Changing my GPU

[AlienALX]

Yes i understand that with the memory bus, As i have said in the past i don't like the fact that the GTX970 has only a usable 3.5GB and 0.5GB boost now as far as i know the GTX960 doesn't have that issue problem is i have been thinking about wanting to do a SLI setup but i would never to be able to afford to get 2 GTX980's

Remember dude in 2014 Asetek stop Fractal Design from selling there AIO cooler in America which a lot of people were annoyed bye that i know of a few Youtube people who aren't the biggest Asetek fans either over that.

As a comparison dude. The ATI Radeon 5770 was 128 bit and could shift 77gb/sec. I know that it's obviously lower than the 960 but it was considered bad even in those days.

With VR and all of that coming Nvidia know they have to do something serious about this. That's why they're switching to HBM2 and so on.. But yeah, that sort of memory pipe isn't very good and as I said they have been deliberately doing stuff like that to stop the cheap SLI set ups trouncing one bigger card for a lot less money.

It's a shame, but then AMD have been doing it too. Back in the day two 4770s splattered a 4890 and they then released the 5770 which in Crossfire (even though it technically didn't work properly due to runt/dropped frames) easily beat the 5870. And two 5770s were £250 whilst the 5870 was £350.

Same went for the GTX 460. About £130 each so £260 all in and it gave the 480 a damn good slap and the 480 cost £420 or so. Even the GTS 450 in SLI beat the GTX 470 and only had 200mb less VRAM (not that VRAM even mattered in those days).

But they've made sure the fun days came to an end by crippling their low end cards

I would stick with what you have and AIO cool it.

 

[Doomslayer]

As a comparison dude. The ATI Radeon 5770 was 128 bit and could shift 77gb/sec. I know that it's obviously lower than the 960 but it was considered bad even in those days.

With VR and all of that coming Nvidia know they have to do something serious about this. That's why they're switching to HBM2 and so on.. But yeah, that sort of memory pipe isn't very good and as I said they have been deliberately doing stuff like that to stop the cheap SLI set ups trouncing one bigger card for a lot less money.

It's a shame, but then AMD have been doing it too. Back in the day two 4770s splattered a 4890 and they then released the 5770 which in Crossfire (even though it technically didn't work properly due to runt/dropped frames) easily beat the 5870. And two 5770s were £250 whilst the 5870 was £350.

Same went for the GTX 460. About £130 each so £260 all in and it gave the 480 a damn good slap and the 480 cost £420 or so. Even the GTS 450 in SLI beat the GTX 470 and only had 200mb less VRAM (not that VRAM even mattered in those days).

But they've made sure the fun days came to an end by crippling their low end cards

I would stick with what you have and AIO cool it.

The problem is i have looked at the NZXT Kraken G10 and i just don't like it at all it has a 92mm on it which i don't like AIO for GPU's the range is so limited i don't even like the Corsair one either so i'm left with 1 option is to custom.

Here it kinda works out cheaper bye going with the lower end cards and SLI it i would be saving $40 bye doing it, The GTX980 here is $789.00

 

[JR23]

If your worried about heat to a pedantic level then the SLI route seems weird. A 980 isn't a big enough jump in performance from a 390 to warrant spending any money in my opinion. Nothing can compete with it from a price to performance perspective. If it idles at 60°C all day who cares, worst case it dies, you RMA it and use the refund to buy the best card at the time. If your annoyed because it's loud then that's kinda different I guess and an AIO would seem like the optimal answer. Price custom and see what it comes to, i'd say the EK 240 kit plus whichever block you need is the way forwards in that respect.

JR

 

[Doomslayer]

If your worried about heat to a pedantic level then the SLI route seems weird. A 980 isn't a big enough jump in performance from a 390 to warrant spending any money in my opinion. Nothing can compete with it from a price to performance perspective. If it idles at 60°C all day who cares, worst case it dies, you RMA it and use the refund to buy the best card at the time. If your annoyed because it's loud then that's kinda different I guess and an AIO would seem like the optimal answer. Price custom and see what it comes to, i'd say the EK 240 kit plus whichever block you need is the way forwards in that respect.

JR

Refund what's that we don't get that option here the place will just replace it, give you the same item back or they will Credit your account.

As i have said in earlier posts the R9 390 is so huge in a Fractal Define S if i knew it was going to be so big i don't think i would have brought it.

 

[AlienALX]

The problem is i have looked at the NZXT Kraken G10 and i just don't like it at all it has a 92mm on it which i don't like AIO for GPU's the range is so limited i don't even like the Corsair one either so i'm left with 1 option is to custom.

Here it kinda works out cheaper bye going with the lower end cards and SLI it i would be saving $40 bye doing it, The GTX980 here is $789.00

Take it from some one who knows dude, running low end cards in multi GPU is incredibly risky. If, for any reason at all, it fails to work then you will be reducing settings to practically zero to run a game. And many games recently do not work with SLI or Crossfire due to lazy devs who will not fix the problem (see also - new Batman game).

