Which gtx 980 card is the best?

[CatCloud]

Does gtx 980 even need a waterblock custom watercooling?

What? waterblock`? 

 

WC is only needed if your going for dead silence and/or Beast OC IMO.

[Commander_Z]

strix 980

[Dango]

yeah I think both are pretty good looking and good quality too.

Im planning on doing a custom water cooling on my build. Would that change on my choice of which one to get?

I will be buying the GPU waterplate so does that mean the reference version is better for me?

or Would I still be able to utilize the non-reference card's advantages

Watercool.....well you need a reference PCB. Ether the MSI nor Gigabyte are reference design....

[khchewy]

The EVGA ACX 2.0 cards are based on a reference PCB, just don't get the classified, that isn't

I'm stuck in the same quandary as well - I'm leaning towards a reference EVGA 980 - because of WC warranty, as well as that sexy backplate and reference cooler

But still, being in Australia, sometimes you get good deals overseas - like on amazon, the acx 2.0 is a mad deal for us australians right now

But yeah

 

Does anyone know if the cards clocked higher at stock have any indication of their overclocking potential? Or does silicon lottery disregard silly peasant factory overclocks?

[EeveeTechTips]

Watercool.....well you need a reference PCB. Ether the MSI nor Gigabyte are reference design....

yeah I kinda meant

if I should either go the route of custom watercooling the reference card

or just go for the non reference MSI or gigabyte one

I will be doing custom waterloop on my cpu regardless

[EeveeTechTips]

The EVGA ACX 2.0 cards are based on a reference PCB, just don't get the classified, that isn't

I'm stuck in the same quandary as well - I'm leaning towards a reference EVGA 980 - because of WC warranty, as well as that sexy backplate and reference cooler

But still, being in Australia, sometimes you get good deals overseas - like on amazon, the acx 2.0 is a mad deal for us australians right now

But yeah

 

Does anyone know if the cards clocked higher at stock have any indication of their overclocking potential? Or does silicon lottery disregard silly peasant factory overclocks?

yeah Im gonna be doing a custom waterloop on my cpu probably

So I wanted to figure out if I should do one on my gpu as well

OR go for the non-reference gigabyte one and save a little bit of money? dunno

[EeveeTechTips]

strix 980

Ive been seeing multiple reviews on different 980 and strix seems like a mediocre one. You can get MSI one for the same price which IMO is superior or pay $30 more for gigabyte g1

[Commander_Z]

Ive been seeing multiple reviews on different 980 and strix seems like a mediocre one. You can get MSI one for the same price which IMO is superior or pay $30 more for gigabyte g1

mediocre how???

 

im looking at the 970 strix at christmas, upgrading from my 660 SC

[jezza39]

mediocre how???

 

im looking at the 970 strix at christmas, upgrading from my 660 SC

 

This. Never underestimate 0RPM fans, they are legit amazing.

 

Back on topic, the reference cooler >>> everything else, they're quiet, and fucking beautiful.

[bomerr]

mediocre how???

 

im looking at the 970 strix at christmas, upgrading from my 660 SC

Doesn't it only have 1 8 pin power plug?

[ChaosGoW]

mediocre how???

 

im looking at the 970 strix at christmas, upgrading from my 660 SC

I got 2 Strix 980s in my Node 804. Both of them running at 1400Mhz core constantly. Not only is that a pretty nice overclock, it's not exactly loud. I 100% recommend the Strix cards based on actually owning them and playing with them.

 

There difference between coolers isn't that huge, especially since maxwell has such a great TDP. Extra power support for the GPU does allow for a potentially higher overclock, sure, but to reach that point you're limited by the silicon lottery and if heat is causing that much of an issue because your clocks are too high you should water cool anyway.

[Commander_Z]

Doesn't it only have 1 8 pin power plug?

 

the 970 does yes, my 660 has a 6 pin

[bomerr]

I got 2 Strix 980s in my Node 804. Both of them running at 1400Mhz core constantly. Not only is that a pretty nice overclock, it's not exactly loud. I 100% recommend the Strix cards based on actually owning them and playing with them.

 

There difference between coolers isn't that huge, especially since maxwell has such a great TDP. Extra power support for the GPU does allow for a potentially higher overclock, sure, but to reach that point you're limited by the silicon lottery and if heat is causing that much of an issue because your clocks are too high you should water cool anyway.

needs more overlock.

 

1550 = amazing

1500 = good

1450 = acceptable

1400 = poor