Best Version of the Geforce GTX 970?

[blackspidey2099]

Hey all!

I've been searching up graphics cards recently for my first computer build, and I've narrowed it down to the GeForce GTX 970. However, I'm not sure whether to buy the normal NVidia version, the ASUS version, the EVGA version, or the MSI version. I've been looking up reviews, but as the cards were released so recently, I haven't been able to find many comparing these 4. Also, they tend to be very technical, so much of it goes over my head, which is why I'm making this thread.

Would you please just say which is first in these categories:

1. Performance
2. Cooling/Quiet
3. Value for money
4. Overall best

I'd also appreciate if you just recommended the best one for me to buy, or if you just replied. 😛

Thank you!!!

 

[tsuneo6]

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2313754/geforce-gtx-970.html
I'm going to be lazy and link this. here it is explained.
in short, MSI is leading atm, but the difference between the brands isnt that big.(dont go for evga though, worse cooling then the other ones)

for more details: http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2014/09/19/nvidia-geforce-gtx-970-review/14

these dont include gigabyte's version though. it should be in between msi and asus.

 

[MeteorsRaining]

Firstly, avoid reference designs, the aftermarket ones are lot better. Now, according to most reviews:

Major brands: EVGA/ Asus/ GigaByte/ MSI.

1. Performance, G1 (GigaByte), out of the box, highest clocked. But, MSI is the best OCer of the lot. Asus is good here.

2. Quietness, MSI is the quietest. G1 is very quiet too. Asus is very quiet and very cool. MSI is the coolest, G1 is 2nd by a very very slight margin.

3. Value for money, depends on where you live.

4. Overall best, IMO: 1. MSI 2. G1 3. ASUS

EVGA has not been included as the current coolers (ACX 1.0) have flawed design and are thus loud and hotter, ACX 2.0 will be much better but has not yet been released.

Also, MSI and ASUS card's cooler fans don't operate with <50C temps, which's really a good feature. G1 is a great overall card, but very long so you may need to remove drive bays.

Asus and G1 have backplate (for looks), MSI does not.

MSI would be my choice for a powerful, cool, quiet card

 

[tsuneo6]

^did you make that to coppy paste on all the different topics about the 970 cards? 😉

 

[MeteorsRaining]

Read all the reviews of all the cards on all major sites, then compared. And everything is typed.

 

[tsuneo6]

should paste it in a notebook file for easy acces, as this question pops up every 5 minutes^^

 

[MeteorsRaining]

Don't worry, I got that covered, in my mind. You may take notes from the comparision if you wish to.

 

[tsuneo6]

will do, didnt have much data on the gigabyte version yet.
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