Geforce GTX 980 Ti: 97% of the performance of the Geforce Titan X for 65% of the cost!
The best video cards for gaming?
By that, I mean the graphic cards that offer the best performance in video games at a given price.
Why would you want that, you ask?
Because you want the best bang for the buck, because you want the best graphic card for your hard-earned money and because you want the best gaming experience possible!
However, I do realize that not everyone has the time to read detailed video card reviews and to make sense of video card specifications.
This is why I write this guide for you: To help you save your time and money by doing the research for you and letting you know what are the best video cards for your money.
Please note that:
1- This list is based on the best U.S. and the best International(when available) prices for new video cards from NewEgg, Amazon and/or B&H that I’ve seen as of June 13th 2015.
2- Each video card performance will vary based on the games that you play; some games run better on Nvidia cards and some run better on AMD cards.
3- These video card recommendations are based on video game performance. These video cards are way overkill if you don’t play videos games and may not suit your needs for a Workstation.
Best entry level video cards:
Best video card for $60-75:
Geforce GT 730 64-bit GDDR5
- 
– $64.99 – PNY GeForce GT 730 1GB 64-bit GDDR5 (Newegg)- $10 Mail-in Rebate Available
- $64.99 – Zotac GeForce GT 730 1GB 64-bit GDDR5 (Amazon)
– $69.99 – EVGA GeForce GT 730 1GB GDDR5 64bit (Amazon)
– $69.99 – EVGA GeForce GT 730 1GB GDDR5 64bit (Newegg)
– $74.50 – EVGA GeForce GT 730 1GB GDDR5 64bit at B&H (International Shipping)
Radeon R7 240 vs Geforce GT 730:
The Geforce GT 730, equipped with GDDR5 memory on a 64-bit wide memory bus, offers a significant step-up in performance compared to the Radeon R7 240. This is why it replaced the previously recommended Radeon R7 240 1GB GDDR5 at the $70 price point.
Note the Zotac and PNY models are currently less expensive than the EVGA one. They are all just as good, so pick whichever one is the least expensive when you’re buying it.
Note that the GT 730 doesn’t need any additional power connector, it gets all the power that it needs from the PCI-Express 16x slot, so it’s a good choice if your PC’s power supply output is limited.
Is it for you? Only if:
You’re on a very tight budget and cannot afford to spend more than $70.
You only play older and not very demanding video games.
You play at a low resolution, such as a 1366 x 768 (monitor) or 720p (HD TV) or lower.
For those cases, the Geforce GT 730 is an entry level video card perfectly capable of matching your needs.
Otherwise, get a more powerful video card.
Avoid:
1- Models that come with DDR3 and 128-bit wide memory bus. Their performance is nothing like models equipped with GDDR5 and a 64-bit wide memory bus.
2- Wasting your money on 2GB of memory, it won’t make any difference in performance at this level.
Most people will need a more powerful video card to get a good gaming experience.
What video games can the Geforce GT 730 1GB GDDR5 run smoothly?
This video card will do the job at 1366 x 768 or 1440 x 900, although you might have to lower details in some games.
Best video card for $90-100:
Radeon R7 250X 1GB
- $89.99 – MSI Radeon R7 250X 1GB (Amazon)- $30 Mail-in Rebate Available
- $91.10 – ASUS Radeon R7 250X 1GB (Amazon)- $20 Mail-in Rebate Available
- $94.99 – ASUS Radeon R7 250X 1GB (Newegg)- $10 Mail-in Rebate Available
- $94.99 – Gigabyte Radeon R7 250X 1GB (Newegg)- $20 Mail-in Rebate Available
- $94.99 – Sapphire Radeon R7 250X 1GB (Newegg)- $10 Mail-in Rebate Available
- $99.99 – MSI Radeon R7 250X 1GB (Amazon)- $30 Mail-in Rebate Available
– $99.99 – Gigabyte Radeon R7 250X 2GB GDDR5 at B&H (International Shipping)
The Radeon R7 250X offers way higher performance than the Geforce GT 730.
Sure value for $90, even more so if you take advantage of the available mail-in rebates.
What video games can the Radeon R7 250X 1GB GDDR5 run smoothly?
This video card will do the job at 1440 x 900 or 1600 x 900, although you might have to lower details in some games.
