980ti Watercooled vs Aftermarket?

[ThatOneRussian]

Hello knowledgeable users of the LTT Forum

I'm planning to design and build a desk to hold my pc. And plan to water cool the cpu with a custom water loop. Will a reference 980ti water cooled be able to run as well as aftermarket cards such as the 980ti Asus Strix or the Gigabyte G1 Gaming card. Im asking because if I water cool the cpu I should cool the card aswell otherwise im wasting money. Also I am willing to get another card or 2 slower reference cards such as the 390 in crossfire. And watercool them too. So suggestions greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

[Lays]

A non-reference card will probably clock slightly higher, maxwell doesn't benefit a boatload from being watercooled, but it helps a bit. Maxwell really likes to be colder than air & water temps for it to OC like a boss. 

 

Mostly noise and aesthetics will be what you get.

[jc980]

Just water cool it if you're doing a desk mod.

[ThatOneRussian]

A non-reference card will probably clock slightly higher, maxwell doesn't benefit a boatload from being watercooled, but it helps a bit. Maxwell really likes to be colder than air & water temps for it to OC like a boss. 

 

Mostly noise and aesthetics will be what you get.

 

So it is worth getting the reference card?

[Lays]

So it is worth getting the reference card?

 

 

Non reference cards are barely more expensive, I'd go after one of those.  They have better components and will have better noise & thermal levels before you watercool.

[ThatOneRussian]

Non reference cards are barely more expensive, I'd go after one of those.  They have better components and will have better noise & thermal levels before you watercool.

But what about after I watercool the card?

[ThatOneRussian]

I dont plan on using it non water cooled

[Lays]

But what about after I watercool the card?

 

 

What do you mean?

[jc980]

Get the reference one if you're watercooling, they will have more waterblock support.

[ThatOneRussian]

Non reference cards are barely more expensive, I'd go after one of those.  They have better components and will have better noise & thermal levels before you watercool.

You said they will have better noise and thermal levels before  I watercool the reference card but what about after?

[ThatOneRussian]

http://site.ekwb.com/news/618/19/EK-releases-ASUS-GTX-980-Ti-Strix-Full-Cover-water-block/

 

so just get this and the strix 980ti once it comes out i mean

[Lays]

Get the reference one if you're watercooling, they will have more waterblock support.

 

 

Both the cards he asked about have waterblocks for them.

 

EK makes blocks for about every popular card on the market now, that whole "reference for watercooling!!" is a thing of the past honestly. 

[Lays]

http://site.ekwb.com/news/618/19/EK-releases-ASUS-GTX-980-Ti-Strix-Full-Cover-water-block/

 

so just get this and the strix 980ti once it comes out i mean

 

 

It's already out https://shop.ekwb.com/ek-fc980-gtx-ti-strix-acetal-nickel

[ThatOneRussian]

well okay thanks

[Lays]

You said they will have better noise and thermal levels before  I watercool the reference card but what about after?

 

The non reference cards usually have better power delivery, and higher binned chips, so you will get a higher OC on them most likely.

 

It's not guaranteed, but you have a much better chance.

 

 

About power delivery: The Strix 980 TI actually has the 980 matrix PCB essentially, which was a super high end card, it has a lot of the features that the matrix had as well, like voltage monitoring points and other things.

[ThatOneRussian]

The non reference cards usually have better power delivery, and higher binned chips, so you will get a higher OC on them most likely.

 

It's not guaranteed, but you have a much better chance.

 

 

About power delivery: The Strix 980 TI actually has the 980 matrix PCB essentially, which was a super high end card, it has a lot of the features that the matrix had as well, like voltage monitoring points and other things.

Okay so which EK waterblock would you recommend for the 980ti strix?

[jc980]

Why not the Lightning?

[ThatOneRussian]

Why not the Lightning?

whats the Lightning?

Im new to watercooling sorry btw

[jc980]

whats the Lightning?

Im new to watercooling sorry btw

This beast right here. GTX 980 Ti Lightning Edition

 

http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/msi_geforce_gtx_980_ti_lightning_review,37.html

Might not be worth the money.

[ThatOneRussian]

ok this is going to sound horrible

but its yellow

im going red and black sorryyyy...

[ThatOneRussian]

and is 1600NZD so noooo

[jc980]

ok this is going to sound horrible

but its yellow

im going red and black sorryyyy...

I mentioned that card for water cooling actually.

[ThatOneRussian]

I mentioned that card for water cooling actually.

yeah but its too expensive

[ThatOneRussian]

You can watercool the lightning?

[jc980]

You can watercool the lightning?

Why would EK not make waterblocks for it?

Anyway, it's either ASUS Strix or Gigabyte G1 Gaming(has multi color LED)