GPU, 980TI?? And PSU Upgrade??

[Plexonator]

Hello,

I have couple of questions about some hardware, if you know something that could be of
use to me, please help a friend out here =)

I'm not a noobie to working with hardware, but I would like some quidance to upgrading my current PC;
I recently bought a ASUS PG278Q, and to utilize the 1440p AND 144Hz, I need a better GPU than
what I have now (currently a 760 2GB).

So the questions are:

1. What graphics card should I get? I've been looking at a lot of forums, and it seems
like a 980TI would do the trick, but what do you recommend? I want a single card, so
no SLI. Also, no AMD (my monitor is G-Sync, and I want to use the feature).

2. If I do get a 980TI (or anything else), do I need to upgrade my PSU? Currently I have a
Cooler Master GX 550W 80+ Bronze, and it's been fine for my current build, but do I need
to also upgrade the PSU?

3. Would my CPU bottleneck my GPU? I have a Intel i5-4430 @ 3.00 GHz, and I am
wondering if it will bottleneck the 980TI (or anything else)?


I will be playing games like: TF2, Mobas, CS:GO, Pay Day 2, Nosgoth. Basically anything that I find interesting, so I would like the GPU to be able to handle most games (doesn't need to Ultra GTA V 1440p 144Hz xD, not even close to something like that).

My budget is about 1000 euros max, but I would like to not use all of it, about 700 euros would be nice (if you think a card that costs for example 800 euros, is not out of question, I just would like to save as much money as possible, while still reaching my goals). I would also like to buy the part(s) as soon as possbile, and since I live in the Netherlands, websites like Newegg and Amazon are a bit hard for me to reach (not impossible), so more European-friendly websites would be nice.



Thanks in advance, and here are my current specs:

GPU: Gigabyte GeForce GTX760 2GB OC Windforce 3X
CPU: Intel i5-4430 @ 3.00 GHz
RAM: Kingston HyperX 16GB (4x4GB)
MOTHERBOARD: Gigabyte GA-Z87-D3HP DDR3
MEMORY: WD Desktop Blue 1TB SATA 6Gb/s 64MB
SSD: None
PSU: Cooler Master GX 550W 80+ Bronze
CASE: Zalman Z11 Plus
OS: Win 7 Premium 64-bit




-Plexonator, a first time poster to Tom'shardware

 

[raisonjohn]

So the questions are:

1. What graphics card should I get? I've been looking at a lot of forums, and it seems
like a 980TI would do the trick, but what do you recommend? I want a single card, so
no SLI, and my budget is about 1000 euros max, but I would like to not use all of it. Also,
no AMD (my monitor is G-Sync, and I want to use the feature).

2. If I do get a 980TI (or anything else), do I need to upgrade my PSU? Currently I have a
Cooler Master GX 550W 80+ Bronze, and it's been fine for my current build, but do I need
to also upgrade the PSU?

3. Would my CPU bottleneck my GPU? I have a Intel i5-4430 @ 3.00 GHz, and I am
wondering if it will bottleneck the 980TI (or anything else)?

-Plexonator, a first time poster to Tom'shardware

Hi and welcome to TH!

I'll go straight to your questions:
1.) It's true that for 1440p gaming, the GTX 980 Ti is the sweet-spot. However, it doesn't mean that the GTX 980 is not sufficient (especially if you're on a tight budget). In most games, the GTX 980 can easily go above 60fps; in other games, it just barely misses that mark. Here are some benchmarks you can look at:

So, as you can see with the above benchmarks, the choice between the GTX 980 Ti or the GTX 980 will be dependent on your system specs, your games that you will be playing, and the frame rates that are acceptable to you.

2) If you decide on the GTX 980 Ti, your current PSU (550W) will not be sufficient. You will need to upgrade that to a minimum of 600W power draw (from a good-quality PSU). On the other hand, if you elect to go with the GTX 980, you can maintain the same PSU (550W) as the 980 rig will need only 520W. Here's a good chart of PSU Requirements for your additional info.

3) I don't think so. The i5 is a very powerful CPU and in no way it would bottleneck the GPU should you choose the GTX 980 Ti. An SLI setup of that card might.

 

[sora]

Hello,

I have couple of questions about some hardware, if you know something that could be of
use to me, please help a friend out here =)

I'm not a noobie to working with hardware, but I would like some quidance to upgrading my current PC;
I recently bought a ASUS PG278Q, and to utilize the 1440p AND 144Hz, I need a better GPU than
what I have now (currently a 760 2GB).

So the questions are:

1. What graphics card should I get? I've been looking at a lot of forums, and it seems
like a 980TI would do the trick, but what do you recommend? I want a single card, so
no SLI. Also, no AMD (my monitor is G-Sync, and I want to use the feature).

2. If I do get a 980TI (or anything else), do I need to upgrade my PSU? Currently I have a
Cooler Master GX 550W 80+ Bronze, and it's been fine for my current build, but do I need
to also upgrade the PSU?

3. Would my CPU bottleneck my GPU? I have a Intel i5-4430 @ 3.00 GHz, and I am
wondering if it will bottleneck the 980TI (or anything else)?


I will be playing games like: TF2, Mobas, CS:GO, Pay Day 2, Nosgoth. Basically anything that I find interesting, so I would like the GPU to be able to handle most games (doesn't need to Ultra GTA V 1440p 144Hz xD, not even close to something like that).

My budget is about 1000 euros max, but I would like to not use all of it, about 700 euros would be nice (if you think a card that costs for example 800 euros, is not out of question, I just would like to save as much money as possible, while still reaching my goals). I would also like to buy the part(s) as soon as possbile, and since I live in the Netherlands, websites like Newegg and Amazon are a bit hard for me to reach (not impossible), so more European-friendly websites would be nice.



