torn between gtx 970 msi or gigabyte

[Jeroen B]

Hello,


I cant decide between the msi or the gigabyte version of the gtx 970.
The msi version is a smaller card compared to the gigabyte version (which i like).

The gigabyte version has better cooling ( is it that mutch of a difference and does it matter?)
it has a backplate.. ( useful or not?) and has better oc and better speeds ( does that matter alot as well?)
Also the gigabyte with its gauntlet cherry picked chips is that something worth or is that just marketing?

I just cant decide which one i want. Can you help me with this. What do i win compared to msi and what do i lose if i would pick the msi version.

I have a corsair obsidian 450D case so i should be able to house its length.
price wise they are both the same price here in holland.

 

[MeteorsRaining]

Better cooling? Both have amazing cooling, and MSI is more or less equal to GB. MSI is a very slight bit quieter as well. It does matter as it is one of the major factors of OCability. I've seen both reach 1.5Ghz boost in reviews and with some users as well.

Backplate? Looks.

Better OC out of the box? GB wins here.

OCing ability? Both have great potential. Too close to compare.

Not sure about the cherry picked chips, probably marketting.

MSI pros? Smaller, a bit quieter. That doesn't mean GB is not quiet. MSI does not start it's fans unless temps are 50C IIRC.

I'd go for GB, 3 fans and looks.

 

[mcnumpty23]

hard choice--cant go wrong with either

i went for the msi as the gigabyte is 30cm long--it would have went in my case but would have been tight

the msi fans dont even spin till 60c

the gigabyte g1 does have slightly better cooling--but both cards are so quiet it doesnt really matter

the g1 should overclock a little higher--but you are only talking a couple of fps in a game

the msi has also already got watercooling block available if needed and can buy a backplate for it if wanted

 

[mcnumpty23]

oh and just to clarify i mean the msi gtx970 4gaming version

and the gigabyte g1 version--not the normal windforce version

edit--and the g1 has 6 display outputs to the msi 4--though not sure too many people need all that many

 

[Akarin]

I do agree it's a hard decision. I've ordered a Giga, then canceled and ordered a MSI, then canceled and ordered a Gigabyte again. I'm very happy with my decision, but both are great cards, only the details can make your decision.

 

[Jeroen B]

Thx already for the great awnsers, im talking about the gaming and the g1 version ofc as well . Other question.. is the zero frozr threshold changeable lets say instead of 60 40 degrees.

Im kinda getting crazy about it.. i just wanna pick one and dont wanna think about it anymore .

As for the outputs. currently im just using 1 1080p monitor via hdmi.

Look wise i think they both look great. At first the gigabyte looked meh in my opnion. The fans look not as good as the msi one. The body and the lighting and backplate look kinda sexy tho.

And does someone know what the differences are between power consumption? 3 fans use more i suppose?

 

[MeteorsRaining]

You can set fan curves with MSI Afterburner.

Power consumption is basically the same, 5W give or take for GB. Will not affect the PSU choice in any manner.

 

[mcnumpty23]

could buy both then make your choice once you have both cards actually in your possession to physically compare

then send the loser back

in holland the law is the same as the uk--you bought it at distance--therefore you are allowed 14 days to change your mind

 

[Jeroen B]

could buy both then make your choice once you have both cards actually in your possession to physically compare

then send the loser back

in holland the law is the same as the uk--you bought it at distance--therefore you are allowed 14 days to change your mind

I would like that tho im only 18( = lower income and just have 2k euro on my accound, sooo i prefer to buy the right one immediately. 350 euros is pretty mutch for me so yea...

 

[mcnumpty23]

guess you will have to flip a coin to decide

its a win win situation really--theyre both great cards

and if you choose one and change your mind once you get it you are still allowed 14 days from when you receive it to return it and get the other

theres not really anything we can say to help you its going to come down to your personal choice

 

[Jeroen B]

i think il go for the msi one then. mainly because its a bit quieter and that it has that 0 db mode. My case is verrry perforated so any noise reduction is good. Temp wise i think the 68 degrees on the msi max is just fine for a card like that. Im using a msi gaming gtx 660 atm and that one sits at 64 degrees max.

the only thing that bothers me then is the vram cooling. In the msi one its just a lil heatsink on it while the gigabyte uses it fat ass cooler on it. wich is ofc alot better.

 

[MeteorsRaining]

Looks like a sound choice to me. Unless you're going to do some extreme OCing on VRAM, don't bother about the cooler size.

 

[Jeroen B]

ive recently placed this exact post on linus tech tips forum. got 5 awnsers immidiately and they all say gigabyte -.-.. You said it as well.. .damn you giga and msi.. why make this so hard.

 

[MeteorsRaining]

I don't really see anything bad in MSI, GB just has better OC out of the box. MSI and GB have more or less same OCing potential.

 

[mcnumpty23]

my case has near enough the whole top perforated

and i cant hear the msi when gaming

my vram is at 7800mhz compared to stock 7000mhz--doesnt seem to cause any issues

 

[Akarin]

If you have enough room in your case to fit the Giga go for it, the gods of overclocking will bless you, you'll not regret (unless you receive a card with coil whine, but that can happen to any brand)

 

[Jeroen B]

If you have enough room in your case to fit the Giga go for it, the gods of overclocking will bless you, you'll not regret (unless you receive a card with coil whine, but that can happen to any brand)

I have a corsair 450D with only 1 hdd cage so i have more than enough room for it. Tho i prefer a somewhat smaller card because of some cables that i cant get rid of as good as i prefer. Also haveing the gpu so close to the intake fan is something i prefer not to have.

 

[mcnumpty23]

even the msi is by no means a small card--think its 28.5cm

it was certainly a bit bigger than i expected when i took it out the box

 

[Jeroen B]

I have made the exact post on linus as well: http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/257028-torn-between-gtx-970-msi-or-gigabyte/

Here is the link of it..

 

[Jeroen B]

even the msi is by no means a small card--think its 28.5cm

it was certainly a bit bigger than i expected when i took it out the box

here is a ( dutch srry bout that) site with the specs

http://tweakers.net/pricewatch/compare/listing/416125;416180/gtx+970/

 

[Akarin]

The giga card is about 43mm longer than the MSI.
MSI: 269 x 141 x 35
Giga: 312 X 129 X 43
Then you decide if you want to sacrifice some room for a bit of extra cooling.

 

[Jeroen B]

yea i can easely hold that card but idk i have never had anything from gigabyte. its also alot less populair then the msi one here in the netherlands.

 

[Leonell12]

To be perfectly honest about this, both of them are amazing cards and if you're not going to be seriously overclocking the bejesus out of these, you wont even notice a difference, as far as cooling goes, MSI does have the quietest coolers around but by no means are they bad at cooling. Personally for me, i would go for the msi one simply because i think it looks better and its smaller. But the extra 4.3 cm really wont do much in terms of cooling as long as you're not cramping your pc chock full of video cards and big cpu coolers and cables etc. I would advise the MSI one as well for the reasons mentioned above. They are rather subjective but both cards are painfully similar. In terms of performance, it wouldnt matter, cooling and noise wise, i would stick with MSI, however the difference will be miniscule

 

[chenw]

Go with MSI Golden edition, has orange on it (even the heatpipes are orangey).

 

[mcnumpty23]

yea i can easely hold that card but idk i have never had anything from gigabyte. its also alot less populair then the msi one here in the netherlands.

ive used loads of gigabyte cards and motherboards with no issues at all--my last card was a gigabyte hd7970

far as i remember gigabyte were the first company to make having two bios chips popular

so they are a well known and respected company