this card can oc like a motherfucker...

 

Should I participate in step-up? I'm in EU and still have 85 days left on the program.

 

I'd really appreciate your advices, thank you.

 

EDIT: What bothers me is I'll be stepping up from classified 780tis. I'd appreciate it if you could focus on this issue.

[TheSLSAMG]

Definitely, if you want it, step up.

[Najuno]

All I can tell you I will do, the EVGA Step-Up is awesome .

[ganondorf eve]

wait the 80 days or so and see if it gets cheaper

[aduman]

Definitely, if you want it, step up.

 

 

All I can tell you I will do, the EVGA Step-Up is awesome .

 

I'm in EU though, would this be an issue? Btw, my cards are currently more expensive than 980s price. This is really confusing.

 

I've bought these cards because of a deal I've got when my 590 broke.  Normally I was going to wait for the new releases...

[skullbringer]

WAIT for official benchmarks, as of now its all rumors.

If the 980 really performs that well, then why not

 

 

I'm in EU though, would this be an issue?

 

You can check out the EVGA website, its available in the EU

[aduman]

WAIT for official benchmarks, as of now its all rumors.

If the 980 really performs that well, then why not

 

I always do that and never trust these ones but it looks like they are accurate.

[Najuno]

I always do that and never trust these ones but it looks like they are accurate.

 

We will see tomorrow, but I have to admit this is very tempting. If these leaks are true believe it or not for me it will be worth to get rid of my GTX780 Ti 2way SLI and get a three way GTX980 SLI.

I'm anyways most of the time on the bleeding edge of hardware. My watercooling config is alreday set for a 3 way GPU setup and could handle easily a 4 way GPU setup, but I don't see that happening since the scaling wasn't that great with 4 cards in the last gens.

 

But I would really want to see first in real benchmarks how SLI scales with GM204 and higher resolution than 1080p. Because I am running 4K and this is really hardware hungry.

[aduman]

We will see tomorrow, but I have to admit this is very tempting. If these leaks are true believe it or not for me it will be worth to get rid of my GTX780 Ti 2way SLI and get a three way GTX980 SLI.

I'm anyways most of the time on the bleeding edge of hardware. My watercooling config is alreday set for a 3 way GPU setup and could handle easily a 4 way GPU setup, but I don't see that happening since the scaling wasn't that great with 4 cards in the last gens.

 

But I would really want to see first in real benchmarks how SLI scales with GM204 and higher resolution than 1080p. Because I am running 4K and this is really hardware hungry.

 

The cards being classified versions is holding me back. I'll have to step up to reference versions IIRC and this would kinda hurt my feelings, what do you think?

[aduman]

@TheSLSAMG, @Najuno, @skullbringer

 

Could you please give me some info about the step up concept? Have you ever used it? Current cards available to step up to in EU are basically step down for me

[Najuno]

EVGA´s Step-Up is a way to go from a last gen or lower tier GPU to a highend. That means after the purchase of the card you register the product on the EVGA site. That means if you do not have an account there, you need to create one. They are asking when and where you bought the card. After that you are qualified with certain cards for the Step-Up and all the awesome EVGA customer service.

 

I do not know at this point if a GTX780Ti is qualified for a Step-Up for the upcoming GTX980. If it is then you have to decide within 90 days after the purchase if you want to step up. Usually you have to send your card with the box back pay the step up fee and get in exchange the new card.

 

I will write an email to EVGA tomorrow, if the GTX780Ti is within this step up program. If it is I will give you more details, but let´s see first how good the GTX980 is .

[aduman]

EVGA´s Step-Up is a way to go from a last gen or lower tier GPU to a highend. That means after the purchase of the card you register the product on the EVGA site. That means if you do not have an account there, you need to create one. They are asking when and where you bought the card. After that you are qualified with certain cards for the Step-Up and all the awesome EVGA customer service.

 

I do not know at this point if a GTX780Ti is qualified for a Step-Up for the upcoming GTX980. If it is then you have to decide within 90 days after the purchase if you want to step up. Usually you have to send your card with the box back pay the step up fee and get in exchange the new card.

 

I will write an email to EVGA tomorrow, if the GTX780Ti is within this step up program. If it is I will give you more details, but let´s see first how good the GTX980 is .

 

Thanks again Najuno, as helpful as always...  I'll be waiting for your input.

[JDS]

Mine expired 3 days ago...

[revl8er]

I've got til October 20th for my 780, but I have to purchase a warranty since I didn't register it within the alotted time.  I just got another 780 today that I'm going to step up also so I can have a nice sli configuration.

[aduman]

Mine expired 3 days ago...

 

Damn, that sucks man...

[aduman]

I've got til October 20th for my 780, but I have to purchase a warranty since I didn't register it within the alotted time.  I just got another 780 today that I'm going to step up also so I can have a nice sli configuration.

 

What do you think about stepping up from classies?

[winningsince1337]

If benchmarks determine they are really better, than go for it. Depending on the MSRP and what you paid, you might not have to pay a dime for the upgrade.