Best video card for $105-120:
Radeon R7 260X 2GB
- $104.99 – Sapphire RADEON R7 260X OC 2GB (Newegg)- $20 Mail-in Rebate Available
- $114.99 – Powercolor RADEON R7 260X OC 2GB (Newegg)- $20 Mail-in Rebate Available
- $119.99 – Gigabyte RADEON R7 260X OC 2GB (Newegg)
- $119.99 – Sapphire RADEON R7 260X OC 2GB (Amazon)- $20 Mail-in Rebate Available
- $119.99 – Gigabyte RADEON R7 260X OC 2GB (Amazon)
- $118.95 – Sapphire RADEON R7 260X OC 2GB (B&H – International Shipping)
- $119.99 – XFX RADEON R7 260X OC 2GB (B&H – International Shipping)
- $118.95 – Gigabyte RADEON R7 260X OC 2GB (B&H – International Shipping)
The R7 260X 2GB used to sell for $100, but it’s now $110. It remains the best video card at that price.
The overall prices on the R7 260X 2GB video cards have been going up, with stocks being more limited. Prices might keep going up, so if you want one, now is most likely the best time to get it.
The R7 260X is similar to the older Radeon HD 7790, with the same number of stream processors, but with higher frequencies.
Radeon R7 260X vs Geforce 750
I’m recommending the R7 260X over the Geforce GTX 750 because it offers on average 10% higher performance, according to AnandTech’s review of the Geforce GTX 750 and GTX 750 Ti.
R7 250X vs R7 260 vs R7 260X:
– The R7 250X: 640 shader processors, 40 texture units. Frequencies of 1000MHz/4500MHz for the core and memory respectively. 1GB VRAM
– The R7 260: 768 shader processors, 48 texture units. Frequencies of 1000MHz/6000MHz for the core and memory respectively. 1GB VRAM
– The R7 260X: 896 shader processors, 56 texture units. Frequencies of 1100MHz/6500MHz for the core and memory respectively. 2GB VRAM
Avoid Radeon R7 260X models with only 1GB of memory
The R7 260X is powerful enough to take advantage of 2GB of memory. Considering the small price difference between 1GB and 2GB models, you’re making a better choice by going with the 2GB model.
What video games can the Radeon R7 260X 2GB run smoothly?
The R7 260X is capable of handling the vast majority of games at 1600 x 900 or 1920 x 1080, although you might have to lower details for the most demanding games, especially at 1080p.
Best mid range video cards:
Best Video Card for $150:
Radeon R9 270 2GB
- $149.39 – ASUS Radeon R9 270 2GB Dual-fan OC (Amazon)- $40 Mail-in Rebate Available
– $164.99 – ASUS Radeon R9 270 2GB Dual-fan OC from B&H (International Shipping)- $20 Mail-in Rebate Available
– $149.99 – Powercolor R9 270 2GB Dual Fans (Amazon)- $20 Mail-in Rebate Available
– $161.99 – XFX R9 270 2GB Single Fan from B&H (International Shipping)
– $172.99 – XFX R9 270 2GB Dual Fans from B&H (International Shipping)
Replacing the previously recommended R7 265 is the R9 270.
The R9 270 is definitely worth the additional $10 over the R7 265 (~$140), hence why I recommend it over the R7 265 at the $150 price point.
– The R7 265 comes with 1024 shader processors, 64 texture units and 32 ROPs. Frequencies of 925MHz/5600MHz for the core and memory respectively.
– The R9 270 comes with 1280 shader processors, 80 texture units and 32 ROPs. Frequencies of 925MHz/5600MHz for the core and memory respectively.
VS the competition:
Nvidia doesn’t have any product competing at this price point, AMD are basically competing with themselves.
Want the most powerful video card that doesn’t require an additional power connector?
If you have an older PC with a power supply that’s not powerful enough to handle more power-hungry video cards such as the R9 270 but want a more powerful video card, the EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti SuperClocked 2GB, available for $139.99 (Amazon)- $15 Mail-in Rebate Available or $139.99 at B&H (International Shipping) is what you want.
Pulling all the power that it needs from the PCI-Express 16x slot, it’s the most powerful video card that that doesn’t require an additional power connector.
What video games can the Radeon R7 270 2GB run smoothly?
The Radeon R9 270 is capable of handling all games at 1600 x 900 with details at high, as well as most games at 1920 x 1080, although you will have to lower details in more recent and more demanding games.
