SLI GTX 970 or GTX 980

[Reeadon]

Hi,

My PC(Built in 2012):

Motherboard: ASUS P8Z77-V Deluxe
CPU: Intel 3770k 3.50GHz (OC'ed to 3.9GHz)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H105 (With 2 x Corsair SP120 Quiet Edition)
GPU: 2 x ASUS GTX 970 4GB STRIX (Driver 347.25 and SLI Enabled)
RAM: 2x8GB Corsair Vengeance 1600MHz
Storage: 1 x 120GB Corsair SSD Force Series 3 + 1 x 240GB Corsair SSD Force Series 3
PSU: 1050w HX Corsair Silver Certified
Case: Corsair Obsidian 750D (With 3 x Corsair AF140 Quiet Edition)
Monitor: ASUS ROG PG278Q 1440p 144Hz G-Sync

Problem:
A while ago, I bought the ASUS ROG PG278Q while only having one GTX 970. Then I bought another GTX 970 after the whole 3.5GB "crisis". My second GTX 970 is still new, so I am able to return it, and get a refund. Somehow, I did not think that the 3.5GB issue was going to be a problem, but it actually is for me now.
When I'm playing Shadow of Mordor or Dying Light and my computer starts to use about 3.5-3.7GB of VRAM, there's a lot of stuttering and games basically becomes unplayable. I won't play at 1080p when I spend a lot of money on a 1440p.

So I really want to have so help deciding what I do next. Should I return my second GTX 970 and continue with one of them? Should I return my second GTX 970, and wait until new GPU's from NVIDIA? Should I return my second GTX 970, try to sell the other and go for a GTX 980?

 

[gilbadon]

Two 970's hands down are better than a 980 for games optimized for SLI. However, they are less efficent, cost more money, and do have the SLI hickups. I would reccomend sticking with dual 970's but if it hinders the games you play(you just so happen to play non SLI optimized games), you may want to switch.

 

[Revan1]

I have the same monitor and i have 2 980's in sli. I would try and sell the first one and grip 2 980's. You spent a ton for that monitor you have to use it in its full glory.

 

[ninja85a]

i agree with gilbadon it would be better to try with 1 970 and if its bad still go and sell your 970 and get a 980

 

[Revan1]

i agree with gilbadon it would be better to try with 1 970 and if its bad still go and sell your 970 and get a 980

you guys are both retarded. the problem he is having is that the 970 actually only uses 3.5 gb vram compared to the advertised 4gb. so he is getting massive lag at 1440p. Using only 1 970 will change nothing. He needs more vram to getting the 980 would solve this becuase it actually uses the full 4gb

 

[Xyos]

You got a 1440p monitor that supports 144 hrtz. To fully take advantage of that you need to maintain FPS over 144 in all games, so your going to need some beefy GPU's. 2 970's could do the job, but like its been said they are limited in memory (3.5gb true VRAM). You have a nice rig, save a bit more then buy 2 980s.

 

[Derza10]

Why not just turn your AA or something down slightly so your vram stays below 3.5gb? I'm sure you won't notice any difference in game.

 

[gilbadon]

Lol, an extra .5GB is nothing. There are probably already custom firmware to enable the extra .5GB anyway. However, Shadows of Mordor is famous for using a ton of VRAM and has been seen to use 6GB of it. In that case, even a gtx 980 would be slumped. I would recommend just lowering AA settings and keeping it at the 1440p resolution. It will look almost the same but run much better.

 

[Xyos]

Lol, an extra .5GB is nothing. There are probably already custom firmware to enable the extra .5GB anyway. However, Shadows of Mordor is famous for using a ton of VRAM and has been seen to use 6GB of it. In that case, even a gtx 980 would be slumped. I would recommend just lowering AA settings and keeping it at the 1440p resolution. It will look almost the same but run much better.

Technically it is enabled, the issue that came up is that that .5gb is designed to run SEVEN times slower than the rest of the VRAM, putting it almost on par with system memory speeds.

No firmware hack or mod will change that. With 1440p and 4k gaming losing half a gig of memory essentially is not acceptable.

