GTX-690 Reviews are up.

[Jaydip]

Themselves? They are the ones that design the chip that is going onto the wafers. TSMC has no part in that. Now, if TSMC had contaminated lines or bad wafers.. Yeah. But that isn't happening.

It's Nvidia's flawed implementation and ineptitude at node process that is causing the bad yields.

They design the chip sure but how on earth they can influence TSMC's manufacturing process?During the Gtx 5xx days they made bigger chips so in part they could be blamed for yields, now their chips are smaller and the fault shifts to TSMC.Nvidia's implementation is flawed? how...

 

[BallaTheFeared]

how...

Because AMD couldn't keep the 7970 in stock for months, then when nobody wanted it anymore because the superior 680 came out they got tons of inventory.

 

[Jaydip]

Discuss!

This is a brilliant design from NV.I would like to see the data from older hardware as well.The spike in CF looks terrible in graph at least.How the frame limiter behaves when ur gpu is very stressed?

 

[Arzachel]

Discuss!

I'm guessing that the hardware solution is pretty similar to the software one: http://techreport.com/articles.x/21516/11

Choice quote:

Now, take note of the implications here. Because the metering delay is presumably inserted between T_render and T_display, Fraps would miss it entirely. That means all of our SLI data on the preceding pages might not track with how frames are presented to the user. Rather than perceive an alternating series of long and short frame times, the user would see a more even flow of frames at an average latency between the two.

This probably helps if you're particularly sensitive to microstutter but might be a drawback if you hate input lag I guess?

 

[N4g4rok]

690 system draws less than 100 watts more than a single 7970 system.

I agree. dancing cats? Always relevant. ALWAYS.

I've heard a some people mention that dual GPU card like this can suffer from the same micro stutter problems as SLI/CF setups. Is that the only Daul-card-like problems these things have?

 

[Grooveriding]

How is this card meant to be a compelling buy @ $999 ? Less performance than 680 SLI for the same price, can be overclocked to match 680SLI/680SLI OC performance.

If you're buying $1000 worth of video card hardware, you have an SLI capable motherboard and PSU. Stellar card, worthless SKU creation at its pricepoint vs 680SLI.

Unless you are after Quad-SLI with only two PCIE slots, but even then $2000 of video cards says to me you should have a SB-E and 4xPCIE slots for 4 single 680s and the marginally better performance you'll get from using single cards.

Should of used two 670 GPUs and priced it @ $799, makes no sense at the same price as 680SLI for less performance.

Of course, there are probably only like five of these cards ready to sell

 

[N4g4rok]

Of course, there are probably only like five of these cards ready to sell

The plan could be to produce just enough fro the market interested in them and that would probably work out well. How much do you think they make in profit from ewach one sold?

 

[Grooveriding]

The plan could be to produce just enough fro the market interested in them and that would probably work out well. How much do you think they make in profit from ewach one sold?

No idea, no one but nvidia knows that. Fairly certain they make more money off a 690 than two 680s though

 

[SirPauly]

I'm guessing that the hardware solution is pretty similar to the software one: http://techreport.com/articles.x/21516/11

The quality seems much more impressive with hardware based --- based on the Serious Sam 3 example.

 

[Abwx]

I don't understand your point.I said all the reviews show NV being faster in Batman AC across all resolutions.

Perhaps because they did set the game to MSAA8X rather than 4X as has done Anandtech....

 

[Jaydip]

Perhaps because they did set the game to MSAA8X rather than 4X as has done Anandtech....

Here u go
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1921/4/
I have nothing against the review except the Batman AC chart.I think the data is wrong.

 

[superjim]

Power usage on this thing is just awesome. How did NV pull that off? What is SLI 680s doing that the 690 isn't?

 

[aaksheytalwar]

How is this card meant to be a compelling buy @ $999 ? Less performance than 680 SLI for the same price, can be overclocked to match 680SLI/680SLI OC performance.

If you're buying $1000 worth of video card hardware, you have an SLI capable motherboard and PSU. Stellar card, worthless SKU creation at its pricepoint vs 680SLI.

Unless you are after Quad-SLI with only two PCIE slots, but even then $2000 of video cards says to me you should have a SB-E and 4xPCIE slots for 4 single 680s and the marginally better performance you'll get from using single cards.

Should of used two 670 GPUs and priced it @ $799, makes no sense at the same price as 680SLI for less performance.

Of course, there are probably only like five of these cards ready to sell

THis

 

[boxleitnerb]

Why did no non-German techsite test the frame metering (reduced microstuttering)? Why do most sites only test the same generic stuff over and over again? No TrSSAA/AAA, no SGSSAA...

 

[Abwx]

Here u go
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1921/4/
I have nothing against the review except the Batman AC chart.I think the data is wrong.

