Hi peeps,
 
Let's say you're getting a refund for your two 970 GTX in SLi, due to the VRAM issue that prevents you from having a stutter free gaming experience at 1440p with Gsync.
Keeping in mind that you're not swimming in money, what GTX 980 would you replace with the refund from the 2x 970 GTX:
a) 1x GTX 980 SC, with the rest of the refund in your pocket?
b) 1x GTX 980 Classified, which will mean spending even more money, than you already spent on the SLI setup, while making it less "money per fps" friendly.
c) 1x GTX 980 Classy Kingpin, for even god knows how much more money, and what else is coming with it.
 
Financially, a) is the best option, but I have to say that I'm far from trusting Nvidia reference cards at the moment... c) will most likely be a forbidding price for me, especially taking into account this card will most likely last "just! 1 year for it's price before it's beaten by a 980 Ti next year. Going with b) means spending more money that I was thinking in the GPU department for 1440p, but at least I know EVGA cherry picked the GPUs and used their most reliable components on the PCB.
 
Decisions... decisions... what would you do? =)

Haha, thanks for the input; my biggest fear is "being you" in this case; I'm curious to what EVGA is throwing at us with this Kingpin - the amount of power is insane, but I have no plans to LN2, and apart from the 4Gb VRAM registered in Kingpin's benchmark, We have no other specs regarding the card or its price, and if it was a Ti version, it would be easier to go with the "screw it, let's do this!" approach.
 
However, I've read that the 980 SC version may experience coil whine as well, and I have a very sensitive ear with the case being around 1m from me... I also want the card to not have any throttling issues, and to last me me 2-4 years, unless I decide to jump the gun on the Ti when it comes around.
 
And... I forgot to mention that the plan is to put the card under water, which adds a bit more on the expenses... =D Thought, I think that, if I go with one of the most expensive options, I may consider staying on air until the Ti comes around...
I start thinking that this was the most horrible moment to upgrade my duo HD 6970s (6950s flashed)! =)

If your going under water the hydro copper could be a good option.

I'm pretty sure I can reach the performance of the FTW with an SC, hence, not considering that card. So, it'll either be the SC with the reference PCB, or a signature card with superior components.
The Hydro Cooper is a highly inflated reference card with an overpriced WC block. Heck, it's even more expensive than a Classified, which should always clock higher than a reference card.
 
And after the disappointment on my 970 FTWs... Fool me once, joke's on you; fool me twice, joke's on me... =)

SC is a factory oc'd reference card. SC:ACX2 is a factory oc'd reference card with better cooler. FTW is a little faster than the SC:ACX2 with the same cooler but better pcb and different bios, plus it's only a fraction higher priced than the SC.

Scarlet-Tech
So, you can reach the performance of an FTW with an SC... And you don't think you can get 12 more mhz to reach the performance of a Classified?

Come on, you're smarter than that... We both know the custom PCB of the classified has different components than then reference card, and will have a higher VRM headroom to push the clocks further.

Scarlet-Tech
Just buy the Classified K|ngp|n. I feel that is the answer you are requesting, as mentioning the card that meets everything you want with a much lower price tag is out of the question.

Well, I'm feeling like I need a few opinions, preferably without all mighty cockiness in addition to them, but thanks for your input. =)

Scarlet-Tech
Also, the 980ftw has been getting pretty good reviews around the forum. Can't compare a card unless you read up on it. The 970ftw and 980 are completely different cards.

Thank you for letting me know I should read on a product before making an investment, oh... and for stating the obvious between the 970 and the 980.

Scarlet-Tech

Heini2
SC is a factory oc'd reference card. SC:ACX2 is a factory oc'd reference card with better cooler. FTW is a little faster than the SC:ACX2 with the same cooler but better pcb and different bios, plus it's only a fraction higher priced than the SC.

Someone has been reading :-)

O.P. said "Financially, a) is the best option, but I have to say that I'm far from trusting Nvidia reference cards at the moment" but is considering a SC as a leading option so it seemed logical to point out a difference.

I am not trying to convince Morphevz to buy something different, only weigh his options.

Financially, the 980 ACX 2.0 (Non Sc) would be his best bet. The only difference is the pre-overclcking, and since boasting that he could get an SC to the FTW level, why would he pay extra for pre-overclcking? Logically, it makes sense to save $150 for 12mhz and components that will in no way, shape, or form help him on air.

If he wants to get the Uber K|ngp|n Henry the IVth edition of the titan 7 platinum unobtanium edition that cost just over $10,000 because his wallet says he can, he should. But when he asks for advice on a forum and gets an answer and then gets all school girl sassy, expect a rebuttal in kind.

When I get home, I am ordering pots and going to abuse them relentlessly. Their limit on air was the same limit under normal ambient conditions with water. Cooling them down as much as possible has unlocked on an extra +39mhz. If people think the extra components are really going to help them, they aren't weighing in the reality of needing to get their cards cold to be able to use them. Saying 12mhz more than the FTW and a bunch of components are necessary is not necessarily true and I just want those speaking with their epeen and wallet to understand that before going into debt for something that may not impress them at all.

Constantly flashing GPU bios and searching for 13 more mhz can be annoying, but I have spent an entire year with these three trying to squeeze out more. Being as there are many people with reference boards that can get to the same level as my enthusiast board, it would seem that I assumed purchasing what I did, I would be able to overclock better than those with reference boards. I learned the hard way, and I encourage others to.

I purchased mine with my wallet and looking at numbers and then went in a learning spree to gain knowledge. I am trying to help those that are not aware, and think how I initially did. If that is an issue, feel free to block me on the forums. I won't miss it as I will focus my attention to someone else's question.

That is the last I will say on the subject.

Thank you for the feedback, peeps. =)
 
I forgot to mention that the reason to refer the SC as the most affordable option is because it's the cheapest 980 GTX from EVGA on my retailer and that its price was around 100-150 USD cheaper than the FTW and 200-250 USD cheaper than the Classified.
If the true potencial of a Classified is only seen with LN2, then indeed, there's no point forking the hard earned cash on it over the SC. It seems that it would make as much sense as picking a 980 over a 970 to play only on a single screen at 1080p.
 
One other thing I forgot to mention is that the card is indeed going under water, but as the Hydrocopper is a simple reference card with an overpriced block, I'd rather skip that premium, going with the reference card and install the block myself.

From everything I've read in this thread it seems you should go with... http://www.evga.com/Produ...aspx?pn=04G-P4-1980-KR