GTX 780 - reference vs. non-reference

[Butterfish]

Hey everyone, 

 

As much as i love the power of new hardware, i also like the visual appeal. That's why i've been dying to get a GTX 780, primarily becuase it looks so freaking sexy!

Would it be a bad decision to go with the reference cooler when you have all the other options of better cooling with non-reference?

[rustikles]

Getting even a 780 is never going to be a "bad" decision (unless someone was offering you a free titan or something). Non-reference coolers slightly improve cooling (by a few degrees Celsius at most) at a slight increase in cost, with a different look. It isn't then end of the world. 

[João Severino]

Usually the non-reference cards have better cooling and possibly better quality components but the reference design will also perform very well

[AustinKZombie]

Well it depends if your willing to sacrifice performance for looks.

 

GTX 780 Reference = Good looks less performance.

GTX 780 non-reference = Bad looks better performance. 

 Your choice

[João Severino]

Well it depends if your willing to sacrifice performance for looks.

 

GTX 780 Reference = Good looks less performance.

GTX 780 non-reference = Bad looks better performance. 

 Your choice

 

The non-reference doesn't have necessarily bad looks

It's a matter of personal preference

I personally like some of the non-reference designs from ASUS or MSI

[joelthezombie15]

Its a marginal difference either unless you are getting some kind of a super over kill cooler like the direct cu II from asus. 

 

If you decide to go reference. I would go EVGA because of there amazing warranties.

 

And my favorite non reference is 

 

http://www.inno3d.com/product/ichillgtx780.html

[Butterfish]

If i were to go reference, i would definately go EVGA. I currently got a GTX 680 from EVGA (Reference). Is it worth an upgrade? Not sure. Im currently running 2560x1440 on this single card.

[SteepGnomeKing]

I don't even think a reference 780 that's been overclocked gets to a temperature that starts to throttle it. You just won't get the quietest system and <70c when gaming. But it is still a good option.

[Helltech]

Am I the only one who hates the reference "Titan" cooler? I look it looks so cheap, and that green LED lighting is such a sore (I know you can turn it off but still). If it was RGB it would be different.

 

Anyways after market cooler = better overclocking, cooler, and quieter, also there are a lot of options and I can't see one of those options not compliment your build aesthetically.

 

if you really like the looks of the reference one, get it. A LOT of people think it looks killer, so ya. 

[GrievingJosh]

Am I the only one who hates the reference "Titan" cooler? I look it looks so cheap, and that green LED lighting is such a sore (I know you can turn it off but still). If it was RGB it would be different.

 

Anyways after market cooler = better overclocking, cooler, and quieter, also there are a lot of options and I can't see one of those options not compliment your build aesthetically.

 

if you really like the looks of the reference one, get it. A LOT of people think it looks killer, so ya. 

It took me a while to come around to the good looks of the "Titan" cooler if I'm honest, but it does look pretty nice, at the end of the day though ... I would still rather get a non-reference, simply because it is going to run cooler and quieter than a standard card.

[Butterfish]

I guess if performance is most important, you would obviously pick a non-reference to take full advantage of gpu boost 2.0

[blindsighted26]

are there any non reference  card that have got changes to the pcb i can only think of 3 

 

1. evga classified

2. asus direct cu 2

3. the up coming msi lightning ? ( may be )

[YaNeZ]

I have a MSI GTX780 reference but i decided straight away to install an ACCELERO HYBRID on it. First i wanted and EVGA ACX 780 but because it was hard to get i decided for an alternative, suprisingly the price altogether was the same so i went for reference msi+accelero hybrid.  Temps lower by 15C and the noise comparison is huge, the stock cooler because the blow design tends to get loud, atleast for my ears.

Im very very Satisfied, idle 28-31 (ambient 25-28(summer here)) load max 61-64 in games like fifa,nba,LoL the load is 35-40C (using MX-4 paste came with the accelero kit) :D

 

Instalation of the Accelero Hybrid on a GTX 780, here: http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/26468-finished-350d-mini-gigabyte-killer-blackgreen/

[tS_kStin]

I have the reference design and its not OC'd as far as it could and it boosts to 1045 mhz while staying under the 80c temp limit. So I think it works great.

[Honeydiddle]

Some reference cards perform as well as other designs, moslty though reference is good if you want to watercool

[montyrule]

no, but you will get better performance from non-reference because of gpu boost 2.0  

[mechanicalfluff]

I don't even think a reference 780 that's been overclocked gets to a temperature that starts to throttle it. You just won't get the quietest system and <70c when gaming. But it is still a good option.

Agreed, i haven't had mine throttle me at all, just sounds like a really small hair dryer and keeps chugging along. can't hear it with headphones on at least. My old 660ti power edition sounded like a 747 landing on my desk when the fans ramped up

[Teletha]

i got reference 780 and my sisters 770 asus card does 10 more fps in FF-XIV :c both a bit oc but still so weird =/

[Butterfish]

i got reference 780 and my sisters 770 asus card does 10 more fps in FF-XIV :c both a bit oc but still so weird =/

Might have something to do with GPU Boost 2.0