GTX 680 SLI ($270) vs GTX 970 SLI ($480) vs 980ti ($575-600)

[shaolin95]

Hello all,
Ok I am trying to figure out which way to go right now.
This will be for 1440p gaming. I thought about surround but Nvidia wont let me mix my 1280x1024 side monitors with the 1440p main :/
Basically I got injured playing hockey so now have some time to catch up with a LOT of games...and I mean Fallout 3 original, Dark Knight, Mass Effect, original all the way to this day...so it will take a while!
Anyways, I know Pascal is coming next year so that is why I am apprehensive about the 980ti expense.
I dont mind turning off AA if that helps as long as I can keep the rest of the eye candy at pretty high levels.
Is the 680 SLI for $270 just too under powered with 2GB cards?
My original idea was the 970 SLI as long as I can keep it at $480 or less so is saving me around $100 or more from a used 980ti.
I know SLI since I had a dual and tri SLI 660ti before so I know it can be great and not so great some times but overall I had a good experience with it. Benchmarks I have seen show the 970 SLI to perform damn nice but of course, with Pascal next year I thought maybe the 680 SLI for that money could be good enough for 1440p specially with not so recent games.

Anyways, please share your thoughts.
Thanks!

 

[nsafreak]

The resale value of your 680s is going to be a lot lower than a 970 will resell for come next year, frankly I'm surprised they're going for as much as $135 apiece now. If you're determined to go SLi (although frankly for the games mentioned a single 970 will run 1440p just fine) you're better off going with the 970s and then reselling them when Pascal is released.

 

[Teizo]

A single 970 will do you fine @ 1440p, unless you have a 144hz monitor then yeah you will want to SLI perhaps.

If you want to go SLI simply because (I am contemplating that as well lol), I understand and would recommend the 970 SLI for sure due to power/heat. It won't use much power, and the top card won't get crazy hot either. But, if you can find an in good shape 980 Ti that has a good price in line with 970 SLI, then I would go with it because while issues with microstutter with SLI is not common, it does happen as it does with all multi-gpu systems (at least it did with my 760 SLI after 2 years of use)...plus it will be easier to re-sell I think when Pascal comes out (6GB of memory vs 3.5/4 of the 970).

 

[shaolin95]

The resale value of your 680s is going to be a lot lower than a 970 will resell for come next year, frankly I'm surprised they're going for as much as $135 apiece now. If you're determined to go SLi (although frankly for the games mentioned a single 970 will run 1440p just fine) you're better off going with the 970s and then reselling them when Pascal is released.

Right now your thoughts are in line with what I am thinking too.
I thought one 970 was going to have problems with 1440p if I used too much eye candy (not counting AA) but I can always try with just one as long as I get one that allows me to use 3 monitors (all DVI).

 

[shaolin95]

A single 970 will do you fine @ 1440p, unless you have a 144hz monitor then yeah you will want to SLI perhaps.

If you want to go SLI simply because (I am contemplating that as well lol), I understand and would recommend the 970 SLI for sure due to power/heat. It won't use much power, and the top card won't get crazy hot either. But, if you can find an in good shape 980 Ti that has a good price in line with 970 SLI, then I would go with it because while issues with microstutter with SLI is not common, it does happen as it does with all multi-gpu systems (at least it did with my 760 SLI after 2 years of use)...plus it will be easier to re-sell I think when Pascal comes out (6GB of memory vs 3.5/4 of the 970).

Looks like 970 SLI is winning as long as the price is not too close to the 980ti so I guess my reasoning was pretty good.

 

[poohbear]

After owning 670s in SLI and moving to a single 970, I swore off ever doing SLI again! It totally sucks for new releases cause u have to wait weeks or months for SLI support. Even then, there were so many issues I was having with games at the time that I didn't realize were from SLI till I bought the single gtx 970 & they disappeared. From flickering textures, stuttering, to crashes. I'm never going SLI again. Get yourself a single 970/980ti & save ur money & the hassles that come with SLI. Especially since ure gaming @ 1440p, u DON'T need SLI for that resolution.

 

[Teizo]

I play mostly BF4 and my MSI 970 100ME @ 1500/8000 gets 75+ fps on all maps on Ultra settings @ 1440p. The only time it drops into the upper 50s is on the map Guilin Peaks when people start using the bomber to bomb the bases. Load temps never go over 65c. This card has never seen 70c, even fully maxed out overclocked. Memory wise, even when I crank the resolution detail up to 150% (4K), the memory does not go above 3GB usage.

So, as mentioned, unless you have a 144hz monitor, a single 970 should do fine depending on the game of course, but given the easy overclockability of the card, it easily is the best bang for buck card on the market bar none imho.

 

[Teizo]

After owning 670s in SLI and moving to a single 970, I swore off ever doing SLI again! It totally sucks for new releases cause u have to wait weeks or months for SLI support. Even then, there were so many issues I was having with games at the time that I didn't realize were from SLI till I bought the single gtx 970 & they disappeared. From flickering textures, stuttering, to crashes. I'm never going SLI again. Get yourself a single 970/980ti & save ur money & the hassles that come with SLI. Especially since ure gaming @ 1440p, u DON'T need SLI for that resolution.

Yep, BF4 totally ruined my SLI experience for me. I loved it when it worked, but EA/Dice was constantly patching and breaking it over and over again.

For a 60hz monitor, 970 @ 1440p is my suggestion (unless you can find a good deal on a gently used 980). For a 144hz monitor, 980 Ti.

 

[shaolin95]

I play mostly BF4 and my MSI 970 100ME @ 1500/8000 gets 75+ fps on all maps on Ultra settings @ 1440p. The only time it drops into the upper 50s is on the map Guilin Peaks when people start using the bomber to bomb the bases. Load temps never go over 65c. This card has never seen 70c, even fully maxed out overclocked. Memory wise, even when I crank the resolution detail up to 150% (4K), the memory does not go above 3GB usage.

So, as mentioned, unless you have a 144hz monitor, a single 970 should do fine depending on the game of course, but given the easy overclockability of the card, it easily is the best bang for buck card on the market bar none imho.

Thanks for the feedback!
Before I was using 3D Vision and that is why in my mind I still had it set that I NEEDED SLI because 3D Vision requires more power than normal but since I am going to wait for Oculus Rift then I will be just doing plain flat world gaming for now so even better that I can save money and get just one 970

BTW, I am running it with a Qnix 27" 1440p but I normally just run it at 96Hz

 

[aaksheytalwar]

I'd take them in this order

980 Ti > 970 SLI > 980 > 970 > 680 SLI