You should always pair two capable cards (so like two Fury X for 4k) so that you can fall back on one card when you need to.

As also mentioned, heat will be an issue as will noise. If you think your card is noisy just wait until you hear a 960 blower scream through the nasty tacky plastic cooler. I've had a 960 myself and it sounds terribly whooshy. Your top card will run at least 10c hotter than the one below too.

Also, RE - 92mm fan on Kraken. It's completely and utterly silent dude. I replaced mine with all black ones and you can't hear them at all.

TBH it sounds more to me like you are bored and just want to fiddle around with your PC rather than any real concerns.

And it's Pandora's box as always and I would leave well alone.

 

[Doomslayer]

Take it from some one who knows dude, running low end cards in multi GPU is incredibly risky. If, for any reason at all, it fails to work then you will be reducing settings to practically zero to run a game. And many games recently do not work with SLI or Crossfire due to lazy devs who will not fix the problem (see also - new Batman game).

You should always pair two capable cards (so like two Fury X for 4k) so that you can fall back on one card when you need to.

As also mentioned, heat will be an issue as will noise. If you think your card is noisy just wait until you hear a 960 blower scream through the nasty tacky plastic cooler. I've had a 960 myself and it sounds terribly whooshy. Your top card will run at least 10c hotter than the one below too.

Also, RE - 92mm fan on Kraken. It's completely and utterly silent dude. I replaced mine with all black ones and you can't hear them at all.

TBH it sounds more to me like you are bored and just want to fiddle around with your PC rather than any real concerns.

And it's Pandora's box as always and I would leave well alone.

:lol: I do like stuffing around with my computers, To me it's not really Pandora's box every 6 months or so i'm changing parts around.

I just don't really like NZXT stuff esp when i had a X61 that AIO was trash expect for the H440 that is the only thing i like from NZXT.

 

[AlienALX]

It's Pandora's box when something breaks and you end up stuffed dude. I've actually gotten to the stage where even taking the side panel off of my PC is incredibly stressful.

Just recently I decided that now that I had done giving to others since September (I've spent every penny on other people for Christmas) that it was time for me to buy myself something. It went a little like this..

"I know, I will buy a Fury Nano to Crossfire with my Fury X for more performance at 4k !

Then, after taking off the side panel..

Oh noes, the Fury Nano will not get any air. I better fit another Fury X into fan position 2, this will allow it to work without affecting the 120mm fan at the top that feeds the CPU AIO.

Then, after fitting the fan bracket I have into slot 2 and fitting a fan and holding another fan against it that is the same size as a Fury X rad...

Crap. The rad is ever so slightly too thick to fit. I will have to make an adapter that shifts the rad position up 10mm

Then, after getting out all of my power tools and making the bracket (it took about two hours to make out of 3mm acrylic) the bracket I made proceeded to snap as I tapped in the fan screws. Several hours later and I had made it again out of 5mm acrylic. Then I needed to paint it black. Overall the entire day was eaten up just making this bracket. Then..

OK so I can now fit a Fury X into fan slot 2, but doing so uses up the only fan bracket I have and Alienware charge £38 for the bracket which is actually unavailable right now. How the hell am I going to hold in the top fan that is the sole provider of air to the CPU AIO?

Then I have to spend an extra £7.12 on four magnets in the hope that it will hold the fan in place. If not I have to get out the tools again and do the bloody stupid dance making a mess out of the kitchen again and having to clear it all up. I also calculated the necessary fans I need and have ordered two I don't need, at a cost of £13.

TBH fella? I rue the day I decided to take the sodding side panel off. It's one of them where I just wish I'd left well alone. Now? well I have to take apart the Fury X when it arrives and remove the stock fan and replace it, and with AMD's flaky hex bolts anything could happen. I've heard horror stories where they just snap off :S

I also know that as soon as I add that second GPU I immediately take myself into the unknown, a world of true poop. In fact, the guy I bought my second card from initially bought two, and here he is not even a month later selling one.

Hardly a glowing endorsement lmao.

 

[JR23]

Refund what's that we don't get that option here the place will just replace it, give you the same item back or they will Credit your account.

As i have said in earlier posts the R9 390 is so huge in a Fractal Define S if i knew it was going to be so big i don't think i would have brought it.

I can't help it if Australia is too hot for graphics cards, Sapphire 390's expand in the heat and Fractal Define S's are half of their normal size. I was just under the impression that selling a used card and buying a new card with about the same performance for lols was less cost effective than continuing to run a perfectly good solution that will get replaced if it fails.

