Reddit User Scores Dual Nvidia GTX Titan X GPUs with Water Cooling for Just $86

A Reddit user has secured an incredible deal on high-end graphics hardware, purchasing a pair of Nvidia GTX Titan X (Maxwell) GPUs along with custom water cooling components for just $86. The user, known as u/Syft694 on the PCMR subreddit, shared their find with the community, noting they plan to upgrade from their current GTX 1650 graphics card.

At the time of their release, the GTX Titan X (Maxwell) carried a suggested retail price of $999 per card, making this dual-GPU setup worth approximately $2,000 when new. This means the buyer achieved a discount of more than 95% on what was once Nvidia's flagship consumer graphics card.

The GTX Titan X (Maxwell) launched in 2015 as part of Nvidia's Maxwell architecture, featuring 3,072 CUDA cores, 12GB of GDDR5 memory, and a 384-bit memory interface. While these cards lack modern features like ray tracing support, they still offer respectable performance comparable to an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 or GTX 980 Ti according to Tom's Hardware's GPU benchmarks hierarchy.

Water Cooling Considerations

The deal includes several random EK water cooling parts, which adds value but also presents some challenges. Redditors in the thread pointed out that the buyer may need to purchase additional water cooling hardware if the included components aren't sufficient for a complete loop.

One helpful suggestion came from a community member who recommended looking for a Kraken G12 cooling bracket, which could work with various AIO coolers available on the market. This could potentially solve cooling needs without requiring a full custom water cooling setup.

Driver Support and Use Cases

A significant concern raised by other Redditors is the lack of Game Ready Drivers for Maxwell-era cards. Nvidia has shifted its driver development focus to newer architectures, which can cause compatibility issues with the latest games and applications.

However, u/Syft694 addressed this concern by explaining that they primarily play older titles that benefit more from pure rasterization performance rather than modern features. They also noted that Turing and newer generation GPUs are prohibitively expensive in their region, making this upgrade particularly attractive despite its limitations.

Environmental Impact

Beyond the financial benefits, this purchase represents an environmentally conscious choice. By giving these high-end graphics cards a second life, the buyer is helping to reduce electronic waste and keeping functional hardware out of landfills. The GTX Titan X was once a formidable graphics card, and with proper cooling and maintenance, it can continue serving gamers well for years to come.

Market Context

This deal comes at a time when GPU prices are experiencing significant volatility due to memory chip shortages affecting the broader semiconductor industry. The current market conditions have made it increasingly difficult for consumers to find reasonably priced graphics cards, particularly for newer models.

The substantial discount on these older flagship cards highlights how the used and refurbished market can offer exceptional value for budget-conscious gamers who don't require the latest features. While not everyone will find deals this extreme, it demonstrates the potential savings available through careful shopping and community engagement.

Comparison to Other Finds

While u/Syft694 might not have been as fortunate as another notable find where a Goodwill shopper discovered a $30 PC containing an RTX 3080 Ti GPU and Ryzen 7 CPU, the $86 dual Titan X setup remains an excellent value proposition. The key difference is that this deal includes water cooling components, which adds both complexity and potential performance benefits.

For gamers running systems with older hardware or those looking to build a capable retro gaming rig, this type of deal represents an opportunity to access high-end graphics performance at a fraction of the original cost. The SLI configuration, while not ideal for all modern games, can still deliver impressive performance in supported titles and older games where driver support remains strong.

The Reddit community's response to this find has been largely positive, with many users expressing admiration for the deal and offering technical advice to help ensure the setup works optimally. This type of community knowledge sharing is one of the strengths of enthusiast forums and can be invaluable for users navigating the complexities of older hardware configurations.