need advice: EVGA or Zotac for GTX 680

[gkoozy]

I am looking to buy Geforce GTX 680 and trying to decide between these two:

ZOTAC AMP! ZT-60102-10P GeForce GTX 680 2GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814500248
$549
OR

EVGA Superclocked, Signature 2 02G-P4-2687-KR GeForce GTX 680 2GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130797
$519

I would really appreciate any input.

 

[balane]

That Zotac comes with dual 6 pin power connectors, every one I've seen, including the Gigabyte Windforce that I bought (And like very much.) has a six and an eight pin connector. I have no idea if that matters though, simply an observation.

Also, if it matters to you, that Zotac takes up three slots and could possibly cover up SATA connectors on some motherboards.

 

[spinejam]

I'd buy this Lightning instead -- a proven clocker!

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2261504

 

[hokies83]

For that money the Galaxy SoC Hall of fame Or the Msi Lighting.

 

[Gordon Freemen]

EVGA is the best .

 

[Rvenger]

Don't get the Zotac. That particular model didn't get very good reviews for overclocking. Plus that cooler is hideous looking.

 

[blackened23]

That has to be the ugliest video card i've ever seen (zotac)

 

[Black Mesa]

I recommend the EVGA card because EVGA GPUs have never failed on me in my almost 8 years of build, modding and gaming on PCs.

 

[chimaxi83]

I recommend the EVGA card because EVGA GPUs have never failed on me in my almost 8 years of build, modding and gaming on PCs.

Meh, EVGA GPU's have been mediocre lately. Failing 670's (they did give a free upgrade to FTW for some though, I guess), new BIOS to throttle cards, Classified not worth it's price... but nice salesman post :thumbsup:

 

[Black Mesa]

Meh, EVGA GPU's have been mediocre lately. Failing 670's (they did give a free upgrade to FTW for some though, I guess), new BIOS to throttle cards, Classified not worth it's price... but nice salesman post :thumbsup:

No not selling anything here just EVGA has been good to me currently running GTX 560 (SE) and in the past with about a dozen or so EVGA cards owned. Also the 6xx I am thinking just IMHO was rushed which is why they are having issues with that series and why they only currently have there high end cards out and Radeon HD has had there whole line up 100% available for purchase for quite some time. In short the nvidia 6xx series seems to be shaping up into another GTX 4xx series fiasco IMHO as in the 6xx series is just a warm up for the 7xx real deal cards. I stand firm that IMHO and exsperiemnce OP will have a best as possible experience if he goes for the EVGA GTX 680 card because EVGA is always rock solid and backed with great customer service and Warranty.

 

[balane]

No not selling anything here just EVGA has been good to me currently running GTX 560 (SE) and in the past with about a dozen or so EVGA cards owned. Also the 6xx I am thinking just IMHO was rushed which is why they are having issues with that series and why they only currently have there high end cards out and Radeon HD has had there whole line up 100% available for purchase for quite some time. In short the nvidia 6xx series seems to be shaping up into another GTX 4xx series fiasco IMHO as in the 6xx series is just a warm up for the 7xx real deal cards. I stand firm that IMHO and exsperiemnce OP will have a best as possible experience if he goes for the EVGA GTX 680 card because EVGA is always rock solid and backed with great customer service and Warranty.

Wow, in my mind a lot of things were improved with the GTX 6xx series of cards. Lower power draw, less heat, great OC'ing, more quiet... I think they were a home-run. In fact, it's the first nVidia card I've put in my gaming desktop in over a decade.

 

[hokies83]

No not selling anything here just EVGA has been good to me currently running GTX 560 (SE) and in the past with about a dozen or so EVGA cards owned. Also the 6xx I am thinking just IMHO was rushed which is why they are having issues with that series and why they only currently have there high end cards out and Radeon HD has had there whole line up 100% available for purchase for quite some time. In short the nvidia 6xx series seems to be shaping up into another GTX 4xx series fiasco IMHO as in the 6xx series is just a warm up for the 7xx real deal cards. I stand firm that IMHO and exsperiemnce OP will have a best as possible experience if he goes for the EVGA GTX 680 card because EVGA is always rock solid and backed with great customer service and Warranty.

Meh Evga has the best Warranty / Rma service that is about it there cards are Meh there coolers are one of the worst...
The classy is 600$ then u have to pay another 100$ for EVBot meh...

A lighting has a better cooler then any Evga card and comes Unlocked..
The Galaxy Stock will boost to 1300mhz.. and you can Flash The lighting LN2 Bios and it unlocks the voltage to 1.3v.

 

[Black Mesa]

Meh Evga has the best Warranty / Rma service that is about it there cards are Meh there coolers are one of the worst...
The classy is 600$ then u have to pay another 100$ for EVBot meh...

A lighting has a better cooler then any Evga card and comes Unlocked..
The Galaxy Stock will boost to 1300mhz.. and you can Flash The lighting LN2 Bios and it unlocks the voltage to 1.3v.

Like I say I stand firm that the EVGA GTX 680 is one of the best GTX 680s OP can get that's why I recommended it to the OP. @balane you got me all wrong man I too think the GTX 6xx series is a good series but the price is out of whack for the performance you are paying for as in terms of raw performance I expected a bit more going from GTX 580 to GTX 680 and that's why I am saying this is like a GTX 4xx series release because these 6xx series are not the full on cards they could of and should of been. GTX 285 to GTX 480 was a HUGE leap in performance why is this new generation not like that much of a forward leap when it could have been is all I am saying. We are having to pay the same prices as last generation of high end cards more or less but we are not getting as much value.

 

[lehtv]

I would recommend the OP to look at the performance difference between 670 and 680 and think about whether it makes sense to spend $100+ more on a 680. You can get a cool and quiet Gigabyte GTX 670 for $400 on newegg. Also, as usual when asking GPU advice, answer the questions in the sticky

 

[The_Golden_Man]

Go for the EVGA card. Cheaper, has 8+6 power and only takes two slots. That ugly Zotac card takes up 3 slots and have 6+6 power.

Or as lehtv says, consider a custom GTX 670 like the Gigabyte Windforce 3x, ASUS DC II or MSI PE.

 

[MoInSTL]

Another strong vote for EVGA. I bought a 560 Ti in April. Last night it died. I was able to talk to EVGA at 10pm on a Friday night and set up the RMA process on the spot. Tech support based in Southern California. One might think it's not great to get a bad card and to steer away from them, but I have been around enough to know it happens sometimes to all companies. I have a long list of things that have died over the years for no reason like PSUs from Antec, etc.

Did I mention they are based in the U.S. and 24X7 tech support? As long as they are U.S. based and 24X7 toll free support they have a customer for life. I've never had a GPU fail and like most of us, I never thought it would happen to me. But it did and making this an easy, painless process matters a lot when it does.

 

[The_Golden_Man]

btw: It was new to me that EVGA have dual fan coolers not exhausting hot air outside case on their GTX 680 series.

Edit: These EVGA cards will fit nicely in white cases with black and white themes.