zeusapollon Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Hello.What would you say is the best solution for SLI cards, reference or non-reference cards?The 2 GTX 780 Windforce 3X I have in an order at a netshop have in benchmarks around 10 degrees celcius lower temps than the referance cards with only 1 card mounted, but how will this compare with referance cards in SLI?Reference cards blow the heat out back, and the non-reference cards push the air out in the cabinet again. I have 200mm intake fans both at the front and at the side, so was thinking this should be enough for pushing away the hot air made by the gpu cards.Have still time to change the order before the cards will be sent 20.06, just don't want to order something for that price, if the cooling won't be enough.Would really appreciate your thoughts about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McSwain Posted June 15, 2013 Share Posted June 15, 2013 I would wait for the Asus Direct CU II as the added more power phases and have nice cool fan to go along with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dopamin3 Posted June 15, 2013 Share Posted June 15, 2013 I would just go with SLI Windforce cards. I have one and have to say it is just so great. I'm talking GPU temperature of 68C with fan completely silent in the low 40% range (this is at stock with no OC for now). The cooler is so great I would still opt for it even though a little more hot air will be circulating in the case. Given your situation too where you have 200mm intake fans, it's more than enough to compensate. You can't go wrong with these cards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Founder Brian Posted June 16, 2013 Founder Share Posted June 16, 2013 Hello.What would you say is the best solution for SLI cards, reference or non-reference cards?The 2 GTX 780 Windforce 3X I have in an order at a netshop have in benchmarks around 10 degrees celcius lower temps than the referance cards with only 1 card mounted, but how will this compare with referance cards in SLI?Reference cards blow the heat out back, and the non-reference cards push the air out in the cabinet again. I have 200mm intake fans both at the front and at the side, so was thinking this should be enough for pushing away the hot air made by the gpu cards.Have still time to change the order before the cards will be sent 20.06, just don't want to order something for that price, if the cooling won't be enough.Would really appreciate your thoughts about this.What are you using to cool your CPU? As long as the CPU and chipset are fine then go with the non-reference versions. If heat build up is an issue, then blower is better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeusapollon Posted June 16, 2013 Author Share Posted June 16, 2013 Thanks Dopamin3 and Brian, that was just what I was thinking.I'm using a NZXT Kraken X60 closed waterloop for cooling the cpu, so that shouldn't get too effected. Have read many would say reference cards are the best solution for SLI, but I just have trouble making sence out of this for my setup.First take a look at this review done by Guru3D:Gigabyte GeForce GTX 780 WindForce 3x OC review - Graphics card temperaturesA reference card will under full load reach 80 degrees c. A non-reference card like the windforce X3 are reaching 67 degrees c under full load. That's 13 degrees difference.In most SLI setups the upper card gets 8-10 degrees hotter, and that would take the reference card to about 90 degrees c.Let's say the upper card in the windforce X3 will get 15 degrees hotter in SLI, due to the air blowing out in the case, that would still only reach 82 degrees c.And with good airflow in the case, plus a Corsair High Pressure 2350rpm fan pushing air directley in between the cards from the side, and a 200mm side panel case fan, wouldn't this have better potensial reaching better temperatures? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iMake Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 I think you'd have to watercool. Blower-style fans don't do well in SLI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strong island 1 Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 Hello.What would you say is the best solution for SLI cards, reference or non-reference cards?The 2 GTX 780 Windforce 3X I have in an order at a netshop have in benchmarks around 10 degrees celcius lower temps than the referance cards with only 1 card mounted, but how will this compare with referance cards in SLI?Reference cards blow the heat out back, and the non-reference cards push the air out in the cabinet again. I have 200mm intake fans both at the front and at the side, so was thinking this should be enough for pushing away the hot air made by the gpu cards.Have still time to change the order before the cards will be sent 20.06, just don't want to order something for that price, if the cooling won't be enough.Would really appreciate your thoughts about this.Get 2 classified's, 2 lightnings, or 2 evga 780 sc acx. I am running 2 classified's in sli and using air coolers until the waterblocks release. My rig is setup for water so the airflow isn't the greatest and I am not having a problem. My temps are at about 75c while gaming but only because I am using 1.35v. You will be fine with non-reference cards and your setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themac79 Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 I run two stock 780's in SLI in my HAF932 Advanced tower and my temps reach about 73C with the GPU overclocked +160. The stock cooling does a very good job in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strong island 1 Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Since you waited this long since the 780 release you might as well get the fastest 780 available since all models are released except for the lightning which should be out soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newhit Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 Since you waited this long since the 780 release you might as well get the fastest 780 available since all models are released except for the lightning which should be out soon.Errrrrr, add UK Classifieds to the list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
touki Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 If you are running side by side, use the blower style cooler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zarach Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 I would go with the blower style cooler unless you're case is well ventilated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gh0stp1rate Posted August 22, 2013 Share Posted August 22, 2013 I was going to wait for MSI to release their 780 Lightning, but ended up just getting 2 of EVGA's 780 Classified's when they became available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srobrt Posted September 8, 2013 Share Posted September 8, 2013 The MSI ones seem like a nice option, but I would also recommend a fan or two over the cards, to help the airflow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qgshadow Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Usually blower types are better in SLI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Playfreake Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 I would also chose blower types. Because i got 580 directCU II and they worked very well together and my temps are more than okay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dark11b Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 Definatly would go with the reference card. I messed up buying an acx. They tend to get really hot. My reference runs way cooler then my acx. ( bad case -.-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlekKing Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 I've had two DCII OC in SLI and the top card seems to go past 80C no matter what even with 85% fan speed and a large side panel fan blowing at both cards, my CPU is cooled by a H100i pulling air outside... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JouMxyzptlk Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 As long as they are identical it doesn't matter. If they are not identical better stick to reference, different card speeds and SLI can get some funny effects, microstutter are more difficult to control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odefruto Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 I would buy reference cooling.Keeping all the heat generated by two of these inside the case can be no good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex_123_fra Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 I would agree, reference coolers expelling heat to the rear of the case are best for air-based SLI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techkl Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 it depends non reference is better for overclocking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Presjar Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Blower fans would work better in SLI only if you have a space between them. Obviously when they almost are touching on a standard setup there is no way for the upper card to suck in cool airflow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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