Gtx 680. Are you buying one? Why or why not?

[bleucharm28]

I'm going to wait for something thats better than GTX 680, something that will take a least a 6 pin and 8 pin power connector. The GTX 680 with 2 6pin power connector tells me something more power hungry and extreme performance is near. Besides, I'm still really happy with my GTX 580 FTW HC2, at least for now.

 

[themodernlife]

i bought 2 7970s for 2560x1600 gaming and the 680 is a tie at that res. (the man res.)

 

[Meghan54]

Well, as I mentioned, my main monitor is an IPS panel with a 1920 x 1200 resolution. Currently, it has a 7970 and I have a GTX 680 arriving tomorrow morning.



While I'd think about switching, I'm beginning to read how the Nvidia card is just built more cheaply than the AMD/ATi card---VRM quality, PCB quality, etc.---and that really bothers me.


So, I wonder if the GTX680 will have longevity issues. I ask because of the history of Nvidia build problems over the years.....the reflow problem with the 8800 (?) cards, the drivers that caused cards to burn, overclocking that would fry cards that Nvidia finally had to put voltage limiting in the drivers, etc., etc. And I just don't remember a host of build quality issues with AMD cards like that.


Would you even let the 680 off the UPS truck tomorrow or just refuse delivery and send it back for a refund? Not really a fanboy of either camp....just want a fast card without having to worry about it coming apart/frying when OC'ing and not having to resort to water cooling it.

 

[Anubis]

no, no need or point for me

dual 6870s play everything i want just fine, and when they cant ill simply turn off AA and AF as i dont really care about it to get more life out of them

 

[roedtogsvart]

Well, as I mentioned, my main monitor is an IPS panel with a 1920 x 1200 resolution. Currently, it has a 7970 and I have a GTX 680 arriving tomorrow morning.



While I'd think about switching, I'm beginning to read how the Nvidia card is just built more cheaply than the AMD/ATi card---VRM quality, PCB quality, etc.---and that really bothers me.


So, I wonder if the GTX680 will have longevity issues. I ask because of the history of Nvidia build problems over the years.....the reflow problem with the 8800 (?) cards, the drivers that caused cards to burn, overclocking that would fry cards that Nvidia finally had to put voltage limiting in the drivers, etc., etc. And I just don't remember a host of build quality issues with AMD cards like that.


Would you even let the 680 off the UPS truck tomorrow or just refuse delivery and send it back for a refund? Not really a fanboy of either camp....just want a fast card without having to worry about it coming apart/frying when OC'ing and not having to resort to water cooling it.

There's a warranty for a reason. The EVGA 680 I bought has 3 year parts & labor, which is close to the maximum amount of time I would keep the hardware anyway.

 

[AdamK47]

Well, as I mentioned, my main monitor is an IPS panel with a 1920 x 1200 resolution. Currently, it has a 7970 and I have a GTX 680 arriving tomorrow morning.



While I'd think about switching, I'm beginning to read how the Nvidia card is just built more cheaply than the AMD/ATi card---VRM quality, PCB quality, etc.---and that really bothers me.


So, I wonder if the GTX680 will have longevity issues. I ask because of the history of Nvidia build problems over the years.....the reflow problem with the 8800 (?) cards, the drivers that caused cards to burn, overclocking that would fry cards that Nvidia finally had to put voltage limiting in the drivers, etc., etc. And I just don't remember a host of build quality issues with AMD cards like that.


Would you even let the 680 off the UPS truck tomorrow or just refuse delivery and send it back for a refund? Not really a fanboy of either camp....just want a fast card without having to worry about it coming apart/frying when OC'ing and not having to resort to water cooling it.

The GTX 680 isn't built cheaply. It's build like the mid range card it was supposed to be. The GK104 is supposed to be mid range while GK110 is the high end. Since the GF104 outperforms 7970s, nVidia chose to release GK104 as high end. Word is that GK110, the true high end, will be released around August.

 

[nobody23]

I do plan on picking up a 680 when I can find one. My reasoning is more timing than anything. I recently built a new system and it's still using my old 4890. I've worked a ton of overtime lately and want to pick up a highend card soon as my current one can't handle a lot of the games I want to play maxed out at 1080p. Normally I aim for the best value but I'm going all out with my first new built in years.

If I had a better card I might hold off to see what NVIDIA will be releasing later this year but I can't wait any more. I've seen nothing but good 680 reviews and I like the sound of adaptive v-sync, gpu boost, cool temps, low power.