Thanks in advance, and here are my current specs:

GPU: Gigabyte GeForce GTX760 2GB OC Windforce 3X
CPU: Intel i5-4430 @ 3.00 GHz
RAM: Kingston HyperX 16GB (4x4GB)
MOTHERBOARD: Gigabyte GA-Z87-D3HP DDR3
MEMORY: WD Desktop Blue 1TB SATA 6Gb/s 64MB
SSD: None
PSU: Cooler Master GX 550W 80+ Bronze
CASE: Zalman Z11 Plus
OS: Win 7 Premium 64-bit




-Plexonator, a first time poster to Tom'shardware

I would personally get a NVIDIA GTX 980Ti if you are looking at a solid single card for the price! Also, you would most likely need to upgrade your power supply to at least an XFX 650W power supply or a Seasonic 620W power supply. Your CPU should not bottleneck the GPU, and even if it did, the bottleneck would be very little.

 

[Plexonator]

So the questions are:

1. What graphics card should I get? I've been looking at a lot of forums, and it seems
like a 980TI would do the trick, but what do you recommend? I want a single card, so
no SLI, and my budget is about 1000 euros max, but I would like to not use all of it. Also,
no AMD (my monitor is G-Sync, and I want to use the feature).

2. If I do get a 980TI (or anything else), do I need to upgrade my PSU? Currently I have a
Cooler Master GX 550W 80+ Bronze, and it's been fine for my current build, but do I need
to also upgrade the PSU?

3. Would my CPU bottleneck my GPU? I have a Intel i5-4430 @ 3.00 GHz, and I am
wondering if it will bottleneck the 980TI (or anything else)?

-Plexonator, a first time poster to Tom'shardware

Hi and welcome to TH!

I'll go straight to your questions:
1.) It's true that for 1440p gaming, the GTX 980 Ti is the sweet-spot. However, it doesn't mean that the GTX 980 is not sufficient (especially if you're on a tight budget). In most games, the GTX 980 can easily go above 60fps; in other games, it just barely misses that mark. Here are some benchmarks you can look at:

So, as you can see with the above benchmarks, the choice between the GTX 980 Ti or the GTX 980 will be dependent on your system specs, your games that you will be playing, and the frame rates that are acceptable to you.

2) If you decide on the GTX 980 Ti, your current PSU (550W) will not be sufficient. You will need to upgrade that to a minimum of 600W power draw (from a good-quality PSU). On the other hand, if you elect to go with the GTX 980, you can maintain the same PSU (550W) as the 980 rig will need only 520W. Here's a good chart of PSU Requirements for your additional info.

3) I don't think so. The i5 is a very powerful CPU and in no way it would bottleneck the GPU should you choose the GTX 980 Ti. An SLI setup of that card might.

Thank you very much for helping me out here, and this was exactly what I needed, someone who knows more than me, telling me some very useful information, for example, other GPUs might also be good enough, for less money.

The 980 truly seems to be the better choice for me here, I wouldn't even need to change my PSU!
Except if it wasn't for one thing, the monitor's 144Hz. I managed to get there on TF2 when I heavily turned down the settings, and now I am hooked. 60Hz just isn't the same any more. So, I would like the additional frames with the 980TI (I am even ready to upgrade my PSU for it), and I know that it won't be able to get 144Hz on some of the newer games with ultra, but I don't mind, I can turn down some settings to get a stable 144Hz.

Now I have some follow up questions:

1. Are there any other cards (that are on-par with the 980TI) that I should consider?

2. If I do buy the 980TI, which one should I buy? Reference or non?

3. Since it seems like I'll need to upgrade my PSU, which one should I get? What manufacturer?

Thank you once more for helping me, and I added some more info to the original post, so it's easier to understands my situation.

 

[Plexonator]

Hello,

I have couple of questions about some hardware, if you know something that could be of
use to me, please help a friend out here =)

I'm not a noobie to working with hardware, but I would like some quidance to upgrading my current PC;
I recently bought a ASUS PG278Q, and to utilize the 1440p AND 144Hz, I need a better GPU than
what I have now (currently a 760 2GB).

So the questions are:

1. What graphics card should I get? I've been looking at a lot of forums, and it seems
like a 980TI would do the trick, but what do you recommend? I want a single card, so
no SLI. Also, no AMD (my monitor is G-Sync, and I want to use the feature).

2. If I do get a 980TI (or anything else), do I need to upgrade my PSU? Currently I have a
Cooler Master GX 550W 80+ Bronze, and it's been fine for my current build, but do I need
to also upgrade the PSU?

3. Would my CPU bottleneck my GPU? I have a Intel i5-4430 @ 3.00 GHz, and I am
wondering if it will bottleneck the 980TI (or anything else)?


I will be playing games like: TF2, Mobas, CS:GO, Pay Day 2, Nosgoth. Basically anything that I find interesting, so I would like the GPU to be able to handle most games (doesn't need to Ultra GTA V 1440p 144Hz xD, not even close to something like that).

My budget is about 1000 euros max, but I would like to not use all of it, about 700 euros would be nice (if you think a card that costs for example 800 euros, is not out of question, I just would like to save as much money as possible, while still reaching my goals). I would also like to buy the part(s) as soon as possbile, and since I live in the Netherlands, websites like Newegg and Amazon are a bit hard for me to reach (not impossible), so more European-friendly websites would be nice.



