GTX970 SLI vs GTX980 considering upcoming DX12 games

[zanna]

(I apologise in advance if I posted in the wrong thread or if the topic is repeated, I searched in the forum but I couldn't find an answer to my specific doubt)

 

hello everyone, 

I'm planning on building a gaming PC (I'll be ordering the components in the next 1-2 months --> http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Xdp3nQ) but I'm really uncertain about what GPU/s I should get. 

I'll be playing on a 1080p monitor for some time (until I can afford a better 1440p/144Hz panel) so I guess either of the options would be fine for the time being, so my main concern is wether I should get 2 GTX970s right out of the bat or one GTX980 now and upgrade later if needed, especially considering that DX12 will allow VRAM stacking (so, in theory, 2 GTX970 = 8 effective GB of VRAM). 

thanks in advance,
have a nice day   

 

[1Scotty1]

There is no proof that DX12 will stack VRAM, although I am keeping my fingers crossed with my 970 SLI... but, if you can, get the 970SLI, it yields up to 70-80% more performance over a single 980

[Oshino Shinobu]

In almost all cases, a single card is better than two lower end ones. 2x 970 vs 980 is an exception because of the price and overall good value of the 970. It's still not completely confirmed how vRAM will work in DX12, as well as the fact that developers will need to support the stacking, as well as Nvidia (who have a reputation of being very strict when it comes to SLI). 

 

It's also not clear how SLI 970s will cope with it, seeing as they have a 3.5GB effective, full speed vRAM. If DX12 stacking makes it so that it fills up one card's vRAM first, then you may still run into the issue of the 0.5GB not running at full speed. 

 

Still, SLI 970s is a better choice. 

[Razarza]

 (so, in theory, 2 GTX970 = 8 7 effective GB of VRAM).

 

Seriously though, we won't know until a few games are released that support DX12.

[Nexxus]

DX12 isnt out no one knows...gets 980...if you really wanna sli get second used one down the road I say.

[Tim Drake]

There is no proof that DX12 will stack VRAM, although I am keeping my fingers crossed with my 970 SLI... but, if you can, get the 970SLI, it yields up to 70-80% more performance over a single 980

Pretty much this

[Tim Drake]

I doubt DX12 will change the fact 970 SLI is far superior price to performance.

[Guest Kloaked]

There is no proof that DX12 will stack VRAM, although I am keeping my fingers crossed with my 970 SLI... but, if you can, get the 970SLI, it yields up to 70-80% more performance over a single 980

From my understanding, the way it's going to work is not by actual stacking like people are thinking, but enabling both cards vram to be used by the application; the application will control which card loads which texture or whatever.

[1Scotty1]

From my understanding, the way it's going to work is not by actual stacking like people are thinking, but enabling both cards vram to be used by the application; the application will control which card loads which texture or whatever.

Still, nice thought I am hoping it will do something beneficial

[zanna]

I guess I'll go with 2 GTX970 then  

thanks to everyone for your replies