There are retailers that only offer replacements or store credit all around the world, no need to go bold on my ass. It's not actually failed and it most likely won't but in the event it did you would be compensated to the relative value of your card or get a replacement solution with at least the same performance. That sounds like a lot better option than just shelling out for another new card, which could still just fail and be subject to exactly the same returns procedure.


Making irrational decisions about hardware and changing for no performance benefit is fine. We are enthusiasts and quite often desire takes over, if you'd bought two 960's already I could completely understand why. Aesthetically you thought they added value to your rig and you fancied a change, don't attempt to justify it with performance or longevity though. Because if it would truly benefit you in that respect everyone would immediately advise you to do it. Other users can only really give their opinion on something relative to it's cost, not relative to how much you like it.

I've done some stupid stuff, sold a Maximus V Formula and 2600k for a Rampage IV Formula and 4820k (which performed worse at the time). Sold two reference 780 Superclocks to buy two 780 Classifieds (cost over £200 to get the same GPU again). Randomly bought a 780Ti Matrix Platinum because black friday last year, then straight swapped it for a third 780 Classified in the summer. Once I even replaced a Corsair 550D with a Corsair 550D. They were all flat out retarded decisions, most of them cost an insane amount of money for no benefit and I would never dream of anyone on the forums even comprehending those decisions let alone advising me to do it. But still I don't regret any of them.

JR

 

[Doomslayer]

I can't help it if Australia is too hot for graphics cards, Sapphire 390's expand in the heat and Fractal Define S's are half of their normal size. I was just under the impression that selling a used card and buying a new card with about the same performance for lols was less cost effective than continuing to run a perfectly good solution that will get replaced if it fails.

There are retailers that only offer replacements or store credit all around the world, no need to go bold on my ass. It's not actually failed and it most likely won't but in the event it did you would be compensated to the relative value of your card or get a replacement solution with at least the same performance. That sounds like a lot better option than just shelling out for another new card, which could still just fail and be subject to exactly the same returns procedure.


Making irrational decisions about hardware and changing for no performance benefit is fine. We are enthusiasts and quite often desire takes over, if you'd bought two 960's already I could completely understand why. Aesthetically you thought they added value to your rig and you fancied a change, don't attempt to justify it with performance or longevity though. Because if it would truly benefit you in that respect everyone would immediately advise you to do it. Other users can only really give their opinion on something relative to it's cost, not relative to how much you like it.

I've done some stupid stuff, sold a Maximus V Formula and 2600k for a Rampage IV Formula and 4820k (which performed worse at the time). Sold two reference 780 Superclocks to buy two 780 Classifieds (cost over £200 to get the same GPU again). Randomly bought a 780Ti Matrix Platinum because black friday last year, then straight swapped it for a third 780 Classified in the summer. Once I even replaced a Corsair 550D with a Corsair 550D. They were all flat out retarded decisions, most of them cost an insane amount of money for no benefit and I would never dream of anyone on the forums even comprehending those decisions let alone advising me to do it. But still I don't regret any of them.

JR

That's fine, I don't regret any of my re buys either but atm i'm still thinking about going back to Nvidia prices only drop too

 

[jimma47]

Happy new year King of Old School!

That said - Pascal is out this year now.

I had an itch to go SLI and I don't regret it. Mind you I got the best I could afford at the time (980) and then added another six months later. It looks the goods and *most* games I play utilise it quite well. It's not completely without issues but then what is these days.

If the Sapphire is driving you mad then go for it.

I imagine the Pascals will be either super expensive and scarce when they launch, or they'll release lower end cards first like with Maxwell(?) to really smash the small form factor efficiency games.

 

[Doomslayer]

Happy new year King of Old School!

That said - Pascal is out this year now.

I had an itch to go SLI and I don't regret it. Mind you I got the best I could afford at the time (980) and then added another six months later. It looks the goods and *most* games I play utilise it quite well. It's not completely without issues but then what is these days.

If the Sapphire is driving you mad then go for it.

I imagine the Pascals will be either super expensive and scarce when they launch, or they'll release lower end cards first like with Maxwell(?) to really smash the small form factor efficiency games.

I don't think Pascal is going to be cheap i think there will be like a $300-400 mark up here.

 

[jimma47]

yeah and sold out for ages. I'm in no rush - until I go a higher resolution there's really no need to upgrade. Emphasis on 'need' lol

 

[AlienALX]

Pascal will bring problems for Nvidia and thus the buyer, though. Up until now they have been cutting back their GPUs quite heavily, learning their lesson from Fermi and upping the clocks and cutting back what isn't really necessary for gaming (things like DP and so on).

However, with VR looming Nvidia are going to have to reintroduce the kitchen sink. If you take a look around you will notice that the 970 does not meet the minimum spec of VR. This is because Nvidia cut the crap out of it and whilst that didn't matter in DX11 and so on it matters in VR.

