which GTX 970?

[ozlopez]

Im trying to decide what gtx 970 to get for PC upgrade/2nd build. I know I want to go with a 970, but whats the difference between all the different ones? I see slight base speed differences but dont really understand the importance/difference. Also, reference cards? Should I even consider or look at those? Why are they even sold if other companies make OC/"better" versions?

[Guest]

Get the Gigabyte G1, overall the best IMO.

[ozlopez]

Get the Gigabyte G1, overall the best IMO.

 

mind if i ask why you feel its the best one?

[Lewellyn]

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/274569-best-geforce-gtx-970/

 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/258351-poll-the-best-gtx-970/

 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/273982-is-the-evga-970-ftw-the-best/

 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/281034-best-970-non-reference-gpu/

 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/306488-best-gtx-970/

 

Including my posted link response to that one ^ :

 

http://www.overclock.net/t/1516121/gtx-970-comparison-strix-vs-msi-gaming-vs-gigabyte-g1

 

Personally I find the G1's minimum fan lock at 1550 RPM's to be too noisy at idle.

 

edit: 

https://forums.geforce.com/default/topic/803518/geforce-900-series/gtx-970-3-5gb-vram-issue/

 

https://forums.geforce.com/default/topic/803518/geforce-900-series/gtx-970-3-5gb-vram-issue/

[PTemplar]

I'd say you could either buy one on it's cooling performance or it's look. IMO cooling performance is much more important.

[Guest]

mind if i ask why you feel its the best one?

 

Runs the coolest, has a high out of the box clock rate and looks real good.

 

It is a bit loud and long but otherwise it is good.

[ozlopez]

 

edit: 

https://forums.geforce.com/default/topic/803518/geforce-900-series/gtx-970-3-5gb-vram-issue/

 

https://forums.geforce.com/default/topic/803518/geforce-900-series/gtx-970-3-5gb-vram-issue/

 

yeah, I've heard about this issue.. question on it tho. will overclocking the card help it handle better when using that much vram or will it make it worse, since its more strain?

[KamiKatze]

yeah, I've heard about this issue.. question on it tho. will overclocking the card help it handle better when using that much vram or will it make it worse, since its more strain?

 

The card is not powerful enough to output enough FPS at a resolution, where the VRAM throtteling would be happening. In other words, if you stay at a comfortable FPS range, the texture detail won't be high enough to fill up the cards VRAM.

 

But consider this: putting the GTX 970 in SLI will almost double the performance but not the amount of VRAM and you would more easily run into the VRAM issue.

 

This all depends a bit on what resolution you're playing on but you get my drift.

 

Overclocking won't change or help the VRAM issue, but overclocking is well worth it on graphics cards.

 

 

As for which 970 to choose: The Asus Strix has been a very popular model regarding silence and the Gigabyte G1 is a good overclocker. It usually overclocks 5-8% higher than the other cards.

[ozlopez]

The card is not powerful enough to output enough FPS at a resolution, where the VRAM throtteling would be happening. In other words, if you stay at a comfortable FPS range, the texture detail won't be high enough to fill up the cards VRAM.

 

But consider this: putting the GTX 970 in SLI will almost double the performance but not the amount of VRAM and you would more easily run into the VRAM issue.

 

This all depends a bit on what resolution you're playing on but you get my drift.

 

Overclocking won't change or help the VRAM issue, but overclocking is well worth it on graphics cards.

 

 

As for which 970 to choose: The Asus Strix has been a very popular model regarding silence and the Gigabyte G1 is a good overclocker. It usually overclocks 5-8% higher than the other cards.

 

As of right now I only have 1920x1080 monitors, so thats the resolution i'll be currently playing on. I've never OC a graphics card before, but as you (and others) said, its worth it so im curious to try it.. And eventually, i wouldnt mind getting higher resolution monitors as well. Which makes me concider the G1 for the I/O on it as well, compared to the Strix and others.

