7680x1440 gtx680 4GB vs 7970 3GB?

[awkmonkey]

I'm trying to decide if I should be waiting for the GTX680 4GB for my triple monitor gaming rig. Due to the higher resolutions of the monitors, getting 2GB cards just does not make sense. I've always had nvidia cards but I'm getting impatient.

A note for the fanboys on either sides of the fence: I will end up watercooling and overclocking the cards once the waterblocks get released and based on my research once overclocked both are about equal in performance.

A number of things that I'm not sure of:
1. Driver issues with 7970 resolved? I've heard AMD drivers have had tons of issues recently?
2. Physx - AMD still does not support it but does that even matter any more?
3. Surround vs Eyefinity - About equal I've heard?

Anything else that I should be aware of?

 

[Gloomy]

Anything else that I should be aware of?

You need something like 6 feet of desk space.

AMD has the better desktop management utilities, though I haven't tried Nvidia's latest drivers just yet, I heard they got a bit of an upgrade in that department.

Physx shouldn't be the deal-maker here. If at the very end of your shopping around, it is the last thing to consider, then buy Nvidia.

 

[Insomniator]

You need something like 6 feet of desk space.

AMD has the better desktop management utilities, though I haven't tried Nvidia's latest drivers just yet, I heard they got a bit of an upgrade in that department.

Physx shouldn't be the deal-maker here. If at the very end of your shopping around, it is the last thing to consider, then buy Nvidia.

Does AMD really have better desktop management?

My GTX470 even with the newest drivers, is absolutely terrible at managing my 2 monitors and tv. Position changes constantly, doesn't detect.. etc..

 

[Gloomy]

Does AMD really have better desktop management?

My GTX470 even with the newest drivers, is absolutely terrible at managing my 2 monitors and tv. Position changes constantly, doesn't detect.. etc..

I've never had problems with multi monitor support with AMD. In addition, there's Hydra, which last I checked Nvidia does not have an answer for, and imo windows should ship with an equivalent of...

Resized from 2560x1440.

AMD's control center lets me easily manage high resolution desktops quickly by locking windows into preset grids, or switching grids made beforehand to fit work I usually do. This is the grid I use for procrastination, the quadrant on the topmost right corner fits a 1280x720 video, and I can chat and surf the web comfortably.

I believe there's external software that adds this functionality, but I have no experience with those. They might be even better than Hydra. I just know AMD ships with this, and it's a life saver.

 

[blastingcap]

I hated whatever CCC did in one of their 2011 drivers that screwed up my presets for Eyefinity, but apparently they have since fixed that. I have no issues on Catalyst 12.3 running 5760x1080. I also think you are flat out crazy to try to run that resolution with anything less than two 680 4GB cards for older games; for newer games you will want three such cards in Tri-SLI. 2560x1440 is 78% more pixels than 1080p. Three such panels is the equivalent of 5.33 1080p panels.

 

[awkmonkey]

haha well of course I will be using multiple cards! There's no way any single gpu card would handle that resolution with style!

Hmm I will look into hydra and factor that in. Thanks!

 

[KRiSX85]

found this thread via google and had to register... i'm in the exact same position as you... just bought 2 more 2560x1440 res screens and want to run surround on them...

it really does seem the choices are 2 or 3 x 4gb 680's, 3 x 3gb 580's if you can afford to power them or going the AMD route with some 7970's... waiting for the 6gb 7970 which is due very soon or seeing what happens with the 690 (though it'd have to be a non reference 690 as it apparently only has 2gb per core and is therefore not really enough in the vram department...

i'm getting really impatient... i don't like AMD/ATI... i've never had a good experience with them and i've owned at least 4 or 5 of them... currently running a GTX470 which i've been very happy with but going SLI with that is pointless from what i've read due to the very low amount of VRAM

right now i'm trying to hold off for the 4gb 680's to be more easily available and i'll prob look at 2 of them for now otherwise i might end up biting the bullet and going down the 7970 path *shudder* as they do seem to be a good solution for surround/eyefinity

 

[aaksheytalwar]

680 3-4 gpu setup, 4gb each

 

[blastingcap]

If a 6GB VRAM card is available, you may need it. People already say that 1GB VRAM is the bare minimum for 1080p. With the equivalent of 5.33 1080p panels, you will want at least 5.33GB VRAM by that standard. A quad crossfire 7970 6GB setup might be a good choice.

 

[3DVagabond]

With that much monitor real estate you aren't going to max out all settings on every game.

Since you don't like AMD I'd suggest starting with 2x 680's and realize you might need a 3rd, but I'd wait. (Unless you just have $1500 burning a hole in your pocket.) At this point in time though tri-sli isn't really performing all that well. Good luck finding the 4gig models since supply is so limited on even the basic models.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

You will need 680 quad sli of course, oced that too and all games won't max out even after that.

I recommend staying with 3 1080p 27" monitors

 

[KRiSX85]

if i can't turn up all the details i'm not bothered... i don't have to be able to turn everything up to enjoy a game!

i debate the 1gb vram needed for 1080p... i'm running a gigabyte gtx470 SOC at 1440p and it runs just about everything i've thrown at it quite well!? perhaps i have lower standards than some... as long as i can crack a stable 30-60fps i'll be happy with moderate-high details and if AA has to be off then so be it...

hell i'll even run some things at 5760x1200 if i have to as it displays (1920x1200) quite nicely on my current screen for games that don't support 2560x1440... it won't be the end of the world

 

[awkmonkey]

Well I realized I had an old AMD card sitting around from a failed experiment at getting a graphics card to work inside of esxi. It's nowhere near powerful enough to do any sort of gaming but it gives me an idea of how the software handles the monitors. Hydravision is a neat toy though I'm not sure how much I'd use it.

The comment about vram also makes sense. I like the excuse to go quad too. I guess I will have to see how patient I am and see what happens as the green and red try to leap frog each other.

 

[KingFatty]

Ah yes, this will be impressive to behold. When you build it, you must take pics/videos of how that triple monitor effect looks. Are you going to turn the side monitors at an angle to wrap around you, or will they all be flat/parallel with the middle one? Are you going to use a custom mount?

I like having the middle monitor on a wall mount suspended, with the side monitors on swivel stands so I can move them around and put them at an angle/wrap-around for games or put them flatter for windows/work. But mine are smaller than yours, so I'm wondering what is your plan?

 

[SolMiester]

If you are using multiple monitors and cards, then I would go NV, AMD 7xxx CF isnt as good as 6 & 5 series?!....As for vRAM, thats a tuffy. 3 x 1080 is fine with 680 2GB, not sure about the 3 x 1440

 

[aaksheytalwar]

If you are using multiple monitors and cards, then I would go NV, AMD 7xxx CF isnt as good as 6 & 5 series?!....As for vRAM, thats a tuffy. 3 x 1080 is fine with 680 2GB, not sure about the 3 x 1440

this, for multi gpu nvidia is smoother, but only go for 4gb 680 not 2gb