nVidia Titans still worth the investment?

[Meladath]

As already mentioned earlier in the thread, the Titans have been fantastic VFM for those who purchased on release.

Some people have been through three or four cards since it was released and have probably paid double the price of a single Titan, who's the mug in that scenario? lol

What? lmfao I guess if you just throw your old GPU's out the window without selling them and the only cards you bought were 780Ti's then yeah you might get close to that figure given that a titan was like £700. I find it incredibly hard to believe they are anywhere near fantastic value for money personally.
Given that a 290, 290X and 780 fight neck and neck with it and were half the price. These cards obviously were not out at the time the titan was, thats true, but is the few months worth paying double?

 

[whyscotty]

As already mentioned earlier in the thread, the Titans have been fantastic VFM for those who purchased on release.

Some people have been through three or four cards since it was released and have probably paid double the price of a single Titan, who's the mug in that scenario? lol

Original Titan owners apparently

 

[TheRealDeal]

Can't quite understand the mind set of people who buy flagship cards, and even less the people who buy titans. Why pay 50% more for 10% more performance instead of just going for two of the second highest. I find it unlikely for example, that 2 290X performs 25% better than 2 290, yet it costs that much more. Anything that 2 290X can run, 2 290 will too... so why pay the extra? is the extra 100 firestrike points, or the extra 1 FPS in valley really worth it?

As for titans, why pay 2x the price for a bit more RAM? When you could get a 780Ti for multiple hundreds of pounds less that actually performed better? Blows my mind.
ofc, when they were just released the 780Ti wasn't out but still O_o
Regardless, you got them for a good price, hope you are happy with your purchase! they should be able to stomp 1440p gaming for quite a while.

On the Titan side they were around 30% faster than anything else on the market when they released. The gtx780/ti came around later. So at the time of buying they were a good step above. The price is still something i don't agree with but each to there own.

 

[Meladath]

On the Titan side they were around 30% faster than anything else on the market. The gtx780/ti came around later. So at the time of buying they were a good step above. The price is still something i don't agree with but each to there own.

Yeah this is entirely true. But they were also 2x the price. I just don't understand that mindset of "I will pay 200% for 130% performance when I could just pay 200% for 200%(minus dual GPU scaling) performance"
In my eyes its always best to something that is the best price per FPS and then just get two of them instead of spending that same amount on a flagship card which won't perform anywhere near as good. Few games don't use multi GPU's nowadays anyway, and if they do, they are either games that don't require the power, or games that don't deserve my time anyway since they are rubbish ports or something

 

[Gregster]

Don't spoil the thread please. Snips is happy and he will be very happy when he has them up and running.

 

[Meladath]

Don't spoil the thread please. Snips is happy and he will be very happy when he has them up and running.

Sorry, that wasn't my intention. I am very happy for him, he got them for a decent price and if he is happy thats all that matters at the end of the day.

 

[TheRealDeal]

Don't spoil the thread please. Snips is happy and he will be very happy when he has them up and running.

Don't jinx it now lol.

 

[Gregster]

Sorry, that wasn't my intention. I am very happy for him, he got them for a decent price and if he is happy thats all that matters at the end of the day.

Nice one and yer, he did get them for a great price

 

[setter]

I would say not -

I actually got better graphics performance in some benches with Z87 compared to X79 - not tried X99 - YET

In game didn't notice any difference.

Ive noticed that, particularly with the posts where 8 Pack has tested new cards. Often seeing a different setup used with the card depending on the bench being done. I havent used an X series platform myself, but have owned almost every mainstream chip of recent years. From a gaming point you would be very hard pressed to tell the difference from sb to hw.

 

[Gregster]

Don't jinx it now lol.

 

[snips86x]

I would like to add that the 'pay cheap pay twice' rule seems to apply in this situation. The 290 has been a great card and has performed very well but I've had nothing but issues with the drivers and the stability of the card when it comes to using v-sync. Older and less demanding games produce in excess of 350fps which obviously causes noise & heat. I've been using RadeonPro to counter these issues, but I don't want or should need to mess around to make it work - a simply plug and play should be all that's needed.

