Strix + Waterblock or Poseidon?

[LaboonTheWhale]

Hey guys

 

So I'm thinking of picking up a 1080 Ti Strix w/ some hoop jumping at best buy for $230 (out of pocket). A waterblock from EK w/o backplate is $140. a backplate would be $40. Or theres a bitspower block+ backplate for $150. Total: $410. 

 

Or I could still buy the strix w/ hoop jumping for $230 out of pocket, try to sell it sealed for ~700-750. Then buy the Poseidon for $859. If I can sell for $700, then I would pay an additional $150 out of pocket. If I sell for $750, then an additional $100 which would be a total of $330. (if im lucky) 

 

Should I deal with all that for a Poseidon and not worry about voiding any warranty? 

 

Disclaimer. Best Buy only has the EVGA 1080 Ti SC2 (theres no waterblock and never will) and the Strix model. 

[Psittac]

Not sure what your situation is, but I have 3 gpu waterblocks with no use or resale value because I had them in the mail before I realized the difference between a reference and non-reference gpu board.  All 3 gpu's were nitro versions of amd cards.

[LaboonTheWhale]

Just now, Psittac said:

Not sure what your situation is, but I have 3 gpu waterblocks with no use or resale value because I had them in the mail before I realized the difference between a reference and non-reference gpu board.  All 3 gpu's were nitro versions of amd cards.

I'm confused on what you're trying to say. The Strix has a non-reference pcb and has its own specific waterblock. 

[Psittac]

Just now, LaboonTheWhale said:

I'm confused on what you're trying to say. The Strix has a non-reference pcb and has its own specific waterblock. 

oh, ok then.  Just do either then.  In the end water cooling is more for silence than anything.  Unless you are going for records it doesn't matter.  voltage limit's are hit faster than temp, yes temp does improve voltage ability a little but not as it used to.  More over it comes down to the lottery these day's.  I would say that which ever card is known for a better quality rating on the die in general is the one you should go for.  But again the perceivable difference will be minimal outside of synthetics.

[Psittac]

Another note I'd have to throw in would be warranty issues, The only warranty issue I've had on a product has been a corsair psu which they quickly replaced without question.  Warranty comes down to brand reliability.  I have built only asus/asrock motherboards for the past 14 years and had zero issues.  The only problem you might run in to would be if they suspect you did something stupid, like when I cooked my 7700k because I didn't put the IHS back on.  My gpu is an Asus FE 1070 with a waterblock on it and have had no issues.  I did have a problem with my x99 system when I first built it and my ASrock mb wouldn't post after I made any bios changes without powering down afterwards, but that was a store RMA issue and not through the company.  I have heard horror stories about Asus being TERRIBLE on RMA so if you are concerned with it I would go the extra mile for the gpu with the block all ready attached.  There is a reason I use ASrock for non-enthusiast builds and Asus for enthusiast builds, they just don't have issues.

 

In short, if you are worried about the process of putting on a waterblock, go with the poseiden, otherwise save the money and go with the strix.

[LaboonTheWhale]

Ironically I'm going against my morals here unless a good EVGA deal comes along for watercooling, Asus has given me the biggest trouble in RMA processes to the point they lied to me to try and get away with it. But a 1080 TI for $230 out of pocket is hard to fight against.