GTX680 P.E. or GTX970

[Mindweaver]

So, I'm debating on buying a new GTX970 4gb to replace my GTX680 P.E. 2gb... What do you guys think? I game on 3x 1680x1050 Nvidia Surround and whenever Oculus Rift releases cv 1440p.
I was getting ready to pull the trigger last night, but seen a few review about some had bad coil wine and others had frames dropping...
So, far the frames dropping seems to be a driver issue. Just wanted to get some feed back from you guys. Oh and the biggest reason for the switch is 4gb over 2gb and I need to replace my daughter's GTX285... Please nobody say upgrade your monitor.. I plan too just not right now.

EDIT: I'm noticing a lot of people here using GTX970 and want to know if they are having these issues?

 

[64K]

A GTX 970 would be a great upgrade. I just recently upgraded from a GTX 680 to a MSI GTX 970 Gaming and I love it. My monitor is 1440p and there's only a handful of games that I can't max at 60 FPS. As far as coil whine, I saw those comments too but mine doesn't have coil whine and it's pretty quiet. It's just luck of the draw. That GTX 680 will be a huge upgrade for your daughter too so it's a win win for the both of you.

 

[RCoon]

Coil whine seems to be widespread, I think you just have to get lucky (or unlucky) when it comes to that. People say the MSI has coil whine, and yet mine seems to be OK. I've not personally heard of these frame dropping issues though, and haven't experienced anything drastic during my benchmarks and reviews (one game ran like crap, but that was the engine's fault). All in all the 970 is a great performer for 1440p. Certainly a performance improvement over the 680.

Just bare in mind GM204 is a midrange part. GM210 is the big boy soon(tm) to be made.

EDIT: I don't use VSync, so the chances of me actually experiencing coil whine would be quite high.

 

[Mindweaver]

Thanks guys and I'm glad you two chimed in because I just bought the MSi GTX970 GAMING 4gb card. I plan to SLi after the first of the year... maybe sooner.

 

[RCoon]

Thanks guys and I'm glad you two chimed in because I just bought the MSi GTX970 GAMING 4gb card. I plan to SLi after the first of the year... maybe sooner.

@FreedomEclipse is using two of them in SLI, he might be able to offer more info on the SLI implications.

 

[Mindweaver]

Surely two GM204 in SLI will be faster than the soon GM210. I don't know I was very happy with my 680 and hands down the best card I've owned to date. I was wanting a GTX980, but 200 bucks more is a lot of cheddar without a drastic improvement. Plus, I should be able to overclock close to a GTX980 and when I SLI surpass it. You know @RCoon ?

 

[RCoon]

Surely two GM204 in SLI will be faster than the soon GM210. I don't know I was very happy with my 680 and hands down the best card I've owned to date. I was wanting a GTX980, but 200 bucks more is a lot of cheddar without a drastic improvement. Plus, I should be able to overclock close to a GTX980 and when I SLI surpass it. You know @RCoon ?

980 just seems irrelevant because of the costs. The overclocking on the 970 doesn't net much FPS per mhz like Kepler did, plus my 970 boosts to 1500mhz by itself, so I have no need to overclock.

At W1z's maximum overclock, he was within 1% of the 980's performance, but didn't surpass it's stock reference performance:

 

[Mindweaver]

980 just seems irrelevant because of the costs. The overclocking on the 970 doesn't net much FPS per mhz like Kepler did, plus my 970 boosts to 1500mhz by itself, so I have no need to overclock.

At W1z's maximum overclock, he was within 1% of the 980's performance, but didn't surpass it's stock reference performance:

Are you using the gaming app(OC Mode, Gaming Mode, Silent Mod)?

 

[FreedomEclipse]

SLi works pretty well... Only issue ive had so far was with BF4 where the game just randomly crashes (freezes/whitescreens) in one of the final stand maps. everything else works smoothly though.

 

[RCoon]

Are you using the gaming app(OC Mode, Gaming Mode, Silent Mod)?

No mode at all, just driver only. The card does everything itself.

 

[Mindweaver]

My GTX970 is out for delivery.. I'm feeling sick now.. lol Wink wink!

 

[RCoon]

My GTX970 is out for delivery.. I'm feeling sick now.. lol Wink wink!

My 970 arrived with some weird greasiness on the fan shroud, let me know if yours is similar or whether mine was just hot off the press.

 

[Mindweaver]

My 970 arrived with some weird greasiness on the fan shroud, let me know if yours is similar or whether mine was just hot off the press.

