The cards are finally in stock.
 
EDIT: Not anymore lol

The only thing that's disappointing to me is the silence from EVGA. Some info would be nice.

I talked to someone at EVGA and... no ETA but "we will get more in stock".  I hope he's correct.

Got two today 😈

I like the HC cards because they resell so easily. You don't have to part a card out with the block and stuff.

reference

Not EVGA waterblock, but still same material inside (EK waterblock)
 
 
 
EVGA 3way SLI 980GTX with my 5930k@4.5GHz:
Games temps
Idle: 37-39ºC / max load.: 58ºC
 
Cheers

Got an email at the start of this week from EVGA, saying the HC cards will be available in the EVGA EU store in 1-2 weeks.
 
 
EDIT:
Just ordered two after getting EU notification. Hope it works out... .p

Here: http://de.evga.com/articl...orce-GTX-980-970/#2989

Don't know if there are other options. I used Paypal.

velocd

Cableguy696969

gutcheck
I like the HC cards because they resell so easily. You don't have to part a card out with the block and stuff.

+1
 
They have one of the highest resale value

Seriously? I wonder why I'm having such trouble reselling 3 of my HC2 GTX 580s then for just $80 a piece. Unless by resale you meant "current generation cards only", which makes sense.

Not sure but Last year (03-09-2013) I sold my 2 GTX 480 Hydro Coppers for $400 total

Cableguy696969

velocd

Cableguy696969

gutcheck
I like the HC cards because they resell so easily. You don't have to part a card out with the block and stuff.

+1
 
They have one of the highest resale value

Seriously? I wonder why I'm having such trouble reselling 3 of my HC2 GTX 580s then for just $80 a piece. Unless by resale you meant "current generation cards only", which makes sense.

Not sure but Last year (03-09-2013) I sold my 2 GTX 480 Hydro Coppers for $400 total

I've had two offers for my 2xGTX 480 FTW HC, one was $150, other $180 doubt I'll even get $200 for both. Countered with $199 less ebay/paypal/ship fees @ $199 I'll net $150... Sad but it is what it is. They OC @ 900 core / 3600 mem which was beastly back then with original Fermi

There's got to be a better way.  I have almost $100 EVGA bucks, hence not purchasing from Newegg, and I will only purchase the HC version of the card, as my system is under water and I'm not doing the switch the waterblock thing again.  Not to mention the clocking on the HC is basically classified levels, blah, blah, blah..  But now I have gone through 4 rounds of auto notify with no joy.  I'll wait for the card, but this "hunt and peck" is getting old for an $800 product.  Especially, with T-day around the corner, most are not sitting on their computer waiting for an e-mail that may never come.  I don't understand why there isn't a "pre-order/backorder" like option.  And if EVGA can't keep the cards in stock for longer than 10 minutes why are they shipping so many to Newegg (who one day later still has stock)?  They have to be able to see the number of "auto-notify requests" and have a good idea from there how many will be sold.  And if they feel they need to "support" newegg, which I get, why won't they drop ship from that supply?  I went through this issue with the 680 HC and ended up having to run a true HC and Sig2 with a waterblock.  It just never worked quite right.
 
Love EVGA and support them whereever possible, I don't even consider other cards.  Still this is ridiculous.  Getting frustrated and needed to vent.

I own a GTX 980 Hydro, and she is beautiful. You can get the same water block from EK, but minus the black cover with EVGA cutout. I added up a card, and that block, and it would have been quite a bit more to purchase them separately. At least at that time which was last week.
 
Like most GPUs with predicted blocks, you'll have to get your own fittings. Also, be careful with this card. It weighs an incredible amount.

The EVGA 980 Hydro Copper has to be the sexiest card on the planet right now.
 
Just wish the holidays would pass and more skus and blocks by EK would become available. After three Asus cards, I'm looking forward to owning my first EVGA, so many positive experiences expressed over and again in multiple forums, I can't wait to add an EVGA 980 into my CaseLabs rig with so many windows, the card will look amazing from many angles, the hydro copper is also extremely professional looking, gorgeous office gear.
 
Spoke with Derrick from EK way back when the first 980 blocks were launched, at that time he stated "every new EK VGA water block design" would incorporate the new "flow from top center" technology, supposedly cooling is improved with the new design when using a lower flow rate/lower pump rpms with a D5 or other pump in a silent or low noise rig. Sounded wonderful and then the EVGA Hydro copper launched with the older design. : (
 
Still an extremely beautiful card.
 
I'm hoping the 980 FTW does not use the same water block and EK creates a new block and this time adds in the new flow design, so the waiting for my Maxwell GPU continues, no video card for my Christmas, but I'm a silent enthusiast so the new design with the 980 FTW will be more than worth the wait.
 
Also hope EK incorporates the new flow design into the 980 Classified block and 980Ti Kingpin Edition, they most likely will. : )