290 Crossfire Vs. 780 SLI Vs. 780Ti

[Pandamonia]

Reference 780 SLI ftw.

When the Lightning LE is such a good deal why buy reference?

 

[omeds]

Because of the reasons already outlined in this thread.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

Because of the reasons already outlined in this thread.

You mean like not having to remove your side panel and place a box fan next to your case?

 

[Pandamonia]

You mean like not having to remove your side panel and place a box fan next to your case?

Im running 1200mhz per card and never throttle now.

I also have an old case design. I will be upgrading to the FT02 Fortress with better cooling and Vertical Card mounting system.

I have zero airflow at the moment and thats nothing to do with the cards.

 

[omeds]

Hey that's great.

Reference 780 SLI OP.

 

[3DVagabond]

I thought the OP already decided on nVidia? If that's the case a pair of reference 780's is best bang for buck. The 780 ti is only good value compared to Titan.

 

[richiegore]

What I'm wondering is that if I get some windforce cards, even if the top does throttle slightly, it will still be faster and quieter than the reference cooler overall... How noisy is reference 780sli, I don't mind a whooshing air noise but when is starts to get like a hairdryer it annoys me..., what I'm worried about is the 780sli reference being just as noisy as a single 7970, it probably is right? Anandtech noise measurements seem inconsistent across reviews. In the 7970ghz review its a totally different dba rating to the same card in another review, I think the 780 review, I don't know whether it's a typo or what... I wish they would have the card model in the graphs....



Thanks for all the info guys, sorry I've gone a bit quiet but works been mental!

 

[richiegore]

Haven't totally decided on NVIDIA, I like the sound of true audio, pun intended, I think it could lead to some cool spatial effects as I would be gaming with good quality pioneer headphones... And I'm waiting for mantle to fully decide....

 

[3DVagabond]

What I'm wondering is that if I get some windforce cards, even if the top does throttle slightly, it will still be faster and quieter than the reference cooler overall... How noisy is reference 780sli, I don't mind a whooshing air noise but when is starts to get like a hairdryer it annoys me..., what I'm worried about is the 780sli reference being just as noisy as a single 7970, it probably is right? Anandtech noise measurements seem inconsistent across reviews. In the 7970ghz review its a totally different dba rating to the same card in another review, I think the 780 review, I don't know whether it's a typo or what... I wish they would have the card model in the graphs....



Thanks for all the info guys, sorry I've gone a bit quiet but works been mental!

Problem with noise measurements is there is no standard for how it's done. Besides, if you don't take the measurements in an anechoic chamber they are pretty much worthless. Moving the mic or the source a few inches in any direction will alter the readings. Even the person issuing the test standing in the same room will affect it. Heaven forbid (s)he moves, or anything.

 

[richiegore]

I know what you men but if they have a proper procedure it should be fine... The 290 windforce has dropped to £335 so that's £670 for the two of them, pretty tempting!

 

[BallaTheFeared]

Enjoy the box fan, it adds the feeling of power to every rig.

 

[Will Robinson]

True Audio and Mantle are two new ideas looking for a problem.
The 290X series after market cards are fine GPUs,perhaps a little Mantle fairy dust will make them shine a bit brighter,its a free performance upgrade hard to ignore.
I wonder how much faster it will make them in a Mantle based BF4?
Much better on board sound processing is a bonus,there maybe plenty of tricks and effects the game devs can exploit...hard to find that unappealing.

 

[Pandamonia]

True Audio and Mantle are two new ideas looking for a problem.
The 290X series after market cards are fine GPUs,perhaps a little Mantle fairy dust will make them shine a bit brighter,its a free performance upgrade hard to ignore.
I wonder how much faster it will make them in a Mantle based BF4?
Much better on board sound processing is a bonus,there maybe plenty of tricks and effects the game devs can exploit...hard to find that unappealing.

Im wondering who needs Mantle? My 780 GTX SLI is doing 140FPS...

Its hardly a hard game to run now.

 

[Elfear]

Im wondering who needs Mantle? My 780 GTX SLI is doing 140FPS...

Its hardly a hard game to run now.

Mmm, people without $1000 worth of GPUs? :biggrin:

Probably those that will benefit most are people with low- to mid-range hardware. That is if AMD ever decides to release the Mantle patch.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

I still think it will be 95% cpu related, that's where AMD stands to gain the most.

However this isn't the Mantle thread, so please don't infract me Elfear /\

 

[wand3r3r]

Im wondering who needs Mantle? My 780 GTX SLI is doing 140FPS...

Its hardly a hard game to run now.

At what resolution, it's time for a monitor upgrade. Try 4k and report back if you think they are overkill.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

It would be great if someone released some tech that stopped us from chasing the fps dragon.

 

[richiegore]

Like gsync perhaps? Shame it requires a new monitor... If proper triple buffer was implemented in direct x it would be much less of an issue.... Perhaps mantle will help reduce the stutters driving frame rates down with direct x.... At the moment its nothing but vapourware though... 120gbp (for two) is quite a difference in price between the 290 and 780 windforce cards though...



I think im leaning back towards the windforce card if i do go the 780 route, i think my case has sufficient airflow that it will be faster and quieter overall than the reference 780...

 

[BallaTheFeared]

Yes if you're going single aftermarket is the way to go.

If you go dual card on a dual slot board, stick to reference or water.

 

[richiegore]

The board is layed out so it will have a gap between the two cards and there is a 120mm fan blowing on them...

 

[TreVader]

Im wondering who needs Mantle? My 780 GTX SLI is doing 140FPS...

Its hardly a hard game to run now.

I didn't know people still played games at 720p

 

[TreVader]

If the OP is in Britain, this shouldn't even be a question. 290 @ $399 makes the $550 780, 780ti, 290x, Titan all look stupid.


If its US prices with this mining idiocy then obviously go 780ti, especially if you're going to overclock.

 

[richiegore]

Dollar prices are:

290 @ $557

780 @ $657

780ti @ $875



You think mining is bad, try 20% tax!

 

[richiegore]

I will be getting 2x gigabyte windforce 290s and stick them into my 750D. But that's only in about a week so I don't know if you will wait that long.

any sign of those cards yet, cant wait for a report!

 

[Pandamonia]

I didn't know people still played games at 720p

Except this is at 1440p smart ass.