Guys, help me out. I'm going to purchase a GTX580 shortly, and I'm wondering which of the brands is best to go for. I was interested in the Gigabyte version, as I have their motherboards and find them to be very reliable: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/1536...72mhz-shader-1544mhz-512-cores-mhdmi-dl-dvi-i Do you guys recommend another brand perhaps?
Aren't all 580's reference boards? If so, it shouldn't make much of a difference. I'd buy based on RAM and warranty.
So who do you guys recommend? EVGA? ASUS? What about the "minor" companies like PNY or Point of View? What about Gigabyte that I mentioned? Or even KFA2 or Gainward?
Isn't it EVGA that offer the longer warranty (not sure about the GTX580 though)? Also, don't they still honour the warranty if you watercool the card? Worth looking into. Location of RMA point of contact and warranty would assist me in choosing.
They also still do their step up program do they not? I upgraded to a 7950GX2 only to have the 8800gtx be released just a month after. Upgraded via step up to the latter. Still got the 8800gtx.
EVGA have the Step Up Program which interests me, plus they have the Advanced RMA system and the 10 Year Warranty. I guess my mind is made up
back in the day, EVGA warranty covered even overclocking.... not sure if thats the case now. other than that, who ever gives the best warranty and price
evga covers everything ( apart from you smashing it up with a hammer) all they ask is that you set you set your graphics card to stock speeds and even that is quite flexible evga get my recommendation really worth spending that little bit more for so much more
Every one of them are reference. Personally I'd go for stock clock speed and availability... Most warranties are at least three years anymore, which is longer than most people will keep a card (and manufacturers will produce a card) anyway. Higher stock clock usually relates to higher binning and potential overclocking as well. I'm expecting my MSI GTX 580 OC on Thursday. Fastest stock clock speed and cheapest price out of all the cards on newegg (though they changed the price directly after I ordered mine), and it's got a three year warranty.
Some have overclocked it (by like 3-5% *facepalm*) but it's not worth the price. Go for the Evga one with the awesome RMA policy
The Msi has a six percent overclock for the same price as the EVGA's base model... As I said before, I'd rather have the stock overclock and higher binning. Five years from now if it finally blows up I'm 100% sure I would be ready for an upgrade anyway. If it blows up within three years, I'll get it replaced. That's my $0.02 anyway.
What does EVGA have to do with modding or benching? Once again, every card is reference. Overclock is luck of the draw for any brand, and no one brand will overclock better than another unless it uses a BIOS that allows more voltage (in which case the ASUS card would be better than the EVGA according to a test on X-S, as it allows a higher voltage).
the thing is most companies warranty gets taken off your card, when you over volt the card, over clock it, take off the cooler or water cool your card, evga also has a very good RMA service and if your card brakes and they don't have another replace ment they give you a better card so to me it is worth spending that £20 more for a better service
i bought my one depend on RMA location. KFA2, Zotac are two i know has warehouse in UK. im sure big motherboard manufacturers will also have RMA centres in UK.
We need a (stickied) thread on this forum that lists GPU vendors, their warranties and conditions, and the location of their RMA centre tbh. Would make it much easier in providing customers with the best brands to choose from.