This means that Nvidia now have to make bigger dies with more going on meaning more heat and power consumption. And that's not a problem, but when they do go back to full fat mode you can bet your backsides you WILL pay for it.

For example if they release Pascal full fat right from the start (they may have to, given VR) then that means £900+ for a "Titan Stupid" or whatever they decide to name it.

Personally speaking I can't say I feel terribly excited about VR. 3D was OK for me but only in passive mode. Active left me feeling rather ill. I've heard people say the same about VR, plus there's the stupid headset you have to wear.

Any way, apols for going slightly OT KOOS, but hey at least there's some decent banter going on

 

[Doomslayer]

Pascal will bring problems for Nvidia and thus the buyer, though. Up until now they have been cutting back their GPUs quite heavily, learning their lesson from Fermi and upping the clocks and cutting back what isn't really necessary for gaming (things like DP and so on).

However, with VR looming Nvidia are going to have to reintroduce the kitchen sink. If you take a look around you will notice that the 970 does not meet the minimum spec of VR. This is because Nvidia cut the crap out of it and whilst that didn't matter in DX11 and so on it matters in VR.

This means that Nvidia now have to make bigger dies with more going on meaning more heat and power consumption. And that's not a problem, but when they do go back to full fat mode you can bet your backsides you WILL pay for it.

For example if they release Pascal full fat right from the start (they may have to, given VR) then that means £900+ for a "Titan Stupid" or whatever they decide to name it.

Personally speaking I can't say I feel terribly excited about VR. 3D was OK for me but only in passive mode. Active left me feeling rather ill. I've heard people say the same about VR, plus there's the stupid headset you have to wear.

Any way, apols for going slightly OT KOOS, but hey at least there's some decent banter going on

I don't like VR it has never interested me.

I did sell my GTX970 but the buyer is complaing about not working looks like i will have to refund the persons money and looks like it might have to be RMA so maybe if i can put up with the 3.5GB with the GTX970 maybe i could go with SLI 970's but it's all what if's atm.

 

[NeverBackDown]

If you sold it and it's been working for a while then you shouldn't have to refund him. It's his problem now. That's the risk of buying second hand and if he needs to rma then hand over the invoice and let him rma it.

 

[Doomslayer]

If you sold it and it's been working for a while then you shouldn't have to refund him. It's his problem now. That's the risk of buying second hand and if he needs to rma then hand over the invoice and let him rma it.

It doesn't work like that here as you know with ebay will side with the buyers and how i think warranty works here is the original buyer it doesn't get passed on to the next buyer so it's kinda my problem, the person said to me did you have it under water cause the PCB had some marks on it but it was dust cause this area is dusty and the problem is the MSI GTX970 doesn't have a backplate as i have said plenty of times it was a bone head move bye MSI.

It's been about 1 month since i sold it.

 

[Doomslayer]

Sorry for the double post

Wow this person on ebay who brought the GTX970 said

"Works but crashes when I play WoW , latest driver updated, latest update for windows 8.1 downloaded but it crashes, it started after my computer screen turned black and i started to hear fussy sounds so I had to turn off my PC now it just crashes when I try game, this card is also damaged on the silver parts and a mark above the LED it looks to have some wear the seller failed to put in the ad, I want to return also want return postage paid by seller as he sold me a card that is having problems. problems started happening couple days ago."

This as well

"No that costs to much you sent me this card and it's faulty this is your fault you also didn't say it had marks on it so again your fault. I will send it with tracking." but the person expects me to be down $50.00 in the long run.

Update this person is trying to rush me when i have until the 7th of January to sort it out.

"i want my money back aspa so i can buy a brand new one so i dont have to deal with this again. repley to the return case please also give me your address."

 

[jimma47]

ebay will side with the buyer even tho he's obviously an idiot. It worked for a month or so? Then his screen went black and crashes in game. Could be PSU. Could be CPU/Mobo/Drivers/anyother issue. Just to say it's the card is bs.

 

[Doomslayer]

ebay will side with the buyer even tho he's obviously an idiot. It worked for a month or so? Then his screen went black and crashes in game. Could be PSU. Could be CPU/Mobo/Drivers/anyother issue. Just to say it's the card is bs.

Yep i know i have no choice in the matter ebay always sides with the buyer, i have been on ebay for over 10 years now as a seller just about had a gut full, hopefully this year i can just become a buyer just being a buyer has no headaches

 

[AlienALX]

Or he could end up returning a completely different card and keeping your one.

And this is why I never sell things on Ebay any more. Last time I sold a phone the buyer waited two months then started saying he did not authorise the payment. Paypal took the money back and nearly sent me overdrawn before giving it back to me after I proved I shipped it with a tracking number.

Had I not had that tracking number? now I know why he waited two months. Total scammer.

I've bought three (admittedly old) GPUs from Ebay all of them had been baked.

Now I just buy new things.