970-SLI or 980Ti for 144Hz 1440p gaming?

[gerr]

My current gaming rig has a GTX 970 videocard and this August I plan on upgrading to a new 27" 144Hz 1440p monitor. I know my 970 wont be able to push most new games past 60 FPS, so I need to upgrade my GPU horsepower as well.

My options are to buy a 2nd 970 and run my two 970's in SLI, or sell my existing 970 and buy a single 980Ti. Most benchmarks put a pair of 970's in SLI as being a little faster than a single 980Ti, plus this option is easier to do and cheaper as I simply need to buy a 2nd 970 and plug it in. However, even in SLI, I will be limited to the 3.5Gb of video memory of the 970's and not all games run SLI very well. The 6GB of the 980Ti means I should never run out of video memory and having a single card is always a better solution than two cards, but this will be the harder and more expensive route.

One other main factor to consider is the wife. No matter how I spin it, a single $650+ charge on the CC is a lot harder to explain than a $350 one.

What would you do?

 

[Gmesh]

To be honest I think you already know all the facts, theres not much we could tell you. However if it was me theres no way the wife would be okay with a 650+ charge LOL. Also having 2 GPUs is normal here but it does give you some bragging rights 😛 I think 970s are one of the only few cards that SLI is OK in. Single cards are 99% of the time better than going for SLI but this is easier to do, easier to explain, and easier to buy (and not have to sell) for you. Just IMO.

 

[sizzling]

I would get a single 980Ti and tell the wife she can spend $650 on handbags and shoes

A few games are already using 3gb plus of vram at 1080p, running 970's at 1440p does not feel like it leaves any vram headroom for future more vram hungry games. For this alone I'd go 980Ti, you have already mentioned the other benefits.

 

[bignastyid]

If it were me I'd get the 980Ti and sell the 970, but I'm not married.

 

[Gmesh]

I would get a single 980Ti and tell the wife she can spend $650 on handbags and shoes

A few games are already using 3gb plus of vram at 1080p, running 970's at 1440p does not feel like it leaves any vram headroom for future more vram hungry games. For this alone I'd go 980Ti, you have already mentioned the other benefits.

This is probably the biggest drawback you should consider. If this isn't an issue go for SLI. If it is, spring for the 980ti definitely.

 

[HEXiT]

go for a 120hz screen. way less issues with flickering, colour distortion and ghosting.
for the card. the 980 ti is the better option.

 

[Bossyfins]

Me, I'd keep the 970 since you have it. Unless you sell it for cheap, no one would buy it.

 

[gerr]

go for a 120hz screen. way less issues with flickering, colour distortion and ghosting.
for the card. the 980 ti is the better option.

As I said in my original post, my new monitor will be a 144Hz one, are you suggesting lowering that to a 120Hz one?

 

[sshortguy73]

be honest after I already tried that , with the gtx 980 ti single and in gtx 970 sli would be the best bet for 144 hz ,
you will only achieve 1 or the other better graphics with the gtx 980 ti or go with sli for more fps for the 144 hz

 

[RobCrezz]

I would go sli 970 for 1440p, seeing as you already have one.