Best GTX 970 to pair with Intel 6600k and Asus Z170 Pro Gaming

[manofsteel]

3 minutes ago, Quelux said:

I do plan on overclocking my CPU, thus the 6600k, and would also like a small bit of future proofing to get me by for a while. 

that not what this guy was askin. He asked if you intend to OC GPU. IF you want most future proof thing WITHOU OC then r9 390 (unless rads do some disaster with drivers but from what i see they go in good direction to not make this happen ). BUT if you intend to OC GPU and dont care much about resolution (stick to 1080 to be more specific) than 970. 

 

Thats what i think.

[HrutkayMods]

4 minutes ago, Vellinious said:

The 970s have a lot more headroom for overclocking, and end up passing up the 390s.  The 3XX series just aren't very good overclockers.  If you plan on overclocking the GPU, the 970s overclock like a dream and are easy as hell to bios mod for additional power.

If you just want to throw a mild overclock on the GPU, then, for 1080 gaming, again...either the 390 or the 970 will work just fine.

If you go with the 970, go with the Gigabyte, MSI or EVGA cards.  With EVGA, make sure it's the ACX 2.0+ version, and not the ACX 2.0 version.  For the 390, XFX and Sapphire both make excellent GPUs.

I totally agree

[PlayStation 2]

My sig really helps on what you should be going for in the first place (970 vs. 390)

Outside of that, either one I'd wholeheartedly go MSI.

[dreamhacking]

1 hour ago, Quelux said:

I am looking for advice on the best model GTX 970 to pair with and Intel 6600k CPU and Asus Z170 Pro Gaming motherboard. Thank you in advance. 

used to have a MSI GTX 970 Golden Edition, the best i have ever had

[Quelux]

1 hour ago, Vellinious said:

The 970s have a lot more headroom for overclocking, and end up passing up the 390s.  The 3XX series just aren't very good overclockers.  If you plan on overclocking the GPU, the 970s overclock like a dream and are easy as hell to bios mod for additional power.

If you just want to throw a mild overclock on the GPU, then, for 1080 gaming, again...either the 390 or the 970 will work just fine.

If you go with the 970, go with the Gigabyte, MSI or EVGA cards.  With EVGA, make sure it's the ACX 2.0+ version, and not the ACX 2.0 version.  For the 390, XFX and Sapphire both make excellent GPUs.

I belive ok going to go with the 390.do you have a favorite/best 390 in your opinion in preferably the lower $300 but upper $300 if necessary? 

[Vellinious]

Not really....I'm not a fan of the 390s myself.  I overclock, and they're crap for overclocking, so I just never paid much attention to them.  After talking with a few of the other guys that have experience overclocking them, I ended up buying an 8GB 290X for the same money as the 390 and got better performance.  BUT, my card is under water, and the stock coolers on the 3xx series cards are a bit better.  

Like I said....XFX and Sapphire both make really good cards.  The difference in one with a mild overclock is not going to be noticeable to another.  Pick one...

[Quelux]

1 minute ago, Vellinious said:

Not really....I'm not a fan of the 390s myself.  I overclock, and they're crap for overclocking, so I just never paid much attention to them.  After talking with a few of the other guys that have experience overclocking them, I ended up buying an 8GB 290X for the same money as the 390 and got better performance.  BUT, my card is under water, and the stock coolers on the 3xx series cards are a bit better.  

Like I said....XFX and Sapphire both make really good cards.  The difference in one with a mild overclock is not going to be noticeable to another.  Pick one...

What GTX Card do you run, or do you not currently have one? 

[Vellinious]

I've run ACX 2.0 FTWs, 980 FTWs, and I currently have an XFX 8GB 290X.  All my cards were under water with heavily modified bios versions, though.  For air cooling, I would choose different cards.  I highlighted that above.  ACX 2.0+ for 970, 3xx series cards for AMD

[Quelux]

28 minutes ago, Vellinious said:

I've run ACX 2.0 FTWs, 980 FTWs, and I currently have an XFX 8GB 290X.  All my cards were under water with heavily modified bios versions, though.  For air cooling, I would choose different cards.  I highlighted that above.  ACX 2.0+ for 970, 3xx series cards for AMD

What does ACX 2.0+ mean exactly? 

[Vellinious]

The ACX 2.0+ cards have increased power limits, better VRM and better cooling for the VRM and VRAM.

[Chirag Borawake]

Asus Strix 970, no worries. Good performer, silent, asus tweak utility is superb.

[Quelux]

11 hours ago, Vellinious said:

The ACX 2.0+ cards have increased power limits, better VRM and better cooling for the VRM and VRAM.

How about the EVGA GEFORCE GTX 970 FTW+? 

[Vellinious]

1 hour ago, Chirag Borawake said:

Asus Strix 970, no worries. Good performer, silent, asus tweak utility is superb.

The STRIX 970 aren't very good for overclocking.  They're limited to 1.212v at the VRM, and with only one power connector, they're very power limited.  I'd never suggest the STRIX 970....not even to someone that just wanted to plug and play.

 

 

59 minutes ago, Quelux said:

How about the EVGA GEFORCE GTX 970 FTW+? 

