GTX 1070 dilemma

[mzolcins]

Hi.

In near future I’m going to build myself a gaming PC. I’ve already made up my mind about most of the components. However, I can’t decide which graphics card to choose. I’m thinking about one of the following:

• MSI GTX 1070 Armor OC
• MSI GTX 1070 Gaming X
• GIGABYTE GTX 1070 Windforce OC
• GIGABYTE GTX 1070 Gaming G1
• ASUS GTX 1070 ROG Strix
• ASUS GTX 1070 ROG Strix OC
• EVGA GTX 1070 SUPERCLOCKED

I’ve watched many YouTube videos with comparisons, read articles, however, the more I think about it the less I am certain. Apart from that I couldn’t find any video/article, in which all seven of the graphics cards would be compared using the same setup, so I can’t be sure how much fps would I have playing my games (WoW: Legion, Fallout 4, ME Andromeda, Witcher 3, BF 1).

My current setup:

• Core i5 7600K
• ASUS Z270-A Prime
• Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB 3000Hz)
• Crucial MX300 275 GB
• Cooler Master HYPER 212 EVO
• Corsair RM 650i

That’s why I’m asking: which one is the one to buy? I would like my card to perform well, without any overclocking. I’d like the card to be reliable as well – meaning I don’t want it to melt or fall apart one day after the warranty expires. I don’t really care about RGB lighting or the “gaming” look.

Thanks very much for your time

Cheers

 

[LightningJR]

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe

 

[mzolcins]

So the differences are going to be around 1-2 fps, so I should just choose the cheapest one?

 

[P4-630]

I would go for the MSI Gaming X/Z (I own one, great card!)

The MSI armor doesn't have a backplate.

Gigabyte GTX1xxx cards had fan issues

EVGA had VRM overheating issues.

Most of this all may have been solved, some not I don't know.

 

[mzolcins]

The MSI armor doesn't have a backplate.

Why is the backplate so important? I've heard that it makes the whole card more robust. Won't it iinterfere with the CPU cooler?

 

[P4-630]

Why is the backplate so important? I've heard that it makes the whole card more robust. Won't it iinterfere with the CPU cooler?

Shouldn't be a problem, if you want to save a few bucks well buy the Armor, I personally wanted one with a backplate, and most have it.

 

[alucasa]

Helps with preventing sagging for longer cards. (Debated)
Helps with better epeen points. (Debated)
Looks cooler (Subjective)

 

[mzolcins]

Alright, thanks a lot

 

[Mindweaver]

What monitor are you using? Do you play at 1080p or higher?

EDIT: Also, welcome to TPU! Don't forget to fill out your system specs here

 

[P4-630]

1080p - RX480 - GTX1070(+more eye-candy) / 1440p - GTX1070 - GTX1080(+more eye-candy) / 4K -GTX1080Ti

 

[biffzinker]

Helps with preventing sagging for longer cards. (Debated)
Helps with better epeen points. (Debated)
Looks cooler (Subjective)

The back-plate could also help in cooling the GPU from the back.

 

[GreiverBlade]

the Armor is damn fine too ... cost less than the Gaming X/Z, use the same PCB layout minus some component (only 1 8pin power connector and 2 less VRM/mosFET/caps) and does nearly reach the same domain

even at stock (factory OC) it's more than sufficient, i would warmly recommend it for 1080p and 1440p (i intend to go 1440p as soon as my financial state permit it )

as for backplate well the Armor has a frontplate just under the heatsink and it prevent sagging quite well, for cooling on the back ... never noticed a strong difference, on GPU temps when i used one on my R9 290 (with or without the difference was negligible ) not that it wold be really needed, i rarely see temps above 65° and the card is pretty much silent too (or not too noisy ... considering my noise tolerance level )

The MSI armor doesn't need a backplate.

corrected

 

[Mindweaver]

I'm looking at 1070's as well. I currently have a MSI Gaming 970 and bought it at a good price, but lately MSI's prices are high... So, my next card will not be MSI.

 

[newtekie1]

In near future I’m going to build myself a gaming PC. I’ve already made up my mind about most of the components. However, I can’t decide which graphics card to choose. I’m thinking about one of the following:

Avoid the Gigabyte cards, their fans are crap and their customer service is the worst I've ever experienced.

After that, a GTX1070 is a GTX1070. The performance difference won't be enough to even notice. Pick the cheapest, or the one you like the looks of, or whatever. Don't worry about performance.

Asus cards of this generation comes with fan headers you need to connect to your motherboard (Which was the reason I didn't buy Asus)

Um...that's not true at all.

 

[GreiverBlade]

I'm looking at 1070's as well. I currently have a MSI Gaming 970 and got it at a good price, but lately MSI's prices are high... So, my next card will not be MSI.