Thanks in advance, and here are my current specs:

GPU: Gigabyte GeForce GTX760 2GB OC Windforce 3X
CPU: Intel i5-4430 @ 3.00 GHz
RAM: Kingston HyperX 16GB (4x4GB)
MOTHERBOARD: Gigabyte GA-Z87-D3HP DDR3
MEMORY: WD Desktop Blue 1TB SATA 6Gb/s 64MB
SSD: None
PSU: Cooler Master GX 550W 80+ Bronze
CASE: Zalman Z11 Plus
OS: Win 7 Premium 64-bit




-Plexonator, a first time poster to Tom'shardware

I would personally get a NVIDIA GTX 980Ti if you are looking at a solid single card for the price! Also, you would most likely need to upgrade your power supply to at least an XFX 650W power supply or a Seasonic 620W power supply. Your CPU should not bottleneck the GPU, and even if it did, the bottleneck would be very little.

Thank you for answering, the 980TI truly seems like the best choice, and those also seem to be some good PSUs.

Now, in your opinion; Which 980TI Should I buy?

 

[gerr]

I recently went through something similar, bought an Asus 1440p 144Hz monitor and had to upgrade my videocard. Not sure about those benchmarks listed above as most other benchmarks show the 980Ti well over a 980. If you only want 60Hz, then a 980 is fine, but if you want to get close to that 144Hz, then a 980Ti will be needed, and it probably wont hit full 144Hz in the newer games. I bought a 980Ti and had my choices down to either the Asus Striker or the Gigabyte Gamer G1 and went with the Gigabyte.

 

[Plexonator]

I recently went through something similar, bought an Asus 1440p 144Hz monitor and had to upgrade my videocard. Not sure about those benchmarks listed above as most other benchmarks show the 980Ti well over a 980. If you only want 60Hz, then a 980 is fine, but if you want to get close to that 144Hz, then a 980Ti will be needed, and it probably wont hit full 144Hz in the newer games. I bought a 980Ti and had my choices down to either the Asus Striker or the Gigabyte Gamer G1 and went with the Gigabyte.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'll be getting the 980TI, just so I can get closer to that 144Hz, even if not achieving it on AAA titles, and Gigabyte does seem pretty promising

 

[raisonjohn]

Thank you very much for helping me out here, and this was exactly what I needed, someone who knows more than me, telling me some very useful information, for example, other GPUs might also be good enough, for less money.

The 980 truly seems to be the better choice for me here, I wouldn't even need to change my PSU!
Except if it wasn't for one thing, the monitor's 144Hz. I managed to get there on TF2 when I heavily turned down the settings, and now I am hooked. 60Hz just isn't the same any more. So, I would like the additional frames with the 980TI (I am even ready to upgrade my PSU for it), and I know that it won't be able to get 144Hz on some of the newer games with ultra, but I don't mind, I can turn down some settings to get a stable 144Hz.

Now I have some follow up questions:

1. Are there any other cards (that are on-par with the 980TI) that I should consider?

2. If I do buy the 980TI, which one should I buy? Reference or non?

3. Since it seems like I'll need to upgrade my PSU, which one should I get? What manufacturer?

Thank you once more for helping me, and I added some more info to the original post, so it's easier to understands my situation.

You're welcome! Here are my thoughts on your follow-up questions:


1. Are there any other cards (that are on-par with the 980TI) that I should consider?

The closest that can come on-par with, but never exceeds, the 980 Ti (in terms of 1440p average fps only) is the AMD's R9 Fury X.

Take a quick look at one benchmark summarizing the results of 8 games (Arkham Origins, GTA V, Hitman: Absolution, Tomb Raider, Metro: Last Light, Shadow of Morder, and Witcher 3) that were tested and compared:

Although note that in the benchmark above, a non-reference GTX 980 Ti was compared with reference cards.

In another benchmark comparing a set of all-reference cards, both reference GTX 980 Ti and reference R9 Fury X were compared in 1440p performance. The results (scores) were as follows:
2560x1440: 98.4 vs 93.6
2560x1440 4xAA: 97.3 vs 97
2560x1440 8xAA: 97.6 vs 96.6
2560x1440 SSAA: 98.4 vs 95.5
2560x1440 2xSSAA: 100 vs 95

Based on these benchmarks alone, the GTX 980 Ti is the better card. Note that the Fury X comes with a dedicated radiator that would take up more space in your chassis while the 980 Ti does not. The Fury X also has a locked memory clock, and no DVI or VGA outputs (limited to DP and HDMI ports). The VRAM plays a very crucial factor where the 980 Ti has 6GB while the Fury X has only 4GB. The rest of these benchmarks show that the Fury X, when gaming at 4K, closes its performance gap with the 980 Ti (in some games, even slightly exceeding it). But as you will be gaming at 1440p and 144Hz, I think the 980 Ti would be the only card to consider.


2. If I do buy the 980TI, which one should I buy? Reference or non?

Definitely get the non-reference version. There are a lot of 980 Ti versions to choose from with different manufacturers offering different advantages (and disadvantages) compared with others - while, of course, price will also be a huge factor. Here's a quick chart at the current GTX 980 Ti versions available.

The choice of which one to buy depends on what is most important to you (Clock Speed? Size? Noise? Temperature? Price? Colors?).

