4GB GTX680 on the way

[Keysplayr]

Looks like a pointless card, the 680 is already faster, more memory would fix it's one achilies heel which is bandwidth, just make it more expensive and 2GB of ram is more than enough, 3GB on the 7970 is overkill.

Although thats what some nvidia fans said about 2GB, now they are excited about 4GB? Whatever, at least its not as bad as that 6GB 7970.

More memory wouldn't increase bandwidth. Faster memory would.

 

[SHAQ]

Memory bandwidth will likely go down since memory timings will probably need to be loosened. The 8+6 pin is there because the extra memory will push the TDP over 200 watts. It will not OC any better because the card lacks voltage not current. Nobody has seen over a 114% power draw so far.

 

[TidusZ]

my 680's memory overclocks over 7 ghz so who cares about memory bandwidth

 

[Stayfr0sty]

I'd be all for it if doubling the memory also ment going from 256-bit to 512-bit.

Last cards I think that had 512 bit were HD 2xxx series and they sucked.
Epic fail. Not the 512 sucks, I guess ATI just didnt implement it correctly.
Its ok now the jedis have took over.

my 680's memory overclocks over 7 ghz so who cares about memory bandwidth

Bandwith architecture is always the most important factor, in fact its what mostly determines the price on the card.

Why do you think 64 or 128 bit cards are so cheap and the 256 are expensive?

 

[BallaTheFeared]

Hehe comedy ensues.

 

[Nemesis 1]

A 4gb gtx680 should end any reason to have 7970s at comparable prices, as it should really scream in multi-card and multi monitor setups.

But given the bad pricing so far on 28nm, it's prolly going to go at $600.

Ya I was looking at the water cooled EVGA . Hoping for a price under 700$

 

[Nemesis 1]

Memory bandwidth will likely go down since memory timings will probably need to be loosened. The 8+6 pin is there because the extra memory will push the TDP over 200 watts. It will not OC any better because the card lacks voltage not current. Nobody has seen over a 114% power draw so far.

You best read about the EVGA non referance cards befor spreading BS. These GPUs won't be locked at the same value as NV referance design. Befor I even get my EVGA watercooled card I will bet they will easily do 1.5 ghz. Thats my target . The 6+8 power pins are there for more than memory. Some cards will have 8+8 power pins . We may not see those cards here in USA but there being made.

 

[Nemesis 1]

Here is a pick of the EVGA 680 non referance card . I have to say the ST . water block makes me ill. Look at it look really Hard. I like the AquaCompter 680 water blocks High quality. I hope they make a non referance design for The EVGa non referance . Ya there heavy but that not a problem .

http://www.evga.com/forums/tm.aspx?m=1510320&mpage=1&print=true

 

[BallaTheFeared]

Isn't the hydro 8+8?

 

[Elfear]

Yeah, I have no issues with being an early adopter of the 2GB version...really, what resolutions need more then 2GB? I know there are people that would need it, but who, and what resolutions?

Afterburner shows vram usage of 2.2-2.5GB for me in Skyrim and Civ 5 at 2560x1600. If I had a GTX 680, I could test if that was actual usage or just allocation.

 

[3DVagabond]

My 2 cards are getting here today. I'm going to see what difference temperature makes to the GPU boost feature. Everything I've read has consistently mentioned temps as playing a big role in defining at what point the card throttles back, 72C is the number I keep hearing.

I ordered a few waterblocks from EK directly, hopefully they come before the weekend.

Going to do a few different benches on air using 3dmark, furmark and some crysis_gpu loops to track temp, volts, clocks and power use. Will do them at stock and then whatever the max overclock I can get without crossing the throttle threshold.

Will repeat them all once I get my blocks in and installed, as well as seeing if much lower temps open the GPU boost & overclock up more. Hoping to find a significant difference so I feel better about ordering the blocks!

Looking forward to your results. I'm sure you'll explore the operation of the cards far more than reviewers did. You also won't skew your results because you want to brag on your hardware. Do me a favor and if nVidia sends you a reviewer's guide, DON'T READ IT!

 

[Canbacon]

You best read about the EVGA non referance cards befor spreading BS. These GPUs won't be locked at the same value as NV referance design. Befor I even get my EVGA watercooled card I will bet they will easily do 1.5 ghz. Thats my target . The 6+8 power pins are there for more than memory. Some cards will have 8+8 power pins . We may not see those cards here in USA but there being made.

Jacob Freeman of EVGA just posted a pic of the 680 FTW card. He says it will have vapor chamber cooling and an 8 phase PWM. Looking at the pic it only has a single 8 pin connector. Though, the 6 pin could be recessed in and not visible. Personally I like the look of it, nice and clean.

http://twitpic.com/92blla

 

[Grooveriding]

my 680's memory overclocks over 7 ghz so who cares about memory bandwidth

680 is starved for memory bandwidth, so keep pushing that memory!

 

[Nemesis 1]

Jacob Freeman of EVGA just posted a pic of the 680 FTW card. He says it will have vapor chamber cooling and an 8 phase PWM. Looking at the pic it only has a single 8 pin connector. Though, the 6 pin could be recessed in and not visible. Personally I like the look of it, nice and clean.

http://twitpic.com/92blla

Ya evga had pics of the non referance designs up at their site . cann't find them now multi views . yes that card has a 6 pin above the 8 pin

 

[poohbear]

well for those of us that bought a 5870 3 years ago for $450, its still kicking ass today & plays everything @ 30fps+ @ 1080 rez. The only bad part is that it needs more RAM for newer games like BF3 & Crysis 2 with ultra textures!(the 1gb versions). assuming vid cards can now last 3 years with no need to upgrade, a 4g 680 as you wont hafta worry about needing more VID RAM in the future for ultra textures & it'll be powerful enough to handle anything thrown @ it. It would be a great investment as it equals only $200 a year if the card cost $600. 4gb is overkill, a 3gb version would be ideal!

 

[Stuka87]

It will not OC any better because the card lacks voltage not current.

I assume you mean core voltage adjustment? That fixed with cards that will be coming out soon.

If you mean rail voltage I am going to smack you

 

[blade8079]

4GB would be better suited for video editing applications like aftereffects and premiere with mercury engine.

However, I have not seen any data relating to 680's (2GB) performance in those applications.

I suspect it might be very poor due to absence of benchmarks and am awaiting to see the results.

 

[SHAQ]

I assume you mean core voltage adjustment? That fixed with cards that will be coming out soon.

If you mean rail voltage I am going to smack you

The card can draw 225 watts but the limit of 1.175 volts won't allow the card to reach it. V=IR. That and the stupid 70C throttling that the card does. If anyone asks you what the throttle temp on the 680 is it is 70C. I seriously don't know what is wrong at Nvidia sometimes. Does a 13-26Mhz drop really help things? If you don't set the voltage manually the card will lower the voltage at 70C and crash your game. EVGA's OC software also won't let the card downclock for some reason.