EKWB Launches Gigabyte GTX 980 Ti WindForce 3X Full-Cover Water Block

[kcarbotte]

The wait for a water block is over for Gigabyte GTX 980 Ti owners. EK Water Blocks has finally taken the wraps of its 980 Ti WindForce 3X block.

EKWB Launches Gigabyte GTX 980 Ti WindForce 3X Full-Cover Water Block : Read more

 

[GoldKingCobra]

Why the hell did they make a block for a card with a huge aftermarket cooler, get a reference and put a block on that...

 

[photonboy]

The reason to choose a non-reference card is due to the extra effort put into VRM and other features which make overclocking better than a reference design.

 

[kcarbotte]

Why the hell did they make a block for a card with a huge aftermarket cooler, get a reference and put a block on that...

custom PCB cards often have advanced features more suitable for overclocking like improved chokes and power phases, and in the gase of Gigabyte, more copper in the PCB which should allower for better power delivery.

 

[GoldKingCobra]

I don't get how an extra $150 justifies a 1 or 2 extra "fps'es."

 

[kcarbotte]

I don't get how an extra $150 justifies a 1 or 2 extra "fps'es."

It's not about 1 or 2 extra frames, its about the looks, and the experience of doing it.

 

[photonboy]

I don't get how an extra $150 justifies a 1 or 2 extra "fps'es."

It's not about 1 or 2 extra frames, its about the looks, and the experience of doing it.

1) First of all, it's not just an extra 2FPS because there are times when the air-cooled card starts throttling down depending on the game chosen and case cooling etc.

DX12 is going to stress the GPU a lot more at times for this; if that doesn't make sense then look it up or just run FURMARK to see what using all of the processing areas of your GPU can do in terms of heat and noise.

2) It's also about NOISE reduction, the LIFE of the card and also eliminating heat from inside the case which is problematic for SLI or small case designs.

When a GPU is maxing out about 50degC instead of close to 90degC that's going to make a huge difference in the life of the GPU. In some cases it might mean EIGHT years instead of THREE but the silicon lottery and other factors all contribute to MTBF so it's hard to predict.

For me, it's primarily about NOISE reduction.

*It's worth checking out Jayz2cents on the EVGA 980Ti Hybrid:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtRqmzRMar8

 

[GoldKingCobra]

I don't get how an extra $150 justifies a 1 or 2 extra "fps'es."

It's not about 1 or 2 extra frames, its about the looks, and the experience of doing it.

1) First of all, it's not just an extra 2FPS because there are times when the air-cooled card starts throttling down depending on the game chosen and case cooling etc.

DX12 is going to stress the GPU a lot more at times for this; if that doesn't make sense then look it up or just run FURMARK to see what using all of the processing areas of your GPU can do in terms of heat and noise.

2) It's also about NOISE reduction, the LIFE of the card and also eliminating heat from inside the case which is problematic for SLI or small case designs.

When a GPU is maxing out about 50degC instead of close to 90degC that's going to make a huge difference in the life of the GPU. In some cases it might mean EIGHT years instead of THREE but the silicon lottery and other factors all contribute to MTBF so it's hard to predict.

For me, it's primarily about NOISE reduction.

*It's worth checking out Jayz2cents on the EVGA 980Ti Hybrid:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtRqmzRMar8

Might as well get a reference card then...