Specs-for-specs these are my compiled findings of some of the 980 Ti available in the market:

Highest Core Clock Speed (Reference: 1.0GHz):
1. Zotac AMP! Extreme Edition (ZT-09505-10P) @ 1.25GHz
2. Asus Strix DirectCU III (Asus STRIX-GTX980TI-DC3OC-6GD5-GAMING) @ 1.22GHz
3 - 4 (Tied). EVGA Classified Kingpin Edition (06G-P4-5998-KR) @ 1.20GHz
3 - 4 (Tied). Msi Lightning @ 1.20GHz
5 - 7 (Tied). Gigabyte (GV-N98TG1 GAMING-6GD) @ 1.19GHz
5 - 7 (Tied). EVGA FTW ACX 2.0+ (06G-P4-4996-KR) @ 1.19GHz
5 - 7 (Tied). EVGA Classified ACX 2.0+ (06G-P4-4998-KR) @ 1.19GHz
8 - 9 (Tied). Zotac AMP! Omega Edition (ZT-90504-10P) @ 1.18GHz
8 - 9 (Tied). Msi Gaming 6G (V323-001R) @ 1.18GHz
10. Palit Super JetStream (NE5X98TH15JB-2000J) @ 1.15GHz

Least Card Length (if it matters):
1. Inno3D Herculez OC (N98TV-1SDN-N5HNX) @ 266mm
2 - 5 (Tied). EVGA FTW ACX 2.0+ (06G-P4-4996-KR) @ 267mm
2 - 5 (Tied). EVGA Superclocked+ ACX 2.0+ (06G-P4-4995-KR) @ 267mm
2 - 5 (Tied). EVGA Superclocked ACX 2.0+ (06G-P4-4993-KR) @ 267mm
2 - 5 (Tied). EVGA ACX 2.0+ (06G-P4-4991-KR) @ 267mm
6. Msi Gaming LE @ 269mm
7 - 10 (Tied). EVGA Classified Kingpin Edition (06G-P4-5998-KR) @ 280mm
7 - 10 (Tied). EVGA Classified ACX 2.0+ (06G-P4-4998-KR) @ 280mm
7 - 10 (Tied). Palit Super JetStream (NE5X98TH15JB-2000J) @ 280mm
7 - 10 (Tied). Gigabyte WindForce 3X (GV-N98TWF3OC-6GD) @ 280mm

Least Noise at Load (Based on this comparison only):
1. Msi Gaming 6G (V323-001R) @ 36 dBa
2 - 3 (Tied). Asus Strix DirectCU III (Asus STRIX-GTX980TI-DC3OC-6GD5-GAMING) @ 38 dBa
2 - 3 (Tied). EVGA SC+ @ 38 dBa
4. Gigabyte WindForce 3X (GV-N98TWF3OC-6GD) @ 42 dBa

Least Temperature at Load (Based on this comparison only):
1. Gigabyte WindForce 3X (GV-N98TWF3OC-6GD) @ 69 C
2. Msi Gaming 6G (V323-001R) @ 74 C
3. EVGA SC+ @ 76 C
4. Asus Strix DirectCU III (Asus STRIX-GTX980TI-DC3OC-6GD5-GAMING) @ 78 C

Price/Base Clock Performance (as of this date):
1. Zotac AMP! Omega Edition (ZT-90504-10P) - 1.18GHz - $649.99 @ Amazon ($550.84/GHz)
2. Zotac AMP! Extreme Edition (ZT-09505-10P) - 1.25GHz - $689.99 @ Amazon ($552.00/GHz)
3. Gigabyte (GV-N98TG1 GAMING-6GD) - 1.19GHz - $673.99 @ NCIXUS ($566.38/GHz)
4. Msi Gaming 6G (V323-001R) - 1.18GHz - $672.00 @ NCIXUS ($569.50/GHz)
5. Asus Strix DirectCU III (Asus STRIX-GTX980TI-DC3OC-6GD5-GAMING) - 1.22GHz - $694.98 @ Newegg ($569.65/GHz)
6. EVGA FTW ACX 2.0+ (06G-P4-4996-KR) - 1.19GHz - $679.99 @ Amazon ($571.42/GHz)
7. EVGA Superclocked+ ACX 2.0+ (06G-P4-4995-KR) - 1.10GHz - $649.99 @ Newegg ($590.90/GHz)
8. EVGA Classified ACX 2.0+ (06G-P4-4998-KR) - 1.19GHz - $709.98 @ Newegg ($596.62/GHz)

The Zotac's have the best Price/Performance (as far as Base Clocks are concerned). I have no data regarding its noise and temperature performance. If your concerned with Noise Levels, Msi clearly has the least noise (compared with selected specific models of the Asus, EVGA, and Gigabyte). Gigabyte clearly has the least temps (in that same limited comparison). Any of the listed EVGA with a good Price/Performance quotient may also be considered depending on your available budget. In the end, it's going to be your call (especially if colors are also your concern).


3. Since it seems like I'll need to upgrade my PSU, which one should I get? What manufacturer?

As always, the PSU Tier List serves as a good guide in selecting the top quality power supply unit for your rig. We want to choose among the Tier-1 and Tier-2 models to ensure reliability, efficiency, and safety. The final choice of brand/model will be dependent on the prices available in your location.

Since you are most likely going to build your rig around the GTX 980 Ti, the recommended (minimum) wattage would have to be 600W of a Tier-1/Tier-2 PSU. If you would want to consider, in the near future, to go for a 2x 980 Ti SLI, you can also choose an 850W in advance (so you won't have to replace the PSU when you decide on going multi-GPU). However, if you plan to stay on a single-GPU setup, it's logically best to stick with the 600-watt range (minimum).

There are several choices of brands/manufacturers to choose from. Clear-cut brands that produce Tier-1/Tier-2 category components are Seasonic, XFX, and Super Flower. Some manufacturers produce a mixed of Tier-1/Tier-2 and some lower Tier/poor units such as Be Quiet, Corsair, EVGA, Cooler Master, Antec, Rosewill and Thermaltake. Be careful in selecting the exact models of these brands as you may be choosing a specific model or specific series that are identified to be of low-quality.

I would suggest getting any of the following models for your single-GTX 980 Ti setup (I selected the more-affordable but high-quality models):
SeaSonic M12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply
SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply
EVGA SuperNOVA GS 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply
Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply
Choose whichever has the lowest price among these.