Best Video Card for $170:
Radeon R9 280 3GB
- $169.99 – Sapphire R9 280 2GB Dual Fans (Amazon)- $20 Mail-in Rebate Available
- $169.99 – XFX R9 280 2GB Dual Fans (Newegg)- $20 Mail-in Rebate Available
- $169.99 – Sapphire R9 280 2GB Dual Fans (Newegg)- $20 Mail-in Rebate Available
The R9 280 is definitely worth the additional $20-30 over the R9 270, hence why I recommend it at the $170-180 price point.
– The R9 270 comes with 1280 shader processors, 80 texture units and 32 ROPs. Frequencies of 925MHz/5600MHz for the core and memory respectively. 2GB VRAM
– The R9 280 comes with 1792 shader processors, 112 texture units and 32 ROPs. Frequencies of 850MHz/5000MHz for the core and memory respectively. 3GB VRAM
VS the competition:
Nvidia doesn’t have any product competing at this price point, AMD are basically competing with themselves.
What video games can the Radeon R9 280 3GB run smoothly?
The Radeon R9 280 is capable of handling all games at 1920 x 1080 (1080p/Full HD) with details at high, although you will have to lower details in more recent and more demanding games.
Best Video Card for $200:
Geforce GTX 960 2GB
- EVGA GeForce GTX 960 SuperSC ACX 2.0+ 2GB 1279/1342MHz – $199.99 (Amazon)
– EVGA GeForce GTX 960 SuperSC ACX 2.0+ 2GB 1279/1342MHz – $199.99 (Newegg)
– EVGA GeForce GTX 960 SuperSC ACX 2.0+ 2GB 1279/1342MHz – $199.99 (B&H – International Shipping)
Alternatives:
1. EVGA SC GTX 960 2GB 1216/1279MHz Ideal for Mini ITX – $199.99 (Amazon)
2. EVGA SC GTX 960 2GB 1216/1279MHz Ideal for Mini ITX – $199.99 (Newegg)
3. Gigabyte GTX 960 2GB 1165/1228MHz Ideal for Mini ITX – $199.00 (B&H – International Shipping)
4. ASUS Geforce GTX 960 2GB 1291/1317MHz – $201.99 (Amazon)
5. ASUS Geforce GTX 960 2GB 1291/1317MHz – $194.99 (Newegg)
6. ASUS Geforce GTX 960 2GB 1291/1317MHz – $199.99 (B&H – International Shipping)
7. MSI Geforce GTX 960 2GB White/Black 1178/1241MHz – $199.99 (Amazon)
8. MSI Geforce GTX 960 2GB White/Black 1178/1241MHz – $199.99 (Newegg)
9. MSI Geforce GTX 960 2GB Gaming 2G Red/Black 1216/1279Mhz – $210.99 (Amazon)
10. MSI Geforce GTX 960 2GB Gaming 2G Red/Black 1216/1279Mhz – $214.99 (Newegg)
11. MSI Geforce GTX 960 2GB Gaming 2G Red/Black 1216/1279Mhz – $210.99 (B&H – International Shipping
12. MSI Geforce GTX 960 2GB GAMING 100 Million Edition Green/Black 1216/1279MHz – $214.99 (Amazon)
13. MSI Geforce GTX 960 2GB GAMING 100 Million Edition Green/Black 1216/1279MHz – $214.99 (Newegg)
14. MSI Geforce GTX 960 2GB GAMING 100 Million Edition Green/Black 1216/1279MHz – $219.99 (B&H – International Shipping)
Why do I recommend the EVGA Geforce GTX 960 SuperSC ACX 2.0+?
1- EVGA customer support is the best in the industry. If you have any problem with your card, you can rely on them to get useful answers in a timely manner.
2- This particular card runs at higher frequencies (1279/1342MHz base/boost) than the reference Geforce GTX 960, resulting in higher performance.
3- Double bearing fans, meaning it has a longer lifespan and is less likely to fail early like cheaper sleeve fans.
4- If the GPU runs at 60C or less, the fans will shut down and your video card is silent. Of course, if the GPU runs above 60C, the fans will start again automatically. This is not exclusive to EVGA video cards but it’s a nice feature to have.
5- EVGA makes some of the most reliable video cards in the industry.
Launched on January 22nd 2015, the Nvidia Geforce GTX 960 is the best video card for $200 since then.
AMD and its partners have been dropping the prices on the R9 280 and its replacement, the R9 285 to match the price of the Geforce GTX 960, so that’s its direct competitor.
