Overclock That GeForce! Gigabyte GTX 780 Ti OC & GTX 780 GHz Review

[Steve]

The graphics card market has experienced some amazing turns lately even though AMD and Nvidia haven't made serious architectural changes in 2013.

I'm with you that nVidia has not made any serious architectural changes 2013 but how can you say that about AMD? Hawaii XT has 6.2billion transistors vs 4.3Billion of it's predecessor, the die is 438mm vs 352mm with a 512bit memory interface?

Per what you have said about AMD is exactly what Nvidia did, they did the same thing

The architecture hasn't changed for either side, it's just gotten bigger.

Derek Zoolander: I don't wanna hear your excuses! The GPU has to be at least... three times bigger than this!

GTX 680 vs. GTX 780 Ti - 3.5 billion transistors vs. 7.08 billion transistors, 294mm2 die vs 561mm2 die, 88% more CUDA cores, 50% more bandwidth.

How does that not but them in the same boat?

I don't like how values percentages as card x/ card y. A video card cannot be operated in a vacuum. I would prefer the percentage be computer system x / computer system y. For example, computer x with a R9 290 would cost 1400 vs computer y with a 770 ti would cost 1700- only an 18% difference.

Ron Burgundy: I... I don't... I didn't understand one word you said.

 

[Jad Chaar]

Depends what your definition of "much" is

The driver just adds fan speed to mitigate the vagaries of the variance found in the PWM implementation. Some cards throttle worse than others. Chassis airflow and ambient temps are also going to play a part. Quiet mode isn't that much of an issue since I doubt that many would be using it in practice. In Uber mode you're still better off manually setting the fan higher to eliminate throttling issues...or taking matters a little further

Haha it seems like the driver made an already noisy and hot card worse xD! Thanks for sharing these benchmarks.

 

[PC EliTiST]

I bought a 780 lightning not long ago...
I am annoyed.
Live and learn...

You should feel bad, it's justified.

Paying as much for a single GPU is the reason Nvidia keeps gettings us naked.

Um, 290X buyers have a LOT more to pissed about. They paid $150 more than a 290 for ~5fps. There is NO reason to buy a 290X now. Unless you really really really like the letter X.

Dat 780 Ti OC doe! O-M-G!

This is the reason I got the 7950 ( not 70 ) and if I was in the market for a card, I'd certainly go with 290 ( not 290X ).

Coincidentally, I have the Gigabyte model and the cooler is truly good and silent. The problem is, Gigabyte was cherry-picking AMD7000 series those with the worst ASIC quality. I don't know why, though.

 

[GhostRyder]

Haha it seems like the driver made an already noisy and hot card worse xD! Thanks for sharing these benchmarks.

Not really, it fixed it to what the pre-sent models were doing so in reality it just made them actually act like the ones we saw in the reviews. Kinda a weird bug that it was not doing what it was supposed to, but I guess things happen, not the worst thing to ever happen.

Besides JC713, the 290/290X cooler has an multiple uses other than cooling your GPU, you could use it for blow drying you hair, an nice fan to cool you down in summer heat, a space heater, and many others, the possibilities are endless. When is the last time NVidia created a card with that many features

I really wanna see someone push this card to its limits, the 780ti could hit 1400mhz core and that would be awesome.

 

[Guest]

The 780TI OC is the one for me. Quality, speed and , quiet!

 

[Burty117]

I hope MSI makes a Lightning edition, Unfortunately I fell out with Gigabyte over a GTX260 when the cooler on it had dodgy fans, even after being replaced the next one still had a fan which just got stuck after a few weeks of use.

After reading this I may bite the bullet and go for a custom cooler rather than the stock one, as cool as the stock one looks if you can get that much more out of the card with a third party cooler on this beast I may as well!

 

[cliffordcooley]

I hope MSI makes a Lightning edition

Would that be any different than the Twin Frozr edition?

 

[Burty117]

Would that be any different than the Twin Frozr edition?

Well if past Graphics card's are anything to go by, yes, if you check out the 780 Lightning for example:
http://uk.msi.com/product/vga/N780-Lightning.html

And the OC Twin Frozr Edition:
http://uk.msi.com/product/vga/N780-TF-3GD5-OC.html#overview

The lightnings always have a different power delivery system so you can overclock them more, a better cooler to cope and are clocked as standard higher.

 

[GhostRyder]

Would that be any different than the Twin Frozr edition?

Essentially, a Twin Frozr is just a reference card with their twin frozr cooler on top. The Lightnings have a better lightning cooler and like Burty117 said, a better power delivery system for extreme overclocking. That's what I would get if I were buying this card, or the EVGA version.

