MSI GTX 970 Gaming 4G vs. MSI GTX 970 Gaming 4G Golden Edition

MrLawlessGaming · Jan 3, 2015

I have been looking to assemble a new Gaming PC and am stuck on which graphics card to choose. I have heard people complain about the Gaming 4G not having a back-plate and I don't know if that's really a big deal. The only difference I know between the two cards in the title is that the Golden Edition is basically OC'd out of the box and it has a back-plate and different heat syncs. Also, I have heard that the Golden Edition only has one 8 pin power connector while the Gaming 4G has a 6+8 pin connection. Assuming I could get a Golden Edition, should I get it?

Tomba_Dude · Jan 3, 2015

Go with the golden edition if you're not familiar with overclocking or you don't have many power connectors on your power supply. But if the power is not problem and you know how to overclock it you'll get the MSI GTX 970 Gaming 4G as powerfull as the golden edition.

MrLawlessGaming · Jan 3, 2015

Tomba_Dude :

I don't know how to Overclock nor do I know if I will actually do it when I get the card. Thanks for getting back to me

Sandstorm3000 · Jan 3, 2015

Tomba_Dude :

The golden edition isnt worth it. Performance improve is just 1%

http://www.game-debate.com/gpu/index.php?gid=2551&gid2=2488&compare=geforce-gtx-970-msi-gaming-golden-4gb-edition-vs-geforce-gtx-970-msi-gaming-4gb-edition

Tomba_Dude · Jan 3, 2015

The easiest way to overclock would be the MSI Afterburner but if you feel you want to go the easiest way, get the golden then

SkyBill40 · Jan 3, 2015

The "golden edition" is also a limited run card. The 4G is also running at higher clocks than the reference version so it is, in effect, overclocked. If the back plate and a slightly higher clock are important to you and the GE is available, you may as well pick it up. I'm a big MSI fan and have been looking at it as well. My only issue is that the colors don't match up with my existing scheme. Seeing as I don't have a see through case, I suppose that matters not and is just personal preference.

Tomba_Dude · Jan 3, 2015

The golden edition isnt worth it. Performance improve is just 1%

Yea, but the golden edition has full copper heatsink which will keep the card cooler too. And if they're both about at the same price so why not get the golden.

Sandstorm3000 · Jan 3, 2015

Tomba_Dude :

I did not notice that, than you should get the golden if they are about the same price.

MrLawlessGaming · Jan 3, 2015

SkyBill40 :

See I don't really know if the back-plate is a big deal. I hear a lot of people complaining about it and I don't really know if it's that big of a deal. I highly doubt I can get a Golden Edition but just wondering what to do if I could.

Tomba_Dude · Jan 3, 2015

Well if you can't get the golden edition, don't worry. The MSI GTX 970 Gaming 4G will do almost as well like Sandstorm said it's only 1% in performance but cooling would be better with golden.

MrLawlessGaming · Jan 3, 2015

Thanks guys for all the help. The Gold is only $50 more here in Canada so I may get one if one ever comes up online. What about SLI though in the future? Would they be good for SLI? Also, the power connector thing. Is that a big deal or not? Will it get sufficient power with only one 8 pin connector?

SkyBill40 · Jan 3, 2015

All the back plate does is add rigidity to the card. Seeing as the card is heavy already, that PCIe slot may need some help with the weight. Some vendors add on a back plate to help whereas others do not. If you were worried about card weight and/or strain on your slot, you could support it. That aside, here's the two compared directly. There's really not much of a difference beyond the GE being slightly faster and costing more:

http://www.msi.com/comparison/vga

To answer you other questions, yes, they'd be stellar for SLI when you're ready for that. Just bear in mind you're going to need a good PSU to support it. The power connector thing? Not really a big deal at all.

MrLawlessGaming · Jan 3, 2015

SkyBill40 :

That's really weird. I was reading reviews from consumers on NewEgg and someone said it only have one 8 pin power connector, but on the MSI website, it says that they both have a 6 and 8 pin power connector...

Tomba_Dude · Jan 3, 2015

Actually I checked out the MSI sites. They both have 1x 6-pin and 1x 8-pin connectors.

SkyBill40 · Jan 3, 2015

That's why I posted the actual card info from MSI. Best to know what the manufacturer says rather than taking something as a certainty when it's coming second hand.

MrLawlessGaming · Jan 3, 2015

SkyBill40 :

The PSU I plan on getting is an EVGA 850W Gold Certified. http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438018&AID=10657534&PID=3938566&SID=&nm_mc=AFC-C8JunctionCA&cm_mmc=AFC-C8JunctionCA-_-na-_-na-_-na&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_source=afc-%zn

SkyBill40 · Jan 3, 2015

That will be plenty.

MrLawlessGaming · Jan 3, 2015

Thanks again for all your help. If I can, I am gonna get 2 Golden Editions for SLI. If I can't, well, I will just get 2 Gaming 4Gs. Thanks Everyone!

MrLawlessGaming · Jan 3, 2015

SkyBill40 :

Awesome! Guess I got nothing to worry about then! Thanks!

MrLawlessGaming · Jan 3, 2015

If you guys are wanting to know, this is the build I am planning on doing. The only thing that is potentially not correct is the GPU thing but aside from that, I think it will be awesome.
http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/rxnkqs

SkyBill40 · Jan 3, 2015

MrLawlessGaming :

My comment related to ONE card, not necessarily two of them in SLI. You'd likely be fine, but I can't say for sure. Best to look at a PSU calculator to figure out what you'll need for that.

MrLawlessGaming · Jan 3, 2015

Can anyone here tell me if this PSU here is good for SLI 970s? Either Golden Edition or Gaming 4Gs?
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438018&AID=10657534&PID=3938566&SID=&nm_mc=AFC-C8JunctionCA&cm_mmc=AFC-C8JunctionCA-_-na-_-na-_-na&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_source=afc-%zn

Tomba_Dude · Jan 3, 2015

Can anyone here tell me if this PSU here is good for SLI 970s? Either Golden Edition or Gaming 4Gs?
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E1681...

Well atleast it says SLI ready and it has enough connectors to run two cards

MrLawlessGaming · Jan 3, 2015

Tomba_Dude :

Haha thanks for your help

SkyBill40 · Jan 3, 2015

SLI ready and actually having enough power to run two specific cards is something altogether different.

MSI GTX 970 Gaming 4G vs. MSI GTX 970 Gaming 4G Golden Edition

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