GTX-295 Quad SLI to GTX 600 Series?

[sephroth777]

I am currently running 2 EVGA GTX-295 for effectively Quad-Sli in my system. Thinking it is time to upgrade to one video card only, either GTX 680 or GTX 690. System is a Core i7 920 at 3.9, EVGA X58 Sli, 6GB, Samsung SSD, Corsair HX1000.

Sli for me has been buggy with stuttering and blue screens even with Sli-Profiles loaded. I've been out of the scene since this last build and may be completely out of touch and with the upgrade would I see any improvements? Resolution I run currently is 1920x1200 but plan on getting a 30" monitor in the future for 2560x1600 gaming. I am looking for some advice on which card would you suggest in getting and why? And do I have enough PSU to run either card? Thanks in advance.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Single GTX680 to start with. SLI/Crossfire is a nightmare as you know. Its also so tiny a niche market basicly nobody cares. And I am willing to bet 1-3 GPUs of your current 4 are idle in different games.

I would always go single GPU to avoid problems. And before that "future" of yours happens with the 30" and if the GTX 680 shouldnt be enough by then. Then there might be GTX 780, 880 etc.

 

[Don Karnage]

For future 2560X1600 gaming i'd actually go with a 7970 over a 680

 

[Kevmanw430]

I'd agree for 2560x1600, the extra VRAM will help. You definitely have enough PSU to run whatever you want. Dual 295's are probobly more power hungry than dual 690 or quad 7970, lol.

 

[ShintaiDK]

If we are bak to the silly VRAM argument again. He could just get a 4GB GTX 680. Much more future proof than the mere 3GB HD7970 yes?

 

[Don Karnage]

If we are bak to the silly VRAM argument again. He could just get a 4GB GTX 680. Much more future proof than the mere 3GB HD7970 yes?

4GB 680 is unavailable and will be over 550 dollars. 7970 is 449.99.

 

[ShintaiDK]

4GB 680 is unavailable and will be over 550 dollars. 7970 is 449.99.

Maybe in your country its unavaliable. The HD7970 is also a slower card. So if you wish to compare prices maybe a 4GB GTX 670. Its 440-450$ for the Zotac GTX 670 4GB.

 

[Don Karnage]

Maybe in your country its unavaliable. The HD7970 is also a slower card. So if you wish to compare prices maybe a 4GB GTX 670. Its 440-450$ for the Zotac GTX 670 4GB.

Overclocked vs Overclocked they're comparable. In the states the price difference between a 7970 and a 680 isn't worth it.

7970 - 449.99
680 - 519.99

 

[ShintaiDK]

Overclocked vs Overclocked they're comparable. In the states the price difference between a 7970 and a 680 isn't worth it.

7970 - 449.99
680 - 519.99

Who says he gonna OC his GFX? Not to mention overclocks are highly random. Reminds me of the guy that keeps talking about a 1200mhz HD7970. Yet he cant reach it himself.

And why not overclock the GTX 670 then? The 4GB card is also cheaper than the 7970. And last, why 520 for the GTX 680 instead of the regular 500?

 

[Don Karnage]

Who says he gonna OC his GFX? Not to mention overclocks are highly random. Reminds me of the guy that keeps talking about a 1200mhz HD7970. Yet he cant reach it himself.

And why not overclock the GTX 670 then? The 4GB card is also cheaper than the 7970. And last, why 520 for the GTX 680 instead of the regular 500?

4GB 670 is 489.99 in the states and still more expensive then the 7970

 

[blastingcap]

Since you plan to go to 2560x1600 I would ditch the aging 295's (quad SLI doesn't even scale that well so it's not like you're getting quadruple gtx275 speeds anyway) and get a gtx 680 with at least 2GB VRAM. You will save on your electric bill, your ears will thank you, you will have no more SLI headaches (at least for now), and you will have access to SLI GTX 680 if you decide to add another one in the future.

