Nano or 980ti??

Bungle11 · Jul 26, 2016

Hi Guys,

Before i get into it. i think it would be prudent to list existing system which i have had for about 11 months.

Case - Jonsbo UMX1 Plus
CPU - Xeon 1231v3
Mobo - Z97 based
RAM - 16 2400mhz
PSU - EVGA G2 650w
GPU - EVGA 950 SC (short ITX model) - Case can only fit circa. 20cm cards.
SSD - 500GB
HDD - 1TB hybrid
Monitor - 4K

I mostly use the above for photo editing and video usually at 1080p which is fine of my current card. However the GPU strugles to edit 4k video (mainly too slow to code etc).

I want to upgrade to be able to do 4k vidoe better and play games at 1440p (not going to push 4k gaming yet). Currently in the UK I can get a new Nano for £330, and won't need to change the case. On the other hand i think i can get a used 980ti off ebay for about the same price. Only problem is I will need a new case which is an extra £100 minimum.

Ordinarily i would opt for the 980ti is it edges the Nano. But I came across this article on Vulkan vs openGL

http://www.pcgamer.com/doom-benchmarks-return-vulkan-vs-opengl/2/

As you can see, the performance boost on AMD cards is significantly more, and the Nano is only slightly behind (or ahead in some cases). Therefore is it still worth getting the 980ti for 1440p gaming and 4k video editing?? Given the additional cost and effort to fit out.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

anti-duck · Jul 26, 2016

You can get a brand new 980 Ti for just £341.99, don't pay around £330 for used!

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/evga-geforce-gtx-980ti-superclocked-acx-2.0-6144mb-gddr5-pci-express-graphics-card-06g-p4-4993-kr-gx-288-ea.html

You could also get a GTX 1070 for about £20 more.

It depends what program you use to render, the Fury Nano is faster in Vegas than the 980 Ti but it's practically nothing, we're talking single digits. The current AMD cards are more 'future proof' per se, but as soon as low level API's become mainstream, you can bet NVidia will have something out.

Chugalug_ · Jul 26, 2016

The 980ti is the better choice in my opinion.
If you're heavy into VR or DX12, and can find a cheap R9 Nano, then sure, go for it.
But really the 980ti will edge out the Nano in almost all applications, synthetic or not.
It is definitely worth getting the 980ti for editing, as the raw performance is much more than that of the Nano.
If you need a new case, check the sites of manufacturers to see if your card will fit, most of the time you can just remove drive cages, and you will have enough clearance for the card.
Remember, that if the size is a concern for you, and if you don't want to buy another case, the R9 Nano is still a good card, but just performs slightly worse than the 980ti, about 20%.
If your budget doesn't allow for the 980ti and an S340 or something, the R9 Nano is a perfectly fine choice.

Bungle11 · Jul 26, 2016

anti-duck :

Thanks very useful. So the Nano may be better for 1440 for the next 18 months to 2 years (the time i intend to replace my whole PC). Unless I overclock to Ti?

anti-duck · Jul 26, 2016

Bungle11 :

I always use this analogy - If an NVidia card is already 30% quicker than a card from AMD but a low-level API boosts AMD performance by 30%, but also boosts NVidia performance by 3.5%, then the NVidia card is still quicker.

Low-level API's just make AMD video cards perform how they always should have.

Chugalug_ · Jul 26, 2016

Bungle11 :

Well see, that's where the 980ti gains an advantage.
Its overclocking capabilities greatly improve performance in rendering applications.
The big barrier is the cost difference however, as I previously mentioned.
In your case (no pun intended), the R9 Nano seems to be the better choice.
The 980ti has essentially hit a wall in terms of drivers, and the R9 Nano has better DX12 support, so I wouldn't count on it becoming obsolete any time soon.
Even if it does, you can just crossfire it along the line when it inevitably becomes cheaper.

anti-duck · Jul 26, 2016

Bungle11 :

Oh, totally forgot! In the UK you can get a brand new Sapphire Nitro Fury for £286.01 - http://it-supplier.co.uk/sapphire-radeon-r9-fury-nitro-4gb-11247-03-40g Not sure if that includes delivery or not though.

