Asus Poseidon GTX 780

[tolis626]

Hey guys,the Poseidon came to my attention today and,from the specs given,it may be the card I'm looking for.That is unless Asus has gone stupid.Again.

For cost considerations,I had decided to not water-cool the GPU in my can't-come-soon-enough rig.I wanted to buy an R9 290,but proper aftermarket ones retail at similar prices as 780s do,so I think I'll go with NVidia this time,no matter how much I hate them.A superior product is a superior product.I'll lose TrueAudio but I can live with that.So it should be about 500€ for the GPU,and full cover GPU blocks for the 780 easily cost more than 100€ (More like 150€.And no,I don't want a universal block or anything like that.I don't feel confident with those).Add a backplate to the mix,so another 30€,and the GPU cost is blown out of proportion.And there's also the EVGA Hydro Copper models for over 750€ (800€ for the Classified Hydro Copper),but hell no.

So the initial plan was to put the CPU under water and include the GPU in the loop later on,possibly after a future upgrade.The Poseidon seems to solve that.I pay a little more for the GPU (It retails for 580€ right now,but only one retailer has it for order.It's fairly new,so prices should drop as more retailers have stock-if they do that is),but I don't have to pay extra for the water-cooling equipment and I can leave it on air until I can afford the water-cooling stuff (Rads,etc),which I'll probably buy after the rest of the PC.I also find it sexy looking,but that's irrelevant.

My only problem right now,from what I see (Apart from the use of Elpida vRAM if I'm correct),is that Asus has a tendency to use anodized aluminum in their water-cooling related products,like the Maximus VI Formula,and I can't find any solid info about what is used for the block on the Poseidon.If it's aluminum,I don't know if I want to risk it.And it seems too "cheap" for having a copper block.

Alternatives are the EVGA Classified for 550€ or the Superclocked for 500€,and the MSI Lightning for 530-ish€,all on air.

So what do you guys think about it?

 

[OCGuy]

Cheapest 780 you can find and OC it.

 

[tolis626]

Cheapest 780 you can find and OC it.

Awww come ooooon.What's more glorious than trying to hit 1.4GHz under water?

Cheapest I can find are the original Asus DirectCU II and the basic EVGA card with the ACX cooler.I want a little better than that if possible,but still will resort to these if the 50€ I save by doing so go to something else that's more essential.The Poseidon appeals to me only for the wc aspect of it.And the Classified...Well,it's the Classified.'Nuff said.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Cheapest 780 you can find and OC it.

+1 Got my 780 TF2 for a song (~$380 after selling the games) last Dec and enjoying it.
Couldn't pass up a free "upgrade" (sold my 7970 GEs for $450 a piece).

 

[Subyman]

Most 780's aren't binned except the FTW and Classified and even then they are only binned to reach their rated boost clock. Get the cheapest and throw a water block on it.

 

[tolis626]

+1 Got my 780 TF2 for a song (~$380 after selling the games) last Dec and enjoying it.
Couldn't pass up a free "upgrade" (sold my 7970 GEs for $450 a piece).

Apart from the fact that I don't have anything worthwhile to sell,the mining craze doesn't exist here,so AMD cards are still at sane prices.Still,nice buy!

Most 780's aren't binned except the FTW and Classified and even then they are only binned to reach their rated boost clock. Get the cheapest and throw a water block on it.

So the FTW is binned too,eh?And I wondered how it's positioned in EVGA's lineup...
Still,let's say I buy the cheapest 780 I can find,which is the stock speed EVGA one and the Asus DCUII for about 450€.Adding a waterblock is another 100-150€ and no warranty.The Poseidon is about 130€ now,but I expect its price to drop.That's why I'm considering it.

 

[nitromullet]

An air/water cooler seems a little suspect to me. I'd look for temp benchmarks before deciding anything.

 

[Subyman]

Apart from the fact that I don't have anything worthwhile to sell,the mining craze doesn't exist here,so AMD cards are still at sane prices.Still,nice buy!

So the FTW is binned too,eh?And I wondered how it's positioned in EVGA's lineup...
Still,let's say I buy the cheapest 780 I can find,which is the stock speed EVGA one and the Asus DCUII for about 450€.Adding a waterblock is another 100-150€ and no warranty.The Poseidon is about 130€ now,but I expect its price to drop.That's why I'm considering it.

I'm not a fan of the hybrid cooler on the Poseidon. I'd rather have a slim water block than the half air half water middle ground that is the Poseidon. IMO a better buy for the price of the Poseidon is an EVGA Classified + EK water block. Classifieds on water are known to push past 1300mhz regularly. I wouldn't bother with the SC models though, anandtech showed they didn't offer a higher over clock than a normal 780 in their ACX SC review (the reference 780 actually over clocked better.)

