I'm about to get a REFERENCE card. Are Reference cards good or should i get a NON.

[GTXNvidia]

Hey guys, i'm going to buy the GTX 980 EVGA SC tomorrow and it has a reference design that blows hot air out of the case, which it also looks very sexy.

Can you guys please help me, i am not too familiar with non reference and reference card.

Should i get a reference GTX 980 or should i go for a non-reference. If i'm going to go for a non-reference. I am going to go for the GTX 970s as GTX 980 non-references are very expensive in my country. I would be getting a GTX 970 Gigabyte G1 if it would be coming down to that.

So what do you guys think? Is reference good for gaming?

 

[Novuake]

A GTX970 is A LOT better value for money, you can almost get 2 GTX970s for the price of a single GTX980.
The GTX980 is just 10% faster but is 60%+ more expensive.

The GTX 970 Gigabyte G1 is a good buy, just make sure it will fit in your chassis as it is pretty long.

 

[robax91]

Non reference cards are usually clocked higher and run cooler. They are better in some situations, like needing to get more fps or wanting a cooler look, but reference cards can push almost the same fps and they get the hot air out of your case.

Buy a reference card if you want to save some money and aren't worried about trying to overclock the card.

Buy a non reference if you want it to run cooler, run quieter, and like the looks.

 

[GTXNvidia]

A GTX970 is A LOT better value for money, you can almost get 2 GTX970s for the price of a single GTX980.
The GTX980 is just 10% faster but is 60%+ more expensive.

The GTX 970 Gigabyte G1 is a good buy, just make sure it will fit in your chassis as it is pretty long.

I have a tower case, but isn't SLI bad for gaming? I would also only being using a 1080P monitor. I would only need my GPU to last me around 3-4 years, by then i'll be making alot of money. So it won't be a problem.

I'll be waiting for a bit more decision till i'm locked in. So far 2 votes for non-reference GTX 970s. But if its a really good answer, i would instantly lock in and best solution. thanks.

 

[sizzling]

If gaming at 1080P then I would say 970 non-reference. Until the 970 came out less than a month ago the recommended NVidia card for 1080P was the 770, the new 970 is massively more powerful

 

[RobCrezz]

A single 980 is less hassle compared SLI970, but less performance also.

The reference cards are just fine, the nvidia reference cooler is actually pretty good.

 

[robax91]

The community and many tech gurus and youtube reviewers usually say that you want a more powerful single GPU before you want multiple GPUs. They do not scale with cost/performance when you SLI or Crossfire. As for the 980 only being 10% more powerful than the 970, that's misinformed. Tom's has already done benchmarks that take only seconds to read where you can debunk that myth yourself. As for the justification of paying $550 vs $330 for a card, it depends on your budget. The 970 does win the price/performance comparison, but the 980 is comparatively more future proof, is better for higher resolutions and more monitors, and will scale better in SLI vs a 970.

Here is the benchmarks where you can see the performance differences, it varies but they average is more than 10%.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nvidia-geforce-gtx-980-970-maxwell,3941-16.html

Also, if you are going to game at 1080, I agree that the 970 would be the ideal choice, as the 980 only starts to shine at much higher resolutions.

 

[viewtyjoe]

Most of the time, the reference card is fine unless there's a cooling issue (I feel like the 290X has a reputation with its "generous" temperature settings) or you're in really cramped spaces like an ITX build.

 

[GTXNvidia]

A single 980 is less hassle compared SLI970, but less performance also.

The reference cards are just fine, the nvidia reference cooler is actually pretty good.

Price is not an issue here. its about single GPU. I don't think SLI GTX 970 is worth it now, i wouldn't see any difference from a single GTX 980 compared to SLI 970 as i would only be running 1 monitor 1080P 60HZ. I would probably see a difference like 1 year later perhaps where games get more demanding but by then, i would be able to get the GTX 980 for a much cheaper price or maybe the same price as the 970. Which would probably cost the same as the SLI 970 if i buy one and wait.

I need to choose now and i want you guys to help me and convince. I have the money all ready.

Try to make me buy the 980 or the 970. Remember i would only be using 1080P 60hz.

My choices for 980 is the EVGA superoverclocked reference.
970 is the Gigabyte G1.

By the way the reference card for gtx 980 looks very good, metal plate, back plate and it lits up the words GTX NVIDIA and you can use a cool sli bridge later on.

I am only getting a reference if i'm going for GTX 980.
If you guys say reference sucks, i would go for GTX 970 and choose a non reference one.

But i really like the GTX 980, but its in reference so i want you guys to tell me if its good or not, so i won't regret it. I won't be getting a non-reference GTX 980 remember, its reference gtx 980 or a non reference gtx 970.

 

[Novuake]

The community and many tech gurus and youtube reviewers usually say that you want a more powerful single GPU before you want multiple GPUs. They do not scale with cost/performance when you SLI or Crossfire. As for the 980 only being 10% more powerful than the 970, that's misinformed. Tom's has already done benchmarks that take only seconds to read where you can debunk that myth yourself. As for the justification of paying $550 vs $330 for a card, it depends on your budget. The 970 does win the price/performance comparison, but the 980 is comparatively more future proof, is better for higher resolutions and more monitors, and will scale better in SLI vs a 970.

Here is the benchmarks where you can see the performance differences, it varies but they average is more than 10%.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nvidia-geforce-gtx-980-970-maxwell,3941-16.html

Also, if you are going to game at 1080, I agree that the 970 would be the ideal choice, as the 980 only starts to shine at much higher resolutions.

10-13%... Not so miss informed after all.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/NVIDIA/GeForce_GTX_980/26.html