Water Cooling Reference vs Non-Reference GPUs

[NarimaanV]

I've found a few posts regarding this topic in other forums but they've all been from a few years back and I'm curious if things have changed with newer GPU's. For the sake of example, let's consider the GTX 980 TI. On their own, the Asus 980 TI Strix or MSI 980 TI Gaming 6G are much more powerful (come overclocked, better power delivery, etc.) than a reference 980 TI. So is it worth it to get something like a Strix or Gaming 6G but be limited to very few options in terms of water blocks (only know of EK that makes water blocks for the non-reference 980 TI's), or is it better to go with a reference card and lots of options in terms of water blocks (EK, Swiftech, XSPC, etc.)? Any other pros or cons to water cooling a non-reference vs reference card?

[Enderman]

900 cards are very efficient

you dont need aftermarket power delivery to get a good OC, you just need to be lucky and get a good overclocking GPU

if you already know what waterblock you want to get then there is no downside of buying an aftermarket card

[pagani123]

as @Enderman said you dont need to put a gpu on water to get a good oc anymore how ever i will say that if its for atheistic or in the pursuit of a quieter pc. I would go with an aftermarket card that you know has a gpu block and use that. also ek seems to consistently be the best company for gpu water cooling.

[NarimaanV]

Thanks for the replies. And that's interesting, I have been leaning more towards what you've been saying of going with an aftermarket card, I was initially hoping to go with swiftech but then found out EK is the only company that makes non-reference water blocks. But like you said, EK is a pretty darn good company as well so it's not exactly losing much going with an EK block. Is it unheard of/bad for some reason to mix water cooling brands? Like an EK GPU block + a Swiftech CPU block?