It is hard for me to recommend on price though since we are talking about different regions.

 

[Face2Face]

Awww come ooooon.What's more glorious than trying to hit 1.4GHz under water?

Running 1.4Ghz game stable under a cheap AIO :whiste:

 

[tolis626]

An air/water cooler seems a little suspect to me. I'd look for temp benchmarks before deciding anything.

It is suspicious.It's about 6C hotter under water than a Titan with an XSPC water block inside the same water loop.TinyTomLogan from OC3D reviewed it.It's also aluminum,as I feared...

I'm not a fan of the hybrid cooler on the Poseidon. I'd rather have a slim water block than the half air half water middle ground that is the Poseidon. IMO a better buy for the price of the Poseidon is an EVGA Classified + EK water block. Classifieds on water are known to push past 1300mhz regularly. I wouldn't bother with the SC models though, anandtech showed they didn't offer a higher over clock than a normal 780 in their ACX SC review (the reference 780 actually over clocked better.)

It is hard for me to recommend on price though since we are talking about different regions.

That's the problem,the price.It's quite more expensive than the Poseidon to buy a GPU and then the water block seperately.Or,for that matter,a pre-applied WB model like the EVGA Hydro Copper (That's what I really wanted).At the price that retails,I'm better off buying a 780ti and slap a water block on it.That's the stupid Greek market though.I'm thinking of ordering the Classified Hydro Copper from OverclockersUK for 540£ (~655€ plus shipping) and be done with it.I'll see...The Poseidon is just a good solution,albeit a compromise.

Running 1.4Ghz game stable under a cheap AIO :whiste:

Well,the Poseidon is much more similar to the Kraken G10 than it is to a full cover water block.There is a chance I'll go with the G10 if I don't have enough money to do a custom loop but more than I need for the rest of the system.I just don't like it that much as a WC solution...Although I've seen your numbers and they are impressive.You have Elfear's Lighting,right?That's one hell of a card.

 

[DigDog]

Awww come ooooon.What's more glorious than trying to hit 1.4GHz under water?

hitting 1.3 on air for half the price

 

[tolis626]

hitting 1.3 on air for half the price

On a 770?Doesn't really matter here.GK110 is much faster than GK104 clock for clock if I'm right.Good OC nevertheless!

 

[Face2Face]

.

Well,the Poseidon is much more similar to the Kraken G10 than it is to a full cover water block.There is a chance I'll go with the G10 if I don't have enough money to do a custom loop but more than I need for the rest of the system.I just don't like it that much as a WC solution...Although I've seen your numbers and they are impressive.You have Elfear's Lighting,right?That's one hell of a card.

Thanks, but I can't recommend the G10 unless your have a decent method to cool the vrm or a card with a ton of GPU phases and a decent heat speader. Yup, this is Elfear's old Lightning ^_^

 

[tolis626]

Thanks, but I can't recommend the G10 unless your have a decent method to cool the vrm or a card with a ton of GPU phases and a decent heat speader. Yup, this is Elfear's old Lightning ^_^

The G10 would make a nice couple with a Classy.

I think it only needs a couple heatsinks for the VRMs (and perhaps memory) and it's golden.It's just a little ghetto.

 

[Face2Face]

The G10 would make a nice couple with a Classy.

I think it only needs a couple heatsinks for the VRMs (and perhaps memory) and it's golden.It's just a little ghetto.

I agree, but I don't think you would need to add anything, since the heat spreader on the Classy is already pretty stout.

 

[TidusZ]

hitting 1.3 on air for half the price

a lot less than half

 

[tweakboy]

Subyman

ASUS is good in mobos. Doesnt mean its t he best GPU out there.... I believe a EVGA is better then a ASUS or any other brand. IMO . Also you have the 90 day free upgrade. Great warranty TMA service as well. gl

 

[Subyman]

The G10 would make a nice couple with a Classy.

I think it only needs a couple heatsinks for the VRMs (and perhaps memory) and it's golden.It's just a little ghetto.

Since you are considering the G10, but I assume you already have a dedicated loop since you wanted the Poseidon, why not just get a $50 universal GPU block? IMO it is not worth the savings to not directly cool the VRM, mosfets, and memory.

FWIW, I just picked up an EK Titan Waterblock for $60 shipped in like-new condition. Watercooling gear does not hold its value well used, so that is an option as long as you buy from fellow enthusiasts.

Lastly, does the Poseidon directly cool the memory, VRM, and mosfets with water or does it still spin the fan for those?