[KamiKatze]

As of right now I only have 1920x1080 monitors, so thats the resolution i'll be currently playing on. I've never OC a graphics card before, but as you (and others) said, its worth it so im curious to try it.. And eventually, i wouldnt mind getting higher resolution monitors as well. Which makes me concider the G1 for the I/O on it as well, compared to the Strix and others.

 

Yes, I/O is a true advantage of the G1 if you want to get more monitors.

 

Overclocking is pretty simple and safe, at least with graphics cards. just look around for a little guide, once the time has come.

 

So in this case I'd say go with the G1. The Zotac AMP! Extreme also has 3 displayports, just fyi. 

The Gigabyte card is also very versatile. In case you find it too loud, i have seen people rip off the original fans and put on noctua or bequiet fans using zip ties.

[ozlopez]

Yes, I/O is a true advantage of the G1 if you want to get more monitors.

 

Overclocking is pretty simple and safe, at least with graphics cards. just look around for a little guide, once the time has come.

 

So in this case I'd say go with the G1. The Zotac AMP! Extreme also has 3 displayports, just fyi. 

The Gigabyte card is also very versatile. In case you find it too loud, i have seen people rip off the original fans and put on noctua or bequiet fans using zip ties.

 

Do you know if it being "loud" is just due to the fans or is it more of coil whine?

[KamiKatze]

Do you know if it being "loud" is just due to the fans or is it more of coil whine?

 

THere have been some reports of minor coil whine all over the GTX 970 cards but i have had two of them and neither had coil whine. I think it's not an issue. Just test your card upon arrival.

 

The card being "loud" is probably more a matter of taste. I personally prefer everything that makes my PC more silent and the Gigabyte has a powerful cooler and small-ish light weight fans. This makes the noise that they're creating more high pitch than other cards'. The G1 cooler has improved slightly over the older Windforce 3X so i think it's good for most people, just not for me and the other 10% of silence freaks.

 

Actually compared to the reference design it's really quiet.

[ozlopez]

THere have been some reports of minor coil whine all over the GTX 970 cards but i have had two of them and neither had coil whine. I think it's not an issue. Just test your card upon arrival.

 

The card being "loud" is probably more a matter of taste. I personally prefer everything that makes my PC more silent and the Gigabyte has a powerful cooler and small-ish light weight fans. This makes the noise that they're creating more high pitch than other cards'. The G1 cooler has improved slightly over the older Windforce 3X so i think it's good for most people, just not for me and the other 10% of silence freaks.

 

Actually compared to the reference design it's really quiet.

 

well i do plan on doing some streaming too, so i dont want that getting picked up on the mic either, if it really is that loud lol.. damn all the stuff to consider! haha

[KamiKatze]

well i do plan on doing some streaming too, so i dont want that getting picked up on the mic either, if it really is that loud lol.. damn all the stuff to consider! haha

 

It won't be that loud. It's inside your PC too.

 

A reference R9 290X could be a problem for streaming, but a Gigabyte G1 isn't

[ozlopez]

It won't be that loud. It's inside your PC too.

 

A reference R9 290X could be a problem for streaming, but a Gigabyte G1 isn't

 

Awesome. I do have a friend that keeps says I should just grab the EVGA SSC 970, instead of a 3rd party card. Should I even consider that? Can those be OC'd like the others?

[KamiKatze]

Awesome. I do have a friend that keeps says I should just grab the EVGA SSC 970, instead of a 3rd party card. Should I even consider that? Can those be OC'd like the others?

 

That's also a good choice. it has 3 display ports. it can of course OC like the others. How far? idk. I also don't know how loud it is, but just read a review of it, it shouldn't be too bad.

[JonnyKennedy]

Asus Strix

[ozlopez]

That's also a good choice. it has 3 display ports. it can of course OC like the others. How far? idk. I also don't know how loud it is, but just read a review of it, it shouldn't be too bad.

 

Yeah ima look into it. I can get that one at my work so might get a discount on it, which makes it worth considering lol. As of right now its between that, the Strix, or the G1.