Pickup another EVGA GTX 780 Classified for SLI or sell my current card and grab a 970/980?

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beekermartin

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I typically always buy the best performing and value card available. Years ago it was the GTX 460. I then wait until the new model comes out and buy a second card for SLI. I did the same with the GTX 670.

Now that the 970/980s are out I am not sure what to do. The price of the 970 is amazingly low for the performance it offers! The value of my 780 has dropped @$100-125 since the 970/980s have been released.

So, do I sell my current 780 and buy a 970 or wait a bit longer for the price on the 780s to hit rock bottom and grab a second EVGA 780 Classified? My case and power supply can handle two 780s. I am currently still gaming on a single 1920x1200 monitor and I am aware the single 780 I have now is more than enough for that. I just like to stay as most current as I can when it comes to video cards. I plan upgrading the rest of my system in about a year or so. For now my X58 is still running strong and is dead reliable. I know I will see a decent performance increase with the newer i7's and Z97 motherboards but usually not as much as of an increase as staying current with the video cards.

The 970 is really gonna shake up the entire video card market. What an amazing card for $330!
 
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unknownofprob
The GTX 970 is not worth scrapping the 780 for, there isn't a huge room of improvement. I know you want the most up to date, but that isn't worth it. If you desperately want a new card your better off just buying one, I won't be recommending it because I don't see a point. I do not promote wasting money, I recommend what is the most logical and beneficial upgrade.

If you really want the GTX 970, get one. If you'd prefer SLI 780, get that. I would rather you get dual 780's and blow the 970 out of the water then scrap the 780 and get a small improvement.
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unknownofprob

unknownofprob

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for your resolution, a graphics card upgrade currently isn't needed, as for 'staying with the most current card', I would wait for Nvidia's next new card line, or possibly even a GTX 980Ti if one comes out.

As for what I suggest, wait as an upgrade is not worthwhile as of yet.
 
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beekermartin

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Thanks guys. I know I am fine with what I have with my current resolution. I like to stay as current with a video card so I am ready if I decide to upgrade to a higher resolution. If I don't grab a second Classified 780 soon they will then become very hard to find. Also, if I do decide to sell my current card I probably won't get anymore than I would right now.

I know my cpu and mobo need to be updated next. I wasn't planning on having to grab another 780 or upgrade to the newest video card this soon. The price that Nvidia has released the 970 at has really shocked me and the rest of us I imagine.
 
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beekermartin

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I understand my mobo and cpu aren't state of the art and upgrading them is on my radar. My current concern is that Nvidia released the 970 for only $330! The 970 is at least equal to the 780 and probably better in almost every category.

So do I dump my 780 now and swallow the loss or pickup another identical card and run SLI for the next couple years like I have done through the last few generations of video cards? Regardless of my mobo and cpu the same question still applies.
 
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unknownofprob

unknownofprob

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The GTX 970 is not worth scrapping the 780 for, there isn't a huge room of improvement. I know you want the most up to date, but that isn't worth it. If you desperately want a new card your better off just buying one, I won't be recommending it because I don't see a point. I do not promote wasting money, I recommend what is the most logical and beneficial upgrade.

If you really want the GTX 970, get one. If you'd prefer SLI 780, get that. I would rather you get dual 780's and blow the 970 out of the water then scrap the 780 and get a small improvement.
 
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beekermartin

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That has been my course of action the last few generations and if I can grab another 780 Classified for a steal that is what I will do?

I have been eyeing the z97 and I7 4790k for a few months now. I know that is a good upgrade path to take. I can probably sell my current mobo for the same price as the most popular z97 boards. The cpu, not so much. lol So is it worth it for me to upgrade the cpu, mobo and ram right now? Probably but I am still going to wait a few more months. I had no intentions of upgrading anything until Nvidia release the 970 for so cheap!
 
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beekermartin

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I forgot to mention that my current 780 runs at 1202 mhz max boost and the ram is at 7 ghz. I can push it over 1250 mhz max boost but it wasn't completely stable. I know I could try a different bios that will allow more voltage but I am not interested in doing that. I know the 970 appears to overclock well too. I don't know how they compare if they are both overclocked by approximately the same percentage
 
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beekermartin

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From everything I've read the 4790k is a better option if gaming is the primary concern. I don't believe the hexacores can be overclocked as high as the 4790k can. 4.6ghz is all but guaranteed with a 4790k. Pushing past that requires a lot of voltage and luck of course.
 