 

[Powermoloch]

I'm fine with my 2 x 6850 HD.

 

[Meghan54]

There's a warranty for a reason. The EVGA 680 I bought has 3 year parts & labor, which is close to the maximum amount of time I would keep the hardware anyway.

I'd much rather not have to utilize a warranty while I own a piece of hardware vs. having to pull my system off line for a couple of weeks to take advantage of a warranty issue with an inferior build. Speed isn't everything....just ask those that bought Intel SSD's why they didn't buy an OCZ SSD. Both are warrantied products but many choose to pay extra for the Intel vs. the OCZ products simply because, while the Intel SSD's are not faster, they sure have fewer problems. Same case could be made with the gpu's, too.

 

[Aikouka]

no, no need or point for me

dual 6870s play everything i want just fine, and when they cant ill simply turn off AA and AF as i dont really care about it to get more life out of them

It's really just my opinion, but AA and AF is pretty much one of the biggest reasons why I like PC gaming. I've grown to find "jaggies" a bit annoying (especially when they're glaring), and unlike consoles, PCs typically can be engineered with extra headroom to take out the odd visual effects (blurring textures, jagged lines, etc.).

In other words, I would dislike turning it off. That would make it not much different than playing on a console at that point (if you exclude the keyboard and mouse ).

EDIT:

Although, sometimes just turning AA to 2x or 4x is enough to clear up the jaggies. AF seems to be a really small tax compared to AA, so 8x or 16x usually doesn't hurt.

 

[railven]

It's really just my opinion, but AA and AF is pretty much one of the biggest reasons why I like PC gaming. I've grown to find "jaggies" a bit annoying (especially when they're glaring), and unlike consoles, PCs typically can be engineered with extra headroom to take out the odd visual effects (blurring textures, jagged lines, etc.).

In other words, I would dislike turning it off. That would make it not much different than playing on a console at that point (if you exclude the keyboard and mouse ).

EDIT:

Although, sometimes just turning AA to 2x or 4x is enough to clear up the jaggies. AF seems to be a really small tax compared to AA, so 8x or 16x usually doesn't hurt.

I've found most in-game AF options are a joke. Drive level forced AF appears to be more taxing on your system, but the end result is miles better.

I know you play WoW alot, have you tried forcing AF through the driver or do you just use the in-game AF option?

Driver forced > in-game in my opinion. Only real way to get rid of the shimmeries/jaggies (on both GeForce/ATI hardware). GeForce handles the tax better from what I've experienced, but going from 80FPS to 70FPS isn't much of an issue anyways.

 

[swilli89]

I'm going to keep the HD6970 I picked up last October for about $220 shipped. Gaming at 1900x1200 and only battlefield 3 could tempt me to want more. Going to wait for 2x performance of the 6970 for ~200, however long that will take.

 

[Anubis]

It's really just my opinion, but AA and AF is pretty much one of the biggest reasons why I like PC gaming. I've grown to find "jaggies" a bit annoying (especially when they're glaring), and unlike consoles, PCs typically can be engineered with extra headroom to take out the odd visual effects (blurring textures, jagged lines, etc.).

In other words, I would dislike turning it off. That would make it not much different than playing on a console at that point (if you exclude the keyboard and mouse ).

EDIT:

Although, sometimes just turning AA to 2x or 4x is enough to clear up the jaggies. AF seems to be a really small tax compared to AA, so 8x or 16x usually doesn't hurt.

ive pretty much always been immune to all of those issues, and i somply dont care, graphics are not why i play games

 

[Stayfr0sty]

I don't think the 5970 dances circles around the 7970 or the 680 . I actually think it loses in about every aspect against them

Do your homework
5970 is a dual gpu card. Go look at benchmarks....

7970 and 680 are single gpu cards and they dont even come close to any dual gpu card....

 

[SolMiester]

Do your homework
5970 is a dual gpu card. Go look at benchmarks....

7970 and 680 are single gpu cards and they dont even come close to any dual gpu card....

