2 290x, add a 2nd 780/780ti or wait for 880

[springs113]

and EK makes better blocks than everyone for Kepler cards (780/Titan/780Ti). VRM cooling has been reviewed the best on EK blocks, which is important for people who have modded BIOS to take voltage higher then 1.21v, like mine.

Reports shows on the AMD side the AquaComp is better, it's just that the backplate is usually hard to find, but my gripe with AC is the look, I prefer the EKs look better. I thought I read somewhere that the ACs backplate is compatible with EK.

 

[XL-R8R]

If you find the EK blocks better looking, buy those instead.

For the difference it'll make in temps, it aint really worth straining your brain about.... think of it this way; you will be looking at them for (potentially) a long time so choose wisely.


Also, I'm glad you decided to go Crossfire 290's... the timing may be a little off 'with XXX GPU just around the corner' but the performance wont be and you'll be sure to enjoy them.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

Reports shows on the AMD side the AquaComp is better, it's just that the backplate is usually hard to find, but my gripe with AC is the look, I prefer the EKs look better. I thought I read somewhere that the ACs backplate is compatible with EK.

I like the AquaComputer ones for the Hawaii Islands machined into the block, but that's about it.

 

[springs113]

I like the AquaComputer ones for the Hawaii Islands machined into the block, but that's about it.

I like the XSPC Razor for the multi port options though, it kinda makes a difference cause i think my gpu will probably be the first after the pump.

 

[yogurt_21]

I one up'd that and got 2 r9 290s for 438 and currently stuck on the blocks I'm going to throw them under...but also will be adding another 780 to my 1150 setup.

so you're an "AND" sort of guy. I like that. wish I had the cash to be that way lol.

 

[springs113]

so you're an "AND" sort of guy. I like that. wish I had the cash to be that way lol.

Lol it's not even like that, I don't build as often as I use to so I get to save a whole lot more, not to mention this will be my last PC for the next 3-5 years.
A quick back drop on how I set cash aside for my PC endeavors is: since there are 52 weeks in a year, I correlate the money I put to save to the week of the year it is....sorta 1:1
EG
week 1 $1
week 2 $2
week 3 $3
week 4 $4
I actually double it up so I'm doing basically 2yrs in 1. Just doing 1 yr alone saves roughly 1379. I've been doing this for quite some time now.

But back to the topic at hand I love AMDs visual more but I am impartial I buy what I think is best at the moment for me I guess. I'd like to support AMD more on the CPU front but my gosh they've been so horrible lately. APUs are great as my current laptop is of the A10 trinity variant, but for raw horses their regular CPU lacks the umph/bang that I'm looking for. I hope they turn things around but it maybe another 7-10 yrs on the CPU side. I know the GPU division is there, sometimes I think they're holding back.

Anyways, I went with a couple of EK blocks/back plates. It seems that they are the best all-a-rounders.

 

[dr0thegreatest]

Waiting for the next best thing is a never ending race. my 2 cents.

 

[yogurt_21]

unfortunately for me 1379$ a year would cause quite a few problems, Father of 4 children under age 6. My latest upgrade was just under a grand and I sold my old rig + a couple hundred just to get there. Though were I back in my pre-married days I could have easily done something like that...considering I just pissed money on non-tangibles back then. Used to spend nearly 450$ a month eating out alone lol. Wish I had that extra now.

 

[X71200]

Waiting for the next best thing is a never ending race. my 2 cents.

Yeah, because in this case, it's really smart to spend hundreds of $ on something that will be old in a very short time.

 

[springs113]

unfortunately for me 1379$ a year would cause quite a few problems, Father of 4 children under age 6. My latest upgrade was just under a grand and I sold my old rig + a couple hundred just to get there. Though were I back in my pre-married days I could have easily done something like that...considering I just pissed money on non-tangibles back then. Used to spend nearly 450$ a month eating out alone lol. Wish I had that extra now.

I feel your pain, I use take trips every month taking airplanes like how New Yorkers use the subways. Now gotta house n a lil 1yr old so i definitely feel your pain, not to the same extent but I definitely understand. This build is already over budget a long time ago...changing the color of my 750d and the rads not to mention the 290s+ blocks. I'm gonna cringe when I'm done and currently I am looking at roughly around another 1000(5820k,Asus x99 Deluxe &mem). The wife is definitely gonna kill me