 

[Subyman]

hitting 1.3 on air for half the price

Eh, WC has never been about the phat clocks for me.

 

[tolis626]

a lot less than half

I don't disagree,but comparing 1.3GHz on a 770 to an overclocked 780 isn't what we're here about.Clockspeeds aren't their own reward.I'd guess a 1.2GHz 780 is way faster than a 1.3GHz 770 and probably consumes less power while doing so.So yeah,I'd consider half the price if I don't mind the big performance loss.

I agree, but I don't think you would need to add anything, since the heat spreader on the Classy is already pretty stout.

Hmmm...Didn't know that.I'll keep that in mind in case I can't afford the water loop.Thanks!

Since you are considering the G10, but I assume you already have a dedicated loop since you wanted the Poseidon, why not just get a $50 universal GPU block? IMO it is not worth the savings to not directly cool the VRM, mosfets, and memory.

FWIW, I just picked up an EK Titan Waterblock for $60 shipped in like-new condition. Watercooling gear does not hold its value well used, so that is an option as long as you buy from fellow enthusiasts.

Lastly, does the Poseidon directly cool the memory, VRM, and mosfets with water or does it still spin the fan for those?

Eh, WC has never been about the phat clocks for me.

The Poseidon uses the air cooler to cool anything other than the core.Water only cools the GPU.Not the best,but still a good compromise.

One of the reasons the Poseidon appeals to me is that I don't lose the warranty while water cooling and overclocking.But after some thought,the benefits don't really outweight the potential drawbacks it seems.I don't mind the risk,I just appreciate the peace of mind an intact warranty gives.Although,to be honest,the only things I've ever needed to RMA were 2 PS3s and a faulty pair of GeForce 6800 Ultras (Not in SLI,I must have been disgustingly unlucky to receive two defective cards that were dead on arrival consecutively) back in the day.

Also,half of the reason I want to water cool my system is the overclocking potential.I always was one to push for maximum performance,to the point I easily cross the line after which it becomes stupid sometimes.The other half is that I value the low temps,the silence and the fact that I always wanted a WC PC of my own and I probably can have it now.

 

[DigDog]

big performance loss?

thats like saying, i would take a car to work instead of a lear jet, but the performance loss.

nothing beats the 770 for performance / $$, ease of use (drivers and other bs) and general satisfaction.
(triple monitor 1440p not included)

you have to dig your own hole for the 770 to not be enough.

 

[tolis626]

big performance loss?

thats like saying, i would take a car to work instead of a lear jet, but the performance loss.

nothing beats the 770 for performance / $$, ease of use (drivers and other bs) and general satisfaction.
(triple monitor 1440p not included)

you have to dig your own hole for the 770 to not be enough.

That came out differently than I had in mind.The 770,like the 280x,is an excellent card for whatever I want it and adding a second one in CF/SLI is easier than with the high end cards.I shouldn't have said "Performance loss".More like something in the lines "The 780 performs quite/a lot better".And,seeing as I'm only running on a 1080p screen and am coming from a laptop with a crappy Mobility Radeon HD4650,even the 760/270x would be a huge upgrade and more than enough for now.It's just that it seems I'll be able to afford something close to the best,so that's what I want.

 

[tweakboy]

Your going to have driver issues with ATI

IMO, go nVidia EVGA 780 and OC it and its as fast as 780. gl

 

[DigDog]

who wouldn't want a 780;
also, who wouldn't want a triple-120hz monitor setup, and the GPUs to run it.

but for us plebs who haven't got that much money, some cards make more sense than others.
on a 1-monitor solution, a 770 will perform at 100% for long enough to be an old card by the time some game comes out which can't be run on it.

the 780 will last longer; but not *that* much longer, and the depreciation is higher than the 770. both cards have a portion of their horsepower left unused, the 780 more than the 770.
not because of some black magic, but because coders know the market, and they don't make Oblivion/Far Cry games anymore (that wouldn't run on anything short of a Quadro); they code games that midrange cards can play.

now, if one has more than a simple 1080p screen, then the better choice is not the 770 anymore - i'm sure the 780 is the sweet spot for many people here on AT... even a U3011 wants more than a 770.

But for your typical "hei guyze, ai want card" recommendation, i always pitch the 770.
with a 760, you'd really run the risk of having to replace before the card is old.

(i'm deliberately ignoring SLI, because i have no experience with it. but i accept that SLI 760s could be a superior choice; especially when you buy one 760 now, and another 1 year down. i'm always for saving $$ for the ideal performance.)

 

[hawtdawg]

Cheapest 780 you can find and OC it.

This. I have 2 reference 780's that both run at 1202mhz without breaking 80C in gaming situations.