Vlada011

Mangofire
I'll take three. I'm on the EK wesite twice a day checking the news. I'm waiting on EK to release the blocks so I can buy the classy's, back plates and blocks all at the same time. The odds are that the blocks will come out and the cards will be out of stock again.

Because of that you should buy one buy one thing if you have chance. Order first backplate and cards, try them, test them and water-blocks will be launched for 1-2 week. Exactly to properly test your card and play few games before installation in loop.

You are correct Vlada, I should just buy the cards and plates now. I just don't want EK to keep pushing the date out further.
In your opinion do you think my 1300G2 will be enough or should I upgrade to the 1600. I've heard of power issues with 3 780's while benching with custom gpu bios. I know the 980's use less than the 780's but I'm doing an acrylic build and really don't want to find out later.

Mangofire

Vlada011

Mangofire
I'll take three. I'm on the EK wesite twice a day checking the news. I'm waiting on EK to release the blocks so I can buy the classy's, back plates and blocks all at the same time. The odds are that the blocks will come out and the cards will be out of stock again.

Because of that you should buy one buy one thing if you have chance. Order first backplate and cards, try them, test them and water-blocks will be launched for 1-2 week. Exactly to properly test your card and play few games before installation in loop.

You are correct Vlada, I should just buy the cards and plates now. I just don't want EK to keep pushing the date out further.
In your opinion do you think my 1300G2 will be enough or should I upgrade to the 1600. I've heard of power issues with 3 780's while benching with custom gpu bios. I know the 980's use less than the 780's but I'm doing an acrylic build and really don't want to find out later.

I have the CM 1200 with 2 Classies and easily have more headroom for a third card. I think you're good with your 1300.

I take it back, I'm on air and don't have to worry about pumps and radiators. Sorry.

Will there be a copper version of the block too? Or only nickel? 

xarot
Will there be a copper version of the block too? Or only nickel? 

ginko147
I also want to know if there will be a version of copper or nickel.

I will ask again but the last time I asked Peter this question, the nickel version was the only one he talked about.  But that was several weeks ago so it might have change.

Just a gotcha for non-reference graphics card owners...if your waterblock breaks or needs replacement in a year, you will be screwed.  EK and other brands will RMA it for you, but have fun spending $60 to ship something to europe.

If you buy a reference card, waterblocks are available for much longer and exist in much higher quantities in the ebay market.
 
(One of the screw standoffs on my waterblock sheared off, and I could not find a replacement in the US.  I had to pay Aquacomputer to make one just for me(they had no stock), and EK refused to even bother.  Ended up costing like $200 for the waterblock all said and done.)  Moral of the story...be gentle with your Classified waterblocks.

wpinch
That sucks man 
 
I have never had issues classy blocks but they were always the swifttech evga ones
 
and i have had the following
 
680 Classifieds
780 Classifieds
780Ti Classifieds

It was (and still is) a 680 Lightning and Aquacomputer block.  I had RMA-ed the card so many times (I kept blowing cards out from overclocking+overvolting) and had to uninstall and reinstall the waterblock every time.  Eventually one of the standoffs gave up.  The lesson I learned: if watercooling, stick with reference if parts availability long term is of concern.

Thought the release was going to be late Jan, another delay? Awesome

I have decided to wait patiently for the next series. When I finally get my bonus, the new series should be right around the corner, so there is no point in rushing to get them right now.

Scarlet-Tech
I have decided to wait patiently for the next series. When I finally get my bonus, the new series should be right around the corner, so there is no point in rushing to get them right now.

I was planning on upgrading to 780Ti's but I think it was July or August and I couldn't justify dropping $1200 knowing the 980 was shortly going to be released.  Then when the 980 was released and MSI said they weren't doing a Lightning version because something better was coming, combined with the limited overclocking potential...I'm in the same boat.  I'm waiting for the Titan 2 / 980 Ti / 980 Ultra (damn I wish they would bring back the Ultra moniker).  I'll pick up 2 of them and that should handle 4K gaming just fine.  I'm waiting for a 4K monitor that's IPS, and G-Sync, and decent quality (Acer just came out with one, but waiting on reviews).

EK_Luc

xarot
Will there be a copper version of the block too? Or only nickel? 

ginko147
I also want to know if there will be a version of copper or nickel.

I will ask again but the last time I asked Peter this question, the nickel version was the only one he talked about.  But that was several weeks ago so it might have change.

Well, I would really prefer bare copper blocks at least as an option. I've had the nickel fail in my 780 TI blocks, so from that on, I always prefer copper blocks. :) 
 
But regardless, it's good to get a block on this card at least.

EK_Luc,
 
Yes that is from Peter. He sent this to me as a response to my email to EK asking for an ETA for the gtx 980 classified waterblock.
 
 

...again.

I received info that it's in fact delayed a few more weeks but while we all have to wait (myself included ) I have some answers for a few questions I received earlier.  

• The classy block isn't the same for the KPE
• The block will be available with your choice of acetal or plexi top
• The block will only be in nickel finish
• The block will be an "XXL" one. So it will cover the entire card 

 

Cool, I won't be buying one now and after all this time you offer a single pitiful option.
 
In fact I regret ever buying this card period, this really screwed up my plans. Next round it's clear that ASUS is the brand to go to, and A good Kyro block will suffice for any reference block.
 
Thanks EK. I wish I never had this damn card, stuck on air for three months. Who's to really to blame, EK or EVGA? EK released a block for literally every other custom solution before this one, and 'jokingly' called EVGA a shady company on Facebook. I think I'll happily abandon both - that isn't very professional and obviously has a ton of truth behind it. I'm sure EK and EVGA are confident in their sales regardless of a boatload of customers jumping ship this term. I guess while EK is horrible in this scenario, EVGA is really the one getting abandoned. Both companies seems to be confident that they have endless supplies of customers, so let's see where their fumbles land them in a decade.
 
Heads up; there's a new player in town called Diamond Cooling - they aren't on the scale of EK and don't plan to compete but they offer service EK couldn't dream of offering. It's very small and they don't have many cards/blocks, but the owner is fantastic. If you send him a card, he can make a block for you. I plan to ask him to make me one for the 980ti or whatever I end up with after I sell this garbage 980 at a loss.