Geforce GTX 960 vs AMD R9 285:
Performance:
The two cards trade blows, with the R9 285 offering better performance in some games and the Geforce GTX 960 leading in other games.
That said, overall the Geforce GTX 960 does has a slight edge in performance, according to TechReport’s review of the Geforce GTX 960.
Power consumption and requirements:
The Geforce GTX 960 is far more power efficient: It consumes 4W less at idle and 87W less at load, again according to TechReport.
Its lower power consumption results in requiring only a single PCI-Express 6 pin power plug, instead of two on the R9 285.
Thanks to its lower power consumption, you can get away with a smaller power supply than with the R9 285.
Conclusion: The Geforce GTX 960 is the best choice for $200
With slightly better performance and lower power consumption, the choice is obvious to me: The Geforce GTX 960.
What video games can the Geforce GTX 960 2GB run smoothly?
The Geforce GTX 960 2GB is the ideal card if you want a card capable of handling games at 1920 x 1080 (1080p or Full HD), with details maxed out.
Best Video Card for $210-230:
Radeon R9 280X 3GB:
- Sapphire Radeon R9 280X OC 3GB Dual fans – $209.99 (Newegg)- $20 Mail-in Rebate Available
- PowerColor Radeon R9 280X OC 3GB Dual fans – $224.99 (Newegg)- $20 Mail-in Rebate Available
- Sapphire Radeon R9 280X OC 3GB Dual fans – $229.99 (Amazon)- $20 Mail-in Rebate Available
Geforce GTX 960 vs AMD R9 280X 3GB:
Performance:
The Geforce GTX 960 is a touch faster than the Radeon R9 280 and the Radeon R9 280X is a bit faster than the GTX 960. Same goes for their prices.
Overall the Radeon R9 280X 3GB does has a slight edge in performance, according to TechReport’s review of the Geforce GTX 960. The GTX 960 has slightly better 99th percentile performance, but the R9 280X has a significant lead when it comes to FPS average. It’s also equipped with 3GB of VRAM compared to 2GB for the GTX 960.
Best High End video cards:
Best Video Card for $250:
Radeon R9 290 4GB:
- PowerColor R9 290 OC 4GB Dual fans – $249.99 (Newegg)- $30 Mail-in Rebate Available
- Sapphire R9 290 OC 4GB Triple fans – $259.99 (Newegg)- $20 Mail-in Rebate Available
- MSI GAMING R9 290 OC 4GB Dual fans – $269.99 (Newegg)- $30 Mail-in Rebate Available
- Gigabyte R9 290 4GB Triple fans – $279.99 (Amazon)- $20 Mail-in Rebate Available
Upside: Outstanding performance for only $250
From a performance point of view, the R9 290 is considerably faster than the Geforce GTX 960 and nearly as powerful as the Geforce GTX 970.
It offers that performance while being priced closer to the GTX 960, so it’s an excellent deal from a performance/price ratio point of view.
The R9 290 is currently selling for as low as $250, compared to $310-340 for the GTX 970. This makes the R9 290X a compelling option.
The downsides V.S. the Geforce GTX 970:
High power consumption: The R9 290 draws roughly 100W more than the under loads, so you need a power supply that can handle the power consumption, especially if you overclock or intend to run two in Crossfire.
Noisier, due to the additional heat to dissipate: The R9 290 runs hotter and its cooling fans need to run faster to keep the card cool, so its noisier than the GTX 970. That additional heat will go in your case, so you need a case with decent airflow to keep the rest of your components cool.
Long cards: Due to the larger cooling systems, the R9 290X cards are rather long. If you have a smaller case, double-check the video card length clearance for the case and the video card’s length.
If you have the case and power supply to handle the R9 290, it’s an excellent choice. For smaller cases, if you have a power supply with a smaller capacity and/or if you want a card that’s more quiet, the Geforce GTX 970 is better choice.
What video games can the Radeon R9 290 4GB run smoothly?
This card will run any game at 1920 x 1200 (or 1080 for 1080p) maxed out, as well as most games at 2560 x 1600 without any problem. Gaming with a 4K resolution or on multiple monitors is also possible, although you might have to turn settings down, depending on the game.