 

[ShintaiDK]

4GB 670 is 489.99 in the states and still more expensive then the 7970

Google could help you out there.

http://www.sabrepc.com/p-2899-zotac...x-670-4gb-pci-e-30-desktop-graphics-card.aspx
http://www.shopblt.com/cgi-bin/shop...110040015016_BPG0230P.shtml&order_id=!ORDERID!

 

[RaistlinZ]

seproth,

Can you run some benchmarks with your current 295 quad setup and then later once you upgrade to the 680/690? I'd be interested to see the performance difference.

 

[borisvodofsky]

No one here has asked, HOW LONG is this FUTURE..

If it's more than a year away, just tough it out for now, and get the best card and 30" together when you have the cash.

 

[Haserath]

Who says he gonna OC his GFX? Not to mention overclocks are highly random. Reminds me of the guy that keeps talking about a 1200mhz HD7970. Yet he cant reach it himself.

And why not overclock the GTX 670 then? The 4GB card is also cheaper than the 7970. And last, why 520 for the GTX 680 instead of the regular 500?

Where can you find an in stock 680 for $500?
----
I wouldn't be surprised if the 680 beat the GTX 295 quad SLI even if the supposed raw power was less. Quad SLI 295 is probably 3x the performance of a 275 at best.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Where can you find an in stock 680 for $500?
----
I wouldn't be surprised if the 680 beat the GTX 295 quad SLI even if the supposed raw power was less. Quad SLI 295 is probably 3x the performance of a 275 at best.

Stock or in-stock? New Egg has vanilla flavor at 499$

 

[cmdrdredd]

Trying to buy hardware for the future is like trying to predict where the next winning lottery ticket will be purchased.

You're better off just buying something now and taking your chances on it. Look at what you play now, you cannot predict the future of gaming.

 

[guskline]

For future 2560X1600 gaming i'd actually go with a 7970 over a 680

Then why are you buying a GTX 680 instaed of a Radeon 7970, see you own sig? Don, I HAVE a GTX 680 and I'm running 3 monitors for a combined resolution of 5760 x 1080. It runs all games great, including BF3. You seem to have this obsession with the 7970 when it comes to higher resolutions yet you are apparently replacing your 7870 with what? A GTX 680, why not a 7970 ?

To the original poster, your PSU is great for a single or dual GTX 680s. A a single GTX 680 will amaze you.

Quite, efficient and quite powerful.

 

[Don Karnage]

Then why are you buying a GTX 680 instaed of a Radeon 7970, see you own sig? Don, I HAVE a GTX 680 and I'm running 3 monitors for a combined resolution of 5760 x 1080. It runs all games great, including BF3. You seem to have this obsession with the 7970 when it comes to higher resolutions yet you are apparently replacing your 7870 with what? A GTX 680, why not a 7970 ?

To the original poster, your PSU is great for a single or dual GTX 680s. A a single GTX 680 will amaze you.

Quite, efficient and quite powerful.

Cause i want to play with Nvidia. I've had my fun with Amd. When the 8970 gets released i'll come back to the red side.

Why did i recommend the OP the 7970?

1. Price of 449.99
2. Availability. No 680's anywhere.

 

[guskline]

Cause i want to play with Nvidia. I've had my fun with Amd. When the 8970 gets released i'll come back to the red side.

Why did i recommend the OP the 7970?

1. Price of 449.99
2. Availability. No 680's anywhere.

Fair points. The GTX 680 can be found but it's hard and you have to be lucky and persistent. No doubt that unless you snag the GTX 680 for $499 ( very hard to find) the AMD 7970 is more plentiful.

I found the Driver set and Surround setup on the Nvidia are so nice that I'm well pleased that I picked it over the 7970.

The poster is coming from an Nvidia sytem and I think one of the questions he needs to ask is his experience with AMD graphics cards.

 

[jacktesterson]

For future 2560X1600 gaming i'd actually go with a 7970 over a 680

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