Which GTX580 is best for my setup?

[5nak3]

Hi all,

This is my first post on the forums, but I’ve been lurking for a while now.
I’ve recently got together the final parts of my new build and just need some help with the graphics card. My last PC was a AGP based motherboard, running Intel Pentium 4 processor, and a 6800GT, so excuse my ignorance in the tech developments of the past few years.

I know that this topic has been done to death many times, but only one or two topics I've found have actually discussed airflow in relation to card purchases and ultimately this is what will dictate my purchase decision. I’ve now upgraded to:

Asus P8Z68-v Pro motherboard
8GB of ram @1666Mhz
Modular Corsair 1050W PSU
I7 2600K – OC’ed to 4.4ghz
Prolimatech Megahalems Rev B CPU cooler
My gaming resolution is 1920 x 1080 and I do not expect this to change for the foreseeable future, but would like to get a few years out of this build and card.

I’m now looking for a GPU to power this computer. I should state that I’m currently looking at the GTX 580, but my problem now lies in which GTX 580 to buy.

The ones I have my eye on are:

PNY OCed edition

Asus Direct CU II - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-249-AS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1812

MSI Twin Frozr - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-116-MS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1812

Evga (most likely the SC edition) - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-149-EA&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1812

Gainward Good edition - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-141-GW&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1812

Price is a non-issue at this point. I’m sure it will influence my order before I press the “confirm” button, but for the time being I want an opinion on which card is best for my setup as this is really the first time I’ve heavily tinkered with PC setups in a long while.

Currently I have a full tower case, with two front 120mm fans (intake), two 230mm fans on the top (exhaust), one 120mm fan on the rear (exhaust), two 230mm fan on the left side (intake), one 120mm on the rear right behind my CPU (intake) and one 120mm fan on the bottom of my case next to the PSU acting as an intake.

In addition to this, I have one fan clipped onto the CPU cooler acting as an intake, pulling air past the CPU cooler.

Here is an image of my setup to help picture the airflow:

Based on this setup I was looking at having a GTX 580 that would dump air outside the case to keep everything running fairly cool hence the choice of the PNY OC GTX 580 or the Evga SC GTX 580. However, I saw the Direct CU and the Frozr which both claim much lower temperatures than the stock card and quitter operation.

Since the case fans are already fairly loud I would like the idea of a quieter card. Both of these cards also offer much better overclocking potential but my problem with the frozr and the direct CU is that they seem to both dump hot air into the case. To me it seems that this will warm everything else up and seems counter intuitive as it means that when the cards need cooling there will not be cool air to cool them with.

I do not plan to SLI, and in fact given the resolution I’m gaming at I don’t think the SLI is needed with the 580, so I’m more than happy to take on a three slot cooler if it offers the best bang for my buck. Although the flexibility of a two slot cooler as seen on the stock, PNY and Evga cards is quite appealing.

I’ve done some bench marking with a generic 580 that exhausts air outside of the case I found that in terms of temperature the CPU idles at around 28-33 degrees, the GPU at around 36-41 degrees.

Under load (by which I mean games as opposed to stress testing) CPU hasn’t exceeded 55 degrees and GPU maxed out at 76 degrees.
I’m not out to break any benchmarks, and the cards will live enclosed in a case their whole lives.

Basically I’m really at a loss. The reviews I’ve read all seem to say the Frozr and Direct CU are excellent cards. None of them mention anything about the direction of airflow, so I assume these were tested on benches and not cases.

If anyone has any opinion as to which direction I should take I’d really appreciate it. I’m also open to other suggestions in terms of brand or card.
Thanks in advance!

 

[fireisdangerous]

I would go for the EVGA card as they have a fantastic 10yr warrenty, I personally have the SC version of the 570 and its a great card.

 

[toxic]

3Gb card maybe?

 

[lurkio]

I went for the MSI twin Frozer II GTX 580
And iam loving it

 

[5nak3]

Thanks for the replies so far all.

@fireisdangerous: Yes, I think if I was to choose between the PNY and the Evga the OC difference between the two is minimal and based on this I would opt for the Evga because of the extra warranty.

But I'm wondering if compared to cards featuring an aftermarket cooler would the Evga perform better in my setup in terms of temperatures.

@toxic: I assume you mean a 3Gb GTX580? I was under the impression that at the resolution I'm playing at the 3Gb card would be wasted. So I didn't even consider them?
But if we do go down the route of a 3Gb card, I'm still stuck in regards to which card to buy based on my airflow patterns.

@lurkio: I'm curious to hear your opinion on the card, pros and cons of it, why you chose it compared to other options, and I guess the most important factor, does the card dump air into your case and have you noticed any negative effects because of it?

I appreciate the input guys!

 

[Surveyor]

I would go for the EVGA card as they have a fantastic 10yr warrenty, I personally have the SC version of the 570 and its a great card.

The EVGA card the OP linked to has a 3 year warranty.

It can be upgraded to a 10 year warranty for 40€ (depending on the exchange rate).

 

[5nak3]

The EVGA card the OP linked to has a 3 year warranty.

It can be upgraded to a 10 year warranty for 40€ (depending on the exchange rate).

Ah good spot Surveyor, link changed. Initially I linked to the DS version of the card. The standard card actually says it has a 10 year warranty.

If i'm not mistaken the DS, like the Direct CU 2 and the Frozr is an after market cooler which blows air into the case, whereas the normal SC card is the external exhaust version using the stock 580 cooler.

 

[david_129]

Rich at OCUK told me the most reliable ones are the reference cards. So i got a PNY reference one..

 

[5nak3]

Rich at OCUK told me the most reliable ones are the reference cards. So i got a PNY reference one..

Hi David,

Thanks for the input. Can I ask what temps you are getting with that card. I can't find any information relating to the PNY in particular.

Although given it is a reference card I am expecting similar temps to what I was achieving with my test cards.