2nd GTX 680: Will VRAM be an issue?

Mar 10, 2006
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Have a GTX 680 2GB, figured that instead of trying to sell it and then get Titan, I could get more performance with 2x 680's. Now my question is, will I be severely VRAM limited if I get another 2GB card? I play at 2560x1440, which is why I need the extra GPU juice.
 

Rvenger

Elite Member <br> Super Moderator <br> Video Cards
Apr 6, 2004
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I would not recommend it. Titles like Tomb Raider with TressFX enabled and Crysis 3 are already very close to the 2gb VRAM limit.
 

Face2Face

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2001
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If you have the funds after selling your GTX 680 to get a Titan and you think you need it, then just get it. I think most people here would rather have a Titan VS. 680 SLI. You shouldn't need to upgrade in a long time...... 6GB of vram is beautiful as well.
 

lavaheadache

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2005
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I regularly pull over 2gb with a 2560x1600 monitor. With the upcoming console releases I imagine 2gb 680's and 670's will live a short life with otherwise playable processing power on tap. I would get out of the card while it's still viable and people want them.
 

xeledon20005

Senior member
Feb 5, 2013
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Im not 100% sure if its possible but why not just get a gtx 680 4gb module, idk if you could get one with a 2gb in sli though.
 

Jimzz

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2012
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Im not 100% sure if its possible but why not just get a gtx 680 4gb module, idk if you could get one with a 2gb in sli though.


I was going to post that as well but another 680 would be $500 ish so if he sells his current one he can get a titan for about the same cost but only have 1 GPU.

I prefer 1 gpu myself vs Crossfire/SLI.
 

Stuka87

Diamond Member
Dec 10, 2010
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Benchmarks show that at very high resolutions 2GB is a limiting factor. For 1080P, it isn't just yet. I have seen my memory usage go up to around 1.5GB at 1080P. But with you being at 1440, you will be a lot closer as others mention above.

Titan sounds like the right choice.
 

UaVaj

Golden Member
Nov 16, 2012
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key thing to keep in mind is. given the resoultion. do you have enough gpu to deliver enough fps? if you do. then do you still have enough gpu to push aa (aa loves vram). if you do. then you need more vram.

at 1440p and dual 680 gpu. chances are the answers gonna be yes and yes. get the 4gb edition.
 

Eureka

Diamond Member
Sep 6, 2005
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Neither a second 680 nor a Titan. Sell the 680 and get 2x 670 4GB... more power than a Titan, and enough VRAM to back it up. And in the end, cheaper than either route.
 

Saffron

Member
Nov 16, 2012
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Can you have a GTX680 4GB primary card and a GTX680 2GB secondary in SLi and retain 4GB VRAM?

I was thinking about doing the same thing, purchasing a second GTX680 but a 4GB model.
 
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Eureka

Diamond Member
Sep 6, 2005
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Can you have a GTX680 4GB primary card and a GTX680 2GB secondary in SLi?

I was thinking about doing the same thing, purchasing a second GTX680 but a 4GB model.

You can but then you'll have two 2GB cards in SLI... SLI can only use the smallest amount of VRAM available.
 

Saffron

Member
Nov 16, 2012
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You can but then you'll have two 2GB cards in SLI... SLI can only use the smallest amount of VRAM available.

Darn...

I only play at a 1080 resolution so I should be good until the next generation of GPUs are released.
 

Pohemi

Lifer
Oct 2, 2004
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Can you have a GTX680 4GB primary card and a GTX680 2GB secondary in SLi and retain 4GB VRAM?

I was thinking about doing the same thing, purchasing a second GTX680 but a 4GB model.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that the card's VRAM needs to match, or at least it will not utilize the extra 2GB on the 2nd card if you picked up a 4GB version.

EDIT: Yeah, I type slow...Eureka already answered this, hehe
 

HanSolo71

Junior Member
Feb 11, 2008
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I was going to post that as well but another 680 would be $500 ish so if he sells his current one he can get a titan for about the same cost but only have 1 GPU.

I prefer 1 gpu myself vs Crossfire/SLI.

Because as of 313.96 the Coolbits registry hack needed to enable SLI across cards with dissimilar amounts of memory is broken and will make your setup unusable.
 

FalseChristian

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2002
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For my resolution of 1680x1050 you need 1GB of VRAM. (Dual GTX 460 1GB)

For 1920x1080 you need 2GB of VRAM. (Dual GTX 670 2GB)

For 1920x1200 you need 3GB of VRAM (Dual GTX 7970 3GB)

And for 2560x1600 you need 4GB of VRAM or more. (Dual GeForce Titan 6GB)
 

Face2Face

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2001
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For my resolution of 1680x1050 you need 1GB of VRAM. (Dual GTX 460 1GB)

For 1920x1080 you need 2GB of VRAM. (Dual GTX 670 2GB)

For 1920x1200 you need 3GB of VRAM (Dual GTX 7970 3GB)

And for 2560x1600 you need 4GB of VRAM or more. (Dual GeForce Titan 6GB)

That is False Christian...

Depends on the game right and settings. Sorry just had to say that :D
 
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Unoid

Senior member
Dec 20, 2012
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I just bought a second 680 also.

I notice no problems for 1440P and 2gb vram being a limit.
 

Cloudfire777

Golden Member
Mar 24, 2013
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I don`t think 2GB of GDDR is too little on 1440p. If you look at 7970 and 680 they are both pretty much equal even up to 1600p, despite 7970 having 1GB more VRAM.
If you compare 7970GHz and 680 though, the 7970Ghz increase its lead over the 680 from 1200p to 1600p, but that isn`t because of the amount of GDDR5 but rather the memory bandwidth which is great on the 7970GHz and poor on the 680.

There are probably some few games that might tip the 2GB border, but I think that is mostly with a ton of mods, like Skyrim with HD pack this and HD pack that.
 
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Fx1

Golden Member
Aug 22, 2012
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For my resolution of 1680x1050 you need 1GB of VRAM. (Dual GTX 460 1GB)

For 1920x1080 you need 2GB of VRAM. (Dual GTX 670 2GB)

For 1920x1200 you need 3GB of VRAM (Dual GTX 7970 3GB)

And for 2560x1600 you need 4GB of VRAM or more. (Dual GeForce Titan 6GB)

Total BS

I played BF3 on Very High with 1GB at 1900x1200.

2GB is enough you only need to look at the 690 GTX benchmarks at 2560x1600
 

moonbogg

Lifer
Jan 8, 2011
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I'd sell the 680 and get a single 7970ghz edition and OC the piss out of it. That will get you by, on medium to high settings until the new cards come out. The 7970 will be FREE after selling your 680. More Vram and more performance for the low, low price of FREE sounds like the best stop gap option, since thats all thats available right now, stop gaps. Titan is fast, but if you even have to mention cost in your OP at all, then Titan is probably a bad idea. You'll be sick to your stomach when the value drops by $350 or more as soon as new cards come out.
 

Rvenger

Elite Member <br> Super Moderator <br> Video Cards
Apr 6, 2004
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I'd sell the 680 and get a single 7970ghz edition and OC the piss out of it. That will get you by, on medium to high settings until the new cards come out. The 7970 will be FREE after selling your 680. More Vram and more performance for the low, low price of FREE sounds like the best stop gap option, since thats all thats available right now, stop gaps. Titan is fast, but if you even have to mention cost in your OP at all, then Titan is probably a bad idea. You'll be sick to your stomach when the value drops by $350 or more as soon as new cards come out.



Good recommendation. I agree if OP doesn't want to spend 1k for a Titan.