 

[Reeadon]

Two 970's hands down are better than a 980 for games optimized for SLI. However, they are less efficent, cost more money, and do have the SLI hickups. I would reccomend sticking with dual 970's but if it hinders the games you play(you just so happen to play non SLI optimized games), you may want to switch.

I know performance wise, that the 970's are way better than one 980, but I am going to play games like The Witcher 3, Batman Arkham Knight and GTA V, and all of these games are going to have some heavy requirements. That is atleast what I expect. I can't say for sure if these games are going to have good SLI support. I'm still tempted to go for a single 980 right now.

Since I'm new to SLI, there is some things that I dont know what is. People are talking about SLI profiles and something called NVIDIA Inspector. Can you explain what it is, and why it helps?

 

[Reeadon]

I have the same monitor and i have 2 980's in sli. I would try and sell the first one and grip 2 980's. You spent a ton for that monitor you have to use it in its full glory.

Two 980's sure is expensive and I dont think that thats an option for me right now. But I will consider it. I'm really tempted to just go for one right now, since the 3.5GB VRAM issue is annoying me.

 

[Reeadon]

Why not just turn your AA or something down slightly so your vram stays below 3.5gb? I'm sure you won't notice any difference in game.

In games like Dying Light and Shadow of Mordor, there ain't really that many options when it comes to AA. Dying Light only offers on and off, and I dont even gain nor lose FPS whether its on or off.

 

[Reeadon]

Lol, an extra .5GB is nothing. There are probably already custom firmware to enable the extra .5GB anyway. However, Shadows of Mordor is famous for using a ton of VRAM and has been seen to use 6GB of it. In that case, even a gtx 980 would be slumped. I would recommend just lowering AA settings and keeping it at the 1440p resolution. It will look almost the same but run much better.

Uhm, I dont think there's any firmware update to correct this issue, since it's a technical issue within the RAM of the card. The last 0.5GB is designed in a specific way, that makes it so slow compared to the rest.

Some games doesn't allow you to tweak with AA settings that much. Dying Light and Shadow of Mordor only has on or off.

 

[Reeadon]

Lol, an extra .5GB is nothing. There are probably already custom firmware to enable the extra .5GB anyway. However, Shadows of Mordor is famous for using a ton of VRAM and has been seen to use 6GB of it. In that case, even a gtx 980 would be slumped. I would recommend just lowering AA settings and keeping it at the 1440p resolution. It will look almost the same but run much better.

Technically it is enabled, the issue that came up is that that .5gb is designed to run SEVEN times slower than the rest of the VRAM, putting it almost on par with system memory speeds.

No firmware hack or mod will change that. With 1440p and 4k gaming losing half a gig of memory essentially is not acceptable.

"With 1440p and 4k gaming losing half a gig of memory essentially is not acceptable." RIGHT MY WORDS! You would recommend a single or two (if I have enough money) 980's right?

 

[090909090909]

I have the same monitor and i have 2 980's in sli. I would try and sell the first one and grip 2 980's. You spent a ton for that monitor you have to use it in its full glory.

Two 980's sure is expensive and I dont think that thats an option for me right now. But I will consider it. I'm really tempted to just go for one right now, since the 3.5GB VRAM issue is annoying me.

Dying light has a bad optimization and that is normal. However, are you sure it is a V ram issue at shadow of Mordor?
[video="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbmKik7KPqw"][/video]

 

[Xyos]

Lol, an extra .5GB is nothing. There are probably already custom firmware to enable the extra .5GB anyway. However, Shadows of Mordor is famous for using a ton of VRAM and has been seen to use 6GB of it. In that case, even a gtx 980 would be slumped. I would recommend just lowering AA settings and keeping it at the 1440p resolution. It will look almost the same but run much better.

Technically it is enabled, the issue that came up is that that .5gb is designed to run SEVEN times slower than the rest of the VRAM, putting it almost on par with system memory speeds.

No firmware hack or mod will change that. With 1440p and 4k gaming losing half a gig of memory essentially is not acceptable.

"With 1440p and 4k gaming losing half a gig of memory essentially is not acceptable." RIGHT MY WORDS! You would recommend a single or two (if I have enough money) 980's right?

Yes 2 980's would be ideal, using the full 4 gigs at full VRAM speeds. If you can wait a few months they should be dropping in price pretty soon.