 

[cliffordcooley]

The lightnings always have a different power delivery system so you can overclock them more, a better cooler to cope and are clocked as standard higher.

Ahh, thanks for pointing that out.

The reason I asked was because I found a Lightning edition that looked the same as my GTX 660 Twin Frozr. I'll be damned if I can find it again though. I also came across this page while searching.

Lightning Series graphics cards

 

[Burty117]

or the EVGA version.

Yeah, I am very tempted by the EVGA versions my problem is, around here in my group of friends they all go EVGA and it feels a little "main stream" if you will xD

I've always liked MSI Graphics Cards and they always get really good ratings, it's a shame they take so long to bring out Lightning editions, I'd assume though this shouldn't take too long considering they already have a 780 version.

 

[GhostRyder]

Yeah, I am very tempted by the EVGA versions my problem is, around here in my group of friends they all go EVGA and it feels a little "main stream" if you will xD

I've always liked MSI Graphics Cards and they always get really good ratings, it's a shame they take so long to bring out Lightning editions, I'd assume though this shouldn't take too long considering they already have a 780 version.

Yea, I like EVGA, though I hate the price of their waterblocks, thats really the only problem with going with the classified versions is those pricey classified blocks (Or buy the classified one with the block attached). The Lightnings tend to be for me a little more reasonable at times and deliver close if not the same performance and be a little more flexible in terms of water blocks (Though I have not kept up to date if the PCB on these lightnings are still able to fit reference versions). I also like the Asus ones, but man those 3 slots really knock it off my list even if I put a waterblock on it because you cant change out the front cover to a 2 slot design.

Im probably this round going to compare the Lighting 290X and 780ti and decide which one I feel like going this round, no matter what im grabbing 2 of whatever card I choose with space for a third in the future for when my wallet reloads .

 

[Jad Chaar]

It is very interesting to see the performance of the OCed version of this card. It seems like a beastly OCer.

 

[GhostRyder]

It is very interesting to see the performance of the OCed version of this card. It seems like a beastly OCer.

I would expect nothing less from a 3 fan cooler made by gigabyte, those coolers in my opinion are some of the best if your going with a straight air cooler.

 

[dividebyzero]

Yeah, I am very tempted by the EVGA versions my problem is, around here in my group of friends they all go EVGA and it feels a little "main stream" if you will xD

But best warranty bar none. If you plan on keeping the card for less than three years, then EVGA is the way to go since the warranty is attached to the card- not whomever owns it at the time.

EVGA also are including Rise of the Triad as well as the three games generally bundled with the card ( AC4, Batman:AO, and Splinter Cell: Blacklist)
Bear in mind that the SuperClocked is just a clock boosted reference card. For a proprietary power delivery you'd need to go for the FTW or HydroCopper (8+2 phase), or Classified (14+2 phase) when they come out

I've always liked MSI Graphics Cards and they always get really good ratings, it's a shame they take so long to bring out Lightning editions, I'd assume though this shouldn't take too long considering they already have a 780 version.

The Lightning cards of late aren't binned particularly highly for air cooling. They are generally high leakage parts more suited to sub-zero overclocking. The Gaming Edition 780 isn't far behind the Lightning in usable 24/7 overclocking if you're using an unmodified card.

Also, a word to the wise....the GTX 780 Ti won't be Nvidia's top performing card for very much longer It will certainly be dethroned before Christmas.

Yea, I like EVGA, though I hate the price of their waterblocks.

EVGA use/sell Swiftech FC blocks which aren't particularly cheap in any case. EK's blocks are cheaper (esp in Europe) and perform better...but since Burty hasn't evinced an interest in watercooling the card it's rather a moot point.

 

[GhostRyder]

EVGA use/sell Swiftech FC blocks which aren't particularly cheap in any case. EK's blocks are cheaper (esp in Europe) and perform better...but since Burty hasn't evinced an interest in watercooling the card it's rather a moot point.

I was referring to myself in that instance while talking with burty117, I was saying that I like their cards but for the purposes of watercooling which I do the problem was the price for those Liquid Classified blocks compared to the reference price ones. EK waterblocks are probably the best blocks out there and offer the best price to performance ratio which will probably mean thats who im going with this round. The MSI Lightning vs EVGA Classified in terms of aircooling, yeah its a better option to go with the EVGA version overall if you seek the highest possible overclocks on air.

I had not seen those classified EK blocks on the market over here, must not have been looking in the right place, ill check frozencpu, I was referring to the Stock EVGA branded ones which are normally at least for me the easiest to get over those EK here in America as with the last time I helped my friend order some of the EVGA Classy blocks for his 680 classys, they were at that point stuck to just the EVGA ones were the only ones available and were very pricey.

