EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti FTW: Extreme performance, lower cost

EVGA on Friday introduced yet another graphics card based on Nvidia Corp.’s GeForce GTX 980 Ti graphics processing unit, which boasts nearly 20 per cent higher clock-rates compared to reference boards. Performance of EVGA’s GeForce GTX 980 Ti FTW in games should be higher compared to performance of Nvidia’s GeForce GTX Titan X, but the price of the novelty should be relatively moderate thanks to simplified design.

The EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti FTW sports the same 1190MHz/1291MHz (base/boost) GPU frequencies as the more expensive GeForce GTX 980 Ti Classified graphics adapter recently reviewed by KitGuru. The only EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti graphics card that demonstrates higher performance than the FTW and Classified is the K|NGP|N, which GPU is clocked at 1203MHz/1304MHz out-of-the-box and even checked for overclocking potential.

Just like the Classified and the K|INGP|N, the EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti FTW uses a custom-designed printed-circuit board, but this one is considerably less expensive to manufacture than those used on other graphics adapters. The new board sports 8+2-phase voltage regulator module featuring solid-state inductors, high-quality capacitors and hardened MOSFETs to withstand greater stress and heat. The card has two 8-pin PCIe power connectors that can deliver up to 300W of power to it (in addition to 75W supplied by the PCI Express x16 slot) in a bid to ensure high overclocking potential.

The more expensive Classified and the K|INGP|N graphics adapters from EVGA have considerably more sophisticated 14+3-phase VRMs to ensure even higher overclocking potential. However, such VRMs and PCBs cost a lot, which is why the aforementioned boards from EVGA are priced at up to $1049 and are not easy to get. The EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti FTW should offer the right balance between the cost, performance and overclocking potential for those, who do not want to set records in benchmarks.

The EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti FTW comes with the company’s latest ACX 2.0+ cooling system, which has three 8mm heat-pipes, a large aluminium radiator as well as two double ball bearing fans with a special blade design. The ACX 2.0+ also features a memory/MOSFET cooling plate as well as a backplate.

The new GeForce GTX 980 Ti FTW from EVGA is available in the U.S. for $689, which is about $10 lower than the price of the EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti Classified, a card that was not available at EVGA’s online store at press time. The recommended price of the GeForce GTX 980 Ti FTW for the U.K. is unknown, but the board should hit the market in the coming weeks. Overclockers UK sells the EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti Classified for £629.

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KitGuru Says: At present, the difference between prices of the EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti FTW and the EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti Classified is negligible. Keeping in mind that Classified has a lot of similarities with the K|INGP|N board, the Classified may be a better choice if you buy now at recommended prices. However, several months down the road, prices will get lower and the fact that the EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti FTW is easier to build will help EVGA to make it considerably more affordable than the more advanced boards.

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