MSI vs GIGABYTE vs ZOTAC - Best GTX 1080 Ti ?

[GearGirl]

MSI GTX 1080 Ti - GAMING X TRIO https://www.newegg.com/global/ae/Product/Product.aspx?I...
vs
GIGABYTE GTX 1080 Ti - AORUS https://www.newegg.com/global/ae/Product/Product.aspx?I...
vs
ZOTAC GTX 1080 Ti - AMP Extreme https://www.newegg.com/global/ae/Product/Product.aspx?I...

Ignore other GPUs, ignore Pricing, ignore Aesthetics, ignore size/weight.

I would like to know which is BEST overall in terms of:
-Overall performance (best stable FPS)
-Cooling/Noise
-Compatibility with nvidia (I've heard some GPUs are prone to crashing)
-Least buggy
-Long Lasting (one that will last me more than 3 years)

I would like to buy one of these cards but it's very difficult to find an unbiased review anywhere.

I would very much appreciate your feedback and will be reading every single one.

 

[qw12345]

You are asking a hard question. With any chip, CPU, GPU, or RAM, it is luck of the draw. There are ones with lower and higher silicon quality (meaning one of the zotacs may preform better than the rest, but the next zotac might NOT) The next factor (in preformance terms,) is the GPU clock, as well as the capibility of the cooler

MSI:
GPU clocks
1683 MHz / 1569 MHz (OC Mode)
1657 MHz / 1544 MHz (Gaming Mode)
1582 MHz / 1480 MHz (Silent Mode)
GIGABYTE:
Boost: 1746 MHz / Base: 1632 MHz in OC mode
Boost: 1721 MHz / Base: 1607 MHz in Gaming mode
ZOTAC:
Base: 1645 MHz
Boost: 1759 MHz

As you can see, the ZOTAC and GIGABYTE cards have higher base/boost clocks, translating to more FPS.
But MSI has silent modes, and I have always known their cards to be VERY quiet. Gigabyte and zotac's cards have more capable coolers.
Drivers? It's all the same chip at the roots. And these manufactures bundle software to help control fans/lights, clock speeds, and more.
Least buggy? Unless you get a bad card, you aren't going to have bugs. If you have bugs, it's the game developer.
For longest lasting, go with GIGABYTE. Their ultra durable linup, from motherboards to cards, is insane. You can expect a long life from a GIGABYTE card.

As you can see, they all have their respective benefits and letdowns. This is WHY you factor in "other GPUs, Pricing, Aesthetics, size/weight"
Pricing: you could save a bit of money, or go by the "you get what you pay for" philosophy
Asthetics: COME ON. Choose a card that looks good in your case, because even if it doesn't have a side panel window, when you open it up it'll stick out like a sore thumb. Zotac's cards have the *ahem* coolest cooler, in my opinion.
Size/wheight: Can the card FIT in your case? And do you travel? MSI includes a GPU support bracket.

There is, and always will be, tradeoffs. Look at the specs, and find what fits your needs best.

Thanks,
qw1234/Windfall

 

[GearGirl]

As you can see, the ZOTAC and GIGABYTE cards have higher base/boost clocks, translating to more FPS.
But MSI has silent modes, and I have always known their cards to be VERY quiet. Gigabyte and zotac's cards have more capable coolers.
Drivers? It's all the same chip at the roots. And these manufactures bundle software to help control fans/lights, clock speeds, and more.
Least buggy? Unless you get a bad card, you aren't going to have bugs. If you have bugs, it's the game developer.
For longest lasting, go with GIGABYTE. Their ultra durable linup, from motherboards to cards, is insane. You can expect a long life from a GIGABYTE card.

Thank you for the detailed feedback!

Are there any cons you'd like to list with the selected GPUs?

And finally, if you were to pick only ONE of these cards if they were presented to you - which would you choose?

 

[qw12345]

As you can see, the ZOTAC and GIGABYTE cards have higher base/boost clocks, translating to more FPS.
But MSI has silent modes, and I have always known their cards to be VERY quiet. Gigabyte and zotac's cards have more capable coolers.
Drivers? It's all the same chip at the roots. And these manufactures bundle software to help control fans/lights, clock speeds, and more.
Least buggy? Unless you get a bad card, you aren't going to have bugs. If you have bugs, it's the game developer.
For longest lasting, go with GIGABYTE. Their ultra durable linup, from motherboards to cards, is insane. You can expect a long life from a GIGABYTE card.

Thank you for the detailed feedback!

Are there any cons you'd like to list with the selected GPUs?

And finally, if you were to pick only ONE of these cards if they were presented to you - which would you choose?

The gigabyte. I run my PC 24-7 so i need longetivity...