If you decide on getting another 980Ti for a 2x SLI setup very soon (like, within the next 12 months), I would suggest getting any of the following:
Antec HCG M 850W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply
SeaSonic M12II 850W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply
EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply
EVGA SuperNOVA P2 850W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply
SeaSonic X Series 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply
Corsair RM 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply
Choose whichever has the lowest price among these.

Hope this answers your questions!

 

[Plexonator]

Thank you very much for helping me out here, and this was exactly what I needed, someone who knows more than me, telling me some very useful information, for example, other GPUs might also be good enough, for less money.

The 980 truly seems to be the better choice for me here, I wouldn't even need to change my PSU!
Except if it wasn't for one thing, the monitor's 144Hz. I managed to get there on TF2 when I heavily turned down the settings, and now I am hooked. 60Hz just isn't the same any more. So, I would like the additional frames with the 980TI (I am even ready to upgrade my PSU for it), and I know that it won't be able to get 144Hz on some of the newer games with ultra, but I don't mind, I can turn down some settings to get a stable 144Hz.

Now I have some follow up questions:

1. Are there any other cards (that are on-par with the 980TI) that I should consider?

2. If I do buy the 980TI, which one should I buy? Reference or non?

3. Since it seems like I'll need to upgrade my PSU, which one should I get? What manufacturer?

Thank you once more for helping me, and I added some more info to the original post, so it's easier to understands my situation.

You're welcome! Here are my thoughts on your follow-up questions:


1. Are there any other cards (that are on-par with the 980TI) that I should consider?

The closest that can come on-par with, but never exceeds, the 980 Ti (in terms of 1440p average fps only) is the AMD's R9 Fury X.

Take a quick look at one benchmark summarizing the results of 8 games (Arkham Origins, GTA V, Hitman: Absolution, Tomb Raider, Metro: Last Light, Shadow of Morder, and Witcher 3) that were tested and compared:

Although note that in the benchmark above, a non-reference GTX 980 Ti was compared with reference cards.

In another benchmark comparing a set of all-reference cards, both reference GTX 980 Ti and reference R9 Fury X were compared in 1440p performance. The results (scores) were as follows:
2560x1440: 98.4 vs 93.6
2560x1440 4xAA: 97.3 vs 97
2560x1440 8xAA: 97.6 vs 96.6
2560x1440 SSAA: 98.4 vs 95.5
2560x1440 2xSSAA: 100 vs 95

Based on these benchmarks alone, the GTX 980 Ti is the better card. Note that the Fury X comes with a dedicated radiator that would take up more space in your chassis while the 980 Ti does not. The Fury X also has a locked memory clock, and no DVI or VGA outputs (limited to DP and HDMI ports). The VRAM plays a very crucial factor where the 980 Ti has 6GB while the Fury X has only 4GB. The rest of these benchmarks show that the Fury X, when gaming at 4K, closes its performance gap with the 980 Ti (in some games, even slightly exceeding it). But as you will be gaming at 1440p and 144Hz, I think the 980 Ti would be the only card to consider.


2. If I do buy the 980TI, which one should I buy? Reference or non?

Definitely get the non-reference version. There are a lot of 980 Ti versions to choose from with different manufacturers offering different advantages (and disadvantages) compared with others - while, of course, price will also be a huge factor. Here's a quick chart at the current GTX 980 Ti versions available.

The choice of which one to buy depends on what is most important to you (Clock Speed? Size? Noise? Temperature? Price? Colors?).

Specs-for-specs these are my compiled findings of some of the 980 Ti available in the market:

Highest Core Clock Speed (Reference: 1.0GHz):
1. Zotac AMP! Extreme Edition (ZT-09505-10P) @ 1.25GHz
2. Asus Strix DirectCU III (Asus STRIX-GTX980TI-DC3OC-6GD5-GAMING) @ 1.22GHz
3 - 4 (Tied). EVGA Classified Kingpin Edition (06G-P4-5998-KR) @ 1.20GHz
3 - 4 (Tied). Msi Lightning @ 1.20GHz
5 - 7 (Tied). Gigabyte (GV-N98TG1 GAMING-6GD) @ 1.19GHz
5 - 7 (Tied). EVGA FTW ACX 2.0+ (06G-P4-4996-KR) @ 1.19GHz
5 - 7 (Tied). EVGA Classified ACX 2.0+ (06G-P4-4998-KR) @ 1.19GHz
8 - 9 (Tied). Zotac AMP! Omega Edition (ZT-90504-10P) @ 1.18GHz
8 - 9 (Tied). Msi Gaming 6G (V323-001R) @ 1.18GHz
10. Palit Super JetStream (NE5X98TH15JB-2000J) @ 1.15GHz

Least Card Length (if it matters):
1. Inno3D Herculez OC (N98TV-1SDN-N5HNX) @ 266mm
2 - 5 (Tied). EVGA FTW ACX 2.0+ (06G-P4-4996-KR) @ 267mm
2 - 5 (Tied). EVGA Superclocked+ ACX 2.0+ (06G-P4-4995-KR) @ 267mm
2 - 5 (Tied). EVGA Superclocked ACX 2.0+ (06G-P4-4993-KR) @ 267mm
2 - 5 (Tied). EVGA ACX 2.0+ (06G-P4-4991-KR) @ 267mm
6. Msi Gaming LE @ 269mm
7 - 10 (Tied). EVGA Classified Kingpin Edition (06G-P4-5998-KR) @ 280mm
7 - 10 (Tied). EVGA Classified ACX 2.0+ (06G-P4-4998-KR) @ 280mm
7 - 10 (Tied). Palit Super JetStream (NE5X98TH15JB-2000J) @ 280mm
7 - 10 (Tied). Gigabyte WindForce 3X (GV-N98TWF3OC-6GD) @ 280mm

