GTX 970 suggestions

[ScarisRacer]

Yes...despite the "ramgate" issues...I still want a GTX 970. But there are really only three brands that interest me: Asus, Gigabyte and EVGA.

 

Either one of these three, I'll be happy with. The only requirements I look for in this card, would be a backplate, low noise and great cooling. So which brand of the three would be the most recommended?

 

Oh, and my quick opinion on the whole ramgate thing...I couldn't give a flying monkeys! In fact, I will eventually get TWO of these and put them in SLI. Boom!

[themaniac]

Yes...despite the "ramgate" issues...I still want a GTX 970. But there are really only three brands that interest me: Asus, Gigabyte and EVGA.

 

Either one of these three, I'll be happy with. The only requirements I look for in this card, would be a backplate, low noise and great cooling. So which brand of the three would be the most recommended?

 

Oh, and my quick opinion on the whole ramgate thing...I couldn't give a flying monkeys! In fact, I will eventually get TWO of these and put them in SLI. Boom!

gigabyte g1 gaming gtx 970

[dadasmithywinkle]

Yes...despite the "ramgate" issues...I still want a GTX 970. But there are really only three brands that interest me: Asus, Gigabyte and EVGA.

 

Either one of these three, I'll be happy with. The only requirements I look for in this card, would be a backplate, low noise and great cooling. So which brand of the three would be the most recommended?

 

Oh, and my quick opinion on the whole ramgate thing...I couldn't give a flying monkeys! In fact, I will eventually get TWO of these and put them in SLI. Boom!

ASUS and Gigabyte are the only ones that have backplates. I like the look of the ASUS but the I/O of the Gigabyte. As for your comment about SLI, you do know that SLI doesn't double the VRAM, right?

[IP man]

Have you heard of Gainward? i really like their 970 card, its fast and runs cool/no noise. I do like ASUS tho

[Razzaa]

Yes...despite the "ramgate" issues...I still want a GTX 970. But there are really only three brands that interest me: Asus, Gigabyte and EVGA.

 

Either one of these three, I'll be happy with. The only requirements I look for in this card, would be a backplate, low noise and great cooling. So which brand of the three would be the most recommended?

 

Oh, and my quick opinion on the whole ramgate thing...I couldn't give a flying monkeys! In fact, I will eventually get TWO of these and put them in SLI. Boom!

G1 gaming. You can always mod the bios to have a 0db fan. There is a tutorial http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/275897-tutorial-how-to-make-your-980-970-have-a-0-fan-mode/ it is pretty simple.

[Dabombinable]

Yes...despite the "ramgate" issues...I still want a GTX 970. But there are really only three brands that interest me: Asus, Gigabyte and EVGA.

 

Either one of these three, I'll be happy with. The only requirements I look for in this card, would be a backplate, low noise and great cooling. So which brand of the three would be the most recommended?

 

Oh, and my quick opinion on the whole ramgate thing...I couldn't give a flying monkeys! In fact, I will eventually get TWO of these and put them in SLI. Boom!

Low noise doesn't really apply to Gigabyte's cards when you start to overclock as the fans are quite loud above 50%. The G1 Gaming does have a backplate however and cools brilliantly so it might meet your requirements (its a long card though so you need to check if your case will fit it).

[f5alcon]

How loud is your current card? I just upgraded from MSI twin forzr II 465 to a gigabyte 970 GTX and the new card despite being the loudest 970 is still quieter than the old card, I can't hear it over my system fans anyway.

[adamsjus1]

g1 gaming all the way. My buddy has one. its killer

[Dabombinable]

How loud is your current card? I just upgraded from MSI twin forzr II 465 to a gigabyte 970 GTX and the new card despite being the loudest 970 is still quieter than the old card, I can't hear it over my system fans anyway.

I can hear it over my current case fans (the noisy 120mm coolermaster that comes with my water cooler, 2x 120mm Xion at full speed). And its not the sound of airflow either but the noise of the motors themselves. And IMO, the fans themselves actually feel quite cheap considering the cards price(G1 Gaming).

