Need advice about a Nvidia order

[wsarahan]

Hi guys

So, i`ve bought the 2 GTX 680 with 4gb ecah to use at 2560x1440

But the store that i bought just received the GTX Titan oday at the same price that i've payed for my 680 SLI

What should i do? Stay with the 680 SLI 4gb or ask the store to send me the Titan instead?

Thanks

 

[Grooveriding]

Stay, 680SLI is appreciably faster than a single Titan. Unless you want to spend twice as much for two Titts.

 

[homebrew2ny]

I'd take the titan if pricing is negligible.

I'd rather have 1 gpu, even if slightly slower, then 2 gpu's in sli...

 

[wsarahan]

Thanks guys

I`ll put some more info here for you so it will help you trying to find the best choice for me

I live in Brazil, this kind of things here costs too much, i`ll write here the values


The 2 GTX 680 with 4 gb each i`ve payed 2000 dollars

A single Titan here cost about 2100 dollars

So if i change the deal i`ll need to pay more 100 dollars to the store. And this 100 bucks is ok for me if it really worth, this is the small problem that i have now

And i saw a lot of diferent opinios in the web, i`m considering some:

People say that in a near future the Titan drivers will get the difference between then and the 680 SLI and the power difference will become 0 or almost it, is it true?

And the second thing that i read a lot is even with less power the titan will make the games more fluid even with less FPS, true again? If yes why?

So, i need to make a choice till this monday, so any help will be apreciated

Thanks again

 

[Dravonic]

SLI can be a pain sometimes, I always prefer single GPU solutions.

That said, you will get significantly more performance from the 680s, so if you're used to SLI and it's perks (considering you bought two 680s I'd guess you are) then you will probably want to keep them.

 

[wsarahan]

SLI can be a pain sometimes, I always prefer single GPU solutions.

That said, you will get significantly more performance from the 680s, so if you're used to SLI and it's perks (considering you bought two 680s I'd guess you are) then you will probably want to keep them.

Yes i have today 2 580 in SLI, i have to change because the lack of memory, only 1.5g, it`s not enbnough anymore to play at 2560x1440

But man, what a hard choice, really, i can`t find my way in this case, that`s why i'm asking for help
If you guys have some more advices i`ll be thankfull

 

[homebrew2ny]

It is true that with mature drivers, the Titan should close the gap in performance. But as you hinted at, a single GPU solution will almost always provide a 'smoother' feel to any given game over a SLI set up. It has to do with issues like micro-stuttering. And you do not need to worry about things like SLI profiles and such.

At the end of the day it is all up to you, but for a nominal price increase I'd take the single GPU solution (Titan) over the 680 SLI set up any day. However, it is worth noting now that the 680 SLI set up is faster, perhaps even ~20% or so on average from everything I have seen. But, and again, I can not live with SLI issues like micro-stuttering and would take a lesser 'smooth' game session first.

 

[homebrew2ny]

This is a reasonable breakdown...

But, and again, with new drivers and game specific support, I expect the gap to lessen if not close all together rather quickly.

 

[lavaheadache]

I would take the Titan. Multi gpu sucks

 

[wsarahan]

It is true that with mature drivers, the Titan should close the gap in performance. But as you hinted at, a single GPU solution will almost always provide a 'smoother' feel to any given game over a SLI set up. It has to do with issues like micro-stuttering. And you do not need to worry about things like SLI profiles and such.

At the end of the day it is all up to you, but for a nominal price increase I'd take the single GPU solution (Titan) over the 680 SLI set up any day. However, it is worth noting now that the 680 SLI set up is faster, perhaps even ~20% or so on average from everything I have seen. But, and again, I can not live with SLI issues like micro-stuttering and would take a lesser 'smooth' game session first.

Hard choice, really hard

And the decicion needs to be made

 

[Dravonic]

People say that in a near future the Titan drivers will get the difference between then and the 680 SLI and the power difference will become 0 or almost it, is it true?

Nobody can be sure. The titan is new, so it has more "optimization headroom" so to speak, but the 680 isn't exactly fully optimized, especially when considering SLI. The titan will very likely close the gap, but how much is anyone's guess. I certainly wouldn't assume it will match the 680s and change my order based on that assumption.

