Which of the best Nvidia GPU for 1440P

[Harpss1ngh]

I'm replacing my ageing GTX580 which is under water and keeps causing my machine to crash when playing videos or games (maybe I just need to clean gunk out of my EK water block or WC loop) and as you can probably tell I don't upgrade my GPU's very often so I want something high end that will last me a while.

Taking into account my current spec (not planning to upgrade the rest yet) and that I just bought 2 Asus PG279Q's, what would be the best GPU to last me quite a while?

I'm looking at anywhere from GTX970, GTX 980ti and Titan X. I can see there are OcUK Tech labs editions for all 3 and also EVGA do Hydro Copper versions. Would it be better to go for one of those or get a cheaper reference card and fit a block myself? Many thanks!

 

[Midlife Crisis]

The GTX980TI would be more than I use at 1440, I have a GTX980G1 with a 1520 overclock on the core. Playing the new tomb raider at 1440 with great success, just have to settle on mostly high not very high settings to keep the fps around 60 give or take a tiny bit. I have a Gsync screen so as smooth as butter. New cards on the horizon so you may want to wait a while. The new gen card are rumoured to monsters.
Or second hand of course

 

[Harpss1ngh]

You referring to Pascal? I did consider waiting since the last 2 graphics cards are quite a bit of an investment and if it's just a few months away then worth waiting for I suppose

 

[Rroff]

970 would do OK at 1440p but not so good for future proofing its already at the point where you aren't far off having to significantly drop settings to sustain good framerates. I'd be looking at something faster than that.

 

[Midlife Crisis]

Look at b-grade for a 970/980 if cheap enough it would keep you going for a month or 2 if there are any of course

 

[Gregster]

Titan X is the best but the 980Ti is what I would buy for 1440P.

 

[setter]

Id try the members market for a card to tide you over.

 

[Harpss1ngh]

Id try the members market for a card to tide you over.

I was thinking this. I would really prefer to wait.

My 580GTX isn't artifacting at all, just freezes whenever I do anything intense with it like play videos for a prolonged period and Games. Do you think this could just be cooling issues? When I run MSI Afterburner to benchmark I can see the GPU is clocked down, and I suppose the temps are a little high.

Would that indicate old thermal paste and block that just needs cleaning? Haven't done anything to it for a couple years.

 

[setter]

What sort of temps are you getting when gaming?

 

[Harpss1ngh]

What sort of temps are you getting when gaming?

I can't really game, when I try to start anything the game crashes so I can't check temps during gaming. The MSI Kombuster crashes shortly after running too but the GPU clocks back so the temp drops to maybe 49-50 degrees. No artefacts at all though

 

[setter]

I know it will be a fair bit of hassle as your using watercooling, but a clean out of your loop and repaste of the card is looking like the only option.

 

[Insanties_birth]

if you're only looking at one vendor then it's whichever you can afford ofcourse. With the exception that the 980 is generally considered a bit of a waste of money due to the minor performance increase over the 970. Go with 970 or 980ti depending on whether you prefer price or performance.

Alternatively a 390 or a nano are currently really good options inbetween those two but depends on how much headbanging it'd take to convince someone to look at other brands Still if it's Nvidia then just go for which you can afford of course. You haven't mentioned budget yet but I'm assuming looking at Nvidia only and watercooling you probably have enough to waste on a 980ti anyway.

 

[setter]

As the op has stated he has purchased x2 Asus pg279q's which are gsync screens, he's pretty much locked into NVIDIA if he wants the best from the screens.

 

[Insanties_birth]

As the op has stated he has purchased x2 Asus pg279q's which are gsync screens, he's pretty much locked into NVIDIA if he wants the best from the screens.

oh I missed that, I'm halfway dodging around feeding and playing with the cat

I did mention if it's just one vendor then 970 should be fine unless he's willing to pay up to 980ti so I offerred other suggestions as per the original request to stay on topic. You can still get freesynch with HDMI soon anyway

 

[setter]

I think a second hand 970 would indeed be a good interim card, you still get to use gsync with the new monitors.

I'll freely admit, even as a gsync owner myself it is a bit frustrating being locked to one vendor. Many of us will keep our monitors longer than gpu's so it would be nicer to have an open choice of cards.

 

[Harpss1ngh]

oh I missed that, I'm halfway dodging around feeding and playing with the cat

I did mention if it's just one vendor then 970 should be fine unless he's willing to pay up to 980ti so I offerred other suggestions as per the original request to stay on topic. You can still get freesynch with HDMI soon anyway

Yep, willing to shell out on a 980ti or Titan X. Depends if my monitors will support freesynch over HDMI (HDMI 2.0 I presume) but I think they're 1.4a.

P.s. Yeah I'm a bit of an Nvidia fanboy ever since the days of its predecessor's had 3DFX Voodoo and haven't had an ATI/AMD card since the 3D Rage Pro back in 1998 which I ironically paired with the Voodoo for video acceleration

 

[Harpss1ngh]

I think a second hand 970 would indeed be a good interim card, you still get to use gsync with the new monitors.

I'll freely admit, even as a gsync owner myself it is a bit frustrating being locked to one vendor. Many of us will keep our monitors longer than gpu's so it would be nicer to have an open choice of cards.

I agree about open choice because if freesync is standardised then that'll render the monitors useless, especially if Nvidia decides to drop G-Sync to favour a standardised Freesync over HDMI 2.0.

Wonder if it's better (and not too late) to cancel my monitor order and just wait a bit longer?

 

[Insanties_birth]

Yep, willing to shell out on a 980ti or Titan X. Depends if my monitors will support freesynch over HDMI (HDMI 2.0 I presume) but I think they're 1.4a.

P.s. Yeah I'm a bit of an Nvidia fanboy ever since the days of its predecessor's had 3DFX Voodoo and haven't had an ATI/AMD card since the 3D Rage Pro back in 1998 which I ironically paired with the Voodoo for video acceleration

With it being a Nvidia monitor you may as well stick with the gsynch anyway. I wouldn't recommend a Titan X as it's kind of overpriced at this point and doesn't offer any meaningful difference at 1440p over a 980ti.

980ti is best shout for longevity but if you're happy to swap it out for a pascal card you are better off getting a 970 to avoid having as big a dip from initial purchase to resale. Pascal will probably be the way forward for longevity.