Your Thoughts: R9 290s in CF vs single GTX980TI with 5960x

[moonbogg]

Base was 1102 and boost was 1190.

You got loads of head room left. 1400mhz is a cake walk for the 980ti.

 

[bystander36]

I agree with this.
OP noticed that you verified a single 980ti a big improvement from a single 290 but If you want to replace 290's then you have to get GTX 980ti's to really see a change.

On the plus side you will be able to install new games and not worry about CF or SLI profiles

From what I read, he has 2 systems. He has two GPU setups between the two and wondering which to put in his primary gaming system.

There is no purchasing happening at this point. The question is, which gets the 980ti, and which gets the 290 CF setup. I suggest using the 980ti in the primary rig, and the CF setup in the 2ndary system.

 

[guskline]

That is correct bystander36

 

[moonbogg]

That correct bystander36

Guskline, you are killing me. I'm dying here, on my last breath. The only thing that can save me is your overclocking results. Please, hurry.

No pressure though. Maybe you don't want the card and you want to send it back, so not overclocking would be a good idea in that case. NO PRESSURE!!!

 

[guskline]

Guskline, you are killing me. I'm dying here, on my last breath. The only thing that can save me is your overclocking results. Please, hurry.

No pressure though. Maybe you don't want the card and you want to send it back, so not overclocking would be a good idea in that case. NO PRESSURE!!!

I'm at work so you'll have to hold on champ- DEEP BREATHS!

No the GTX980 TI SC definitely stays! Lordy, It took me time to install that Titan X EK waterblock!D:. The Air cooler is marvelous.

I have to learn OCing again for an Nvidia card.

I was up real late into the morning getting the water cooled system running. I'm likely to keep 1 of the 2 remaining Sapphire Tri-X cards, put the air cooler on it and run it in CF with the other Sapphire Tri-X already in my 3770k rig. That rig will remain stock as to gpus, only the 3770k is OC'd to 4.5gHZ.

I'll sell the remaining Tri-X and the EK 290 cooling blocks.

Suffice it to say at stock the GTX980TI SC just about equals TWO Sapphire Tri-X R9 290s in performance. I was only able to OC the Sapphires under water to @1100 core and 1400 memory and have a stable system. Obviously, power usage was high but they ran cool because of my custom water cooled system. I get a sneaky suspicion this Nvidia card has a lot more headroom for OCing and it already has a core OC'd from 1000 to 1102 at stock.

Why didn't I replace them with 2 GTX980 TIs? Too much money right now but I have that option down the road.

Right now, moonbogg is "the water cooling expert" on GTX980TIs in SLI!:thumbsup:

 

[moonbogg]

Yes I'm an expert at something! Sweet!

 

[guskline]

moonbogg: went home for lunch, was able to remove the EK waterblock on one of the R9 290s, reattach the Sapphire Tri-X cooler and pop it into my 3770k rig along with the other Tri-X. Running CF 290S in the 3770k and a watercooled GTX980TI SC in the rig below.

 

[moonbogg]

moonbogg: went home for lunch, was able to remove the EK waterblock on one of the R9 290s, reattach the Sapphire Tri-X cooler and pop it into my 3770k rig along with the other Tri-X. Running CF 290S in the 3770k and a watercooled GTX980TI SC in the rig below.

Nice. Sounds like things are getting in order. That's a good choice for where you have things I believe. So you already got the water cooled 980ti plugged into your 5960x loop? That was fast. Then again, this isn't your first rodeo. Can't wait until you have time to tweak it and see what it does with higher clocks.

When I installed my blocks, I was like "OMG this is going to become a $700 paper weight!".

 

[Majcric]

980ti, Fury x, or even Fury pro.

 

[Sabrewings]

When I installed my blocks, I was like "OMG this is going to become a $700 paper weight!".

I was feeling the same way, except it was around an $800 paper weight. Reference 980 Ti + EK water block + back plate. I was very much crossing my fingers when I finally got it powered up. I had to wait an extra few days as my chosen reservoir was not working out at all and I couldn't fill the system until I figured that out.

 

[moonbogg]

I was feeling the same way, except it was around an $800 paper weight. Reference 980 Ti + EK water block + back plate. I was very much crossing my fingers when I finally got it powered up. I had to wait an extra few days as my chosen reservoir was not working out at all and I couldn't fill the system until I figured that out.

Yeah I didn't count the cost of the EK block. I was just counting tax and shipping of the reference card, lol. Also, I was the same way when I first turned the system on. Right before I hit the button I was like, "welp, here goes nothing". I was prepared to have it not boot and to try and figure out what I broke, but it worked so WHEW.

 

[guskline]

I've learned as I've worked on my custom loop, to take the time to make sure all fittings are connected properly and purge as much air as possible from the system. It helps with 3 480mm rads that I have 2 D5 pumps in series. Also I have an extra PSU that I use for powering the dual pumps and running them for a few hours to purge all the air.

 

[Sabrewings]

I've learned as I've worked on my custom loop, to take the time to make sure all fittings are connected properly and purge as much air as possible from the system. It helps with 3 480mm rads that I have 2 D5 pumps in series. Also I have an extra PSU that I use for powering the dual pumps and running them for a few hours to purge all the air.

What are you running that you need so much radiator? I have an RX360 and an RX240, and between the two with a single Laing DDC they can remove 800w of heat with only a 10* delta T water temp. I don't even need this much radiator myself, but I built it with a second 250w TDP card in mind.

 

[YBS1]

You can't have too much radiator. Even if it's overkill it simply allows you to run the fans that much slower with no noticeable increase in temps. Mine sit at ~650rpm, and are for the most part silent, the pump noise is more noticeable. I see an increase of no more than approximately 5C in water temperature from ambient boot temp. That's with two 360's and one 240. I just came in from putting the first coat of white paint on the additional two 360's I'm adding to the loop to deal with the GPUs I'll be adding to it soon. With any luck I'll be able to maintain that water temp and still be able to leave the fans on their minimum PWM setting.

 

[Grooveriding]

More rad the better. I run 2x480 and 1x240. I can turn my fans off completely and still run my GPUs at around 60-70C. I keep my fans around 800rpm where they are silent and the only noise my system gives off is when the PSU spins the fan up to cool it off a bit and then it turns off again.

 

[guskline]

I had a MO RA3-420 external rad when I had my 3930k rig in a CM HAF932 case. The dual pumps helped to get the most out of it. When I transitioned to a 5960X rig I decided to buy a bigger case and the Thermaltake Core X( just came out. It hold 3-480 rads (2 at the top and 1 to the right side lower half). I agree with Grooveriding. I was running 2 R9 290s in CF but just switched out to a single GTX980TI. No need to fool with the rads.

 

[moonbogg]

Why am I suddenly getting the itch for more RAD?

 

[guskline]

HA! HA! moonbogg😎. We warned you. Custom water cooling is an addiction.