What brand of Geforce GTX 780 TI would you recommend?

[Answertime]

I plan on buying 2 eventually, 1 to start. Here is my rig below. I went with EVGA, I'm not sure though. I'm no overclocker, but who knows... maybe someday. Want it quiet and running well. Suggestions? Thank you!

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2M4RH
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2M4RH/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2M4RH/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.97 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme6 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($168.49 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($139.99 @ Microcenter)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($227.95 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.66 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($717.55 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($717.55 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($88.98 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-A14 PWM 82.5 CFM 140mm Fan ($20.53 @ NCIX US)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-A14 PWM 82.5 CFM 140mm Fan ($20.53 @ NCIX US)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-A14 PWM 82.5 CFM 140mm Fan ($20.53 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair RM 1000W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($184.99 @ Best Buy)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit)
Monitor: Asus VH236H 23.0" Monitor ($149.48 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor ($263.98 @ Best Buy)
Monitor: Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor ($263.98 @ Best Buy)
Monitor: Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor ($263.98 @ Best Buy)
Other: 3x Dual LCD Monitor Desk Stand/Mount Free Standing, Holds Vertical 2 Screens up to 27" ~ (by VIVO) ($218.97)
Total: $3817.10
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-02 16:17 EST-0500)

 

[adairusmc]

I am running two Evga 780Ti Superclocked cards with the ACX cooler, and they run very quiet and overclock well.

The motherboard you chose looks like it has two slots between the two PCI-Express slots you would be running both of the cards in, so the ACX cooler version would work fine with a slot between the cooler of the upper card and the lower card. If it were a different board with not as much space in between, I would stick with the blower style version like you have on your list. The blower style cooler is the same one they use for the titan, and it works very well.

 

[Answertime]

I am running two Evga 780Ti Superclocked cards with the ACX cooler, and they run very quiet and overclock well.

The motherboard you chose looks like it has two slots between the two PCI-Express slots you would be running both of the cards in, so the ACX cooler version would work fine with a slot between the cooler of the upper card and the lower card. If it were a different board with not as much space in between, I would stick with the blower style version like you have on your list. The blower style cooler is the same one they use for the titan, and it works very well.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814487003
Cool so I'll go with that then. 2 fans seems better than 1!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157371
That's my motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811352020
That's my case.

If you are double sure that will fit I'm in! Thanks!

 

[adairusmc]

Looks like it will fit just fine, the board will run both of the cards in 8x/8x mode, and thats how I am running both of mine at the moment (new motherboard and CPU coming this week will change that), but I don't think it affects it too much (5% was the figure I read, running both cards in 8x/8x instead of 16x/16x).

Looks like you are good to go.

 

[wand3r3r]

EVGA or MSI for great warranties. They both have good cards.

I'd go custom, however if you don't have really good airflow then reference is the way to go although it's noisier.

 

[Answertime]

Looks like it will fit just fine, the board will run both of the cards in 8x/8x mode, and thats how I am running both of mine at the moment (new motherboard and CPU coming this week will change that), but I don't think it affects it too much (5% was the figure I read, running both cards in 8x/8x instead of 16x/16x).

Looks like you are good to go.

Thanks guys I'll go with EVGA then.

3 x PCIe 3.0 x16 from the motherboard specs page

So if I run 1 card its in 16x but 2 go in 8x/8x? I don't even know what that is lol. Help? Thanks!

 

[adairusmc]

Yes, they will go into 8x/8x if you put cards in both slots. You can get around this with x79, but that will cost more money. I am currently selling my 2600k setup to go x79, but you don't loose a whole lot running both cards in 8x/8x. I think you will be fine with that setup.

 

[rgallant]

So if I run 1 card its in 16x but 2 go in 8x/8x? I don't even know what that is lol. Help? Thanks!



your cpu and mb are pci-e 3.0 [same as ib] cpu has 16 wired inputs at pci-e 3.0

 from the card sockets to the cpu ,put 2 cards in and it runs a x8 + x8
sb would only run at pci-e 2.0 speeds

so at x 8 pci-e 3.0 it would equal the speed of a x16[one card] sandy bridge[2600k].
-x8 pci-e 2.0 hardly slows down today's cards  , so x8 3.0 vs 16 won't make a difference.
plus your board will have a plx chip speeding up the x8 + x8 . [google that chip]
think of it as using usb 3 vs usb 2 unless your maxing out the usb 2 bandwidth usb 3 won't be faster.

 

[Will Robinson]

Nicely put rg!:thumbsup:

 

[Zardnok]

EVGA makes excellent cards. I have used them in the past and always had excellent luck with their performance. I have never had to use their warranty service, but I hear it is one of the better to deal with.

A quick comment on your build, you have excellent parts picked out and I can tell you are going for a quality system just by the over-all price. That said, I can't see spending that much and not spending the extra $100 for the i7 CPU. Sure it may not be "needed", but if I have a $4k computer, you better believe I want it to handle anything I throw at it as quickly as possible! I bought the i5 when I built my current rig and have wondered multiple times why I didn't spend the extra $100 when I was already spending $2k for my rig. I would also upgrade the 1TB storage drive from a blue to a black. Much better reliability and worth the extra money IMO.