Best Video Card For $320-350:
Geforce GTX 970 4GB:
- EVGA Geforce GTX 970 Dual-Fan ACX 2.0 Superclocked – $337.99 at Amazon
- EVGA Geforce GTX 970 Dual-Fan ACX 2.0 Superclocked – $349.99 at Newegg
- EVGA Geforce GTX 970 Dual-Fan ACX 2.0 Superclocked – $337.99 at B&H (International Shipping)
Geforce GTX 970 vs Radeon R9 290X:
Higher performance at 1920 x 1080 (1080p/Full HD)
Consumes less power: You don’t need as powerful of a power supply, especially with multiple video cards (SLI/Crossfire).
Runs less hot: Will have no problem running in smaller cases with limited airflow.
More quiet: Always a pro in my book.
Why do I recommend the EVGA Geforce GTX 970 ACX2.0 Superclocked?
1- EVGA customer support is the best in the industry. If you have any problem with your card, you can rely on them to get useful answers in a timely manner.
2- This particular card runs at higher frequencies than the reference Geforce GTX 970, resulting in higher performance.
3- Double bearing fans, meaning it has a longer lifespan and is less likely to fail early like cheaper sleeve fans.
4- If the GPU runs at 60C or less, the fans will shut down and your video card is silent. Of course, if the GPU runs above 60C, the fans will start again automatically. This is not exclusive to EVGA video cards but it’s a nice feature to have.
5- EVGA makes some of the most reliable video cards in the industry.
Alternative models
- From Amazon:
- $335.99 – MSI Geforce GTX 970 Dual-fan White & Black OC
– $329.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 970 Dual-Fan ACX 2.0
– $343.95 – EVGA GTX 970 SC Blower
– $339.49 – ASUS Geforce GTX 970 Dual-Fan OC
– $349.99 – EVGA GeForce GTX 970 FTW Dual-fan ACX 2.0
– $359.99 – ASUS GeForce GTX 970 DC Mini Ideal for Mini-ITX
– $325.99 – ASUS GeForce GTX 970 Turbo Ideal for SLI
- From Newegg:
- $338.99 – MSI Geforce GTX 970 Dual-fan White & Black OC
– $329.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 970 Dual-Fan ACX 2.0
– $334.99 – EVGA GTX 970 SC Blower
– $339.99 – ASUS Geforce GTX 970 Dual-Fan OC
– $329.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 970 Dual-Fan SSC ACX 2.0
– $329.99 – ASUS GeForce GTX 970 Turbo Ideal for SLI
- From B&H (International Shipping):
- $319.99 – Zotac Geforce GTX 970 Dual-Fan
– $335.99 – MSI Geforce GTX 970 Dual-fan OC
– $332.99 – EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Blower
– $329.99 – EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Dual-fan ACX 2.0
– $330.99 – MSI GTX 970 GAMING 4G Dual-Fan OC
– $350.95 – EVGA GeForce GTX 970 FTW Dual-fan ACX 2.0
– $349.95 – ASUS GeForce GTX 970 DC Mini Ideal for Mini-ITX
– $329.99 – ASUS GeForce GTX 970 Turbo Ideal for SLI
What video games can the Geforce GTX 970 4GB run smoothly?
This card will run any game at 1920 x 1200 (or 1080 for 1080p) maxed out, as well as games at 2560 x 1600 without any problem. Gaming with a 4K resolution or on multiple monitors is also possible, although you might have to turn settings down, depending on the game.
To AVOID for $400:
Two Geforce GTX 960 2GB in SLI
For those cases were you feel like you need more graphic performance, two Geforce GTX 960 2GB in SLI might seem like a bargain at $400.
However, the 2GB of VRAM per card will be a limitation for those very cases where you’ll need more performance, such as very high resolution and multiple screen setups.
This bears repeating: Avoid getting two Geforce GTX 960 in SLI.
If you want more performance, get a faster single-GPU video card, such as the Geforce GTX 980 recommended below. Need even more performance than what the Geforce GTX 980 can offer? Then get the Geforce GTX 980 Ti.
Best Video Card for $500:
Geforce GTX 980 4GB
- $509.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 SC 4GB Dual-fan (Amazon)
– $509.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 SC 4GB Dual-fan (Newegg)
– $544.10 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 SC 4GB Dual-fan (B&H – International Shipping)
Simply put, this card features the 2nd fastest graphic processor unit (GPU) on the market, only behind the $1000+ Geforce GTX Titan X. AMD has no card to compete at this level.
Not only that, but it’s surprisingly power efficient for such a powerful video card.
Why do I recommend the EVGA Geforce GTX 980 SC?