And the second thing that i read a lot is even with less power the titan will make the games more fluid even with less FPS, true again? If yes why?

One of those SLI perks I was talking about is erratic frame-time. SLI is more likely to have significant frame-time variations than a single GPU. There are plenty of good articles around about microstuttering, which is the effect caused by big frame-time variations, so google is your friend here.

 

[wsarahan]

Nobody can be sure. The titan is new, so it has more "optimization headroom" so to speak, but the 680 isn't exactly fully optimized, especially when considering SLI. The titan will very likely close the gap, but how much is anyone's guess. I certainly wouldn't assume it will match the 680s and change my order based on that assumption.



One of those SLI perks I was talking about is erratic frame-time. SLI is more likely to have significant frame-time variations than a single GPU. There are plenty of good articles around about microstuttering, which is the effect caused by big frame-time variations, so google is your friend here.

But will i be able to play most of the games at MAx settings and get 60 FPS or more in 2560x1440 even with the 680 SLi and Titan or just one of then or no one?

 

[homebrew2ny]

Neither are going to do that across the board, in fact both will struggle in most newer games at those settings. The chart I posted above was at that setting (or very similar).

EDIT: For the chart above - All games are run at 2560x1600 with 4XAA

 

[Dravonic]

But will i be able to play most of the games at MAx settings and get 60 FPS or more in 2560x1440 even with the 680 SLi and Titan or just one of then or no one?

As homebrew2ny said, neither will keep a 60fps average with all games. SLI will get you closer than the Titan, but only triple SLI would get there, I think.

 

[Grooveriding]

I am not expecting much from drivers for Titan. Remember it has a lot in common with gtx680's gk104. Multi gpu does not bother me and there are games at your resolution a Titan would struggle with more than 680sli would.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I would take the Titan. Multi gpu sucks

SLI isn't that bad at all.

Two 680s will take a little overclock and beat a titan which seems to have the same limitations on overclocking that the 670/680 has.

I am not expecting much from drivers for Titan. Remember it has a lot in common with gtx680's gk104. Multi gpu does not bother me and there are games at your resolution a Titan would struggle with more than 680sli would.

This is true. Memory size alone doesn't determine performance, we know that. What I think will matter here is whether you are going to overclock at all. A 680 SLI setup is faster than a titan, overclocking will only widen the gap. If no overclocking, you may be interested in the lower power requirements and lower heat output of the titan.

 

[wsarahan]

Neither are going to do that across the board, in fact both will struggle in most newer games at those settings. The chart I posted above was at that setting (or very similar).

EDIT: For the chart above - All games are run at 2560x1600 with 4XAA

Thanks, so i will need to turn down a little in filters, no problem for me

Still thinking what to do in my choice....

Thanks again

 

[homebrew2ny]

Well, at the moment the SLI set-up is cheaper and faster.

So, if you have no qualms with SLI profiles (game support) and potential micro-stuttering issues, the choice should be easy!

 

[wsarahan]

But the micro-stuttering today is too bad? I`m asking because as i have SLI since 2010 i don`t know the diference with a single card, is it really annoyng now a days?

 

[cmdrdredd]

But the micro-stuttering today is too bad? I`m asking because as i have SLI since 2010 i don`t know the diference with a single card, is it really annoyng now a days?

The new Nvidia cards are better than older generations when it comes to micro stutter. In other words, a GTX 680 SLI setup should have less noticeable microstutter than a GTX 580 SLI setup.

I personally don't see much difference between my 670 SLI and a single 670.

 

[Dravonic]

But the micro-stuttering today is too bad? I`m asking because as i have SLI since 2010 i don`t know the diference with a single card, is it really annoyng now a days?

It isn't much of a problem, specially since you already have experience with SLI.

Generally speaking, if you want performance SLI is your answer. If stability and ease-of-use are more important to you than performance, go with the Titan.

 

[tviceman]

I'd rather take Titan over two 680's personally.

 

[wsarahan]

Thanks guys

I would love to get a Titan, but as i said before here in Brazil it costs 2200 dollars each, so to make a future SLI will be hard because of the money, i`ll need to spend 4400 dollars just in VGA to make a Titan SLI, and i will spend the half to make the same with 680 4g each one

 

[aaksheytalwar]

Sli will give more fps, Titan will be smoother.