[OnekillWalter]

im a recent gigabyte g1 gaming gtx 970 owner. i love it. yes i was dissappointed by the whole vram story but i can't ignore the fact of how good this card is. silent, backplate, great cooling.

 

its the longest 970 tho, make sure your case has enough space.

 

i finally achieve a pretty good overclock, imo, all things considered. 

[ScarisRacer]

ASUS and Gigabyte are the only ones that have backplates. I like the look of the ASUS but the I/O of the Gigabyte. As for your comment about SLI, you do know that SLI doesn't double the VRAM, right?

I know that one EVGA card has a backplate, the FTW+, but you can buy the backplate separately for some of the others. And I am fully aware that SLI doesn't double the VRAM. Admittedly, in the past, I thought it did

[dadasmithywinkle]

I know that one EVGA card has a backplate, the FTW+, but you can buy the backplate separately for some of the others. And I am fully aware that SLI doesn't double the VRAM. Admittedly, in the past, I thought it did

If you don't mind getting a backplate seperately, get the EVGA. I like their styling better.

[ScarisRacer]

If you don't mind getting a backplate seperately, get the EVGA. I like their styling better.

True, they do look very clean. Although, I can ONLY buy the separate backplate from EVGA directly. But the FTW+ has the backplate as standard I believe.

[ScarisRacer]

Have you heard of Gainward? i really like their 970 card, its fast and runs cool/no noise. I do like ASUS tho

I haven't really. I have just seen them on Scan and I'm not very keen on the I/O layout

 

Low noise doesn't really apply to Gigabyte's cards when you start to overclock as the fans are quite loud above 50%. The G1 Gaming does have a backplate however and cools brilliantly so it might meet your requirements (its a long card though so you need to check if your case will fit it).

I think the G1 Gaming would fit in the Carbide Air 540. But it might be a bit snug in there.

[Tacitus]

I haven't really. I have just seen them on Scan and I'm not very keen on the I/O layout

 

I think the G1 Gaming would fit in the Carbide Air 540. But it might be a bit snug in there.

 

I've been using a G1 gaming in an Air 540 since October. The experience has been great. The card fits in with room to spare, the stock case fans are noisier than the card itself at idle and even under load it is barely audible. Fans rarely spin up and temps never exceeded 65 degrees. The VRMs are also properly cooled, something often overlooked. It overclocks like a champ and has served me well at 1080p.

 

It's with some amount of regret it's going back, but I cannot afford SLI and want to do 5760x1080p. 

[f5alcon]

I can hear it over my current case fans (the noisy 120mm coolermaster that comes with my water cooler, 2x 120mm Xion at full speed). And its not the sound of airflow either but the noise of the motors themselves. And IMO, the fans themselves actually feel quite cheap considering the cards price(G1 Gaming).

 

Yeah you have less fans than me. I have a coolermaster HAF 912, I have two 200mm fans, 2 120mm fans and a 120mm CPU fan on my tuniq tower. I have a bunch of sound dampening material on order, so after installing that it will hopefully be a lot quieter. 

[ScarisRacer]

I've been using a G1 gaming in an Air 540 since October. The experience has been great. The card fits in with room to spare, the stock case fans are noisier than the card itself at idle and even under load it is barely audible. Fans rarely spin up and temps never exceeded 65 degrees. The VRMs are also properly cooled, something often overlooked. It overclocks like a champ and has served me well at 1080p.

 

It's with some amount of regret it's going back, but I cannot afford SLI and want to do 5760x1080p. 

Hmm...tempting.

 

Shame to hear you're sending yours back

[Tacitus]

Hmm...tempting.

 

Shame to hear you're sending yours back

 

In some ways yes, in some ways no. As I said, it's been a great card and I cannot complain. On the other hand, now that 290s are £200 and 290x's often as low as £230 it's hard to not have a little buyer's remorse

 

A pair of them will do me nicely and the money I save (versus 970 SLI) will pay for the third monitor. The vram issue is convenient for me haha.