Hardware & Technical Which GTX 1080?

[Alec Turner]

Just yesterday installed an EVGA GTX 1080 FTW 3.0 ACX GPU and I must say, after spending a couple of hours getting the hardware installed (screws, cables, etc.) it fired right up and running at 1920 x 1080 with everything set to "ultra" my 60 FPS (monitor limitation) is buttery smooth. Even the little hitch when entering witch-space is all but gone (the OC/Glide hang is still there but shorter, transitions (menu to menu) are faster too. One thing that surprised me was the fans on the GPU not turning. I was concerned enough that I called EVGA tech support, was told "it's normal" and they will spin when the GPU heats up. Wow, a GPU running cold enough the fans do not spin. [up] YEAH, baby! With graphics cranked up to "ultra" the visual experience is significantly richer, better textures, atmospheric effects, quicker transitions, etc. I am very happy so far. This is their nicest GPU that does not start getting into things like liquid-cooling/hybrid technology, etc., a straight-forward air-cooled GPU. Very much looking forward to a new 4K 120+ Hz monitor and eventually VR.

I chose this particular GPU based on about a dozen YouTube videos and various articles on the subject of which GTX 1080 GPU was the "best". I like your setup, good power supply, I would have gone for the i7 CPU, planning on a new Asus motherboard as well (the extended one) but used a Cooler Master Storm Trooper full-tower case ($149 at Wal-Mart!).

EVGA FTW was also on my list. You might want to check this out just in case it applies to your card (is it duel fan?) ...

http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/evga-gtx-1080-1070-overheating-issue/

 

[[DOOK] Droogie]

Also, as an FYI, if you ever plan to water cool, or add an AIO cooler to your card, EVGA allows you to remove the stock cooler without voiding the warranty. Other manufacturers are very sketchy when it comes to this. Sometimes they allow it, sometimes they don't. EVGA specifically allows it.

Just food for thought.

 

[Ralph Vargr]

$700.00+ USD video cards, to be allowed to play. No exceptions.

You will be cruelly mocked for attempting to play with less- say like a month's rent, or car payment.

 

[GJ51]

Wait for 1080Ti announcement @ CES2017 in January. That's what I'm doing.

Agree +1

OP - from what I've read you should be OK with your current hardware, but I'm also waiting for the Ti version before doing my next build.

My current hardware is aging and I will do a new build next year when the new cpu/chipsets and the 1080Ti get released.

 

[shadragon]

My motherboards are always ASUS and my GPU's come from MSI. MSI GPU's have exceedingly good cooling tech which run the same card up to 10 degrees cooler. They are a few bucks more, but are solidly designed, rugged and perform gloriously well. They also come with Afterburner for safe O/C of your card if needed.

I've had an MSI 790, 970, 980TI and am looking at their 1080's now. Solid cards.

http://videocardz.com/60838/msi-geforce-gtx-1080-gaming-x-is-much-better-than-founders-edition

 

[Joe Akeem]

Gigabyte Windforce.

Their line of boards have the best cooling solution out there. I've owned a 460, 760 and now a 970. Never had a heat issue.

 

[JetsonRING]

Before upgrading to the GTX 1080 I was running a GTX 650. So long as I ran with "medium" settings it was fine . . .

 

[GuruNot]

Do you think they'll drop the price of the standard 1080 when the Ti's are introduced?

Just toying with either going 1070 now-ish or waiting for a potential price drop on the 1080's come the new year....

I am hoping that Vega10 (and Zen) will bring AMD back in to the game. Competition is always good. And I am hoping that competition will cause the 1080's to drop in price and help offset the rising price due to the pound tumbling. Not a good time to be buying enthusiast level tech in the UK. I am looking at GPU's and a monitor to move to 1440p.

 

[Alec Turner]

[deleted - wrong thread]

 

[dubsdj]

If I were in the position you're in; I'd probably justify it more prudent to bump your mobo and processor up to a future proof i7, and upgrade your RAM, get some 2600mhz & go SSD. You're giving your whole PC a real dose of pure methanol.

I'm pretty certain you'll see a much broader gain with some fast architecture under the hood than a beefier graphics card that bottlenecks with PC limitation? That 970 you have will have no problem running everything on max, and is still a fantastic card.

I would go along with that too.. new mobo soundcard etc

I have a newish mobo and an aging R9 4GB 290 and it still runs really well.

 

[Alec Turner]

Quick update - having done a fair bit of reading I think it's currently a toss-up between the Asus ROG Strix 1080 (preferably the 08G OC version but maybe just the A8G) ..

.. or the Gigabyte Xtreme Gaming 1080 ..

As I mentioned I'm actually quite taken by the Asus 2xDP + 2xHDMI port configuration. On the other hand (if my case will take it)^*1 the Gigabyte comes with a breakout box that puts 2 extra HDMI's plus a couple of extra USB 3.0 sockets on the front (you can never have enough USB sockets right? especially as I'm eyeing up the Oculus Touch controllers).

