1080 Founders Edition vs Custom Appearances

[Arachnotronic]

It's obvious to me that 1080 FE isn't going to overclock as well as the better custom PCB/cooler cards. However, as I look at all of the pictures of these upcoming custom cards, it's clear that in terms of a "premium looking" industrial design, the FE edition cards really are at the top of the heap.

Is this just me, or does anyone else feel the same ?

 

[sam_816]

i don't find it 'premium' looking at all. it looks like plastic-ee. I like gigabyte G1, Asus and inno 3d. nothing beats gigabyte G1 and xtreme 980ti tho. they had metal top shroud which bend over and under the cooler fins. sexy!!
BTW there are other threads discussing FE vs custom versions. I think you'd merge this thread.

 

[Arachnotronic]

i don't find it 'premium' looking at all. i like gigabyte G1, Asus and inno 3d.
BTW there are other threads discussing FE vs custom versions. I think you'd merge this thread.

I want to discuss "looks" though not really performance or other technical merits. I should maybe have made the thread title clearer.

 

[n0x1ous]

It's obvious to me that 1080 FE isn't going to overclock as well as the better custom PCB/cooler cards. However, as I look at all of the pictures of these upcoming custom cards, it's clear that in terms of a "premium looking" industrial design, the FE edition cards really are at the top of the heap.

Is this just me, or does anyone else feel the same ?

Agree the Nvidia reference card since 690 have been beautiful to look at but temp and noise wise, outperformed by aftermarket cards. The solution to having your cake and eating it to is reference AIO CLC (Fury X)

Has the looks, has the temps, has the quiet. Fury X is the best designed reference card of all time (disregarding the initial pump issues). Hopefully Nvidia jumps on this trend for Big Pascal reference

 

[Arachnotronic]

Agree the Nvidia reference card since 690 have been beautiful to look at but temp and noise wise, outperformed by aftermarket cards. The solution to having your cake and eating it to is reference AIO CLC (Fury X)

Has the looks, has the temps, has the quiet. Fury X is the best designed reference card of all time (disregarding the initial pump issues). Hopefully Nvidia jumps on this trend for Big Pascal reference

Eep, I don't want a AIO CLC at all. Nothing but hassle. I think EVGA offers such products but I intentionally steer clear.

 

[lilltesaito]

I feel like maybe a little to many 1080 threads now.

1080 Founders Edition vs Custom Appearances
[Various] NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Review Thread
GTX 1080 custom (non-Founders Edition) cards
GTX 1080 Founders Edition or custom build?
Best Buy price for GTX 1080 FE...

I feel like some of these could be moved together.

 

[Bacon1]

I'd say that EVGA's looks much better and will perform much better since the board isn't lacking parts.

http://www.evga.com/articles/01007/evga-geforce-gtx-1080/

Personally the 1080 FE cooler looks like something that was crumpled up and thrown away, then taken out of the trash and 3d printed instead of redrawn.

I know you bought two and are trying to justify your purchase, just enjoy them.

 

[sam_816]

Agree the Nvidia reference card since 690 have been beautiful to look at but temp and noise wise, outperformed by aftermarket cards. The solution to having your cake and eating it to is reference AIO CLC (Fury X)

Has the looks, has the temps, has the quiet. Fury X is the best designed reference card of all time (disregarding the initial pump issues). Hopefully Nvidia jumps on this trend for Big Pascal reference

agree regarding fury x. they also allowed ppl to replace face plate with their custom 3d printed plates.
evga 1080 hybrid seems to have quick release/ expandable tube/fitting just like EK AIO pre-filled loop.
asus is going one step further as strix 1080 has 6(or8) removable shroud parts which can be replaced by use 3d printed parts(they are providing printable file/blueprint)

MODULAR SHROUD
A New Era of Customization
ROG Strix graphics cards have a modular shroud that can be affixed with six swappable, 3D printable parts and a customizable illuminated logo to express your own unique style. When paired with an ROG Strix X99 Gaming motherboard, you can perfectly match customized parts to create a cohesive look that's truly one of a kind.

 

[Sweepr]

I feel like maybe a little to many 1080 threads now.

1080 Founders Edition vs Custom Appearances
[Various] NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Review Thread
GTX 1080 custom (non-Founders Edition) cards
GTX 1080 Founders Edition or custom build?
Best Buy price for GTX 1080 FE...

I feel like some of these could be moved together.

There is a Pascal thread, hidden in the NVIDIA subforum. The main purpose of it was to keep the news in one place, but mods didn't like the idea.

 

[n0x1ous]

Eep, I don't want a AIO CLC at all. Nothing but hassle. I think EVGA offers such products but I intentionally steer clear.

What is the hassle? No room for a 120mm fan in the case?

I'll tell ya whats a hassle. Noise, high temps, and ugly 3rd party coolers!

 

[sam_816]

What is the hassle? No room for a 120mm fan in the case?

I'll tell ya whats a hassle. Noise, high temps, and ugly 3rd party coolers!

he bought 2 FEs today. i don't think he is interested in your post here lol
I love AIO /hybrid cards since i love mini-itx and small form factor cases.
AIOs mean no messing around with custom loops and almost no maintenance all the hot air is exhausted outside at low fan noise.

