Which GTX 780 For Avid Overclocker

[Durvelle27]

I'm looking for a new GPU to replace my Sapphire R9 290. I'm trying to figure out which of these cards is the best and which overclocks better. Card will be put under water if that's important.


Choices

MSI N780 LIGHTNING GeForce GTX 780

EVGA GeForce GTX780 SuperClocked w/EVGA ACX Cooler

EVGA GeForce GTX 780 Dual FTW Graphics Card with ACX Cooler


EVGA GeForce GTX 780 Classified w/ EVGA ACX Cooler

 

[the54thvoid]

The Classified, hands down

You can grab an unofficial but 'proper' EVGA tool to volt mod it to 1.35volts

 

[LAN_deRf_HA]

Did they stop making those 1.3 ghz HOF cards or what?

 

[Durvelle27]

Did they stop making those 1.3 ghz HOF cards or what?

No but its considerably higher than the rest

 

[Vlada011]

I heard for 2-3 people who want to change R9-290 and back on NVIDIA.
My advice considering price is GTX780 Classified too.
Because these cards are really pushed. She will boost 1137MHz out of box and with 50MHz OC only and +37 voltage with Precision you got nice 1200MHz without pushing card far at all. When you compare that with base/boost clock of GTX780 reference... we try hard before to pull such clock and difference is not little at all.
It's good feeling when you don't need to touch or OC nothing and you know card work 5-10% better than stock model.
All of us like to OC but for many games today that don't need and than it's nice to leave on fabric overclocked.
But with EVGA Models you can play little and if you need more GPU power you have 90 days for step-up on reference Ti if you wish that because something. Only than you need to little wait for ACX cooler for Ti or some aftermarket as Accelero Xtreme III.

 

[radrok]

780 classified imo

May I ask you why are you replacing your 290?

 

[Durvelle27]

radrok, post: 3033963, member: 99717"]780 classified imo

May I ask you why are you replacing your 290?

Hawaii is proving to be terrible clockers

 

[the54thvoid]

Hawaii is proving to be terrible clockers

Oof! Those are controversial words. I wonder if there will be a swarm of protests...

I'm a gonna grab some popcorn

 

[HammerON]

Hawaii is proving to be terrible clockers

Oof! Those are controversial words. I wonder if there will be a swarm of protests...

I'm a gonna grab some popcorn

Yep - same

I would go with the Classified out of your choices. I personally would look at the Ti if you can afford it as they are looking to be a great card for overclocking (from the limited ones I have yet seen to be overclocked).
I wish I would have purchased the 780 HOF over my reference MSI 780's...

 

[radrok]

Hawaii is proving to be terrible clockers

I'd be sure to get my hands on a GK110 revision then, that's a nasty overclocker chip.

Where early A1 did average 1100 Mhz - 1220 Mhz the new revision averages 1240-1400 Mhz overclocks with 1.212v

I'm expecting to see 1500/1600 Mhz on water from 780 Ti classifieds.

I can reach 1450 Mhz on water with my early A1 titans so I guess those can only go higher.

 

[Durvelle27]

Yep - same

I would go with the Classified out of your choices. I personally would look at the Ti if you can afford it as they are looking to be a great card for overclocking (from the limited ones I have yet seen to be overclocked).
I wish I would have purchased the 780 HOF over my reference MSI 780's...

I sold my 290 for $500 so that's all I have to cough up and the 780 To is out of range.

But thx guys guess I'll be getting the Classified

 

[ozzy916]

Hello Durvelle, since I am interested in basically the same thing, let me tell you about my research thus far. Over the holiday's it will get a bit crazy with all the sales on though. For example, if you can get a GTX 780 Ti for a $50 premium over the vanilla 780, why not take that one. But if all prices stay as they are now, start here for your picks: http://www.techpowerup.com/gpudb/2513/geforce-gtx-780-rev-2.html
You must select a v2 core revision (B1 not A1). Then just pick the best price and hope you get excellent silicon. Let the o/c lottery begin, lol. Regarding that Galaxy 780 HOF Edition, you cannot shut off that flashing logo as of yet.
HOF video: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produc...tCA-_-Video+Card+-+Nvidia-_-Galaxy-_-14162142
Lightning video: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127754
I am still in the midst of deciding between 770 SLI (4 GB) or 780 Ghz; however, Maxwell PC parts will be here in March, so it may be better off not spending too much now.
http://wccftech.com/nvidia-maxwell-...ebruary-2014-geforce-gtx-880m-8-gb-lead-pack/
Also, your 650W PSU is fairly close to being maxed out when overclocking these GHz cards. Believe it or not, the v2 780's draw more power than their faster Ti counterparts !
http://www.eteknix.com/gigabyte-gtx-780-windforce-oc-ghz-edition-3gb-graphics-card-review/15/
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2013...0_lightning_video_card_review/12#.UqzUkU2A3DA
Regarding the Gigabyte GHz and GHz Ti cards, they have a wonderful back plate; however, the GHz Edition is printed upside down on the back plate : (
http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/gpu_displays/gigabyte_gtx780_ti_ghz_edition_review/1 <---------video
Also, the newer v2 780's are supposed to have two eight pin pci-e connections instead of a six + eight pin. What's weird is that the HerculeZ 780 has the older set-up.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-033-IN
Hope this helps, ozz

 

[Vlada011]

B1 and A1 revision is only for GTX780 or same for GTX780 Ti???
Because if Ti have same two revision than to pay attention on difference between them.