The FTW+ is a dual bios card with increased power limit and a really good power phase.  If you plan on overclocking, that's a very good choice for stock cooling.  They don't make blocks for them though, so if you're looking to go to water cooling, that won't work.

[Chirag Borawake]

31 minutes ago, Vellinious said:

The STRIX 970 aren't very good for overclocking.  They're limited to 1.212v at the VRM, and with only one power connector, they're very power limited.  I'd never suggest the STRIX 970....not even to someone that just wanted to plug and play.

 

 

The FTW+ is a dual bios card with increased power limit and a really good power phase.  If you plan on overclocking, that's a very good choice for stock cooling.  They don't make blocks for them though, so if you're looking to go to water cooling, that won't work.

I suggested Strix because it will pair nicely with his Asus motherboard. Otherwise, with respect to overclocking, Gigabyte G1 Gaming edition is totally awesome. I own one of them.

[Vellinious]

I would agree with that.  The G1s are very good cards.

[Quelux]

Would you recommend the G1 Gaming over the FTW+?

[Quelux]

3 hours ago, Vellinious said:

I would agree with that.  The G1s are very good cards.

Would you recommend the G1 over the FTW+? 

[Lays]

5 hours ago, Vellinious said:

The STRIX 970 aren't very good for overclocking.  They're limited to 1.212v at the VRM, and with only one power connector, they're very power limited.  I'd never suggest the STRIX 970....not even to someone that just wanted to plug and play.

 

 

The FTW+ is a dual bios card with increased power limit and a really good power phase.  If you plan on overclocking, that's a very good choice for stock cooling.  They don't make blocks for them though, so if you're looking to go to water cooling, that won't work.

OCN is crawling with 1.275-1.3v bioses for the STRIX with added tdp.   it's not hard locked at the vrm for 1.212.

[Morgan MLGman]

21 hours ago, HrutkayMods said:

970: EVGA FTW or SSC

390: I hear the ASUS Strix is pretty nice

Nope. Not ASUS. And not Gigabyte.

Sapphire or MSI.

[HrutkayMods]

3 minutes ago, Morgan MLGman said:

Nope. Not ASUS. And not Gigabyte.

Sapphire or MSI.

When I was on team red I had an XFX (still technically have it) what happened to XFX? aren't they still good?

[Morgan MLGman]

Just now, HrutkayMods said:

When I was on team red I had an XFX (still technically have it) what happened to XFX? aren't they still good?

They're right behind Sapphire and MSI, along with PowerColor following XFX. Asus and Gigabyte are crap though

[Vellinious]

17 minutes ago, Lays said:

OCN is crawling with 1.275-1.3v bioses for the STRIX with added tdp.   it's not hard locked at the vrm for 1.212.

Changing the settings in the bios don't do anything for the STRIX in terms of voltage.  There was a voltage tool that people were using for the STRIX cards (I know it worked on the 980 and 980ti), but....I'm not sure if it even works any more.  It had been posted in Shamino's Lair in the Kingpin forums.  If I recall correctly, it was a modded version of GPU Tweak.

Like changing the voltage settings in the bios on the Classy / KPE....it doesn't do anything.  They stay at 1.212v.  The voltage tool is what you use to change the voltage.

[Vellinious]

46 minutes ago, Quelux said:

Would you recommend the G1 over the FTW+? 

I would put them on even ground with air cooling.  You're at the mercy of the silicon lottery, either way.

[HrutkayMods]

 

18 minutes ago, Morgan MLGman said:

They're right behind Sapphire and MSI, along with PowerColor following XFX. Asus and Gigabyte are crap though

ah gotcha

 

19 hours ago, Quelux said:

What does ACX 2.0+ mean exactly? 

ACX means Active Cooling Xtreme... 2.0 is for their new 11 blade fan design and refined shroud design... + is the new heatsink design with the 1 copper plate touching the GPU and 3 straight heat pipes connected to that instead of 3 heat pipes with 2 touching the GPU and 1 not really touching.  ACX 2.0+ is an awesome and good looking efficient cooler that you can overclock A LOT with. I have 4 cards with ACX 2.0+ and I love them

 

49 minutes ago, Quelux said:

Would you recommend the G1 over the FTW+? 

The FTW+ is a beast at Overclocking, it is smaller in length and has 1 less fan. the 2 fans are very efficient and cool just as well if not better than the G1. EVGA has the world Overclock title for a reason you know

[Quelux]

1 hour ago, HrutkayMods said:

 

ah gotcha

 

ACX means Active Cooling Xtreme... 2.0 is for their new 11 blade fan design and refined shroud design... + is the new heatsink design with the 1 copper plate touching the GPU and 3 straight heat pipes connected to that instead of 3 heat pipes with 2 touching the GPU and 1 not really touching.  ACX 2.0+ is an awesome and good looking efficient cooler that you can overclock A LOT with. I have 4 cards with ACX 2.0+ and I love them

 

The FTW+ is a beast at Overclocking, it is smaller in length and has 1 less fan. the 2 fans are very efficient and cool just as well if not better than the G1. EVGA has the world Overclock title for a reason you know

Which one has the better guide or are easier for overclocking for a first time overclocker?