WhiteDragon_
When is the GTX 980 Ti Classy supposed to be released?
Sorry if it's been posted but I couldn't find any answers.

Scarlet-Tech
It may not overclock at all, especially on air, but normally they overclock about the same as the reference card while they are on air. That may sound confusing, and if it is, I apologize. Better explanation below:

The card is built 100% around extreme cooling, so without at least a Waterblock, it will be very limited compared to what you would think.

The extra components are on there to support phase change, dry ice, liquid nitrogen and other extreme cooling methods. They come with an air cooler, because people that don't actually overclock would throw a fit if they couldn't buy an enthusiast card without the air cooler.

I am not trying to discourage you from buying anything. Don't assume that is why I am here. I just want you to realize, you may get a card that doesn't overclock at all. The clocks are only guaranteed up to the factory overclock and nothing higher than that.

Scarlet-Tech

looniam
i'm sure you didn't mean to say you have to get the card wet/cold but i would like to mention with the classy tool or evbot (if you can find one) and a probe it/DMM you can be able to apply some more skill at OCing than any reference card to achieve a higher, more stable clock speed.
 
unless i am silly thinking a 780ti @1320 on air w/ease is pretty good. and isn't it the KPE not the "regular" classy that's marketed for cold? some of us airhead plebs don't do so bad.   

 
To get the BEST out of the card, yes, you HAVE to get them under water or below ambient.  The lower the temperature the better. That has always been a fact of life.  Some cards will overclock better on air, but if you haven't been paying attention since the last two generations, you wouldn't have noticed that the KPE freaks out on air, where it is completely stable under LN2 conditions.  They aren't made to take the heat like stock cards without all the extra components are.  Why don't the stock cards get as hot?  They don't have a ton of extra parts generating the same type of heat that needs to be moved away.  Sure, anyone can get 1320 on Air with the 780Ti Classified or Kingpin, but could you achieve 1500mhz on air and not boil the card?  Normally, no. They would overheat and artifact.   Some people got lucky, but that is only a fraction. 
 
My best 780ti Classified benches were using below ambient air from outside to cool my radiators, so I could drag the temperatures down, and only a few times was I able to hit 1500+mhz and they were getting into the 40's with the idle temps in the low single digits. Any time they made it into the 50's, I failed the benchmark and got crashes.  It never failed to happen.
 
Classified and KPE are specifically built for extreme cooling and overclocking.  Expecting a card meant to be frozen to perform at ambient temperatures can lead to disappointment and has shown that even with Galax, KPE, Classified and other cards.  

EVGA_JacobF
Availability may start as soon as next week, limited at first though.

AMP_US
It is up on Amazon.
 
@EVGA_JacobF Now the real question... will we see a Hybrid kit for the Classified card? It would be interesting.

Scarlet-Tech

hallowen
After looking through and doing a little deciphering of Vince's post #20 over at Kingpincooling.com, I will take a Wild guess that there will be two Versions of EVGA GTX 980Ti Classified Kingpins.
 
Some will be based/sold on LOW ASIC (64-68%) for Air and Water Cooling, And Others will be based/sold on HIGH ASIC for DICE/LN2.
 
http://kingpincooling.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3659&page=2

That is a very interesting take on it.. Especially since that is extremely backwards according to the ASIC charts, but is proving to be substantial.

Scarlet-Tech

hallowen
 
I'm Only Just reading into what Vince stated in his post:
 
"For great air overclocking and voltage scaling on air over 1600mhz, the asic
usually need to be lower like 64-68%"
 
Any Comments on this EVGA_JacobF?

 
I do remember V saying that. Interesting.
 

Scarlet-TechTo get the BEST out of the card, yes, you HAVE to get them under water or below ambient.  The lower the temperature the better. That has always been a fact of life.  Some cards will overclock better on air, but if you haven't been paying attention since the last two generations, you wouldn't have noticed that the KPE freaks out on air, where it is completely stable under LN2 conditions.  They aren't made to take the heat like stock cards without all the extra components are.  Why don't the stock cards get as hot?  They don't have a ton of extra parts generating the same type of heat that needs to be moved away.  Sure, anyone can get 1320 on Air with the 780Ti Classified or Kingpin, but could you achieve 1500mhz on air and not boil the card?  Normally, no. They would overheat and artifact.   Some people got lucky, but that is only a fraction. 
 
My best 780ti Classified benches were using below ambient air from outside to cool my radiators, so I could drag the temperatures down, and only a few times was I able to hit 1500+mhz and they were getting into the 40's with the idle temps in the low single digits. Any time they made it into the 50's, I failed the benchmark and got crashes.  It never failed to happen.
 
Classified and KPE are specifically built for extreme cooling and overclocking.  Expecting a card meant to be frozen to perform at ambient temperatures can lead to disappointment and has shown that even with Galax, KPE, Classified and other cards.