I can tell you now I had no such issues with the GTX660(sli) or the 7970 but the 290 is just appalling. Sorry AMD, better luck next time!!!

Also, as pointed out earlier, there isn't another top end card like the titan which you can get for £350!! Not even the 295x2 is that cheap let alone the 290x (which I wouldn't consider worth it!)

 

[Meladath]

I would like to add that the 'pay cheap pay twice' rule seems to apply in this situation. The 290 has been a great card and has performed very well but I've had nothing but issues with the drivers and the stability of the card when it comes to using v-sync. Older and less demanding games produce in excess of 350fps which obviously causes noise & heat. I've been using RadeonPro to counter these issues, but I don't want or should need to mess around to make it work - a simply plug and play should be all that's needed.

I can tell you now I had no such issues with the GTX660(sli) or the 7970 but the 290 is just appalling. Sorry AMD, better luck next time!!!

Also, as pointed out earlier, there isn't another top end card like the titan which you can get for £350!! Not even the 295x2 is that cheap let alone the 290x (which I wouldn't consider worth it!)

Sounds like you had a **** experience mate, can't blame you for switching, although remember you are one of a million customers I for one have had literally zero problems with my 290's, in fact they have been the best cards I have owned since my 5850s, before this I had 770's and they were a massive pain in the ass.

I guess its just swings and roundabouts lol

Enjoy your titans be sure to write up a thread with OC numbers!

 

[snips86x]

Ok, so I've had a bit of fun with the 290 before I get rid and this appears to be all I can get out of it before the fan speed goes over 4k RPM.

Power +50%
Core +1125
Mem +1400

I'm sure there is more in it, but that would require a custom loop or aftermarket cooler.

 

[Insanties_birth]

I've been saying this all of the years I've been into computers and trust me there have been many. 35 at last count.

When it comes to buying computer gear always spend the absolute most you can afford to spend. It's far cheaper and more sensible in the long run to save up and buy the best you can afford because it will stop you spending more money in the long run on upgrades to keep you in the loop.

For example. Greg bought two Titans at launch. He then got to sit back whilst Nvidia released, and probably isn't limited to -

GTX 780, GTX 780ti, GTX Titan Black, GTX 970, GTX 980 and anything AMD made during that time.

I've actually witnessed people first hand going through most of those yet skipping the Titan. Yet, had they bought a Titan they would still have it now and only really now would they have a viable excuse to even think about replacing them.

Now of course, YMMV, but at the end of the day if you class yourself as an enthusiast it's far cheaper in the long run to buy the best as it buys you a far bigger "don't need to upgrade" window.

I'm not happy about what Nvidia charge for Titan but as much as I hate the price there's no denying their prowess when they're released.

But since companies charge premiums based on there lineup and performance this is actually terrible advice :/ There's a reason people always advise you can get dual 780's for cheaper or other variants of sli / card set ups. Even basic cost to performance can vary generation to generation depending on if the mid / high end cards show as much difference between one another as the previous gen. For me, a 980gtx seems like it's way over priced and doesn't add the respective value that a 960 or 970 has but even then that is down to how much you are willing to spend.

If you look at performance and cost between a high end card (980) vs a 960 you'll see a much bigger jump in price to performance and same was especially true for the titans. They do offer great performance but at greater cost. Money doesn't equals performance, best you can afford is not most expensive and at this point where it's temporary it's even more stupid to go on this tangent. May as well just get some dual 970's or something.

 

[ALXAndy]

But since companies charge premiums based on there lineup and performance this is actually terrible advice :/

Never failed me before *shrugs*

This time last year I bought a 3970x. Then about three months later the 5820k came out. Cost around the same all in as what I spent, no faster.

I also bought two Titan Blacks mainly for work purposes at £699 a go. Then the 970 and 980 came out, got to laugh at them. In all honesty the new Titans won't offer me anything new either, I'll still have a tip top rig more than powerful enough.

Now had I bought something else lower spec? the replacements arrive a lot sooner than the high end ones I know that much.