1- EVGA customer support is the best in the industry. If you have any problem with your card, you can rely on them to get useful answers in a timely manner.
2- This particular card runs at higher frequencies than the reference Geforce GTX 980, resulting in higher performance.
3- Double bearing fans, meaning it has a longer lifespan and is less likely to fail early like cheaper sleeve fans.
4- If the GPU runs at 60C or less, the fans will shut down and your video card is silent. Of course, if the GPU runs above 60C, the fans will start again automatically. This is not exclusive to EVGA video cards but it’s a nice feature to have.
5- EVGA makes some of the most reliable video cards in the industry.
Alternative models
- From Amazon:
- $499.19 – ASUS Geforce GTX 980 Dual-Fan 4GB STRIX
– $519.99 – MSI Geforce GTX 980 GAMING 4G Dual-Fan
– $519.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 SC 4GB Blower
– $529.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 SC 4GB FTW ACX 2.0
– $579.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 SC 4GB Nvidia Blower
- From Newegg:
- $519.99 – ASUS Geforce GTX 980 Dual-Fan 4GB STRIX
– $519.99 – MSI Geforce GTX 980 GAMING 4G Dual-Fan
– $519.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 SC 4GB Blower
– $579.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 SC 4GB Nvidia Blower
- From B&H (International Shipping):
- $499.19 – ASUS Geforce GTX 980 Dual-Fan 4GB STRIX
– $519.99 – MSI Geforce GTX 980 GAMING 4G Dual-Fan
– $579.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 SC 4GB Nvidia Blower
What video games can the Geforce GTX 980 4GB run smoothly?
1080p and 2560 x 1600 is handled by this card without any problem. 4K and multiple monitors can also be handled, although you should consider a Crossfire or SLI setup to get the best experience possible.
Best Video Cards For $650:
Geforce GTX 980 Ti
- $679.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti SC+ 4GB ACX 2.0 Dual-fan (Amazon)
– $699.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti SC+ 4GB ACX 2.0 Dual-fan (Newegg)
– $695.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti SC+ 4GB ACX 2.0 Dual-fan (B&H – International Shipping)
97% of Titan X performance for 65% of the price
The Geforce GTX 980 Ti offers on average 97% of the performance that the Geforce Titan X offers (according to AnandTech), while costing 35% less, making it a bargain for such high performance.
Why do I recommend the EVGA GTX 980 Ti SC+?
1- EVGA customer support is the best in the industry. If you have any problem with your card, you can rely on them to get useful answers in a timely manner.
2- This particular card runs at higher frequencies than the reference Geforce GTX 980 Ti, resulting in higher performance.
3- Double bearing fans, meaning it has a longer lifespan and is less likely to fail early like cheaper sleeve fans.
4- If the GPU runs at 60C or less, the fans will shut down and your video card is silent. Of course, if the GPU runs above 60C, the fans will start again automatically. This is not exclusive to EVGA video cards but it’s a nice feature to have.
5- EVGA makes some of the most reliable video cards in the industry.
Alternative models
- From Amazon:
- $649.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower
– $649.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB ACX 2.0 Dual-fan
– $669.00 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti SC 4GB Nvidia Blower
– $669.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB SC ACX 2.0 Dual-fan
– $649.99 – Gigabyte Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower
– $659.99 – ASUS Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower
– $679.99 – MSI Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower
– $679.99 – PNY Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower
- From Newegg:
- $649.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower
– $649.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB ACX 2.0 Dual-fan
– $669.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti SC 4GB Nvidia Blower
– $669.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB SC ACX 2.0 Dual-fan
– $769.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Hybrid (Air + All-in One Water Cooling)
– $649.99 – Gigabyte Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower
– $689.99 – Gigabyte Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Triple-fan
– $659.99 – ASUS Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower
– $669.99 – MSI Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower
– $659.99 – PNY Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower
- From B&H (International Shipping):
- $649.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower
– $649.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB ACX 2.0 Dual-fan
– $669.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti SC 4GB Nvidia Blower
– $669.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB SC ACX 2.0 Dual-fan
– $749.99 – EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Hybrid (Air + All-in One Water Cooling)
– $649.99 – Gigabyte Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower
– $679.99 – MSI Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower
For multiple video cards: Which cooling system works best?
