I'll be going with the ASUS GTX 970 STRIX http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NJ9BJ8G. It's a very solid model and I'm a big ASUS fan so yep, STRIX for me!
As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Be aware that Asus might have the sticker as well. The backplate just might be covering it. I'm not sure for this series specifically but the reports were there for last gen.
They're certainly longer than the Titan cooler. I think I might not be comfortable with anything longer in my case. The Gigabyte would have really been a tight fit... too tight to be comfortable in my opinion. But after coming from a pair of reference 780s, these feel like they weigh as much as paper by comparison. But isn't it sexy?just got my Asus cards... they're pretty. and larger than I though. They're not long as the Gigabyte but beefy and quite heavy.
now that's a heat pipe!
The VRMs get passively cooled enough that I wouldn't worry about it. These really were not made to overclock as much as the Gigabyte, that's for sure. The stock voltage on these is a lot lower than other 970s, too, at 1.175v.edit: I got sucked into work crap and wasn't able to get my cards installed today.. I hope tomorrow but I have a lot going on. I did get to examine the cards a lot though.. I was reading concerns the the VRM sink would not get enough air but it is right under a set of fins and fan...
maybe warm air, but it should get something. My top card is going to be really close to my SBZ so the front fan will get starved a bit but I am hoping because of the way the PCB and sink/fan setup sticks out about an inch and change more than normal cards it'll give it the little extra breathing room to get some air in. I might put my side fan back to intake rather than exhaust maybe also... just want to see how much hot air comes off the sides of these...
Interesting... I think the cooling in my case may be better than your's as they both idle right around 40C with the stock fan profile (0% below 60C). I also have a SBZ right above GPU1. Setting your side fan to intake might help. I have a NZXT Phantom for reference, with all optional fans but the 200mm side fan installed. Front and side hard drive fans are set to intake, rear and top fans are set to exhaust. A/C in the room where my computer sits is set to 25C.edit2: cards installed and wow.. they are fast and soooo quiet. I built a fan profile for them in Afterburner because I don't like to see 45c to 50c idle temps... it bugs me. with the fans at 40% to keep idle temps down I still can't even hear them. crazy! Also these coolers do a nice job of shoving heat out of the back of the case but I still have my side fan on exhaust for now. It's probably 80F in my office now and my top card maxed out at 65c after 15 mins of valley... no additional tweaking other than the fan profile.. the boost is hitting 1303 on both cards without any tweaks.
so which is the definitive best 970 card to get?...MSI GeForce GTX 970 Gaming 4G, Gigabyte G1 Gaming or ASUS Strix?
I feel like you can't really go wrong with any of those 3.
so which is the definitive best 970 card to get?...MSI GeForce GTX 970 Gaming 4G, Gigabyte G1 Gaming or ASUS Strix?
Got MSI GTX 970, bundled with Elders Scroll Online
where is it being bundled with ESO?...I'm guessing not in the USA
Have a look at this OCN thread which I'm sure will answer 90% of your questions.
And as others have mentioned, it really depends on how your define "definitive best". If you want the absolute best performance and cooling, Gigabyte it is. If you favor silence but still want good performance, get the MSI. If you don't really care for OC, and want a silent and well-built card with a backplate, get the Asus.
One more thing to consider if you think you'll ever want to do 3-way SLI: MSI's fan shroud is a bit oversized, so you can't use a rigid 3-way SLI bridge, and will be forced to flex bridge all 3 cards. Looks a bit unclean but otherwise no functional loss. Gigabyte and Asus don't seem to have this problem as the fan shroud is flush with the SLI fingers.
i bought the zotac one Link
Should i return it and get something else?
Really going for looks. I ordered a kraken g10 and h105 to hook up to the card(or any other card if it matters)
Also i won't be overclocking
^agreed. If you're not overclocking, just get the cheapest 970 available (check). And absolutely no point throwing on the Kraken either since you'll never hit thermal limits no matter how hard you try (ok fine you will if you took out the fans)
If MSI makes a blower version for the 970 like the 980 I'd probably go that route.
My Lian-Li case can handle a very long card but I'd rather it would be <10" if possible.
MSI OCV1 ... Blower on what looks like a reference 980 PCB...
http://www.techpowerup.com/205439/msi-announces-geforce-gtx-980-and-gtx-970-ocv1-series.html
If you are not planning on OCing, I'd go for the cheapest. The standard ACX 2.0 (2972) turns the fans off at low load and that would probably include BR/DVD playback.
The FTW adds a higher guaranteed minimum clock, a beefier heatsink, a better voltage controller and triple BIOS... none of which you will need in an HTPC.
PNY and MSI also have blower options that will fit but I don't know if your want a blower card in an HTPC.
Thanks for a prompt feedback what about coil whine on acx vs ftw? Based on some quick reading it seems Zotac might be safer for coil whine? However I'm sure EVGA outsells Zotac big time, so of course there will be more negative feedback from EVGA customers. Yeah I don't think I will want blower option.