GTX 960 OC vs Regular

[KoutsiDK]

Hello there i am interested in buying this card and the two particular models are:

a)MSI GeForce GTX960 2GB (GTX 960 2GD5)
b)MSI GeForce GTX960 2GB OC (GTX 960 2GD5T OC)

The price difference is 8 euros, and i like the OC because it has twin fan, but my hesitation is that my MoBo (P8H61-M pro) has H61 chipset and it is not good for overclocking. It features GPU boost but i wouldn't count on it. I am not interested in overclocking anything, but OC version seems to be way more popular. Which one would be better? Thanks

 

[smorizio]

with gpu the oc cards are custom built cards and custom binned gpu chips. these cards would be made to oc if someone wanted to do it. in real life they run the same as stock card if you want to use them. just have better cooling over the stock cards. i would see if the oc card if it two slot card if it might hit anything on the mb. if not i would spend the extra 8 for the higher end card.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

The chipset affects the overclocking of the CPu ... not the GFX card

There are various levels of cards offered for sale.

1. Reference cards - nVidia's base design
2. Overclocked cards - Good example is the EVGA SC line, better cooler slapped on reference PCB but no upgraded components nor additional efforts for VRM / VRAM cooling
3. Non reference cards - Uses a custom PCB, with at the least an upgraded VRM and usually wit thermal pads or other steps taken to improve cooling. Often includes superior componentry (chokes)
4. Special cards - these include the EVGA Classified, MSI Lightning, Galaxy HOF, Asus Matrix, etc which, in addition to the above may include binned GPUs, special BIOSs which allow additional voltage, even more component upgrades, etc.

It should be noted that on some models in category 3, the vendors will use nVidia PCB as on some occasions (i.e. 980 Ti) nvidia classed up the componentry on the reference design.

From MSI, the "Gaming" models are the category 3 ones and in my experience, worth the minor premium

 

[geofelt]

Graphics card vendors are wise to overclocking.
They select the better chips to be used in their factory overclocked versions.
They perform better, and can command a higher price.
I like the factory overclocked cards, I think you get good value from them.

Fancy coolers also sell, but I would not chase a card for the looks.
Every card will be adequately cooled.

I happen to like cards with blower coolers better than fan coolers.
A blower will direct the graphics heat directly out the back of your case.
With a fan cooler, your case needs to do the job of getting heat out of the case.

 

[stavrosmast]

I would spent the 8euros because
-better looks
-better cooling
-lower noise
-lower temps
-higher OC
-higher FPS
-Better Quality


-

 

[KoutsiDK]

Graphics card vendors are wise to overclocking.
They select the better chips to be used in their factory overclocked versions.
They perform better, and can command a higher price.
I like the factory overclocked cards, I think you get good value from them.

Fancy coolers also sell, but I would not chase a card for the looks.
Every card will be adequately cooled.

I happen to like cards with blower coolers better than fan coolers.
A blower will direct the graphics heat directly out the back of your case.
With a fan cooler, your case needs to do the job of getting heat out of the case.

So which one would it be? The regular has blower and the OC has twin fan

 

[KoutsiDK]

So the OC version is supposed to be better build quality?

 

[geofelt]

Graphics card vendors are wise to overclocking.
They select the better chips to be used in their factory overclocked versions.
They perform better, and can command a higher price.
I like the factory overclocked cards, I think you get good value from them.

Fancy coolers also sell, but I would not chase a card for the looks.
Every card will be adequately cooled.

I happen to like cards with blower coolers better than fan coolers.
A blower will direct the graphics heat directly out the back of your case.
With a fan cooler, your case needs to do the job of getting heat out of the case.

So which one would it be? The regular has blower and the OC has twin fan

Now, you got me.
If your case has great cooling, buy the higher performing one.
I might go that route anyway because the GTX960 is not a particularly hot card in the first place.

Is MSI a requirement?
Here is an EVGA GTX960SC for less with a boost clock of 1279
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487093
The msi has a slower gaming boost of 1253.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127845

It looks prettier though.

 

[KoutsiDK]

Graphics card vendors are wise to overclocking.
They select the better chips to be used in their factory overclocked versions.
They perform better, and can command a higher price.
I like the factory overclocked cards, I think you get good value from them.

Fancy coolers also sell, but I would not chase a card for the looks.
Every card will be adequately cooled.

I happen to like cards with blower coolers better than fan coolers.
A blower will direct the graphics heat directly out the back of your case.
With a fan cooler, your case needs to do the job of getting heat out of the case.

So which one would it be? The regular has blower and the OC has twin fan

Now, you got me.
If your case has great cooling, buy the higher performing one.
I might go that route anyway because the GTX960 is not a particularly hot card in the first place.

Is MSI a requirement?
Here is an EVGA GTX960SC for less with a boost clock of 1279
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487093
The msi has a slower gaming boost of 1253.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127845

It looks prettier though.

My case is Aerocool VX-R Advance. It has good cooling, but definitely not great. But i like the design of the blower because it is smaller and closed so it can be protected from the nearby cables. But it all comes down to which has better build quality, because my highest priority is longevity. The EVGA is great, but for my country maybe MSI is better option (popularity, availability, service)