Will do! Now, I have to figure out which game I want since I have FC4, between The Crew or AC unity. I'm thinking AC unity, but I've only ever played the first AC. I wonder if I can jump straight into Unity with out playing all the rest.

 

[Jstn7477]

I'm happy you purchased a GTX 970, it's definitely much better than a GTX 680. I've greatly enjoyed my overclocked GTX 980 for what little time I've been able to game with it so far, and it is quite fast.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Will do! Now, I have to figure out which game I want since I have FC4, between The Crew or AC unity. I'm thinking AC unity, but I've only ever played the first AC. I wonder if I can jump straight into Unity with out playing all the rest.

Id go for FC4 and just sell the code. Ive got FC4 but havent played it, as far as ive heard its nothing but FC3 with a few chops and changes. Still a good game mind you but its not something that you absolutely need to have in your Uplay library

 

[Mindweaver]

Id go for FC4 and just sell the code. Ive got FC4 but havent played it, as far as ive heard its nothing but FC3 with a few chops and changes. Still a good game mind you but its not something that you absolutely need to have in your Uplay library

I've been playing FC4, and I've been enjoying it. I think it's better optimized than FC3. I don't really care to sale the key. I've heard that AC unity's graphics are really good. I just don't think I'll have time to play it with FC4, and GTA5 around the corner.

 

[Jborg]

The 970 G1 Gaming has been great for me. Absolutely 0 coil whine, and plays every game I throw at it...

Main concern was how big the G1 Gaming is, I had to switch cases to fit it. Also stays very cool even with default fan settings, and even cooler with a custom profile set up.


Also I am loving the Shadowplay beta in the GeForce Experience. It is the best Game/Desktop recorder I have seen, my FPS does not move at all while using it.

 

[Fluffmeister]

MSI GTX 970 Gaming 4G here too, and it's been fab with zero issues.

Extremely cool and quiet, it's weird playing some older games becuase the card just remains passive and the fans never need to spin up.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

I've been playing FC4, and I've been enjoying it. I think it's better optimized than FC3. I don't really care to sale the key. I've heard that AC unity's graphics are really good. I just don't think I'll have time to play it with FC4, and GTA5 around the corner.

Well...... you could have made back $40-47 but fair enough.

I heard unity was pretty shit. Metacritic scores are just hilarious.

 

[Mindweaver]

Well...... you could have made back $40-47 but fair enough.

I heard unity was pretty shit. Metacritic scores are just hilarious.

You've got a good point... So, you think 40-47 bucks? I may look into that.
EDIT: OH card is installed. Getting ready to test it out a bit.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

well if the game retails at $60 then im sure someone would snap it up at $50 even.

FC4 aint exactly and old title - I know many people who want the game just so they can fuck around in co-op with friends.

 

[Mindweaver]

well if the game retails at $60 then im sure someone would snap it up at $50 even.

FC4 aint exactly and old title - I know many people who want the game just so they can fuck around in co-op with friends.

WOW.. I didn't expect for this card to be this much better than my GTX680 PE which is basicly a Lighting card without Dual bios. I'm really impressed. It almost doubled my Nvidia Surround FPS with Ultra textures. I've not even tried to overclock this card yet and my i7 2600 is at stock clocks.

 

[manofthem]

You've got a good point... So, you think 40-47 bucks? I may look into that.

I find it hard to believe you'd get that much for it. I've see them for sale all the time for $30; in fact, I bought 2 FC4 keys for 30 each a month ago (giveaway keys). If you're interested in selling, I'd expect somewhere around that range

But congrats on your purchase, very awesome!

 

[Mindweaver]

I find it hard to believe you'd get that much for it. I've see them for sale all the time for $30; in fact, I bought 2 FC4 keys for 30 each a month ago (giveaway keys). If you're interested in selling, I'd expect somewhere around that range

But congrats on your purchase, very awesome!

Yea, I don't really need to sale it.. I feel I have a bigger need to grow my UPlay inventory. lol Damn digital distributors.. I already buy games I don't need on steam or will never play just because it's cheap... lol but back to the card. I really like the twin frozen cooler. The card is probably 2" shorter which is nice, because now I can put it in my top PCI-E slot.

 

[64K]

I've never owned an MSI card before now but I'm very well impressed with mine. Hell the card even looks impressive. I'm not sure with the Rift if one 970 is enough. Let us know when you get it.