*** Need buying advice, please!!! ***

[avoidconfusion]

I hope I had your curiousity and that I now have your attention!

Right, I want to buy a GTX 780 but I am not 100% which one and I need YOUR help!


I have never overclocked anything before so initially I was looking at the sort of fastest out of the box card. That being said, if OCing is something that is achieved easily without needing a degree in it, I would be able to do it.

The cards I have narrowed my search down to are:

Gainward GeForce GTX 780 Phantom GLH (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-181-GW)
Asus GeForce GTX 780 Direct CU II OC (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-309-AS)
EVGA GeForce GTX 780 ACX FTW (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-231-EA)
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 780 WindForce 3x "GHz Edition" (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-127-GI)

Other contenders due to their attractive price of under £400 are:

Gigabyte GeForce GTX 780 WindForce 3x OC Rev2.0 (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-114-GI)
MSI Geforce GTX 780 Gaming Edition (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-209-MS)
KFA2 GeForce GTX 780 EX OC (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-050-KF)


I don't necessarily want to spend too much money but my budget is around those cards above.
That being said, if the difference between the KFA2 and the Gigabyte GHz edition is only miniscule (so like 2-3 FPS or something) then I don't really want to shell out that much more money. If the difference either out of the box (preferred) or through OCing is more significant than I don't mind spending more money on a card.

I was asked to open a single thread for this question rather than spam the forums with comparison requests/questions in the individual threads for the specific cards.

I really hope someone here could help me make a decision, my knowledge when it comes to this kind of stuff is a bit rubbish to be blunt.

Many thanks in advance for your feedback, this is much appreciated!!!

 

[Fulax]

Overclocking your GPU is essentially case of downloading EVGA Precision X and pushing a couple of sliders until your card can't handle it.

 

[texxx74]

Overclocking your GPU is essentially case of downloading EVGA Precision X and pushing a couple of sliders until your card can't handle it.

+1
You are not going to attempt to break some world records, aren't you. Download msi afterburner or evga soft and move the slider 100 on clock and memory for the start. Done, pick up one of the last three cards you listed, no reason to overspend.

 

[texxx74]

BTW, I own msi gaming editon. Cracking card, but this time around I would buy giga wf because rma UK base.

 

[avoidconfusion]

BTW, I own msi gaming editon. Cracking card, but this time around I would buy giga wf because rma UK base.

I assume you mean the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 780 WindForce 3x OC Rev2.0 ?

Okay so overclocking does not appear to be rocket science and will definitely be something I can do. Last question, do the tools from MSI and EVGA work with non MSI/EVGA cards? I assume they do but would like to clarify this!

I think the Windforce might actually be too long, looks like it is a good 2-3cm longer than my current MSI so I think that one won't be an option. I think I will go for the MSI Gaming unless anyone has had experience with KFA2?

 

[systemerror]

Okay so overclocking does not appear to be rocket science and will definitely be something I can do. Last question, do the tools from MSI and EVGA work with non MSI/EVGA cards? I assume they do but would like to clarify this!


HALP!

Yes I find Precision X very good tbh just started using it yesterday and very simple, just takes patients to get the most stable clock.

 

[avoidconfusion]

Went for the MSI Gaming now, will arrive tomorrow. Will sell the games that come with it and my old 670 GTX. Yay!