 

[FalseChristian]

Let's put it this way: I've had 2 eVGA SC GTX 460 1GB in SLI for the past 3 1/2 years overclocked to 837/1674/4150 without 1`problem. This was my 1st go with eVGA and I'm glad I did.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Let's put it this way: I've had 2 eVGA SC GTX 460 1GB in SLI for the past 3 1/2 years overclocked to 837/1674/4150 without 1`problem. This was my 1st go with eVGA and I'm glad I did.

I tend to go with EVGA over MSI and the others, but I have a bias: many years ago, an MSI GeForce AGP card didn't last much past its warranty-period.

Still, I give the ASUS cards a gander. This year, it's the "MARS" dual-760 card, but the latter only matches flavors of the 780 cards and costs just as much.

Anything else -- PNY, Zotac, and others -- if I need a budget card for anything, I might pick among them.

 

[Sohaltang]

EVGA SC edition. Overclocks better than classified

 

[wand3r3r]

EVGA SC edition. Overclocks better than classified

Based on what exactly? It's down to the silicon lottery at the least, and who knows if the classified is binned (which would give it better odds in that lottery).

 

[Face2Face]

EVGA SC edition. Overclocks better than classified

:biggrin: You should say, overclocks better than your Classified :$

 

[Sohaltang]

:biggrin: You should say, overclocks better than your Classified :$

Both of them. I sold my SC edition to and bought 2 classifieds. They both have ASIC less than 65 and horrible overclockers. Something is up with these. There are several threads around (even a few on EVGA) where people are seeing the same problems. EVGA even released a new bios to correct some of the issues. Seems even a slight over volt causes them to lock up. I will say these are the most disappointing cards I have ever owned.

Not sure if the KINGPIN is better. Maybe they saved all the quality binned chips for those.

 

[Sohaltang]

Based on what exactly? It's down to the silicon lottery at the least, and who knows if the classified is binned (which would give it better odds in that lottery).

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/EVGA/GTX_780_Ti_Classified/27.html

http://forums.evga.com/tm.aspx?m=2080631

 

[Face2Face]

Both of them. I sold my SC edition to and bought 2 classifieds. They both have ASIC less than 65 and horrible overclockers. Something is up with these. There are several threads around (even a few on EVGA) where people are seeing the same problems. EVGA even released a new bios to correct some of the issues. Seems even a slight over volt causes them to lock up. I will say these are the most disappointing cards I have ever owned.

Not sure if the KINGPIN is better. Maybe they saved all the quality binned chips for those.

Ouch! Sorry man, that blows. How much voltage haven you given them?

 

[Sohaltang]

Ouch! Sorry man, that blows. How much voltage haven you given them?

At work and my spread sheet is at home. I think 1.19 was it. Increasing voltage pretty much equals automatic crash. I can get 1200 MHZ but its not very stable.

 

[Face2Face]

At work and my spread sheet is at home. I think 1.19 was it. Increasing voltage pretty much equals automatic crash. I can get 1200 MHZ but its not very stable.

1.2v? Sounds like you just need to get over the voltage hump.. Open air coolers in SLI = top card gets very hot. In a single card setup I would be comfortable with 1.3-1.35v all day long with that cards, assuming your temps are pretty good.

 

[Sohaltang]

1.2v? Sounds like you just need to get over the voltage hump.. Open air coolers in SLI = top card gets very hot. In a single card setup I would be comfortable with 1.3-1.35v all day long with that cards, assuming your temps are pretty good.

Ohh no doubt. Its not heat that is holding me back, cards are nice and cool. The bios is bugged and something about adding voltage just locks the card up. Supposed to be getting a new bios from Chris at Evga tonight. Even though many have said this still does not fix the problem. I assume Evga is still working on more fixes. Evga really dropped the ball on this card.


Anyhow back to the OP. IME EVGA 780ti SC is best bang for the buck

 

[_UP_]

:biggrin: You should say, overclocks better than your Classified :$

To add to Sohaltang's point, the SC does OC better than classified. There are a few threads about this in the EVGA forums. It seems that the BIOS is unstable (like this one http://forums.evga.com/m/tm.aspx?m=2080631&p). So far EVGA is silently giving new version(s) of the Classified BIOS (you have to email them to get it). I've flashed my card with this BIOS today and it was even worse (wouldn't survive a 5 minutes Heaven run on stock settings). Anyways I'd go with the SC version.

 

[wand3r3r]

Both of them. I sold my SC edition to and bought 2 classifieds. They both have ASIC less than 65 and horrible overclockers. Something is up with these. There are several threads around (even a few on EVGA) where people are seeing the same problems. EVGA even released a new bios to correct some of the issues. Seems even a slight over volt causes them to lock up. I will say these are the most disappointing cards I have ever owned.

Not sure if the KINGPIN is better. Maybe they saved all the quality binned chips for those.

Lower asic = higher leakage = better overclocker. (obviously a general statement, not true in every case)

So you either got a lemon, or you may have software issues. I didn't read the links yet.

 

[Sohaltang]

To add to Sohaltang's point, the SC does OC better than classified. There are a few threads about this in the EVGA forums. It seems that the BIOS is unstable (like this one http://forums.evga.com/m/tm.aspx?m=2080631&p). So far EVGA is silently giving new version(s) of the Classified BIOS (you have to email them to get it). I've flashed my card with this BIOS today and it was even worse (wouldn't survive a 5 minutes Heaven run on stock settings). Anyways I'd go with the SC version.

I flashed the bios evga sent me last night. Now its totally unstable even at stock speeds as well. I'll be emailing them today.

 

[ragnar323]

+1 EVGA (at least for previous generations).