 

[dividebyzero]

I had not seen those classified EK blocks on the market over here, must not have been looking in the right place, ill check frozencpu

Swiftech $150...EK...$120. The very definition of "no-brainer"

I was referring to the Stock EVGA branded ones

Rebranded Swiftech. Same price as FrozenCPU, and Performance PCs (also the EVGA branded variety), and Sidewinder (EVGA and the presently on sale Swiftech)

 

[GhostRyder]

This is what I normally see when searching for a classified block
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/2...d_Hydro_Copper_Waterblock_400-CU-G780-B2.html

This to me is a better price considering the cards price as well and a backplate
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/2...el_EK-FC780_GTX_Lightning_-_AcetalNickel.html

Although now with these, even though they are not full cover their price is better.
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/2...ck_-_Nickel_EK-FC780_GTX_Classy_-_Nickel.html

Market is overblown now with lots for the classified blocks. But then you have to factor in a backplate which is just another 20 bucks.

 

[dividebyzero]

Although now with these, even though they are not full cover their price is better.
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/21661/ex-blc-1563/EK_EVGA_780_Classified_and_780_Ti_Classified_VGA_Liquid_Cooling_Block_-_Nickel_EK-FC780_GTX_Classy_-_Nickel.html.

The EK blocks are full cover. Full cover refers to the block covering all areas requiring heat dissipation. The EK block covers the VRM circuitry and that qualifies as "full cover" hence the EK-FC780 designation. The Swiftech blocks extra length adds nothing except extra weight:

You're probably thinking that full cover equates to full length. From an aesthetic viewpoint it may be desirable for some, but the added weight certainly isn't (The Swiftech weighs in at 1.247kg, the EK at around 0.95kg).
So, the EK is cheaper, lighter, offers better cooling, and is just as easy to source as the Swiftech block whose only saving grace seems to be that it hides some caps on the underside of the card. Being a guy that values function over form I judge it a no contest.

 

[GhostRyder]

The EK blocks are full cover. Full cover refers to the block covering all areas requiring heat dissipation. The EK block covers the VRM circuitry and that qualifies as "full cover" hence the EK-FC780 designation. The Swiftech blocks extra length adds nothing except extra weight:

You're probably thinking that full cover equates to full length. From an aesthetic viewpoint it may be desirable for some, but the added weight certainly isn't (The Swiftech weighs in at 1.247kg, the EK at around 0.95kg).
So, the EK is cheaper, lighter, offers better cooling, and is just as easy to source as the Swiftech block whose only saving grace seems to be that it hides some caps on the underside of the card. Being a guy that values function over form I judge it a no contest.

I know the difference between full cover and non full cover, I was referring to the aestetic appearance in meaning where it covers the entire length of the card, I should have said the short full cover blocks or whatever. A true non-full cover is one like this that only cools the GPU it self and not the VRAM. I like to have the entire card covered because of the look and the fact it makes the card easier to handle when doing maintenance.

But because of the pricing unless some different ones come out that cover everything at a better price, I might as well go with that for the class's if I go for them. My current HD 6990's have the Swiftech Epsilons on them that are full cover and cover the entire card which in my opinion is just a cleaner and better look.

At this point however, it seems based on testing and from what everyone tells me as of late, there's about no reason not to go EK anymore, they are just that much better.

 

[trajan2448]

This is an awesome card. The overclocked performance is amazing and still MUCH cooler and quieter than the 290x, which it overshadows in some games by huge margins. It really does the deserve the crown at the moment.

 

[Guest]

I bought the Gigabyte GTX 780 GHZ from newegg for 540 with the holiday bundle so it came with the new batman, assassins creed and splintercell games. When you compare the numbers for the 780 ghz versus the Gigabyte 290x OC(both reviews done by this site) the 780 GHZ comes out on top as much as 7-10 fps in games like crysis far cry bio shock and matches it or comes close in other games like metro last light. This card wasn't available when I purchased the 780 towards the end of December. It is now available on newegg for 700. I was really hoping to get a 290x since last fall when they were announced but at the price it just didn't make sense and I didn't feel like waiting for the price to drop. Since I got it I've been very pleased getting consistent boosts at 1163 core. The fans never went above 58% with a max temp of 74.

 

[HamPstOr]

I'm really confused. Is the conclusion to be drawn from the benchmarks that the 780 Ti OC is better than the Ghz edition? For clarity that is the GV-N78TOC-3GD is better than the GV-N78TGHZ-3GD.

Sorry if that's a stupid question, I'm new to custom PCing and I really wanted to know how big a difference the extra £100 for the Ghz edition would get me; but now I'm just really confused. :S