Duration: 27:15

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In case you were curious about these Nvidia graphics cards, especially if you want to use them in an off the shelf computer.

I redid the entire video, this time with better sound, and more in depth commentary on the graphics cards.

**Note:
Around the 7:00 mark, I discuss the cooling method used on the EVGA GTX 970 Super Super Clock.
Since recording this video, I have read information that conflicts with some of those things I said near the 7:00 minute mark. As things stand, I have not gotten to the bottom of this "conflicting information" yet, but I'm working on it.

I was led to believe that the model I possess is the SSC model with a revised cooling method, however, I have now read things that contradict that notion. I am trying to figure out exactly which EVGA cards have had the cooling method revised and will update this section when I have more accurate information.

For what it's worth, this card does stay cool for me (usually below 65 deg Celsius) in even the most demanding scenarios. Most of the time, when I check the temperature of this card, it's BELOW 60 deg Celsius. I only see it go above 60 degrees when I play three games so far:

1. Tomb Raider on MAX Settings except for tessellation. (Tessellation makes the game crash for me 100% of the time)

2. Far Cry 3 on Max Settings except for AA, which is at "4" instead of "8".

3. Crysis 3 on a mixture of High to Ultra settings.


Regardless of which cooling method my card has, it has stayed at least 20 degrees below what Nvidia states to be the maximum GPU temperature, and it usually stays more than 30 degrees below that threshold, even when playing games in 1080p at MAX or near-max settings.

*****
***********Update

I have been running monitoring software during games. Demanding games get up to about 72 - 74 deg Celcius. Not so demanding games are in the 50's and 60's. (EVGA GTX 970 SSC)

Geforce.com states that the max temperature of this card is 98 degrees, and the software that came with the card won't let me set it higher than 91 degrees. Suffice to say, this card is operating within safe levels, even if it doesn't operate at as low of temperatures as I've seen other reviewers say it does for them.

So why did I previously state demanding games run at 65 degrees? My previous method of testing involved quitting the game, going to the desktop, and checking the monitoring software. The thing is that this card cools off FAST. It drops from 72 degrees to 65 degrees in less than two minutes. I haven't timed it, but it might even be less than a minute. Now that I monitor GPU temperature DURING gameplay, I have a much better idea of how hot the card gets during demanding segments.

Also.. I think I have gotten to the bottom of the issue regarding which EVGA Super Super Clock I have, and I'm not overly thrilled, but I'm not overly disappointed. I have mixed thoughts and feelings.

I have some weird bastard version of the Super Super Clock that I purchased at Best Buy. Every time I've watched a YouTube video from someone with a Super Super Clock, they have one that is very different from mine.

The Super Super Clocks that I see on YouTube have three DisplayPorts. I only have one.
They also have one 6 pin and one 8 pin power connector. Mine has two 6 pin connectors.

I started to think I had the wrong card, so I went and got another from Best Buy. But that Super Super Clock was identical to the one in my possession, so I returned it. (it performed the same too)

Even though my card seems to be some weird version that is no longer on sale (on sites like Amazon, and I don't even think Best Buy lists my card on their website), I decided to keep it. I'll tell you why.

The fact is that it still performs closely enough to the GTX 980 to make me happy. Make no mistake, the GTX 980 *is* a STRONGER card. With the GTX 980, you can run one or two more notches better of Anti Aliasing. That is no small thing. But.... The GTX 970 is still a good performer. (even the strange version that I have)

The other reason I kept this SSC (Super Super Clock) instead of returning it and buying the more common one from another retailer is that I don't have an 8pin power connector. This card works with two 6 pin connectors, so I will carry on with it.

Nvidia and AMD will both be releasing cards this year. If one of them offers a vastly superior card that catches my attention, I will upgrade to that. The GTX 980 wasn't SO strong that I felt truly satisfied with it either, so I would rather upgrade from the cheaper 970 than the more expensive 980.

At the price point of the 970 and the performance it offers (most of what a 980 does minus two notches of anti aliasing), I feel satisfied to sit on this card right now.