[revl8er]

The 980 is better, but you won't be able to get anything except reference. I would do it because I'm not going to oc yet and if I do I'll buy a cooler for it.

[Najuno]

Aight man,

 

bad news. I called them and the GK110 isn´t available for Step-Up.

 

They couldn´t tell me if there will be a change made in the program but at this time it seems like EVGA will not take back any 780Ti s and give you for a moderate fee a GTX 980. I´ve already sold one of my GTX 780 Ti s today and I´m looking now for selling the other one as well, I will sell it with all its watercooling gimicks and maybe I´ll put a EK360mm rad on top of it.

 

Depending on you financial situation I would not necessarily upgrade. For me it is more that I´ve got the extra money and I want to be on the bleeding edge of technology.

 

I´ve got a Microcenter around here and I will see if they´ve got a EVGA GTX980 there. SC isn´t really a requirement for me, I watercool them anyways.

[aduman]

Aight man,

 

bad news. I called them and the GK110 isn´t available for Step-Up.

 

They couldn´t tell me if there will be a change made in the program but at this time it seems like EVGA will not take back any 780Ti s and give you for a moderate fee a GTX 980. I´ve already sold one of my GTX 780 Ti s today and I´m looking now for selling the other one as well, I will sell it with all its watercooling gimicks and maybe I´ll put a EK360mm rad on top of it.

 

Depending on you financial situation I would not necessarily upgrade. For me it is more that I´ve got the extra money and I want to be on the bleeding edge of technology.

 

I´ve got a Microcenter around here and I will see if they´ve got a EVGA GTX980 there. SC isn´t really a requirement for me, I watercool them anyways.

 

Thanks man. That sucks... Now I don't know what to do. I guess I'll have to sell them somehow, since they are discontinued the value should drop quickly. Better sell 'em asap.

 

I trusted EVGA when I bought these. I've never thought they would do something like this

 

PS: Is there any benefit if I use a non-reference PCB instead of a reference when watercooling? Talking about 980.

[Najuno]

Thanks man. That sucks... Now I don't know what to do. I guess I'll have to sell them somehow, since they are discontinued the value should drop quickly. Better sell 'em asap.

 

I trusted EVGA when I bought these. I've never thought they would do something like this

 

PS: Is there any benefit if I use a non-reference PCB instead of a reference when watercooling? Talking about 980.

 

Ok so I just came back from Microcenter... too bad that the EVGAs were sold out, but I couldn´t resist .

 

 

I had to get my hands on them. Now I will strip down my water cooling loop ( good thing that I use 2 so CPU stays perfectly fine) and put these bad boys in my case. I will get 2 heatsinks as soon as I can that I´m able to watercool these as well and OC as hard as they go .

 

To your question, I think it is better to get a reference design and reference PCB because in terms of availability of water cooling heatsinks. Sure EVGA will always release a classy version or SC version with a watercooler, but these aren´t EKs. And I want mine from EK.

 

Edit: I sold one of my GTX780Ti s for 350 USD and I try to get the same for the other one. Your classified will probably sell for a little bit more than my SC versions.

[aduman]

Ok so I just came back from Microcenter... too bad that the EVGAs were sold out, but I couldn´t resist .

 

 

I had to get my hands on them. Now I will strip down my water cooling loop ( good thing that I use 2 so CPU stays perfectly fine) and put these bad boys in my case. I will get 2 heatsinks as soon as I can that I´m able to watercool these as well and OC as hard as they go .

 

To your question, I think it is better to get a reference design and reference PCB because in terms of availability of water cooling heatsinks. Sure EVGA will always release a classy version or SC version with a watercooler, but these aren´t EKs. And I want mine from EK.

 

Edit: I sold one of my GTX780Ti s for 350 USD and I try to get the same for the other one. Your classified will probably sell for a little bit more than my SC versions.

 

Damn, you are quick.  Thanks for the post. Lovely boxes mate... Hope they OC nicely. I'll sell my Tis and get 980s from EVGA. New Hydrocoppers are made by EK btw. But I'll probably get separate blocks from EK.

[Norman_the_Owl]

Thanks man. That sucks... Now I don't know what to do. I guess I'll have to sell them somehow, since they are discontinued the value should drop quickly. Better sell 'em asap.

 

I trusted EVGA when I bought these. I've never thought they would do something like this

 

PS: Is there any benefit if I use a non-reference PCB instead of a reference when watercooling? Talking about 980.

Use reference PCBs, it's a lot easier to get waterblocks for reference PCBs. 

 

I know EK has no back stock for most non reference PCBs, and makes them too order for pretty expensive

[Najuno]

Damn, you are quick.  Thanks for the post. Lovely boxes mate... Hope they OC nicely. I'll sell my Tis and get 980s from EVGA. New Hydrocoppers are made by EK btw. But I'll probably get separate blocks from EK.

 

Yeah I´m looking for the nickel acrylic ones. Pretty much the same that I had on the GTX780 Ti s.