2 X Titan Z or 3 X GTX 980

[max93b]

Hi All,

I am currently working with a company who do specialist software design and are specking a "Game Dev" . They want a very high end system that can handle a large range of hardware from unity 3d , 3ds max and others in the same field. This being said They are limited on where these parts are acquired from. Looking at where they can get there parts from I have come to the conclusions between these two options, I have read a lot about these two cards and what I believe to be the case is that in frame rate terms the 3 GTX 980 would be the better option.

if anyone has a opinion or idea please let me know below,

Thanks

Max

 

[Dunlop0078]

Well that depends the 3x 980s would be better for gaming sure. But for your purposes you might be able to take advantage of the extra VRAM the titan z has im not too sure what the programs you are using require for memory but the titan z has 12gb of vram and the 980s will only have 4gb.

 

[jafrankl]

Simple looking at the benchmarks on these sites:
http://us.hardware.info/reviews/5419/nvidia-geforce-gtx-titan-z-sli-review-incl-tones-tizair-system

http://us.hardware.info/reviews/5623/3/nvidia-geforce-gtx-980-sli--3-way-sli--4-way-sli-review-benchmarks-battlefield-4

I would recommend the 3-way 980. Simple framerate comparisons on the benchmarking tests show they outclass 2 Titan Z.

 

[max93b]

@jafrankl Cheers, I did look at that earlier witch made me believe that they would of been the better choice.

@Dunlop0078 What sort of software requires high vram?

 

[jafrankl]

High VRAM applications are: drafting, video/photo editing, simulation software and the like. When put into SLI, the VRAM does not stack or add, it stays with the base of the lowest card (4 GB for the 980s and 8 GB for the Titans in this case)

 

[max93b]

So I am right in that with software like Unity 3D, 3ds max would benefit more from the titan Z then as the VRam doesn't stack. FPS is quite important as I believe the company intends to use the oculus rift at some stage and I know that that eats up (excuse my term) the FPS'y stuff

 

[sla70r]

I would go with the titan z for your purpose. If you guys are designing, you will want the extra VRAM.

 

[Dunlop0078]

High VRAM applications are: drafting, video/photo editing, simulation software and the like. When put into SLI, the VRAM does not stack or add, it stays with the base of the lowest card (4 GB for the 980s and 8 GB for the Titans in this case)

The titan z has 12gb of vram not 8.

 

[jafrankl]

The 980s would be better for using finished products; they have better speeds combined and therefore can give greater fps/performance. The Titan Z is better for design as it has more VRAM and isn't that outclassed by the tri 980s.

Also, my bad on the VRAM amount; answering numerous threads gets confusing at times.

 

[max93b]

Yeah, I think for the amount of Dev Work it would be good to go with the 2 x Titan Blacks as the program they are making a lower FPS end program

 

[dzsonni]

Well that depends the 3x 980s would be better for gaming sure. But for your purposes you might be able to take advantage of the extra VRAM the titan z has im not too sure what the programs you are using require for memory but the titan z has 12gb of vram and the 980s will only have 4gb.

The titan z has only 6 gigs, It's two GPUs in sli on the same board, each with 6 gig of vram.

 

[Dunlop0078]

Well that depends the 3x 980s would be better for gaming sure. But for your purposes you might be able to take advantage of the extra VRAM the titan z has im not too sure what the programs you are using require for memory but the titan z has 12gb of vram and the 980s will only have 4gb.

The titan z has only 6 gigs, It's two GPUs in sli on the same board, each with 6 gig of vram.

Now your just going to confuse him. Yes technically it is but they are combined it such a way that the cards use the full 12gb of vram. every titan z has 12gb of vram at its disposal.

 

[dzsonni]

Well that depends the 3x 980s would be better for gaming sure. But for your purposes you might be able to take advantage of the extra VRAM the titan z has im not too sure what the programs you are using require for memory but the titan z has 12gb of vram and the 980s will only have 4gb.

The titan z has only 6 gigs, It's two GPUs in sli on the same board, each with 6 gig of vram.

Now your just going to confuse him. Yes technically it is but they are combined it such a way that the cards use the full 12gb of vram. every titan z has 12gb of vram at its disposal.

You are the one confusing him, by spreading false information.

Both cards are being used to render the same scene. So for example, the exact same textures are loaded in duplicate on both cards, so 2x3Gb cards will still be holding 3Gb worth of info because it is duplicated.

The titan z is essentially two underclocked titan blacks stuck on the same pcb.

 

[max93b]

wouldn't it be useless selling a card that could only use half of vram (just talking about 1 titanz)

 

[dzsonni]

wouldn't it be useless selling a card that could only use half of vram (just talking about 1 titanz)

As I said, the Titan Z is a dual gpu card. It's 2 GPUs working in SLI on the same board. They use all the VRAM all 12 GB, but 6GB is duplicated, therefore you can only work on 6GB at once.

When you put two cards in SLI, both cards use their memory, that is exactly whats preventing the titan z from using 12GB the two GPUs memories are not connected.

 

[Devin0241]

I am fairly new at computers and all. If you want to build a computer that if meant for a workstation rather than for gaming, look into Nvidias Quadro K6000. It also has 12GB of memory but is apparently meant for workstations instead of gaming.