SLI Configuration with GTX 980 ACX Type

[isdouble]

I'm thinking of going SLI route once my GTX 980 ACX arrives via Step Up Program but I am concerned with the temperature for the top card (roughly ~ 10C - 15C higher from what I searched) since the bottom card dumps hot air into the top.

So I was thinking of skipping my 2nd slot of GPU (3.0x16) and putting it into the 3rd slot (2.0x16).

Anyone know how much of a temperature improvement I will get over this?

 

Spec is in the signature.

 

Thanks.

[Samfisher]

Sure the temps would be 100-15c higher, but given how cool Maxwell runs anyway, the end temp isn't gonna be that high.  What motherboard are you using?  So you are leaving 1 PCIE slot in between the 2 cards?  Wouldn't make a ton of difference really.  The air still remains in the case.  Either get a blower style card or have very good air cooling in the case around the GPU area.

 

EDIT : Oh you're jumping all the way down to the last PCIE slot.  That's a PCIE 2.0 x4 slot so it will most definitely bottleneck on a 980.

[isdouble]

Sure the temps would be 100-15c higher, but given how cool Maxwell runs anyway, the end temp isn't gonna be that high.  What motherboard are you using?  So you are leaving 1 PCIE slot in between the 2 cards?  Wouldn't make a ton of difference really.  The air still remains in the case.  Either get a blower style card or have very good air cooling in the case around the GPU area.

 

EDIT : Oh you're jumping all the way down to the last PCIE slot.  That's a PCIE 2.0 x4 slot so it will most definitely bottleneck on a 980.

I have ASUS Sabertooth Mark 1 and I believe it has 2 3.0x16 PCIe, 1 2.0x16 PCIe and 3 2.0x1 PCIe.

[Samfisher]

I have ASUS Sabertooth Mark 1 and I believe it has 2 3.0x16 PCIe, 1 2.0x16 PCIe and 3 2.0x1 PCIe.

 

It should be alright, although it wouldn't make a ton of difference. Good airflow is still the most important aspect of having open air coolers.  10-15c isn't all that high considering Maxwell runs pretty cool anyway.