Hardwar.fr give a better score in this game for the GF680 than
the link you provide, so the data in respect of Nvidia is right.

They also add that AMD did correct the MSAA that was
lacking in their first review , so they did use updated drivers
wich explain the higher score of the 7970.
Yet , they add that CF support was still lacking.

Bonne nouvelle, après 5 mois AMD a enfin corrigé le problème de performances avec MSAA qui affectait les Radeon. La Radeon HD 7970 devance dorénavant la GeForce GTX 680. Mauvaise nouvelle, le CrossFire X ne fonctionne toujours pas

http://www.hardware.fr/articles/864-9/benchmark-batman-arkham-city.html

Likely that Legitreview did simply use benchs that were
performed in a previous review with old drivers.

Anyway , it says a lot about the seriousness
of a lot of sites....

Edit :

Hardware.fr use catalyst 12.4 while curiously Legitreview
use Catalyst 12.2 for the 7970 but for the 6990 they use
Catalyst 12.4......

Legitreview , really ??..

 

[RussianSensation]

These 4 graphs really say it all:

1) Quieter

2) Consumes 150W less

3) Faster/smoother than HD7970 CF:

4) SLI drivers seem to be much better:

Add to this 1200mhz+ overclocking on the 690, and there is literally no point in AMD launching HD7990 unless they can release it for <$849.

Personally, I'd grab GTX680 4GB in SLI for ~$100 more if I was spending this kind of $.

How is this card meant to be a compelling buy @ $999 ? Less performance than 680 SLI for the same price, can be overclocked to match 680SLI/680SLI OC performance.

For most of us 2 dual GPUs are better. It seems elsewhere in the world (Brazil, Russia, India and China), the trends are different though.

A Global Phenomenon

"Ted Pollak, Senior Gaming Analyst said "We are witnessing the market morph and grow into different areas. This has always been a strong point of PC gaming; the ability to adapt to different entertainment environments and requirements. The hobbyist aspect of the DIY market is driving billions in component sales and small form factor rigs are being hooked up to HDTVs, essentially being used as 'super consoles.'"

In its 33 country analysis of the gamer market, JPR has found very strong demand in the BRIC countries for systems, accessories, and upgrades approaching $4.7 billion in 2012 and growing to $7.7 billion by 2015." ~ TPU

For the first time since HD4870X2, someone can fit fastest single GPU in SLI (on 1 card) into a small case, and in fact even 2 of them using a nice small factor board.

Lian-Li V354 Case

This case can easily swallow an HD5970 or GTX690 (or 2).

^ I can see how the market for smaller cases may become more appealing for enthusiasts in the next 4-5 years since a smaller case doesn't look ridiculous in the living room next to a nice plasma/LCD and in many places in the world condo space is limited.

 

[SirPauly]

http://ht4u.net/reviews/2012/nvidia_geforce_gtx_690_im_test/index3.php

http://www.pcgameshardware.de/aid,8...Grafikkarte-der-Welt/Grafikkarte/Test/?page=3

More examples or investigations on micro-stutter. Shows promise but may need maturity.

For Crysis Warhead, we're observing the same as Computerbase when moving forward in basically a straight line. When dodging and strafing, as is usual in first person shooters, things start to get nasty: GTX 690 seems to be able to smooth five to seven frames before one drastic outlier occurs.

http://forum.beyond3d.com/showpost.php?p=1640910&postcount=4303

 

[blackened23]

http://ht4u.net/reviews/2012/nvidia_geforce_gtx_690_im_test/index3.php

http://www.pcgameshardware.de/aid,8...Grafikkarte-der-Welt/Grafikkarte/Test/?page=3

More examples or investigations on micro-stutter. Shows promise but may need maturity.





http://forum.beyond3d.com/showpost.php?p=1640910&postcount=4303

Practically every game they test shows that kind of frametime. Maybe their testing is flawed? I'm not trying to draw flames here, I would seriously like to know whats what. Some people swear that there is MS on certain cards, others don't. I have not seen MS in a LONG time. I have not seen MS on 680sli either.

 

[Grooveriding]

These 4 graphs really say it all:





For most of us 2 dual GPUs are better. It seems elsewhere in the world (Brazil, Russia, India and China), the trends are different though.

A Global Phenomenon

"Ted Pollak, Senior Gaming Analyst said "We are witnessing the market morph and grow into different areas. This has always been a strong point of PC gaming; the ability to adapt to different entertainment environments and requirements. The hobbyist aspect of the DIY market is driving billions in component sales and small form factor rigs are being hooked up to HDTVs, essentially being used as 'super consoles.'"

In its 33 country analysis of the gamer market, JPR has found very strong demand in the BRIC countries for systems, accessories, and upgrades approaching $4.7 billion in 2012 and growing to $7.7 billion by 2015." ~ TPU

For the first time since HD4870X2, someone can fit fastest single GPU in SLI (on 1 card) into a small case, and in fact even 2 of them using a nice small factor board.

