ACX 2.0+ doesn't bring anything to the table that the other manufacturers don't have. It's just marketing. Stating that "ACX 2.0 is so efficient that the fans don't even run until the card is under greater load." isn't exactly true, all of the manufacturers cards will do this but it's only on certain Maxwell GPU's so far.

 I've had many EVGA cards over the years, and they have all been fine and without any issues but there's nothing overly fantastic or special about them. I've found more recently that I'd pick EVGA only after ASUS, Gigabyte and MSI for my videocard needs. It all just comes down to personal preference really.

ACX 2.0+ doesn't bring anything to the table that the other manufacturers don't have

Dave, I didn't say that ACX 2.0 did bring anything to the table that the others don't. In fact I said the opposite...

 

I said... "Hope I don't sound like an EVGA fanatic, other manufactures employ decent cooling solutions too, like Asus for example".

 

I was merely trying to emphasise the merits of the non-reference design, namely better cooling solutions and better on-board components, higher overclocks etc.

 

Stating that "ACX 2.0 is so efficient that the fans don't even run until the card is under greater load." isn't exactly true, all of the manufacturers cards will do this but it's only on certain Maxwell GPU's so far.

 

We were talking about a Maxwell card. GTX 980 Ti to be precise. Nobody said the other manufacturers cards don't, nobody said that the EVGA cooling solution is superior to the other non-reference cooling sollutions. Just that it's efficient and better than the reference design.  

 

 

 

I've had many EVGA cards over the years, and they have all been fine and without any issues but there's nothing overly fantastic or special about them.

 

Again, nobody said there was, it's the non-refence design that's "special" not necessarily whether it's Asus or EVGA.

 It's all good Martin, I wasn't referring to anyone in particular in my post. I was merely trying to point out for those that don't know is that EVGA hasn't done anything overly special to their card's that the other manufacturers haven't. It's which ever marketing ploy or sale price that we decide to go with.

 

That being said, you did say "ACX 2.0 is so efficient that the fans don't even run until the card is under greater load." When it really has nothing to do with ACX 2.0.

Basically a Reference Board means the heat is blown outside your case,   A Non Reference board blows the heat inside your case,  Depending what you want both have there advantages and disadvantages.

 

 

That's a bit simplistic to be honest. That's not the definition of a non-reference card.

 

 

I know i put it a very simple way,  but when i was buying my card the only thing i wanted was a card that blew outside the case and somebody else explained it to me that way,  which made perfect sense to me  :smile:   Yes you are correct though Martin,  there's a lot more to it alright  

It's all good Martin, I wasn't referring to anyone in particular in my post. I was merely trying to point out for those that don't know is that EVGA hasn't done anything overly special to their card's that the other manufacturers haven't. It's which ever marketing ploy or sale price that we decide to go with.

 

That being said, you did say "ACX 2.0 is so efficient that the fans don't even run until the card is under greater load." When it really has nothing to do with ACX 2.0.

Fair enough Dave.

 

 

I know i put it a very simple way,  but when i was buying my card the only thing i wanted was a card that blew outside the case and somebody else explained it to me that way,  which made perfect sense to me  :smile:   Yes you are correct though Martin,  there's a lot more to it alright

I should add, that my intention is to opt for the EVGA Kingpin, but I have also looked at the Asus cards. The Asus 980Ti Matrix looks interesting. Asus seem to have put in a ton of non-reference design work on this card... pity the cooler looks crap though.

The Kingpin eh, Very very nice Martin,  A serious piece of hardware,  getting amazing reviews as well 

 

http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-Multi-Color-Customized-Overclocking-06G-P4-5998-KR/dp/B016703RXS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1446670003&sr=8-2&keywords=gtx+980ti+kingpin

Available in four flavours. 72% 74% 76% and 80% ASIC. EVGA pre bin the GPU's. I'm thinking no point in the higher ASIC unless water cooling.

http://www.evga.com/articles/00944/EVGA-GeForce-GTX-980-Ti-KINGPIN/#BuyNow

May still change my mind dependant on available dosh.


I loved your "about me" in your profile by the way. :smile:

I did change my mind, ordered the Classified. Typical me.

Sure my little tin head doesn't be rite half the time :smile: 

 

Classified, Very nice.  Plenty of wack there alright     http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-CLASSIFIED-Installed-Backplate-06G-P4-4998-KR/dp/B010GK3YYC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1446763320&sr=8-1&keywords=gtx+980ti+classified

 

Enjoy.  Report back and tell us how you get on 

 Good call on the Classified, right out of the box you can clock it to well past what the Kingpin runs at and it won't skip a beat.

Thanks Dave and Elaine, it was a last minute brain fart. :smile: Glad you approve.

 

After seeing how much the total was for my new build, I dived into budget cuts. No compromise on the GPU, RAM, CPU, but switched to the Asus Z170-A instead of the Deluxe and abandoned the notion of blisteringly fast Intel 750 U.2 storage and went for a Samsung Evo.

 

Had to save some dosh as I still need to pull the trigger on a 1440P monitor and want the best I can get. Thinking G-Synch but still puzzling over that decision.