What to so with GPU at this time?

[Roverno]

Hi all,

Currently running a reference 6970 which I need to get rid of due to its blue pcb and needed a slick look in my water cooled system, (log in sig).

I have had a hard time thinking about what to go for in terms of the upgrade because i do move my system a few times each year. I can forsee this as an issue as i don't want to have my gpu breaking in the slot during movement.I don't think moving the system with a gpu should be too much of a hassle, just got to be a little careful.

I would consider to go for air cooling custom cooled card because that gives me the option to easily remove the card during a move and thus stop it form possible bending/breaking. But in a watercooled system, it perhaps doesn't really fit in that well aesthetically.Air Cooled wouldn't fit the system, have decided to go for water.

However, i would see a waterblocked card really making my system look lush and give it the finishing touch it needs. If i got watercooled i would need the card, waterblock, and another rad i think. Currently would have a 2500k on a 360 rad, would get a 200mm rad in addition for this card.

I was having a look at cards on OCUK and i was considering the value 7970 because as i believe, you dont really lose anything from going for an ocuk card if you are going to remove the cooler anyway...

Might i be better off waiting as card prices seem to be changing at the moment? i just dont really know what to expect as i dont have enough free time at the moment to go browsing news and such.

I hope i portrayed by issue properly, and would really appreciate some help making a decision, im pretty stuck... (haha, first world problems!)

EDIT: Still to decide:

7970/680?

OCUK Reference value card?

 

[Roverno]

Cheers, that white PCB is pretty tempting, but for £530 i just can't justify it really.

Would you say buying the Waterblock on the PCB is better then fitting to a card yourself? and would you ever consider an OCUK value? because the 7970 can be blocked for much less than the MSI tech labs version.

Thanks for you input,

 

[Roverno]

I'm not the best person to ask about watercooling as I've never done it myself. Hopefully someone who has will chime in.

One advantage to the OcUK cards I'd expect is that they'll be covered by a decent warranty even though they're pre-blocked, rather than buying a stock card & invalidating its warranty.

That is a good point about warranty, definitely an advantage, but i thought sometimes adding a water block doesn't void warranty because that is what the are designed for.

 

[Roverno]

Ok, i really want to make a decision on what im going to buy THIS EVENING.

I'd like full watercooled, so is there something one can use to temporarily support GPU when moving the PC?

Should i go for blocking a BLACK PCB card myself or go for a ocuk tech labs? im not too fussed about warranty.

 

[Roverno]

Just spray the back of the pcb the colour you want it

Haha, don't think i you can do this safely

 

[Roverno]

Made an order. Will reveal in my log when delivered.