GTX 980 SLI with One Reference Card and One Non-Reference

[atos28]

Hey guys,

 

Just wanna know if it is better to have one GTX 980 Non-Reference design (EVGA FTW ACX 2.0 Cooler) and another GTX 980 REFERENCE design in SLI configuration? I saw one of the latest videos from linustechtips which is titled " Video Card Ventilation"  and they say that with a non reference design on top and a reference design on the bottom the top card will run at 74 degrees. Which is a lot better compared to the 2 SLI REFERENCE card which will make the top one run at 84 degrees.

 

Thanks

 

[The Official Czex]

Yep. reference on top and aftermarket on the bottom for better temps.

[atos28]

Yep. reference on top and aftermarket on the bottom for better temps.

They said aftermarket on top and reference on bottom, is that what you meant? because they show a photo of it in their video the way i mentioned.

[Morgan MLGman]

The only drawback is: The non-reference cards are overclocked and are faster by 5-10%, in that exact configuration the faster card is going to perform as fast as the slower one.

[SamirPro]

Yeah perfectly compatible

 

Yep. reference on top and aftermarket on the bottom for better temps.

The blower fan takes out the heat and generaly the aftermarket not but has better temps, it depends on your case airflow

Also you can try both configs

[The Official Czex]

They said aftermarket on top and reference on bottom, is that what you meant? because they show a photo of it in their video the way i mentioned.

 

What's your airflow like?

[atos28]

What's your airflow like?

i consider it good, its a corsair 780T graphite case, with two 140mm fans on the front, 2 140mm fans attached to radiator on top pulling exhaust (out of the case) and 120mm fan at the back.

[jjohnthedon1]

Do that bro

I had to go full ghetto with 2 no reference cards to get good temps

[SeanAngelo]

Hey guys,

 

Just wanna know if it is better to have one GTX 980 Non-Reference design (EVGA FTW ACX 2.0 Cooler) and another GTX 980 REFERENCE design in SLI configuration? I saw one of the latest videos from linustechtips which is titled " Video Card Ventilation"  and they say that with a non reference design on top and a reference design on the bottom the top card will run at 74 degrees. Which is a lot better compared to the 2 SLI REFERENCE card which will make the top one run at 84 degrees.

 

Thanks

yeah, reference on top and non-reference on bottom.

[The Official Czex]

i consider it good, its a corsair 780T graphite case, with two 140mm fans on the front, 2 140mm fans attached to radiator on top pulling exhaust (out of the case) and 120mm fan at the back.

 

Reference on top then.

[atos28]

Reference on top then.

I currently have the two gtx 980 REFERENCES in SLI and I got a deal to swap one of them for the EVGA ACX 2.0 aftermarket gtx 980, should i do it? will the temperature actually improve?

[Morgan MLGman]

Reference on top then.

But then all the heat from the non-reference card goes onto the reference one since heat goes up. I'd recommend the other way around.

[The Official Czex]

I currently have the two gtx 980 REFERENCES in SLI and I got a deal to swap one of them for the EVGA ACX 2.0 aftermarket gtx 980, should i do it? will the temperature actually improve?

 

Yes. In your configuration you might actually be able to pull off an OK OC on the reference if you put it in on top.

[Morgan MLGman]

I currently have the two gtx 980 REFERENCES in SLI and I got a deal to swap one of them for the EVGA ACX 2.0 aftermarket gtx 980, should i do it? will the temperature actually improve?

Even if they don't improve the temps, they shouldn't get worse, I'd choose the EVGA one, it's better and can sell for a bit more in a few years.

[The Official Czex]

But then all the heat from the non-reference card goes onto the reference one since heat goes up. I'd recommend the other way around.

 

The non-reference would be starved for air in the top.

[Morgan MLGman]

The non-reference would be starved for air in the top.

As they generally run cooler than the reference designs, the reference card on top getting hot by itself, with the 'help' of hot air from the non-reference card below might throttle. Even a starved from air non-reference EVGA ACX 2.0 one should not throttle if it was on top imo.

[The Official Czex]

As they generally run cooler than the reference designs, the reference card on top getting hot by itself, with the 'help' of hot air from the non-reference card below might throttle. Even a starved from air non-reference EVGA ACX 2.0 one should not throttle if it was on top imo.

 

@atos28 Is there a gap between the cards? Like, are they on decently spaced PCI lanes?

[Morgan MLGman]

@atos28 Is there a gap between the cards? Like, are they on decently spaced PCI lanes?

Hope you help OP in his issue, I gotta go, good luck ^^

[atos28]

@atos28 Is there a gap between the cards? Like, are they on decently spaced PCI lanes?

There is a gap, one whole PCIE slot gap, the cards are not sandwiched against each other. Card one used slot 2&3 and card 2 uses slot 5&6 so there is 1 slot PCIE gap.

[The Official Czex]

There is a gap, one whole PCIE slot gap, the cards are not sandwiched against each other. Card one used slot 2&3 and card 2 uses slot 5&6 so there is 1 slot PCIE gap.

Then in that case, put the reference on the bottom.

[atos28]

Then in that case, put the reference on the bottom.

one more question, can I expect better temperatures if i do that? (aftermarket on top and reference on bottom). I currently have 2 Reference in SLI and the top one reaches around 74 degrees, can I expect better with the aftermarket on top? my ambient room temp is 22 degrees. Basically to keep the top one at 74 degrees, it is really loud and the reason I want aftermarket on top is because I think it will be less loud and more cooler? what do you think?