Note that if you intend on getting more than one video card, you’re better off with models that have a closed cooler, because they exhaust the heat outside of your case, keeping your other components cooler. This avoid situations where the hot air from the bottom card warms up the top card and makes it overheat, thus reducing performance.
Avoid: Two Radeon R9 290/290X in Crossfire
Two Radeon R9 290/290X in Crossfire would consume a whole lot more power, emit a lot more heat, will be far noisier and you will need a case with sufficient airflow to get rid of all that additional heat. They risk running into overheating, where the cards will have to reduce their frequencies to avoid damage and this will reduce performance. Most people will be better off with a Geforce GTX 980 Ti instead.
Best Video Card for $1300:
Two Geforce GTX 980 Ti in SLI
- $1299.98 – Two EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in SLI (Amazon)
– $1299.98 – Two EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in SLI (Newegg)
– $1299.98 – Two EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in SLI (B&H – International Shipping)
Want more performance than what the fastest GPU can offer? Get two and team them up in SLI for more performance!
Simply put, this card features the fastest GPU on the market, even faster than the Radeon R9 290X and the Geforce GTX 980.
The Geforce GTX 980 Ti uses the same GPU as the more expensive Geforce Titan X video card, only with a small portion of it disabled.
The Geforce GTX 980 Ti offers on average 97% of the performance that the Geforce Titan X offers (according to AnandTech), while costing 35% less, making it a bargain for such high performance.
Alternative models
- From Amazon:
– $1338.00: Two EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti SC 4GB Nvidia Blower in SLI
– $1299.98: Two Gigabyte Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in SLI
– $1319.98: Two ASUS Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in SLI
– $1359.98: Two MSI Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in SLI
– $1359.98: Two PNY Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in SLI
- From Newegg:
– $1339.98: Two EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti SC 4GB Nvidia Blower in SLI
– $1299.98: Two Gigabyte Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in SLI
– $1319.98: Two ASUS Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in SLI
– $1339.98: Two MSI Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in SLI
– $1319.98: Two PNY Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in SLI
- From B&H (International Shipping):
– $1339.98: Two EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti SC 4GB Nvidia Blower in SLI
– $1299.98: Two Gigabyte Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in SLI
– $1359.98: Two MSI Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in SLI
For multiple video cards: Which cooling system works best?
You’re better off with models that have a closed cooler, because they exhaust the heat outside of your case, keeping your other components cooler. This avoid situations where the hot air from the bottom card warms up the top card and makes it overheat, thus reducing performance.
This is why that for SLI setups, I only recommend video cards with a closed cooler.
Best Video Card for $1950:
Three Geforce GTX 980 Ti in a 3-Way SLI
- $1949.97 – Three EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in SLI (Amazon)
– $1949.97 – Three EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in SLI (Newegg)
– $1949.97 – Three EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in SLI (B&H – International Shipping)
Want more performance? Time to step up to three Geforce GTX 980 Ti in Three-Way SLI.
Remember to plug the Nvidia Three-Way SLI bridge on the three cards to be able to enable Three-Way SLI. It’s included with the motherboard.
Make sure to get the latest version of the drivers straight from Nvidia, avoid those on the included DVD as those are outdated. There are updates on a regular basis, especially when new games are launched. New drivers fix bugs, increase performance and support newer games.
Alternative models
- From Amazon:
- $2007.00: Three EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti SC 4GB Nvidia Blower in a 3-Way SLI
– $1949.97: Three Gigabyte Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in a 3-Way SLI
– $1979.97: Three ASUS Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in a 3-Way SLI
– $2039.97: Three MSI Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in a 3-Way SLI
– $2039.97: Three PNY Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in a 3-Way SLI
- From Newegg:
– $2009.97: Three EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti SC 4GB Nvidia Blower in a 3-Way SLI
– $1949.97: Three Gigabyte Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in a 3-Way SLI
– $1979.97: Three ASUS Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in a 3-Way SLI
– $2009.97: Three MSI Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in a 3-Way SLI
– $1979.97: Three PNY Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in a 3-Way SLI
- From B&H (International Shipping):
– $2009.97: Three EVGA Geforce GTX 980 Ti SC 4GB Nvidia Blower in a 3-Way SLI
– $1949.97: Three Gigabyte Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in a 3-Way SLI
– $2039.97: Three MSI Geforce GTX 980 Ti 4GB Nvidia Blower in a 3-Way SLI
For multiple video cards: Which cooling system works best?
I recommend models that have a closed cooler, because they exhaust the heat outside of your case, keeping your other compone