Least Noise at Load (Based on this comparison only):
1. Msi Gaming 6G (V323-001R) @ 36 dBa
2 - 3 (Tied). Asus Strix DirectCU III (Asus STRIX-GTX980TI-DC3OC-6GD5-GAMING) @ 38 dBa
2 - 3 (Tied). EVGA SC+ @ 38 dBa
4. Gigabyte WindForce 3X (GV-N98TWF3OC-6GD) @ 42 dBa

Least Temperature at Load (Based on this comparison only):
1. Gigabyte WindForce 3X (GV-N98TWF3OC-6GD) @ 69 C
2. Msi Gaming 6G (V323-001R) @ 74 C
3. EVGA SC+ @ 76 C
4. Asus Strix DirectCU III (Asus STRIX-GTX980TI-DC3OC-6GD5-GAMING) @ 78 C

Price/Base Clock Performance (as of this date):
1. Zotac AMP! Omega Edition (ZT-90504-10P) - 1.18GHz - $649.99 @ Amazon ($550.84/GHz)
2. Zotac AMP! Extreme Edition (ZT-09505-10P) - 1.25GHz - $689.99 @ Amazon ($552.00/GHz)
3. Gigabyte (GV-N98TG1 GAMING-6GD) - 1.19GHz - $673.99 @ NCIXUS ($566.38/GHz)
4. Msi Gaming 6G (V323-001R) - 1.18GHz - $672.00 @ NCIXUS ($569.50/GHz)
5. Asus Strix DirectCU III (Asus STRIX-GTX980TI-DC3OC-6GD5-GAMING) - 1.22GHz - $694.98 @ Newegg ($569.65/GHz)
6. EVGA FTW ACX 2.0+ (06G-P4-4996-KR) - 1.19GHz - $679.99 @ Amazon ($571.42/GHz)
7. EVGA Superclocked+ ACX 2.0+ (06G-P4-4995-KR) - 1.10GHz - $649.99 @ Newegg ($590.90/GHz)
8. EVGA Classified ACX 2.0+ (06G-P4-4998-KR) - 1.19GHz - $709.98 @ Newegg ($596.62/GHz)

The Zotac's have the best Price/Performance (as far as Base Clocks are concerned). I have no data regarding its noise and temperature performance. If your concerned with Noise Levels, Msi clearly has the least noise (compared with selected specific models of the Asus, EVGA, and Gigabyte). Gigabyte clearly has the least temps (in that same limited comparison). Any of the listed EVGA with a good Price/Performance quotient may also be considered depending on your available budget. In the end, it's going to be your call (especially if colors are also your concern).


3. Since it seems like I'll need to upgrade my PSU, which one should I get? What manufacturer?

As always, the PSU Tier List serves as a good guide in selecting the top quality power supply unit for your rig. We want to choose among the Tier-1 and Tier-2 models to ensure reliability, efficiency, and safety. The final choice of brand/model will be dependent on the prices available in your location.

Since you are most likely going to build your rig around the GTX 980 Ti, the recommended (minimum) wattage would have to be 600W of a Tier-1/Tier-2 PSU. If you would want to consider, in the near future, to go for a 2x 980 Ti SLI, you can also choose an 850W in advance (so you won't have to replace the PSU when you decide on going multi-GPU). However, if you plan to stay on a single-GPU setup, it's logically best to stick with the 600-watt range (minimum).

There are several choices of brands/manufacturers to choose from. Clear-cut brands that produce Tier-1/Tier-2 category components are Seasonic, XFX, and Super Flower. Some manufacturers produce a mixed of Tier-1/Tier-2 and some lower Tier/poor units such as Be Quiet, Corsair, EVGA, Cooler Master, Antec, Rosewill and Thermaltake. Be careful in selecting the exact models of these brands as you may be choosing a specific model or specific series that are identified to be of low-quality.

I would suggest getting any of the following models for your single-GTX 980 Ti setup (I selected the more-affordable but high-quality models):
SeaSonic M12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply
SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply
EVGA SuperNOVA GS 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply
Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply
Choose whichever has the lowest price among these.

If you decide on getting another 980Ti for a 2x SLI setup very soon (like, within the next 12 months), I would suggest getting any of the following:
Antec HCG M 850W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply
SeaSonic M12II 850W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply
EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply
EVGA SuperNOVA P2 850W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply
SeaSonic X Series 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply
Corsair RM 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply
Choose whichever has the lowest price among these.

Hope this answers your questions!

Yes, it did answer my questions =D


So my conclusion from this forum so far (might actually be final) is:



1. I will definetly be going with the 980TI, it just seems to be the best.


2. For me, here are the impotances of each aspect:



Highest Core Clock Speed; Of course is important, since it will directly affect the performance, and I will not OC any of my parts, this is important.


Least Card Length; Not important at all, because I have a pretty big case, and it won't be a problem to fit the GPU in the case.


Least Noise at Load; Kind of important, but not that much because my room is next to our washing room, and often there will be noise coming from there anyway, so my PC's noise levels aren't affecting me that much.


Least Temperature at Load; This on the other hand IS important, my whole PC is air cooled, so no water anywhere (BTW, if you think I should atleast water cool my CPU, please tell me, I've been thinking if it would be useful or not...), and my room is in the top floor of the house, meaning it sometimes gets very hot in my room, and a hot PC won't be helping at all (and it might be bad for the PC).


Price/Base Clock Performance; Of course is important, since I want to use as little money as possible, while still getting good performance, this actually might the most important.