As I say, in 30 odd years of buying hardware my philosophy has never failed. I'm not a serial upradger either, so it won't fail me any time soon.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

When it comes to buying computer gear always spend the absolute most you can afford to spend. ...

I don't disagree entirely and this might just be the pedant in me, but your advice doesn't really hold true unless the absolute most you can afford is going to buy you the absolute top end hardware at that point in time.

 

[andybird123]

I do have to pull ALXAndy up here, as when the original Titan was announced he went on a 30 page rant fest saying anyone considering buying one, let alone two or three was all the names under the sun... now he's got two titan blacks and advocating buying Titan X's, so clearly this "30 year philosophy" seems to have sprung out of nowhere

 

[Tonester0011]

I do have to pull ALXAndy up here, as when the original Titan was announced he went on a 30 page rant fest saying anyone considering buying one, let alone two or three was all the names under the sun... now he's got two titan blacks and advocating buying Titan X's, so clearly this "30 year philosophy" seems to have sprung out of nowhere

It's started since finally upgrading to a decent spec computer, i'm surprised nobody else has bothered to pull him up on his hypocrisy sooner. If you look at him like he's Boomstick his posts start to make sense.

When he had his 7990 and 8320 nothing could touch it, blah blah. Like i said, think Boom and everything fits into place

 

[Insanties_birth]

Never failed me before *shrugs*

This time last year I bought a 3970x. Then about three months later the 5820k came out. Cost around the same all in as what I spent, no faster.

I also bought two Titan Blacks mainly for work purposes at £699 a go. Then the 970 and 980 came out, got to laugh at them. In all honesty the new Titans won't offer me anything new either, I'll still have a tip top rig more than powerful enough.

Now had I bought something else lower spec? the replacements arrive a lot sooner than the high end ones I know that much.

As I say, in 30 odd years of buying hardware my philosophy has never failed. I'm not a serial upradger either, so it won't fail me any time soon.

Well I don't mean it to sound so heavy but basically if you can spend £300 on a 970 or 500 on a 980 then my advice would be the 970 unless you had so much to spare that it didn't matter. Buying the best you can afford is good advice if there wasn't more at works but as stated, we get charged premiums on some cards being in a higher bracket so cost to performance can be weak. If you're saving lots by going marginally lower you can upgrade more often and if you're upgrading more often you can sell your card before it's market value has hit the floor so you save that way too as it helps with the upgrade cost. Buying the most you can afford (higher premium) and waiting longer to upgrade (resale value hits the floor) along with missing out on slight bonuses now and again (free game promo's, features like new direct x versions etc.) means you can often be missing out on a chance to keep yourself flexible, on the spot with new features and ready to dive on good offers.

I didn't mean to be rude about it so I'm sorry but overall I've never put much stock in the whole 'buy the best / most expensive' as the only benefit I can find to it is that during the intermediary period between upgrades you have that stronger card but as you upgrade more often by getting a cheaper card (and resell it sooner for more towards the next upgrade) you end up with like for like or better performance within a short time anyway.

I feel your approach works more for you because you have more money than the average spender though. To be fair, 2 titan blacks is hardly the average purchase (with steam showing the vast majority of card holders have a gtx 960 or equivalent) and not even average on these forums I imagine. If you have that money though I just feel your perspective has been lost on the matter of what is the actual 'best' action but to be fair it's your opinion and it's worked for you so it's not a bad one but I have given a few reasons why I recommend against it really. Still, when people have more money than they need it kind of becomes a moot point anyway and anything is game.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

I feel your approach works more for you because you have more money than the average spender though... when people have more money than they need it kind of becomes a moot point anyway and anything is game.

Exactly this.

I bought the 2 best cards available to me, not because I thought it made sense or was the best strategy. I did it because I could, and if I'm fortunate enough to be able to take a hit when the next best comes along then I probably will.

The fact that I can "justifiably" keep these 2 cards beyond the next few releases is comforting to know should my financial situation at the time dictate it, but it doesn't mean it was a good strategy.

Just buy the best you can at the time, whether new or second hand. The time to upgrade again will be when you have the cash and the inclination.