MSI GTX 1080 seahawk ek x vs GTX 1080 FE w/ Ek Nickel Waterblock

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csjdruid

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Nov 11, 2015
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Hey,

So for my next pc upgrade, I may go with a pre built water cooled pc I found on craigslist and take the dual water blocked 290x's and replace them with a single gtx 1080. I want to water cool it of course and my two options that I have narrowed down are the msi gtx 1080 sea hawk ek x and just a normal founders edition that I would get used on craigslist for $560 and add the nickel water block from ek on it. The seahawk is $790 with gears of war 4 added with the bundle which is a game that I definitely wanna check out.

So my question is: Besides the game, is there any benefits to using the custom pcb from msi than using the founder's edition? I don't know if i will be doing too much overclocking because I only have a 1440p overclocked 96hz monitor. (first world problems) And the gtx 1080 stock is more than enough to handle it. Can I justify the $90 - 140 price tag for the msi one?

Thanks
 
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Math Geek
no advatage at all going with an FE and waterblock. see here for a list of all the cards and specs along with reviews where available. http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3047729/nvidia-geforce-gtx-1000-series-megathread-faq-resources.html#17902598

the reg seahawk x is a reference pcb and it was pretty much right on par with all the other custom cards. clocked the same and gave the same fps. see the reviews linked for numbers if you wish. go with whichever is cheaper which is likely the ek x model over a FE w/ waterblock. plus it's already ready to go and warrantied together.
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Eximo

Eximo

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Well there isn't a whole lot separating the field of FE boards vs custom ones. They all overclock pretty much the same.

Since you are comparing two watercooled solutions, I think it will come down to personal preference.

I myself picked up an EVGA ACX3.0 Gaming 1080 SC which is a FE board. I already have a XSPC Razor block to put on it, just haven't found the time lately to set it up. Doesn't seem like it is really needed, but I enjoy the water cooling setup and testing and all that. All I will really gain is the stability at the top end and probably no throttling.
 
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nexusrev

nexusrev

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Dude, we're talking about a 1080 here. Getting a 1080 for 1440p is going overkill. Whichever you get, its gonna run all games without a hitch for the next 2-3 years, possibly more. The MSI variant basically adds its own software for controlling various aspects of the card, adds more cooling options, and a nice backplate for you to admire. Also, its alot nicer to look at imo. Other than that, I don't think its better than the Founders Edition. YOU'RE GETTING GEARS 4 IN THE PACKAGE!! The Founders Edition is the way to go if you are going for your own cooling system. A GTX 1080 for 1440p really IS taking it overboard.
 
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Math Geek

Math Geek

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no advatage at all going with an FE and waterblock. see here for a list of all the cards and specs along with reviews where available. http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3047729/nvidia-geforce-gtx-1000-series-megathread-faq-resources.html#17902598

the reg seahawk x is a reference pcb and it was pretty much right on par with all the other custom cards. clocked the same and gave the same fps. see the reviews linked for numbers if you wish. go with whichever is cheaper which is likely the ek x model over a FE w/ waterblock. plus it's already ready to go and warrantied together.
 
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Eximo

Eximo

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I wouldn't call it overkill. Just about a perfect fit for a 96Hz monitor. Of the games I play the most demanding do hover around 90FPS at the highest settings. A 1070 would do fairly well, but when you are talking water cooling you are already spending more than necessary.

I'm struggling to remember what I got in the BF1 open beta, but it is escaping me. Should have written it down, it was certainly smooth, but still a beta.
 
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