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Graphics Card Suggestion

ICEx21

ICEx21

ICEx21

Associate
Joined
27 Apr 2007
Posts
2,254
Location
Edinburgh
Afternoon folks,

I'm currently in a position where I'm contemplating a dual card set up in the next week or so but am unsure on what is best for me.

My current system set up is the following:

4790K
Asus Maximus Formula vii
16gb ram
Soundcard
Sapphire Tri X 290

I was previously looking at going Crossfire but temps are a problem for me and water cooling isn't an option, so with this in mind I was looking at one of the 9 series Nvidia cards.
I'm not interested in 4k and currently game at 1440 but I do like playing my games with all the settings ramped up but on the other hand I'm not really looking to pay more than I really need to.
The other issue I have is the size of the coolers on the graphics cards due to me using a sound card so both these cards will be next to each other.

With all that in mind I'm open to suggestions!

Any help is appreciated!
 
How did you find the move? Currently I'm playing Dragon Age Inquisition along with some BF4 and some Civ 5 are you playing any of these games and how do you find performance and compatibility with some of the games you play?

Sorry for the constant questions lol.
 
Depending on your case, the 970 reference might be the better choice given the blower design venting air out the back, as opposed to inside the case. The references are lovely quality cards too, very well made.
 
It's a Corsair 540 but with them being beside each other I'd prefer a card which pumps the air outside and if possible quite silent if possible.
Are the reference cards good overclockers? Also should I consider 980 sli at my resolution?
 
apart from framrates ive not realy noticed any big difference between the 290 and 970 sli at 1400p but im sure when more demanding games come along the 970's will come into there own

the reference cards oc ok but that will vary from card to card
 
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Reference Card is just Nvidia reference design with Nvidias own design cooler.

Just go 980 SLI man!!
 
From what I wrote in my original post why the 980 sli over the 970 at my resolution. Also keep in mind what I said about cost and heat.
 
reference 970's £640, cheapest reference 980's £900, depends if the extra performance is worth it, for me its no but each to there own
 
old gamer said:
reference 970's £640, cheapest reference 980's £900, depends if the extra performance is worth it, for me its no but each to there own
Click to expand...

Yeah I was hoping he was going to justify the suggestion but I don't think he read the initial post.
 
there are cheaper options like the g1,msi gaming and galax but i went for the ocuk reference for 3 reasons
1 blower design to dump thet out of the case
2 no coil whine
3 they look the mutts nuts
 
Yup I'm thinking the same the reference cards do look like the most likely option.
Do you have to lower the settings for any games?
Also how are temps and over locking?
 
i game at stock speeds as there fast enough for any game ive played so far, ive overclocked for benching and set the fan curve to go up to 60% and temps are about 60c for the bottom card and the top card runs 7c higher and 60% fan speed is pretty quiet
 
evga,pallit and galax do blower style coolers and also msi do one but not stocked at ocuk
but ive never used any of them so cant help you there
 
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