EVGA ACX 2.0 ?

[bostonstapler]

Im looking to buy a gtx 970 from evga using EVGA bucks. Im inclined to go with a non referance cooler such as a ACX model. But so far im reading reviews where it states the ACX 2.0 cooler is louder than the competition like the asus , msi or windforce from gigabyte. And on its own is still loud. Even youtube videos demonstrated the whine noise. I understand its supposed to be better than the ACX 1.0 version, but it has less heatpipes, it seems less beefy, and it only has " better fans " . Right now im using a gtx 670 windforce, its silent yes, but mostly because it has 3 fans over a large heatsink the size of a gtx 680. Basically its overbuilt. The EVGA cooler is only as big as needed therefore making it smaller than the competion thus making it louder in theory under load. ( smaller fans , less heatsink material ) . The ball bearings dont help either. Sure they offer a better lifespan, but they are also louder than fluid dynamic thingy bearings.

 

Basically id like an asus gtx 970 because its 0db in idle and because its quieter under load while offering equal cooling performance. But its also less classy ( bigger and more toy like ) than the look of the EVGA gtx 970 ACX 2.0 and I wont be able to utilize my 230$ evga bucks and get a ridiculous rebate. 

 

What do you guys think ? If you have experience with the ACX cooler, version 1 vs version 2, is there a mod to make the fans quieter like adding oil to the fan bearings ? Or I should just tell myself its going to be better than the blower style cooler anyways by a long shot and not worry about it and buy the damn card ? Or is it just as loud and as good as the competition ?

 

Just make me feel good about buying an EVGA ACX 2.0 card, so I can justify buying one with less regrets : )

 

THANKS !!

[CowsGoRoar]

It's not the bearings that make noise, it's just the size of it. The ACX 2.0 has smaller fans which are louder, because you have to spin them faster to achieve the same cooling than if you were to have bigger fans and run them slower. The noise of the airflow is louder than the bearings.

 

If you like the green LED GEFORCE GTX logo on the side and it matches your build, I would recommend the ref. cooler.

[Sexy Vanilla Freshness]

Taking into account the EVGA bucks, I'd definitely get a card from them.

 

I'd buy the reference card, it's sexy as fuck and the reference cooler is more than capable of cooling that core.

 

The ACX will be quieter under load if your case has good airflow and moves the heat it blows everywhere out quickly.

[Enderman]

It has ball bearing fans. Ball bearing fans are extremely loud compared to sleeve or hydraulic bearings.

I would rather go with the ASUS strix...

[Faceman]

Go with EVGA. They stand behind their products better than any other company. The whine noise goes away after some break-in use. Happened with my 780 w/ ACX. It takes a month of regular use and the whine noise goes away altogether.

[mr.skyrim_pc]

Im looking to get a 970 too and Im probably gonna get the gigabyte windforce one. It has the biggest overclock and I think it is the best looking.

[Excon]

Why not get another Gigabyte if you had good experiences with them?

[Rheinwasser]

the evga cooler isnt the best, true. but it looks amazing.

and their support is super super amazing.

[bostonstapler]

because i can get a GTX 970 from evga for 110$  and im more loyal to EVGA than gigabyte, I owned more EVGA than GIGABYTE. Truth be told, I got GIGABYTE cards because on launch day thats the only card I could get at my local computer store. And the other GTX 670's were msi's with a plastic blower and asus dcu2 for 60$ more. 

 

It's not the bearings that make noise, it's just the size of it. The ACX 2.0 has smaller fans which are louder, because you have to spin them faster to achieve the same cooling than if you were to have bigger fans and run them slower. The noise of the airflow is louder than the bearings.

 

If you like the green LED GEFORCE GTX logo on the side and it matches your build, I would recommend the ref. cooler.

 

The reference cooler with green led's is only for the gtx 980 no ? GTX 970 has no refernce cooler, EVGA has a blower model but with a plastic blower. Nothing fancy like the magnesium coolers

[CowsGoRoar]

I got mixed with another thread and thought you were getting the GTX 980. I would still use the reference cooler because I wanna try out a blower style cooler.

[bostonstapler]

The problem with the blower style coolers is evident in almost all the gtx maxwell reviews. They all reach a max of 80 *C ( I think because nvidia limits the temperature to 80 degrees ? ) fairly easily with lets say 39db. But with a custom cooler you get max 65 *C at = or less than 39db.