I think it will come down to price. Amazon currently has the Asus A8G for £663 which seems like a decent deal. Meanwhile Novatech (and a few others) have the Gigabyte Xtreme Gaming for £690. I haven't seen the 08G OC version of the Asus card for less than £750.

I must say it's an absolute minefield out there. It's so easy to think you're getting one version of a card, only to realise at the last minute that the word "Gaming" is missing, or the "08G" designation is not there, and that it's not the same version of the card that you just spent 20mins reading reviews of. I know it probably doesn't make that much difference in the end but it almost feels like a con when you google for a very specific card version and end up being offered something different. I kinda blame the card manufacturers and their ridiculous naming schemes.

^{[B]*1[/B] update - it won't}

 

[mp4x]

I have the Asus ROG Strix 1080.

Lovely card.

 

[Alec Turner]

I have the Asus ROG Strix 1080.

Lovely card.

8G, A8G, 08G or don't know and don't care? Any regrets re: which version you got?

I read somewhere (a bit like with medical self diagnosis, I should probably just stop reading now ) that the silicon that passed all their overclocking tests with flying colours ended up in the 08G and the cast offs ended up in the A8G.

 

[mp4x]

A8G, OC'd to between 1922 and 1936 depending on game (I gain about 10% from stock)

The 08G was only $50.00 more at my local store but not in stock at the time. I'd spend the extra $50 if I could have at the time, but I wasn't going to wait for stock.

8G, A8G, 08G or don't know and don't care? Any regrets re: which version you got?

I read somewhere (a bit like with medical self diagnosis, I should probably just stop reading now ) that the silicon that passed all their overclocking tests with flying colours ended up in the 08G and the cast offs ended up in the A8G.

 

[Alec Turner]

A8G, OC'd to between 1922 and 1936 depending on game (I gain about 10% from stock)

The 08G was only $50.00 more at my local store but not in stock at the time. I'd spend the extra $50 if I could have at the time, but I wasn't going to wait for stock.

Excellent - exactly the same as me then. Currently the 08G is nearly £100 more than the A8G which seems like a lot. I've currently got a price watch on the two and am thinking I'm going to try and hold out until Black Friday and then, if there are no mega-bargains to be had, grab the A8G.

 

[mp4x]

I think it would be worth getting if you have the spare hunj, the 08G, as one thing I've noticed from a couple of users is that those with the 08G can really over clock it. I'd be keen for that, but I must say sometimes I forget to overclock my A8G before heading into ED, or something else heavy on the system and I really don't notice that, technically, the card is running 10% slower... so it's not like you'd kick yourself for not getting one over the other, unless you're a competitive OC'er

You're mostly comparing 3Dmark scores at that stage, actual in-game experience isn't world breakingly different

Excellent - exactly the same as me then. Currently the 08G is nearly £100 more than the A8G which seems like a lot. I've currently got a price watch on the two and am thinking I'm going to try and hold out until Black Friday and then, if there are no mega-bargains to be had, grab the A8G.

 

[Globusdiablo]

8G, A8G, 08G or don't know and don't care? Any regrets re: which version you got?

I read somewhere (a bit like with medical self diagnosis, I should probably just stop reading now ) that the silicon that passed all their overclocking tests with flying colours ended up in the 08G and the cast offs ended up in the A8G.

As I understand it:

O8 = Overclocked = Strix

A8 = Advanced = Gaming

I think...

Actually... Hold the phone. Just did some checking, and now I'm confused at a higher level. Advertising seem to call them all the same. Apart from the A8g and O8g. And I can't see from my receipt or original box which one I've got.

Does anyone know where I can see it? Somewhere on the card I presume?

 

[mp4x]

Strix is just branding, they're all the same AOG/Strix card they've just passed different levels of bench testing

From there the factory set the clock speeds at one of three levels O8, A8 or 8G. But as above, I have my A8 running at the factory O8 speeds as an overclock, as an example

As I understand it:

O8 = Overclocked = Strix

A8 = Advanced = Gaming

I think...

Actually... Hold the phone. Just did some checking, and now I'm confused at a higher level. Advertising seem to call them all the same. Apart from the A8g and O8g. And I can't see from my receipt or original box which one I've got.

Does anyone know where I can see it? Somewhere on the card I presume?

 

[Globusdiablo]

Strix is just branding, they're all the same AOG/Strix card they've just passed different levels of bench testing

From there the factory set the clock speeds at one of three levels O8, A8 or 8G. But as above, I have my A8 running at the factory O8 speeds as an overclock, as an example

Cheers MP4X, but how do you actually know which card you've got. I can't see it anywhere on receipt or packaging. On the card somewhere I presume?

Edit: And all the software I've tried just says Nvidia gtx 1080...

 

[Alec Turner]

Cheers MP4X, but how do you actually know which card you've got. I can't see it anywhere on receipt or packaging. On the card somewhere I presume?

Edit: And all the software I've tried just says Nvidia gtx 1080...

See what I mean!

It would be soooo easy for someone like Amazon to (perhaps inadvertently) sell an A8G for £750 claiming it's an 08G.