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beekermartin

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I guess I will have to do more research. I agree it is better for future proofing but I am not sure it is better for gaming.
 
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M0j0jojo

M0j0jojo

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Actually the 5820K is the best for its price for gaming, its better than the 4790K
 
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Roger Rogers-1382392

Roger Rogers-1382392

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I plan to use my GTX 780 for PhysX. I know its overkill for now; but in five years?
QED
Dont ever sell your 780.

I just wonder whether to go Strix 4Gb or 6Gb VRAM.
As SLi 4Gb is 4Gb.... and you just know in four years...... 6Gb will be at the edge for Ultra in more uber-realistic games.

P.S.
Watchdogs and similar high end games do like the best of everything. And nobody mentions Stereoscopic 3D requirements in regards to VRAM. Its practically an information vacuum.
 
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beekermartin

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I am digging up an old thread I started instead of starting a new one.

Since I started this thread I have upgraded my CPU, mobo, and ram. They are listed in my sig.

So back to my original question. Should I sell my 780 Classified and pick up a 970? Should I pick up another 780 Classified off of Ebay for SLI?

I don't need any additional power for now. My current 780 runs at 1250mhz all day long now that EVGA precision allows more voltage than it did orginally. I can push it further but 1250 max boost is the sweet spot between voltage and speed. Any higher and I hit the 115% power target. I don't want to use a different bios that would allow a higher power target.

With my current 1920x1200 60hz single monitor I am getting more than enough FPS. I just like to stay as current as possible which is why I am considering my options.
 
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KVORKIAN

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I know this is old but thought I would chime in. I had the exact same issue for my new build back in September last year. I already had a 780 Classified which overclocked moderately....originally on an LGA775! But on this Maximus Hero 7, 4970K under water, 1000W EVGA PSU it really does run nicely, even with only 3GB RAM. Anyway I was thinking about selling the 780 Classy and upgrading to a 980. I then found another 780 Classy for a good price which I promptly picked up. These 2 cards in this setup pretty much slay anything I throw at it, the only prob I have now are the temps. Anyway if you aren't going silly on the overclock then SLi is a decent way to go, you could probably find one cheaper nowadays anyway. I can run about 1280mhz solid and i'm running a 2560x1440 GSync display.

I was looking into water cooling this SLI setup this week but all of the waterblocks for the 780 Classys are no longer in production. I may have to be happy with this until the next gen of cards come out.
 
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beekermartin

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I have been looking for a second 780 Classified. Since I started looking Nvidia released the 980ti. The 980ti is basically as powerful as 2x780s. Which is insane! It also has 6gb of Vram so it is much more future proof. I am leaning towards that direction. I listed my 780 on ebay a few days ago. Hopefully when it sells there will be a Gigabyte GTX 980 TI G1 in stock or the Asus Strix. Both of them appear to be monster cards. Also, the new AMD Fiji should be released shortly. If it performs well that could help lower the prices of the 980ti. Time will tell.
 
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dlaynd

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My 5 cents, maybe someone will find it helpful. Benchmarked EVGA 780 Classified & Gigabyte 970 G1 over the weekend. (Win10, i5-4690k@4.5GHz) Overall I must say that 780 Classy is more solid card with overall better results. Stock both cards are virtually the same performance wise. Classy is slightly better at overclock speeds. Considering many reports of 970's issues I would rather have 780 classy or go with 980.

My verdict is that 970 is not a worthy upgrade. I was hoping for lower temperatures but even in this department overclocked 970 is as hot as overclocked 780 classy. Only benefit of 970 is lower power requirements.
 
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Exeonx

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Well going from the 780 to the 970 isn't really an upgrade, in certain areas the 970 preforms worse then the 780.

Personally I wouldn't have bothered with a second 780, double the power consumption and having the low VRAM doesn't seem worth it, the 980 TI would have been a solid upgrade instead.
 
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dlaynd

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Agreed.

However, adding 2nd 780 for those who have 1000w PSU on hands is a very budget friendly upgrade to have a good 2K experience.
 
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