EVGA GTX 970 ACX 1.0 Return? or EVGA Stepup

[Dudewhoareyou]

So, i recently bought two EVGA ACX 1.0 graphics cards for SLI for my 1920x1080 144hz monitor
GPU: http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GDDR5-256bit-Graphics-04G-P4-0972-KR/dp/B00NI647NE/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1412206608&sr=1-1&keywords=evga+gtx+970
Monitor: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HE61SOA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I paid a total of 814$ (including shipping and tax) for the two cards. I bought these cards for the first PC i have ever built (the build went amazingly and everything works!) and they have just arrived today. Due to the MASSIVE amount of negative reviews and feedback for this card (although some positive) I am scared to even open the boxes if it would depreciate my return. My question is this, should i simply send these cards back to the merchant for a full refund and wait for a different brand of gtx 970 or 980 to come into stock while utilizing the graphics on my motherboard to game or should i keep the cards and upgrade them next month utilizing EVGA's stepup program? Please, help! I'm pretty lost, this is my first build after all.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Dudewhoareyou]

EDIT: If it makes a difference, this is my current build
[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/hfzBFT) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/hfzBFT/by_merchant/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i74790k) | $339.99 @ Newegg
**CPU Cooler** | [Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/noctua-cpu-cooler-nhd14) | $59.99 @ NCIX US
**Motherboard** | [Asus MAXIMUS VII HERO ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-maximusviihero) | $203.99 @ NCIX US
**Memory** | [Corsair Vengeance Pro 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2133 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-memory-cmy16gx3m2a2133c11) | $179.99 @ Newegg
**Storage** | [Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz7te250bw) | $129.99 @ Amazon
**Storage** | [Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st2000dm001) | $84.99 @ Newegg
**Case** | [Cooler Master Storm Trooper ATX Full Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-case-sgc5000kwn1) | $129.99 @ Newegg
**Power Supply** | [EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-220g20850xr) | $114.99 @ NCIX US
**Optical Drive** | [Samsung SH-224DB/RSBS DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-optical-drive-sh224dbrsbs) | $19.57 @ Amazon
**Operating System** | [Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-wn700615) | $89.98 @ OutletPC
**Monitor** | [BenQ XL2720Z 144Hz 27.0" Monitor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/benq-monitor-xl2720z) | $449.99 @ Newegg
**Wireless Network Adapter** | [Asus PCE-AC68 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-wireless-network-card-pceac68) | $96.99 @ Amazon
**Keyboard** | [Corsair Vengeance K70 Wired Gaming Keyboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-keyboard-ch9000011na) | $111.99 @ Amazon
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $2002.44
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-30 17:14 EDT-0400 |

 

[17seconds]

You should absolutely return those cards. You happened to get far and away the most expensive EVGA GTX 970 models that I can see on Amazon. In addition, I think but I'm not sure, that the ACX 1.0 coolers are the ones that are offset from the GPU. This is a defect. I have seen other 2.0 ACX coolers that are not offset. Send those back and get a cheaper card with the 2.0 ACX cooler. (PS, I'll try to check out that cooler defect in more detail later.)

 

[Dudewhoareyou]

You should absolutely return those cards. You happened to get far and away the most expensive EVGA GTX 970 models that I can see on Amazon. In addition, I think but I'm not sure, that the ACX 1.0 coolers are the ones that are offset from the GPU. This is a defect. I have seen other 2.0 ACX coolers that are not offset. Send those back and get a cheaper card with the 2.0 ACX cooler. (PS, I'll try to check out that cooler defect in more detail later.)

Ok, thanks!

 

[17seconds]

Those cards you have are the basic models. They aren't even factory overclocked, and they're the most expensive. If you want EVGA, here are better options in descending order of factory clock speeds. All come with the ACX 2.0 cooler.

SSC:
http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Graphics-Cards-04G-P4-2975-KR/dp/B00NT9UUGI/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1412132357&sr=1-3&keywords=evga+gtx+970

SC:
http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Superclocked-Graphics-04G-P4-2974-KR/dp/B00NVODXR4/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1412132357&sr=1-4&keywords=evga+gtx+970

Stock:
http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-256bit-Graphics-04G-P4-2972-KR/dp/B00NVODXME/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1412132357&sr=1-6&keywords=evga+gtx+970

 

[17seconds]

Some information on that misaligned heatsink. Be sure to read the official EVGA response below it.
http://www.guru3d.com/news-story/evga-geforce-gtx-970-acx-has-misaligned-gpu-vs-heatpipes.html

 

[Dudewhoareyou]

Some information on that misaligned heatsink. Be sure to read the official EVGA response below it.
http://www.guru3d.com/news-story/evga-geforce-gtx-970-acx-has-misaligned-gpu-vs-heatpipes.html

Thanks a ton for all the help. I don't have any preference for EVGA products and after this ill probably never buy a card from them again. I just didn't know when i was ordering parts that i would be able to game with only a motherboard, and i ordered the only 970s that were in stock. I'll return these cards tomorrow. Thanks again!

 

[17seconds]

The cards are still pretty good. I actually think there may be some truth to that statement about them only wanting one heatpipe gap in contact with the GPU versus two if it was centered. The big complaint about these cards is that they are louder than others, but again, according to EVGA this is because of an aggressive fan profile. They said they would be issuing a new BIOS to correct the fan profile.

 

[EVGA_ChrisB]

Dear 17seconds,

Thank you for you post as I can confirm that the GTX 970 heatsink is in no way defective and is working as it was designed to and our official response to any concerns is posted on the EVGA Forums at: http://forums.evga.com/FindPost/2220695.

We have also released a new program to allow our customers to request a Free EVGA Backplate for their new GTX 970 card and more information on this can be located at: http://forums.evga.com/EVGA-GTX-970-Free-Backplate-Promotion-m2227910.aspx

 

[17seconds]

EVGA has a LOT of fans on these forums, so please be sure to get out there and pass along the information on the ACX cooler and the backplate offer. I'm sure you will get an enthusiastic and positive response. And if you feel like sending me one of those bad boys to test out personally, I'm sure it would help me to give a more accurate representation of its quality and performance.