1080ti FE or aftermarket for watercooling

[Ardox]

So I got a pretty basic question I believe but would like some confirmation to this. I am about to build a new custom watercooled pc with a 1080ti and my question is if there is ANY reason to buy a substantially more expensive aftermarket version like the 1080ti Strix OC over a MSI founders edition 1080ti and overclocking it? Thanks.

[PCGuy_5960]

Since you are watercooling it, get the 1080 Ti FE. Waterblocks for the FE cards are easier to find 

[Zando_]

2 minutes ago, PCGuy_5960 said:

Since you are watercooling it, get the 1080 Ti FE. Waterblocks for the FE cards are easier to find 

Do this ^^^ Aftermarket designs often have a custom PCB, making it harder to find a water-cooling block from your manufacturer of choice. Besides, don't you just take off the aftermarket cooler and attach your water-cooling block? Basically, you're paying for something you won't use. 

[TVwazhere]

Benefits of FE:

 

FE comes with no DVI port so you can legitimately get single slot GPU's to fit, though usually people aernt trying to stack things in between two gpus

 

Benefits of Aftermarket

 

Some will use a custom PCB and they will put in extra power plugs, VRMs and the like for better overclocking, but you might have trouble finding exact matches for water-blocks (though EK should have almost all of them I would imagine)

 

Edit: They do have a 1080ti Strix version of the EK water block! https://www.ekwb.com/shop/water-blocks/vga-blocks/full-cover-for-nvidia-geforce/geforce-gtx-10x0-series 

[PCGuy_5960]

2 minutes ago, TVwazhere said:

Some will use a custom PCB and they will put in extra power plugs, VRMs and the like for better overclocking

With Pascal, custom PCBs and better VRMs don't really improve overclocking though

[Ardox]

Alright. I think there is blocks out for a few aftermarket PCB's already. I am more interested in raw performance here between a FE and a aftermarket card like the Strix. The Strix is about 300 dollars more than the msi founders right now but I wouldn't want to miss out on performance now that I am getting a top tier card. 

[PCGuy_5960]

4 minutes ago, Ardox said:

The Strix is about 300 dollars more than the msi founders right now

$300 more, r u nuts? It is not worth it, 100%

[TVwazhere]

Just now, Ardox said:

Alright. I think there is blocks out for a few aftermarket PCB's already. I am more interested in raw performance here between a FE and a aftermarket card like the Strix. The Strix is about 300 dollars more than the msi founders right now but I wouldn't want to miss out on performance now that I am getting a top tier card. 

A water cooled FE 1080ti and a custom board 1080ti would perform within single didget differences of eachother, if that. 

[Ardox]

3 minutes ago, PCGuy_5960 said:

$300, r u nuts? 

The 1080ti Strix OC is 7500 danish crowns and the MSI founders is on offer for about 5500 right now so roughly 2000 kr. difference and that is equivalent to 293,88 US dollars as of right now  I take it as the majority (all of you) recommend me to get the FE and save the dollars?

[PCGuy_5960]

Just now, Ardox said:

The 1080ti Strix OC is 7500 danish crowns and the MSI founders is on offer for about 5500 right now so roughly 2000 kr. difference and that is equivalent to 293,88 US dollars as of right now  I take it as the majority (all of you) recommend me to get the FE and save the dollars?

Yeah, I meant that it is 100% not worth it. It won't OC better and since you are watercooling, the crap FE cooler is not a deal-breaker

Definitely get the FE card

[Ardox]

Been watching linus for years but just subscribed to the forums. Kinda impressed with the reply times on the forums Thanks guys

[PCGuy_5960]

Just now, Ardox said:

Thanks guys

You're welcome