Lian-Li V354 Case

This case can easily swallow an HD5970 or GTX690 (or 2).

^ I can see how the market for smaller cases may become more appealing for enthusiasts in the next 4-5 years since a smaller case doesn't look ridiculous in the living room next to a nice plasma/LCD and in many places in the world condo space is at a premium!

RS, in Europe and many of the countries you listed nvidia cards are significantly more expensive than they are in NA, so this card is even less appealing there.

Before the 7970 price cuts, the 680 was still more expensive in Europe. I am in Spain atm and took a quick look at a local shop here, the 680 is selling for about $700CAN (500euro) The 690 will be 1000Euro=$1333 Canadian and even more in American dollars. The circumstances remain the same and even moreso in Europe that the people spending 1000+ of their local currency on GPUs will be after the best. Not a compromise for the same price.

The card is truly impressive, but priced liked garbage. it should be at most $899, $999 is a joke at the same price for less performance than two 680s. I would never buy this card and I bought two 680s. If I wanted quad-sli, I'd also buy 2 more 680s, not two of these. The card is matching the price point of a better performing solution from the same vendor, it's a joke. Nobody buying this card for the equivelant of about $1350US is going to give a toss about expensive hydro prices in Europe, much less plan to run an MATX mobo in a mini tower.

The 690 is the worst priced card yet on 28nm as it is matching the price of a better performing solution for the same price. The only reason I can see for the card is nvidia was tired after almost three years straight of AMD having the fastest card available and wanted to make sure they would have the title back for once.

It should be $899 or $699 with the 670s under the hood. Then there might actually be a reason to buy it.

 

[Abwx]

These 4 graphs really say it all:

It says that you re spreading hoaxes , like this one :

3) Faster/smoother than HD7970 CF:

.
No , CFX with 7970 is faster than a 690 or two 680 in SLI :
http://www.hardware.fr/articles/864-17/recapitulatif-performances.html

 

[SirPauly]

Different sites have different results based on methodology and what is exactly tested so one may try to read many reviews to try to form a consensus --- how many reviews does AMD win actually?

Hardware FR was a close AMD win and if you use just this one -- is more cherry picking, while ignoring the rest, one may imagine.

 

[blackened23]

I would like to see more information on microstutter in general, and i'm not talking about the 690.. Some report it on the 690, others don't. Some report it on 7970, others don't. Problem is, there is no absolute good testing method for it so its really hard taking anyone seriously.

Personally, I have not seen MS in a long time - not since the 5000 / 295.

 

[Phynaz]

Why did no non-German techsite test the frame metering (reduced microstuttering)? Why do most sites only test the same generic stuff over and over again? No TrSSAA/AAA, no SGSSAA...

Techreport will. Give them a couple of days.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

You should be able to see MS on an nVidia setup in Heaven.

 

[RussianSensation]

No , CFX with 7970 is faster than a 690 or two 680 in SLI :
http://www.hardware.fr/articles/864-17/recapitulatif-performances.html

:hmm: 1 review out of 10 enthusiast websites shows that....

That's 1 review out of how many? Everyone else preferred GTX690 to HD7970 CF , including Hardware Canucks, AnandTech, Computerbase.de, HardOCP, Xbitlabs, etc.

It's also ironic how when GTX480/580 ruled HD5870/6970 series power consumption was all the rage and now 150W extra for similar or less performance in HD7970 CF setup is no big deal? Power consumption generally is a moot point when the card that's sucking up extra power is actually faster or cheaper. In this case, GTX690 can be overclocked to 1200mhz which would need 2x HD7970 @ 1200mhz to match. Do we even need to look at power consumption figures for that? If you enjoy 200W of extra heat being dumped into your room for the similar performance, sure get the 7970s in CF.

The card is truly impressive, but priced liked garbage. it should be at most $899, $999 is a joke at the same price for less performance than two 680s. I would never buy this card and I bought two 680s. If I wanted quad-sli, I'd also buy 2 more 680s, not two of these.

Ya, the price is very high. Looks we entered the new saga of $500 upper mid-range chips and $1K flagships.

The 690 is the worst priced card yet on 28nm as it is matching the price of a better performing solution for the same price. It should be $899 or $699 with the 670s under the hood. Then there might actually be a reason to buy it.

I suppose if one could buy a waterblock and overclock these highly binned 680s in the 690 it might outperform 2 water cooled 680s in SLI. I think the funny thing is NV is pushing 690 when there is a shortage of 680s. It supports your view that they'll be making even more $ off the 690. Seems odd to launch this card so early unless they expect availability of 680s to improve very soon.

Enjoy your vacation in Spain!