EVGA GTX 980 Ti - SC vs SC+ vs Classified

[TheFallenOne]

I am looking at the EVGA cards to replace the ref. 980 that came with my PC.

Was wondering which card I should go for. Is there a major diff between the SC or the SC+ aside from the backplate. And is the difference between an SC+ and classified worth the approx 10% price jump.

Whilst cost isn't an issue, I would like value for my money if that makes sense...

The EVGA site lists all the clock/overclock speeds for each card but I'm not clear, do these cards come with those speeds preset or are they all standard and you have to manually over clock to the speeds they say are available?

Thanks in advance

 

[i7Baby]

The classified has a better cooler and factory overclocks.

The SC+ is better factory OCd than the SC.

 

[parabellum128]

Ok unless youre planning on watercooling do not get a classified. Their true potential is never realized on air. Stick with the SC if youre stock aircooling.

Remember: CLASSIFIED = WATERCOOLING
KINGPIN = DICE / LN2

The fancy shmancy coolers that come with them are just novelty items that you have to keep in case you ever have to RMA

Nobody cares about the factory overclocks at all. They're just a marketing point. For instance the stock boost of the regular 980 classified was ~1300 and stock boost 1417, but I was able to push the card to 1617 underwater.
This is the same case with the SC models but they dont overclock as well unless they have added voltage which requires liquid cooling
Even then, the classified should beat out the SC because of improved VRM and power delivery.