Which EVGA GTX 970 to buy?

[94thartman]

So i'm looking into finally building myself a computer. (helped a few friends build theirs in the past) I've settled on an EVGA 970 for my GPU but I dont know which one i want. is it worth it to buy the $390 one or is it only marginally better than the $330 one. I see it clocks slightly higher but is that really going to make a difference?

 

[yeticorn]

In short, no. In long, nooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

Just overclock it yourself for free.

 

[94thartman]

In short, no. In long, nooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

Just overclock it yourself for free.

I've heard its harder to OC a GPU as apposed to a CPU. Will i need special cooling for it?

 

[Bossyfins]

Which EVGA 970? You did't list one. I assume it is the FTW version but meh.

I'd look for the EVGA 970 SSC, better cooler.

Also, If you find an MSI 970 OC version, take that

 

[Bossyfins]

In short, no. In long, nooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

Just overclock it yourself for free.

I've heard its harder to OC a GPU as apposed to a CPU. Will i need special cooling for it?

They are about the same. The stock cooler is sufficient for a mild OC.

 

[yeticorn]

In short, no. In long, nooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

Just overclock it yourself for free.

I've heard its harder to OC a GPU as apposed to a CPU. Will i need special cooling for it?

It's not harder, it's just a different process and your options for cooling are less flexible.

For any component the steps for achieving maximum performance and maintaining stability are the same:
-Run through a stress test program
-Keep making the tests iteratively more process-intensive until artifacts begin to surface
-Back off to most recent stable test conditions

You will not "need" special cooling if your only trying to bump it to within manufacturers specifications.

 

[94thartman]

Which EVGA 970? You did't list one. I assume it is the FTW version but meh.

I'd look for the EVGA 970 SSC, better cooler.

Also, If you find an MSI 970 OC version, take that

Is this the one you mean?
https://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-video-card-04gp43975kr

 

[94thartman]

In short, no. In long, nooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

Just overclock it yourself for free.

I've heard its harder to OC a GPU as apposed to a CPU. Will i need special cooling for it?

It's not harder, it's just a different process and your options for cooling are less flexible.

For any component the steps for achieving maximum performance and maintaining stability are the same:
-Run through a stress test program
-Keep making the tests iteratively more process-intensive until artifacts begin to surface
-Back off to most recent stable test conditions

You will not "need" special cooling if your only trying to bump it to within manufacturers specifications.

Thanks, i plan on having a very cool setup anyway so yeah hopefully ill be able to do it without anything additional for the gpu.

 

[Bossyfins]

Yep. I own it. Runs 65c with an ambient of roughly 25c.

 

[94thartman]

Yep. I own it. Runs 65c with an ambient of roughly 25c.

okay sounds good. thanks i'll probably go this rout. have you had problems with the 3.5 gb thing?

 

[Bossyfins]

The issue was blown out by AMD fan boys to be honest. 1080p gaming, there should be no issue. As for me, not yet, mainly because I just reinstalled my OS, so I am still getting my games al installed, but so far, no.

 

[94thartman]

okay great. Thanks guys i didn't expect to get answers so quickly

 

[Bossyfins]

Welcome to Tom's.

Haha. Many of us can answer rapidly because your knowledge grows.