In conclusion:

The Gigabyte (GV-N98TG1 GAMING-6GD) seems to be the best for me, if you think otherwise (since you DO have more knowledge about this, I would still like to know your opinion), considering all the aspects of these cards. Also, where I live (the Netherlands), this is also the easiest card to get.



3. Unfortunately, I won't be getting SLI in the next 12 months (my budget won't allow it), so one from the first group will do. Since I've heard such good things about SeaSonic, I will be getting the SeaSonic M12II 620W Fully-Modular, since I want those unnecessary cables out of there.










In conclusion to this whole thread:


I will be getting the

- 980Ti Gigabyte (GV-N98TG1 GAMING-6GD)

and

- SeaSonic M12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply



Thanks for everyone whole helped me out, and if you think one of these choices is bad, please let me know, but for the time being, thse are the two I will be getting.

 

[raisonjohn]

Yes, it did answer my questions =D

So my conclusion from this forum so far (might actually be final) is:

1. I will definetly be going with the 980TI, it just seems to be the best.

2. For me, here are the impotances of each aspect:

Highest Core Clock Speed; Of course is important, since it will directly affect the performance, and I will not OC any of my parts, this is important.

Least Card Length; Not important at all, because I have a pretty big case, and it won't be a problem to fit the GPU in the case.

Least Noise at Load; Kind of important, but not that much because my room is next to our washing room, and often there will be noise coming from there anyway, so my PC's noise levels aren't affecting me that much.

Least Temperature at Load; This on the other hand IS important, my whole PC is air cooled, so no water anywhere (BTW, if you think I should atleast water cool my CPU, please tell me, I've been thinking if it would be useful or not...), and my room is in the top floor of the house, meaning it sometimes gets very hot in my room, and a hot PC won't be helping at all (and it might be bad for the PC).

Price/Base Clock Performance; Of course is important, since I want to use as little money as possible, while still getting good performance, this actually might the most important.

In conclusion:

The Gigabyte (GV-N98TG1 GAMING-6GD) seems to be the best for me, if you think otherwise (since you DO have more knowledge about this, I would still like to know your opinion), considering all the aspects of these cards. Also, where I live (the Netherlands), this is also the easiest card to get.

3. Unfortunately, I won't be getting SLI in the next 12 months (my budget won't allow it), so one from the first group will do. Since I've heard such good things about SeaSonic, I will be getting the SeaSonic M12II 620W Fully-Modular, since I want those unnecessary cables out of there.

In conclusion to this whole thread:

I will be getting the

- 980Ti Gigabyte (GV-N98TG1 GAMING-6GD)

and

- SeaSonic M12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply

Thanks for everyone whole helped me out, and if you think one of these choices is bad, please let me know, but for the time being, thse are the two I will be getting.

GTX 980 Ti it is! Here's an additional information that might make you change your mind (or a possible alternative):

So, based on the factors I listed in selecting the GPU, your main levels of priority are 1) Price-Performance, 2) Least Temps at Load; and 3) Higher Core Clock Speeds.

For 1), we already know that Price-Performance it's: Zotac > Gigabyte > Msi > Asus >EVGA.
*Note: This is based on the current prices as of this writing and my previous post before this.

For 2), I just got the Temperature data (from this benchmark/review) of the Zotac (particularly the AMP Extreme - I can't find data for the Omega Ed.) and along with it, the Gigabyte:

It seems that the Zotac AMP! Extreme has lower temperature at full load (by a few degrees) compared to the Gigabyte you selected. However, on idle, the Zotac runs higher by the same temp margin.

For 3), we also already know that the Highest Core Clock Speed ranking would be: Zotac AMP Extreme > Asus Strix > EVGA Kingpin / Msi Lightning > Gigabyte > EVGA FTW.

With all these 3 major factors to consider, I would highly recommend the Zotac GTX 980 Ti AMP! Extreme over the Gigabyte GTX 9890 Ti G1 Gaming. The Zotac, across the board (Price-Performance/Lowest Temps at Load/Highest Core Clock Speeds), just beats the Gigabyte. The only probable complication would be if the current price of the Zotac AMP Extreme would go up before you have placed your order (or, similarly, if the current price of the Gigabyte would go much cheaper).

Good choice on the PSU!

 

[Plexonator]

Yes, it did answer my questions =D

So my conclusion from this forum so far (might actually be final) is:

1. I will definetly be going with the 980TI, it just seems to be the best.

2. For me, here are the impotances of each aspect:

Highest Core Clock Speed; Of course is important, since it will directly affect the performance, and I will not OC any of my parts, this is important.

Least Card Length; Not important at all, because I have a pretty big case, and it won't be a problem to fit the GPU in the case.

Least Noise at Load; Kind of important, but not that much because my room is next to our washing room, and often there will be noise coming from there anyway, so my PC's noise levels aren't affecting me that much.

Least Temperature at Load; This on the other hand IS important, my whole PC is air cooled, so no water anywhere (BTW, if you think I should atleast water cool my CPU, please tell me, I've been thinking if it would be useful or not...), and my room is in the top floor of the house, meaning it sometimes gets very hot in my room, and a hot PC won't be helping at all (and it might be bad for the PC).

Price/Base Clock Performance; Of course is important, since I want to use as little money as possible, while still getting good performance, this actually might the most important.

In conclusion:

The Gigabyte (GV-N98TG1 GAMING-6GD) seems to be the best for me, if you think otherwise (since you DO have more knowledge about this, I would still like to know your opinion), considering all the aspects of these cards. Also, where I live (the Netherlands), this is also the easiest card to get.

3. Unfortunately, I won't be getting SLI in the next 12 months (my budget won't allow it), so one from the first group will do. Since I've heard such good things about SeaSonic, I will be getting the SeaSonic M12II 620W Fully-Modular, since I want those unnecessary cables out of there.

