SLI GTX 680 4GB vs SLI (Quad) GTX 690 @ 7680x1440

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Blackwidow

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So which is better for 2D surround at 7680x1440 res?

Obviously the SLI GTX 690s have more processing power but I've been hearing that the 2GB (effective) VRAM is creating quite a large bottleneck at the high res.

I didn't really want to go 3 or 4 way SLI GTX 680 (4GB ) because I wanted to keep using my Revodrive and my sound card, but would it perform much better at that resolution than the 2 690's?

Cheers
 
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Avoid Quad-SLI as much as you can.
As money seems to be of no concern, go with the 4GB 680s, but know that 4GB 670s wouldn't perform much worse.
P.S. that's some crazy screen real estate you've got going there.
 
I'm pretty sure 2 way SLI GTX 680's wont have the grunt to run 7680x1440 even if they are the 4GB versions, but I really don't want more than 2 cards.

Maybe I'll wait and get Quad SLI Mars III. I would feel better watercooling them over having to dismantle the reference GTX 690.

Any idea when they will be released?

edit: http://pcper.com/news/Graphics-Card...TX-680-Graphics-Card-Pictured-Set-Launch-Soon

http://www.techpowerup.com/171202/ASUS-ROG-MARS-III-Dual-GTX-680-PCB-Pictured.html

Apparently it may not even be released!
 
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The Mars gpus are usually very expensive (if they get released), I think you're better off with 2 or 3 way SLI 4gb 680s. As money doesn't seem to be a problem, I'd definitely watercool them. This still leaves us with the space problem, I thought first that they become single slot cards with wc but that was only possible with the 580
What MB do you have?
 
Waterblock will reduce the main body to 1 pci thickness but the io plate still takes up 2 expansion slots.

Mobo: Asus Rampage IV Extreme

I would remove the Revodrive and opt for some SSD's in raid 0 but I don't think TRIM is supported yet on the x79 boards?
 
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Blackwidow said:
Waterblock will reduce the main body to 1 pci thickness but the io plate still takes up 2 expansion slots.

Mobo: Asus Rampage IV Extreme

I would remove the Revodrive and opt for some SSD's in raid 0 but I don't think TRIM is supported yet on the x79 boards?
Click to expand...

Yes I realized that the connectors would still take up both slot just as I was typing.
You could theoretically install the gpus in the 1st,2nd and 4th pci-e slot and you would still have a 16x and a 1x, however that could look a bit weird
 
Couple of the Toxic's in crossfire?

Or maybe the Power Color Devil 13 7990 in quadfire? :P

I've had a few ATI cards in the past (actually just sold my 6990's) and I find they aren't as good in multi GPU setups as the Nvidia ones; Louder, hotter, more driver issues and noticeable microstuttering.

Seems as though the GTX 690 is slightly better than the 7990, even at 5760x1080 resolution (still almost 5m pixels less than the res I want to run :P).
Source: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Powercolor/HD_7990_Devil_13/1.html

Maybe I will just go with the two 690's :(
 
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Quad GPU setups are only of use for benchmarking, dude. You're going to run into so many issues with frame drops, micro stuttering and compatibility issues.
Get two 4GB 680s, watercool them, overclock them as much as you can. Remember that with such a high res you can turn Anti-Aliasing way down. Such reviews are run at everything maxed out, which you simply don't need to do.
 
You will need at LEAST 3gb of vram anyways, which means the 690 would be completely out of the question because you only have 2gb usable memory. Nvidia once again shows the world that there ratio between memory any GPU power is WAAY off.
 
I run SLI 680 4GB palit jetstreams @ 5760x1080 and they're more than enough. I also run some games in 3D which effectively doubles the resolution. BF3 runs at around 40fps average in 3D so still usable, but I find 3D makes it harder to play so I keep it in 2D.

Other games like Portal 2 etc look good in 3D and run at 60fps per eye.

So far a few minor SLI issues, but it seems very stable (with the exception of CIV 5 which crashes as soon as I zoom out on the map). No micro stuttering etc.

2 690s would be a bad idea imho. Each gpu only has 2GB vram to play with meaning your effectively running 4 x 680 2GB. Even if it works perfectly and you don't end up with micro stuttering issues you still only have 2GB vram per gpu and will likely hit that wall before anything else.

Hope this helps you make your mind up.

If I was buying again I'd purchase 2 670s with 4GB vram that only take up 2 PCIe slots. My Palit's use 2.5 PCIe slots and this doesn't leave much room for airflow. It hasn't been an issue, but if you wanna overclock and go for every fps it's nice to have as little airflow restriction as possible.

Cheers,
Ulijin.

PS I know it's nice to dream about high end components but 2 690s is a bad idea. Don't waste your money, buy beer instead ;)
 
No matter what, are you going to play with multiple monitors, go for Radeon-cards
I do not recall the exact name, but Nvidia-cards has a block which Radeon does not, allowing Radeon-cards to outperform Nvidia on multiple monitors

Id recommend going for 2x7970 with 6gb vram, maybe 3 or 4 cards instead, IF you want to max out.
Still, for Crysis 3, you will probably not make it on maximum on that resolution, even though your components are "state of the art-high end" that'll cost you all of your shirts

Anyways, the Mars III is a dual-gpu card, meaning you cannot go above 2 of them sli, since neither SLI or Crossfire supports more than 4 gpu's.
So is the dilemma with the 7990, if it ever gets out in stores(which I personally believes it will).
 
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