 

[Stuka87]

I don't find anything about the 1080 FE being premium other than the price. I throttles like crazy, looks cheap, gets loud if you crank up the fans. Par for the course when it comes to reference cards.

 

[Headfoot]

I definitely think it looks good, but there are good looking custom cards too. The only part I buy with serious consideration for appearance is my case, since thats the only thing you can see in my builds.

 

[Grooveriding]

What is the hassle? No room for a 120mm fan in the case?

I'll tell ya whats a hassle. Noise, high temps, and ugly 3rd party coolers!

GPUs really beg for watercooling. They are such loud components to air cool because of their physical characteristics with having to sit in a PCIE slot with limits on the size of heatsink that can be over them. You can air cool a CPU with pretty low noise using a big tower cooler, not a GPU. Even the custom AIB cards are noisy by my standards. But reference blower coolers are abysmal, they sound like hair driers every time you game and the fans start ramping up.

I agree that nvidia should do something like the Fury X cooler for a reference card. If you want something that really does evoke premium, it's a GPU under full load that is near silent due to watercooling.

As far as looks, nothing imo is as nice as custom water cooling if you take the time to make it look good, using compression fittings and a nice clean setup. Some of those AIB cards do look decent though, that new white shroud EVGA is using for one of their cards looks decent. I'm hoping they do a white block for their Classified 1080 with water block.

 

[DooKey]

I definitely think it looks good, but there are good looking custom cards too. The only part I buy with serious consideration for appearance is my case, since thats the only thing you can see in my builds.

Yep, agree 100%. I control my cables, but otherwise I don't really care about showing off inside the case. On the other hand I like nice cases. The Silverstone Raven I'm running is fantastic.

 

[iiiankiii]

I want to discuss "looks" though not really performance or other technical merits. I should maybe have made the thread title clearer.

"Looks" is pretty subjective. As such, it's pretty hard to argue for or against it. You like what you like. Objectively speaking, like all reference blowers, it's usually louder, hotter and less capable of an overclocker.

It's like you met this girl who has this smoking body. She has the facial structure of a goddess. Amazingly beautiful. Right off the bat, you knew this girl was high maintenance. It's going to cost a lot of keep her happy. Blinded by her beauty, you spent a fortune to wine and dine her. It worked. She became your GF!!

But, then, you've been going out for a few months. Now, although still gorgeous, beauty becomes less appealing. You want something more in the relationship. You come to find out she can't hold a conversation worth a damn. She has this annoying laugh you can't stand. Her laziness is beyond belief. The shallowness becomes apparent. You find yourself wanting to break up with her. But, then, you stop and think for a bit.. "Man, that smoking body, though." It's worth, you say. or is it?

In all seriousness, man. There's no need to convince us (or yourself?) the FE is worth the extra money.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Personally I prefer the aesthetics of cards that overclock the best, whatever that look may be.

I mean....it goes in your case and you put the side on the case. Unless you are an acrylic loving lan party socialite who really cares what the cards look like? GPUs is one of the few parts of technology left where performances is what matters.

That of course is my opinion, and I could be wrong. Honestly when I associate looks and technology I think of iMore criticizing the lines on a Galaxy phone and I want to stab someone. I am violently against judging technology by looks, because once you mix fashion with something the practically goes out the window for "how it makes you feel." And THAT my friends is when the margins go up.

 

[Lepton87]

What is the hassle? No room for a 120mm fan in the case?

I'll tell ya whats a hassle. Noise, high temps, and ugly 3rd party coolers!

The hassle is that I already have a radiator for 9x120mm fans and it would be sad to see such a fine cooler go to waste just to install an another water-block. Maybe the block could be re-used? What's the threading? Of course, that would damage the whole AIO.

 

[Arachnotronic]

In all seriousness, man. There's no need to convince us (or yourself?) the FE is worth the extra money.

Not trying to. Just bringing up a point of discussion. If you don't want to add value to said discussion then you can always choose to ignore the thread.

 

[DooKey]

Ok, I like the look of the card, but that's not why I bought one.

I know I said I was waiting on custom, but I just like new shinies so much I couldn't help myself. I am weak. I can't wait till it comes in next week!

 

[ShintaiDK]

I only see a card maybe 5 times in its life.

 

[tential]

Wouldbuy/10
Would turn any of you into the CIA to let them do the evil things they do for this.

Wouldn't get it for the performance though but the founders edition to me is ugly as sin.

If we're talking looks alone, I wouldn't let that thing near my case. It is ugly.

 

[Arachnotronic]

Ok, I like the look of the card, but that's not why I bought one.

I know I said I was waiting on custom, but I just like new shinies so much I couldn't help myself. I am weak. I can't wait till it comes in next week!

:biggrin:

 

[tential]

Don't forget the Evga Hybrid. That's a nice looking card too.

 

[tential]

What exactly is industrial about the 1080 Founder's Edition design?

So far, people just say it is.