Doh!.....Oh dude, its too easy...here compare 580 v 5970....the 680 is on avg 36% faster than 580!
The 5970 is like 6-15% slower than 680%

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/297?vs=305

 

[Stayfr0sty]

Doh!.....Oh dude, its too easy...here compare 580 v 5970....the 680 is on avg 36% faster than 580!
The 5970 is like 6-15% slower than 680%

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/297?vs=305

http://www.hwcompare.com/11288/radeon-hd-5970-vs-radeon-hd-7970/

You were saying? Or are you smoking crack, no single card gpu can top a dual gpu card thats imposible even considering an older gen 5970. The pixel and texel rate is double or more. Im seeing benchmarks posted in this thread where those cards are even beating 6990s and 590s which is also butchered.
Its obvious the benchmarks where the dual GPU solutions lose are not optimized for the multigpu setup and must be only using one of the cores.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

lol @ hardware compare.... You can't be serious?

 

[lavaheadache]

5970's were nice cards but often a 580 was equal match let alone a 7970 or 680.

 

[Stayfr0sty]

lol @ hardware compare.... You can't be serious?

Fastest thing I could find, Im not gonna waste my time to prove the obvious.
If you dont realize that any DX11 dual gpu card will beat even these new gen single gpu solutions then you are the one who should question the seriousness.

In fact just go shopping for a dual gpu card you wont find one anywhere.
Cause the people that do know already grabbed them, you wont find a 5970,590 or 6990 anywhere anymore unless your ready to pay an arm and leg on ebay.
Now shush plz.

 

[lavaheadache]

Fastest thing I could find, Im not gonna waste my time to prove the obvious.
If you dont realize that any DX11 dual gpu card will beat even these new gen single gpu solutions then you are the one who should question the seriousness.

In fact just go shopping for a dual gpu card you wont find one anywhere.
Cause the people that do know already grabbed them, you wont find a 5970,590 or 6990 anywhere anymore unless your ready to pay an arm and leg on ebay.
Now shush plz.

you really do think you're right don't you?

It isn't very hard at all to find benchmarks proving the opposite of what you are saying. Surely you must have seen them? Go ahead right now and look up any number of the 680 reviews and look at where a 6990 places in regards to it, let alone a 5970.

 

[Termie]

Fastest thing I could find, Im not gonna waste my time to prove the obvious.
If you dont realize that any DX11 dual gpu card will beat even these new gen single gpu solutions then you are the one who should question the seriousness.

In fact just go shopping for a dual gpu card you wont find one anywhere.
Cause the people that do know already grabbed them, you wont find a 5970,590 or 6990 anywhere anymore unless your ready to pay an arm and leg on ebay.
Now shush plz.

you really do think you're right don't you?

It isn't very hard at all to find benchmarks proving the opposite of what you are saying. Surely you must have seen them? Go ahead right now and look up any number of the 680 reviews and look at where a 6990 places in regards to it, let alone a 5970.

Let's give him a break...he's new around here.

Try TechPowerUp out for comparisons - pretty comprehensive:

Source: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/NVIDIA/GeForce_GTX_680/27.html

 

[Stayfr0sty]

you really do think you're right don't you?

It isn't very hard at all to find benchmarks proving the opposite of what you are saying. Surely you must have seen them? Go ahead right now and look up any number of the 680 reviews and look at where a 6990 places in regards to it, let alone a 5970.

Like I said, why do you think all dual GPU cards are sold out, dont even need to see benchies for that. And if I didnt know I was right trust me I would already have a 7970.....

Let's give him a break...he's new around here.

Try TechPowerUp out for comparisons - pretty comprehensive:

Source: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/NVIDIA/GeForce_GTX_680/27.html

I may be new here but I been on to anandtech for years, posible before most of you trying to argue with me even owned a PC

Post 3dmark 11 scores, lets see if these new cards will even come closs to any dual gpu solution....

 

[DefRef]

Contemplating, but most likely going to hold off and see what the GK110 brings to the party and how much that party costs. I'm good with my current cards for almost all my games, so I don't need to upgrade. I've got such a deep backlog of console games and whatnot to play, I could easily not even touch my PC for much gaming until later this year, so waiting is probably for the best. I am hoping to get a single-card solution to free up the space SLI is eating up and regain the ability to use my PCI X-Fi Fatal1ity sound card with LiveDrive bay.

 

[Stayfr0sty]

Come on lets compare 3dmark 11 scores folks.
dual gpus vs current single gpus
Gimme a break

 

[lavaheadache]

Like I said, why do you think all dual GPU cards are sold out, dont even need to see benchies for that. And if I didnt know I was right trust me I would already have a 7970.....


I may be new here but I been on to anandtech for years, posible before most of you trying to argue with me even owned a PC

Post 3dmark 11 scores, lets see if these new cards will even come closs to any dual gpu solution....

It's more that they are EOL than "sold out".