nVidia GTX680 Review

[DB006]

How'd you get your hands on an GTX680 so quickly? Me so jelly ;p

Anyway, that's just one benchmark. I've read tonnes of professional reviews, and in almost all of them the GTX680 is slightly better than the 7970. Doesn't really matter though, both are awesome cards.

Not mine, a friend on OcUK.

These are real world benches, as we're not in Nvidias or AMDs pocket, and are clocking to the max on the latest drivers.

At stock the 680 edges out the 7970 because of dynamic overclocking, but at max they're either the same or 1 is beating the other, depending on game/bench.

 

[Master&Puppet]

as soon as the "brands" release their modded versions of the 680, AMD will be the underdog (yet again)

this is only Day1...

amd-fanboys, make the most of this, you will not get a second chance soon

I don't think that is going to make any difference to a lot of people here who overclocked their cards? The AMD overclocks better so I'm not sure how you have come to this conclusion? Ha, stop trying to cause a fight between fan bases after Sieb's post! Anyone would think you were trolling as an admin

!

Although the cards perform on average almost identically (which I think is testament to AMD given the release dates, but offset by the 20-30w extra power draw) I still think there is a pretty clear case for picking one over the other, from my perspective, depending on the situation and excluding price/power consumption.

If you play beyond 1080p then the AMD's extra vram will probably be an advantage (as DB006's benches suggest) and also if you use 3d technology.

Otherwise, the 680 is arguably better at stock but the AMD catches and often beats it under overclocking.

M&P

 

[SieB]

Found some info on F@H for the folding guys

This is where I first read about the the low direct compute

http://www.overclock...-in-gpu-compute

This is from a review that I found today

http://www.legitrevi...rticle/1881/15/

It doesn't look like it will be a good folder

 

[dugdiamond]

i am not 'trolling' or trying to start fights... read several posts before my first on this thread, and foresee where it was going... i did, read between the lines, and commented.

yes, they 'perform' almost the same.

in benches, one may slightly lead the other - but average out nicely

but, less volts and less noise is a win for me

 

[SnW]

Found some info on F@H for the folding guys

This is where I first read about the the low direct compute

http://www.overclock...-in-gpu-compute

This is from a review that I found today

http://www.legitrevi...rticle/1881/15/

It doesn't look like it will be a good folder

WTF!? that can't be right at all

a non cuda GPU vs a cuda GPU

 

[tackle70]

Great review! Sooooooo nice to see a review take the time to both use a large test suite AND compare the overclocked performance of this card vs the overclocked 7970.

The vast majority of sites (especially the major ones) I've seen so far both use a more limited test suite and COMPLETELY IGNORE the overclocking performance of the two cards. They then arrive at the conclusion "lol 7970 is crap the 680 dominates it".

Nice to see that some people can't be bought off by nVidia and take a fully-orbed look at the cards. Just found out about OC3D a few months ago and it has fast become my favorite tech site (and I'm not even in the UK!). Keep up the outstanding work guys

Loved the video review, as well!

 

[killablade]

WTF!? that can't be right at all

a non cuda GPU vs a cuda GPU

You're forgetting that NVIDIA's new GK104 architecture is a lot more like AMD's architecture than we're used to from NVIDIA.. well, that's what I've read anyway.. ;')

 

[SieB]

WTF!? that can't be right at all

a non cuda GPU vs a cuda GPU

I don't know mate, it's just what I have read. But it doesn't look good for the folding side of things.

 

[hmmblah]

From the link you posted, it's not working at all right now with f@h. Hopefully we will get an update soon to fix this.

 

[Master&Puppet]

@ Dug.

I know dude, I'm just teasing!

I'm actually really impressed with how these cards have worked out - there don't seem to be any losers. You can pick your priorities and get pretty much the same performance.

 

[Lollipop]

Can't wait to get my hands on one of these.

 

[yassarikhan786]

Really nice review Tom. Pity there were no Crysis 2 results for the radeon cards, but for the most part the 680 is pretty much on equal terms with the 7970.

I'm really liking the power draw and the quietness aspects of the 680, so it'll be amazing to see how third party 680's will be like in terms of quietness.

 

[SnW]

You're forgetting that NVIDIA's new GK104 architecture is a lot more like AMD's architecture than we're used to from NVIDIA.. well, that's what I've read anyway.. ;')

But it still remains to have 'cuda' right ?

 

[SmoulderingCircuits]

Hmm, maybe the 680 is a partially locked down 690 and a 695 will be the 590 replacement?

Can't understand why it indicates to fold so poorly, hopefully will be fixed as said.

 

[killablade]

But it still remains to have 'cuda' right ?

Well yeah, that's what they call it anyway. Just trying to think of possible explanations.

Might just need a driver / F@H client update to work properly, maybe then we'll see really great numbers :')

 

[SnW]

I think a different client ..

we'll see....

 

[murphy7801]

I prefer the features of the gtx 680 and like Nvidia drivers better but this wasnt the leap I was expecting.

 

[dipzy]

Saw this on EVGA FB page

Gimme two, or three

 

[peanutsrevenge]

For the F@H guys, it seems that the 680 is meant as a gaming card (like the 560 Ti) rather than a gaming/compute card (like the 580).

Give the teeny tiny die size (for Nvidia), low power draw and 12 pin power, I'm expecting a 685 along quite soon. This seems to be Nvidia trying to get double money out of the 'must have best NOW' people.

What I'm interested in and have yet to find is whether Nvidia have caught up in multi-monitor support. 4 screens per card is one thing, but do they have to be the same resolution, can they be moved around 'virtually' and are name tags going to be over the right object or wander 400px off to the side??

Also, what's the 680 like for overclocking when watercooled, given temps are a major factor in turboing?

 

[hmmblah]

For the F@H guys, it seems that the 680 is meant as a gaming card (like the 560 Ti) rather than a gaming/compute card (like the 580).

Give the teeny tiny die size (for Nvidia), low power draw and 12 pin power, I'm expecting a 685 along quite soon. This seems to be Nvidia trying to get double money out of the 'must have best NOW' people.

What I'm interested in and have yet to find is whether Nvidia have caught up in multi-monitor support. 4 screens per card is one thing, but do they have to be the same resolution, can they be moved around 'virtually' and are name tags going to be over the right object or wander 400px off to the side??

Also, what's the 680 like for overclocking when watercooled, given temps are a major factor in turboing?

Not looking too good for F@H. Kinda disappointed by this.