Update: I see now in GTX780 Ti Class Kingpin Edition is GK110-425-B1.
That is better revision, than??? I missed GTX580 Classified, best Fermi, best Kepler to miss no way.

 

[M0rt]

Been bouncing my brain around roughly the same ? as OP and Ozzy.

I took the Lightning out of contention because of the Elpida memory and the worry that bump on the backplate would interfere with the slot above. I read that some people were frying the HOF PCB, don't know they did to cause it, but ruled it out nonetheless. Between the Classy, the other EVGA offerings, and the GHZ, I think that the Classy is the easy choice in the EVGA lineup for the $10-20 dollar premium, especially to an overclocker. But, I've seen a $50 dollar, $509 vs. $559, difference between the Classy and the GHZ on Newegg at times and the GHZ should be guaranteed to come with the B1. I hope that the Classy A1's are all out of circulation by now, but I can't be sure. The 2 of you are probably more interested in the Dual Bios and VRM specs than I am, so maybe the price is less important to you. The non-reference 290 release could precipitate a 780 price drop too.

Vlada, the TPU GPU database has no 425-A1 entry, so my guess is that the B1 was used in all the Ti's.

 

[LAN_deRf_HA]

I took the Lightning out of contention because of the Elpida memory

You're going to be disappointed if you think another brand will guarantee Samsung or Hynix memory. You need a Titan or Ti for that, or even an older used 780.

 

[M0rt]

EVGA took some lead over using Samsung for the press samples then switching to Elpida on the 780 Classy a while back and it's my understanding that they've been using Samsung ever since. I don't think Gigabyte has used Elpida on their higher end cards for a few generations and I can't find anyone bitching about it in a forum post anywhere, so I think the pattern has stuck. Just MSI and Asus for now as best as I can tell, tomorrow is a new day though.

 

[Vlada011]

That happen to me, I can OC GPU on 1350MHz but Mem only on 1650MHz. because Elpida.
I'm very angry because of that and I would be even more angry without Ti on market.
Now because I used whole life only on most powerful single cards, never with locked shaders, even when I could unlock with AMD, I always go on completely unlocked chip. I will cross on Ti, they have Hynix and they are absolutely same.
The real shock was for me when I saw other producers how do exactly that for some people Elpida, for other Samsung.
That is not fair for custom cards.
And really no excuse why many AMD R9-290 and R9-290X manufacturer start to use Elpida. On many models even R9-290X Direct CU II.
Many complains about angry people around world and how Elpida is veru bad for overclocking and than you see how ASUS after everything put Elpida on ROG GTX780 Poseidon than you really ask what they think.
But ASUS is not familiar with GPU overclocking at all.
OK Lightening and Classified have some excuse because supply was empty.
For me that is not excuse because we don't talk about reference model, we talk about premium cards...
But why someone do that after confirmation how Elpida is crap and near excellent Hynix, special for AMD.
AMD cards can get really excellent performance with good cooling and Hynix or Samsung memory and 512bit Interface.
Important thing is because with EVGA now in Classified you can't find Elpida memory any more, they back Samsung I think on end of September or beginning of October and shopping from big retailers you will get Samsung 100%.
This is second reason because I cross on Ti, I mean I would cross on Ti and with Samsung RAM but this one more reason. Now market is full of cards with Elpida memory even on non reference model, both AMD and NVIDIA. GTX780, GTX780Ti, R9-290X. I read about frying HOF too, I'm not interesting for some models only because one year their model have highest clock and review put them on first place because of that and 100 points more example.

 

[BarbaricSoul]

Classified or not, definitely get one with the ACX cooler. This cooler is great. My 780ti SC has not seen above 74'c with it, even while boosting to over 1250mhz. Sound wise, the ACX is quieter at 100% fan speed than my reference HD7970 was at 50% fan speed. Honestly, I don't see a need to water-cool a 780 that comes with a ACX cooler.

 

[Durvelle27]

Classified or not, definitely get one with the ACX cooler. This cooler is great. My 780ti SC has not seen above 74'c with it, even while boosting to over 1250mhz. Sound wise, the ACX is quieter at 100% fan speed than my reference HD7970 was at 50% fan speed. Honestly, I don't see a need to water-cool a 780 that comes with a ACX cooler.

Looks like I will be getting Classified then thx guys and also the point of water for me is noise, temps, space, and higher OC capabilities

 

[Aithos]

The classified would also be my recommendation, it's one of the consensus best overclocking cards on the market. EVGA has been my brand of choice for my past several GPUs...

 

[Vlada011]

You will be surprised and impressed when you open box and pull out card from foil...
Remember my words...I told to everybody... Even for guys who don't want to touch overclocking. Who only want to enjoy in high boost and fabric OC, card worth every cent over reference model.

 

[Vlada011]

Better immediately Ti model...
I will try GTX780Ti Classified and stay with that card until last generation of Maxwell in 20nm...
No point looking successor of GK104.
Look size between Classified and reference model...