Or you can get it for £299.99 from - https://www.overclockers.co.uk/sapphire-radeon-fury-nitro-4096mb-hbm-pci-express-graphics-card-with-backplate-11247-03-40g-gx-377-sp.html with free next day delivery.

Pu at extra ~£30 towards that case.

Chugalug_ · Jul 26, 2016

anti-duck :

Bungle11 :

Oh, totally forgot! In the UK you can get a brand new Sapphire Nitro Fury for £286.01 - http://it-supplier.co.uk/sapphire-radeon-r9-fury-nitro-4gb-11247-03-40g Not sure if that includes delivery or not though.

Or you can get it for £299.99 from - https://www.overclockers.co.uk/sapphire-radeon-fury-nitro-4096mb-hbm-pci-express-graphics-card-with-backplate-11247-03-40g-gx-377-sp.html with free next day delivery.

Pu at extra ~£30 towards that case.

That's a pretty good deal.
Definitely worth the purchase imo.
Some good cases in your budget range are the Corsair Spec-01 and the Bitfenix Neo.

Chugalug_ · Jul 26, 2016

Winterra :

The Nano runs perfectly fine with cool temps.
It hits roughly the same temperatures as an Asus Strix Fury with the stock cooler: http://www.anandtech.com/show/9621/the-amd-radeon-r9-nano-review/16
Although I still recommend that bargain of a Fury that anti-duck found.

monsta · Jul 26, 2016

I have a 980ti and it's been the best card I've used in my system , I'm not planning to upgrade to the 1000 series as I usually skip a generation.
I would recommend the 980ti over the nano anyday, the 980ti runs faster and cooler and over clocks like a dream, it's a better choice.

Chugalug_ · Jul 26, 2016

monsta :

If you'll read above, all of this is explained, and the rendering performance is the main factor in OP's needs next to gaming.
The 980ti is in fact the better card, but if OP wants to buy it, he'll need to buy a new case on top of the already tough cost for him to throw down on the 980ti, so the Nano is the best option here.
the rendering performance is very simillar, only a few % difference.

Bungle11 · Jul 27, 2016

Thanks guys for all your comments. I have some serious thinking to do. anti-duck thanks for your comments. The fury is out of the question as i will need a new case in any event. So the Ti would be better. Plus the cheapest Ti you found has a reference cooler, so i think i will skip. Currently bidding on a EVGA Kingpin 980Ti on ebay. This should easily overclock. I was thinking of a Cosair 250 case. This will fit all my existing gear and has the option for watercooling in case i decide get an i7 K 4th gen.Plus the power button and ports are at the top of the case unlike other cube cases. So i can put this under my desk. I'll see how the bidding goes. The nano will probably be too noisy for my needs, particularly as my current case is next to my monitor. I've read/ watched reviews that the fan spins all the time. My current 950gtx the fan only kicks in when coding.

Chugalug_ · Jul 27, 2016

Bungle11 :

Sounds like a plan!

The EVGA Kingpin is a really good 980ti, i'd expect around a $400 price tag new nowadays, or $350 used, any lower is just a bargain.

anti-duck · Jul 27, 2016

Bungle11 :

That was an EVGA GTX 980 Ti SC ACX 2.0+ that I linked earlier in the thread by the way, it is a reference board with a slightly overclocked GPU, but it's not a reference cooler. It's a bargain really at £349.

Bungle11 · Jul 28, 2016

Thanks anti-duck. Useful. After much consideration I come up with a totally different route. I'm to wait until the end of august before i purchase i new card, as i've have some more spare cash then. I'll probably opt for a 1070. in the meantime i've ordered a Ncase M1 case which should be delivered at the end of August. I've also get an SFX power supply. I can sell by EVGA G2 for a few bucks on ebay as i still have the original box and all the cables.

The Ncase allows for watercooling, so a future i7 overclock upgrade will work.

Thanks for all your help

Chugalug_ · Jul 28, 2016

Bungle11 :

Sounds like a plan!

I recommend keeping your EVGA G2 though, good to have a backup PSU even if it doesn't fit in the case, good for troubleshooting should something go wrong.

anti-duck · Jul 28, 2016

Awesome

Have fun with your 1070 when you get it, it's probably what I'm gonna end up going for.

Nano or 980ti??

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