IKR .... the 1070 Armor 8gb OC's price skyrocketed at my etailer ... literally ~90chf/$ more.

I fail to understand why ... with the 1080Ti being on the way ... (even a 1080 cost nearly the price of a Titan XM where i am )

 

[P4-630]

Um...that's not true at all.

IIRC the Asus GTX1070 and 1080 Strix do come with fan headers you need to connect to your motherboard.

 

[Mindweaver]

IKR .... the 1070 Armor 8gb OC's price skyrocketed at my etailer ... literally ~90chf/$ more.

I fail to understand why ... with the 1080Ti being on the way ... (even a 1080 cost nearly the price of a Titan XM where i am )

Yea, I don't know what's going on.. I couldn't imagine buying a 1080Ti for 700+ usd, but that's what they are going for.. I really don't want to buy a 1070 at their current price either, but my 970 is struggling on some of the better games for the Vive.

 

[newtekie1]

IIRC the Asus GTX1070 and 1080 Strix do come with fan headers you need to connect to your motherboard.

No they don't. That's not what those fan headers on the card are for. You connect case fans to those fan headers so the fans are controlled by the graphics card, and the case fans match the graphics card's fan speed. You don't connect them to the motherboard, and you don't need to use them at all if you don't want to.

 

[mzolcins]

At the moment I'm using a 1080p 24" Samsung screen, but I'm going to get a 1440p screen when the prices drop a bit. Or on black Friday

 

[P4-630]

No they don't. That's not what those fan headers on the card are for. You connect case fans to those fan headers so the fans are controlled by the graphics card, and the case fans match the graphics card's fan speed. You don't connect them to the motherboard, and you don't need to use them at all if you don't want to.

Yeah I just saw some photos of that which I couldn't find when they were just out!
Since they were just out I understood you needed to connect them to the motherboard to control the fans....

In that case it's nice if you don't have many fan headers on your motherboard.

 

[dorsetknob]

you Buying from online Vendor or local Bricks and mortar Shop ?
either way buy the one with "Best Customer Service" just in case
Buying local from Bricks and mortar Shop means if things go wrong (god forbid but it does happen)
you can make their life hell till its sorted which is hard to do to an online reseller

 

[mzolcins]

I will most likely be buying from an online store.

By the way

1080p - RX480 - GTX1070(+more eye-candy) / 1440p - GTX1070 - GTX1080(+more eye-candy) / 4K -GTX1080Ti

If I wanted to really shell out on a graphics card, would GTX 1080 be worth it? Assuming that in around 4-5 years I would be upgrading my PC, does it make sense to buy 1080 now, or should I rather stick to 1070?

 

[P4-630]

@GreiverBlade IF the Gaming X version was available at that time and cheapest you most probably would have bought it...

 

[P4-630]

I will most likely be buying from an online store.

By the way



If I wanted to really shell out on a graphics card, would GTX 1080 be worth it? Assuming that in around 4-5 years I would be upgrading my PC, does it make sense to buy 1080 now, or should I rather stick to 1070?

Depends how you like to play your games with what AA settings and such.
For ultra and a lot AA-eye-candy stuff I recommend a 1080 for 1440p for steady or 60+fps.

 

[peche]

My current setup:

• Core i5 7600K
• ASUS Z270-A Prime
• Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB 3000Hz)
• Crucial MX300 275 GB
• Cooler Master HYPER 212 EVO
• Corsair RM 650i

fill all possible sys specs here, with your current info....

I’m thinking about one of the following:

• MSI GTX 1070 Armor OC
• MSI GTX 1070 Gaming X
• GIGABYTE GTX 1070 Windforce OC
• GIGABYTE GTX 1070 Gaming G1
• ASUS GTX 1070 ROG Strix
• ASUS GTX 1070 ROG Strix OC
• EVGA GTX 1070 SUPERCLOCKED

ill choose:
GeForce® GTX 1070 Xtreme Gaming 8G
also i like a lot:
GeForce® GTX 1070 G1 Gaming 8G

Other options:
AORUS GeForce® GTX 1070 8G

have seen some issues with some models, but also have installed, tested and 100% sure that some others haven't gotten any single issue, for example 10 out of 10 i have installed for some fellas are working without any issue, i have been using Gigabyte Video Cards & motherboards for several years without problems,

Another option that looks great and perform even better is the MSI GTX 1070 Gaming X

If I wanted to really shell out on a graphics card, would GTX 1080 be worth it? Assuming that in around 4-5 years I would be upgrading my PC, does it make sense to buy 1080 now, or should I rather stick to 1070?

Totally, if your wallet is able to purchase that for you will be a win, a solid enough video card for some years moar of happiness!


Regards,