In conclusion to this whole thread:

I will be getting the

- 980Ti Gigabyte (GV-N98TG1 GAMING-6GD)

and

- SeaSonic M12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply

Thanks for everyone whole helped me out, and if you think one of these choices is bad, please let me know, but for the time being, thse are the two I will be getting.

GTX 980 Ti it is! Here's an additional information that might make you change your mind (or a possible alternative):

So, based on the factors I listed in selecting the GPU, your main levels of priority are 1) Price-Performance, 2) Least Temps at Load; and 3) Higher Core Clock Speeds.

For 1), we already know that Price-Performance it's: Zotac > Gigabyte > Msi > Asus >EVGA.
*Note: This is based on the current prices as of this writing and my previous post before this.

For 2), I just got the Temperature data (from this benchmark/review) of the Zotac (particularly the AMP Extreme - I can't find data for the Omega Ed.) and along with it, the Gigabyte:

It seems that the Zotac AMP! Extreme has lower temperature at full load (by a few degrees) compared to the Gigabyte you selected. However, on idle, the Zotac runs higher by the same temp margin.

For 3), we also already know that the Highest Core Clock Speed ranking would be: Zotac AMP Extreme > Asus Strix > EVGA Kingpin / Msi Lightning > Gigabyte > EVGA FTW.

With all these 3 major factors to consider, I would highly recommend the Zotac GTX 980 Ti AMP! Extreme over the Gigabyte GTX 9890 Ti G1 Gaming. The Zotac, across the board (Price-Performance/Lowest Temps at Load/Highest Core Clock Speeds), just beats the Gigabyte. The only probable complication would be if the current price of the Zotac AMP Extreme would go up before you have placed your order (or, similarly, if the current price of the Gigabyte would go much cheaper).

Good choice on the PSU!

I agree with you that the Zotacs (plural, because I am referring to both the Omega and Extreme) are better than the Gigabyte G1, but the 2 reason why I had planned on buying the G1, rather than the Zotacs are:

1. Availability. For me, where I live, the G1 one is a bit easier to get. It's not by much, and I would even be ready to go the extra mile, (kilometer, since I'm european), for better performance. So the Zotacs seem to be better cards to get than the G1, if it wasn't for the second reason.

2. Price. The G1, where I live, is 50 euros (56 dollars) cheaper than the Omega, and 100 euros (113 dollars) cheaper than the Extreme.

Now, should I go the extra mile and pay 50 euros more for the Zotac Omega, or even 100 euros for the Zotac Extreme instead of the G1, does it up the performance that much, and is it worth it? Since I am on a specified budget, 50-100 euros is a lot for me, so if the change isn't something notable, the G1 seems to be better.

 

[raisonjohn]

I agree with you that the Zotacs (plural, because I am referring to both the Omega and Extreme) are better than the Gigabyte G1, but the 2 reason why I had planned on buying the G1, rather than the Zotacs are:

1. Availability. For me, where I live, the G1 one is a bit easier to get. It's not by much, and I would even be ready to go the extra mile, (kilometer, since I'm european), for better performance. So the Zotacs seem to be better cards to get than the G1, if it wasn't for the second reason.

2. Price. The G1, where I live, is 50 euros (56 dollars) cheaper than the Omega, and 100 euros (113 dollars) cheaper than the Extreme.

Now, should I go the extra mile and pay 50 euros more for the Zotac Omega, or even 100 euros for the Zotac Extreme instead of the G1, does it up the performance that much, and is it worth it? Since I am on a specified budget, 50-100 euros is a lot for me, so if the change isn't something notable, the G1 seems to be better.

Due to the cost differences in your country, this changes the Price/Performance quotient:

Let's say,
Gigabyte G1 @ €743.75 / 1.19GHz = €625.00 per GHz
Zotac Omega (Price based on Gigabyte Price + €50) @ €793.75 / 1.18GHz = €672.67 per GHz
Zotac Extreme (Price based on Gigabyte Price + €100) @ €843.75 / 1.25GHz = €675 per GHz

The Gigabyte G1, given the prices in your location (and as you mentioned, the availability), would seem to be the best deal.

 

[Plexonator]

I agree with you that the Zotacs (plural, because I am referring to both the Omega and Extreme) are better than the Gigabyte G1, but the 2 reason why I had planned on buying the G1, rather than the Zotacs are:

1. Availability. For me, where I live, the G1 one is a bit easier to get. It's not by much, and I would even be ready to go the extra mile, (kilometer, since I'm european), for better performance. So the Zotacs seem to be better cards to get than the G1, if it wasn't for the second reason.

2. Price. The G1, where I live, is 50 euros (56 dollars) cheaper than the Omega, and 100 euros (113 dollars) cheaper than the Extreme.

Now, should I go the extra mile and pay 50 euros more for the Zotac Omega, or even 100 euros for the Zotac Extreme instead of the G1, does it up the performance that much, and is it worth it? Since I am on a specified budget, 50-100 euros is a lot for me, so if the change isn't something notable, the G1 seems to be better.

Due to the cost differences in your country, this changes the Price/Performance quotient:

Let's say,
Gigabyte G1 @ €743.75 / 1.19GHz = €625.00 per GHz
Zotac Omega (Price based on Gigabyte Price + €50) @ €793.75 / 1.18GHz = €672.67 per GHz
Zotac Extreme (Price based on Gigabyte Price + €100) @ €843.75 / 1.25GHz = €675 per GHz

The Gigabyte G1, given the prices in your location (and as you mentioned, the availability), would seem to be the best deal.

Agreed, that's what I'll be getting then =D