GTX 780 Brands

[Physics Cat]

Hi. So, I'm looking to get a GTX 780 and was wondering if there is a valid reason for spending the extra cash for something like a Palit Super Jet Stream or Gainward Phantom GLH. I know that they are factory overclocked for better performance, but I can overclock the card myself. Are there other specific hardware tweaks (other than cooling) done to these cards that I can't do myself? If not, am I better off getting something cheaper, like the ASUS Direct CU ii with good thermal characteristics, and overclocking it, or just getting the cheapest 780 that I can find and throwing on a water block?

FYI, I will probably add a second card in SLI somewhere down the line.

Thanks!

 

[JackNaylorPE]

3 posts in last 20 minutes asking same question

http://uk.hardware.info/reviews/4639/10/nvidia-geforce-gtx-780-asus-vs-evga-vs-inno3d-vs-msi-conclusion

All four manufacturers - ASUS, EVGA, Inno3D and MSI - made something special out of their GeForce GTX 780. The card that impressed us the most, however, was the ASUS GTX780-DC2OC-3GD5. The new cooler works like charm, and its performance is clearly reflected by the test results. The card also manages to stay very quiet and offers the best overclocking potential thanks to the new cooler. ASUS earns the Gold Award for its card.

We can't leave out the card from MSI. While it's slightly less overclocked and has less overall overclocking potential than the cards from Inno3D and EVGA, it's extremely quiet under load, the most silent of them all. It's also significantly cheaper than the other three, so if you're not planning on extreme overclocking, this MSI card is the best option.

An honorable mention goes to the Inno3D card. Out of the box it's the fastest, and while you can yourself get the other cards to the same level of performance, it's nice to have it guaranteed if you're not an experienced overclocker.

The EVGA ACX Superclocked also isn't a bad card. The only problem is that about the same amount of money will net you the ASUS card, a card which is superior in terms of cooling, noise and overclocking potential. EVGA will have to drop its prices to MSI levels to keep its card interesting.