Should I wait for 680s to come back in stock or go for a 670?

[alfa147x]

I'm getting ready to build a new machine:
Intel i7-3770K
MSI Z77A-GD80
16 GB of DDR3

The original plan was to go with a 680 and then later add a second. I wanted to have this machine built soon so my friend would have a decent machine to play at his LAN party. But the benchmarks for the 680s vs 670s don't really seem all that much better.

The biggest reason I wanted the 680 was because I could run all three of my U2412m off of one card. Is this possible with the 670?

My current build is:
Intel i7 2600k
Gigabyte Z68X-UD3H-B3
16 GB RAM
Dual MSI N460GTX HAWK

The dual 460s (needed to push 3 monitors) make way too much heat and noise.


Wow. After writing all of this out it seems like I should go ahead and buy the 670. Right?

 

[Don Karnage]

I'm getting ready to build a new machine:
Intel i7-3770K
MSI Z77A-GD80
16 GB of DDR3

The original plan was to go with a 680 and then later add a second. I wanted to have this machine built soon so my friend would have a decent machine to play at his LAN party. But the benchmarks for the 680s vs 670s don't really seem all that much better.

The biggest reason I wanted the 680 was because I could run all three of my U2412m off of one card. Is this possible with the 670?

My current build is:
Intel i7 2600k
Gigabyte Z68X-UD3H-B3
16 GB RAM
Dual MSI N460GTX HAWK

The dual 460s (needed to push 3 monitors) make way too much heat and noise.


Wow. After writing all of this out it seems like I should go ahead and buy the 670. Right?

670 is 5% slower then a 680 while being a hundred dollars cheaper. Also same 2GB of VRAM. Go for a 670. You'll be happy

 

[alfa147x]

NVIDIA Surround with Up To Four Monitors1

Found that here: Link

I'm guessing it'll push FOUR monitors with one card?!?! Or is that only in game?

 

[Don Karnage]

Found that here: Link

I'm guessing it'll push FOUR monitors with one card?!?! Or is that only in game?

Good question. I would assume 4 monitors for everything

Nothing is as breathtaking as playing your favorite games across three monitors. At 5760 x 1080, the expanded field of view fully engages human peripheral vision and provides for the most immersive experience in racing and flight simulators. Add in a fourth display to keep tabs on chat, email or web while you are gaming.

 

[alfa147x]

Awesome. If it doesn't I'll be able to justify another 670.

Now will a SeaSonic X750 750W efficiently push two cards and an i7 + 16gb ram + 2x SSDs + 1tb mechanical HDD ?

 

[Don Karnage]

Awesome. If it doesn't I'll be able to justify another 670.

Now will a SeaSonic X750 750W efficiently push two cards and an i7 + 16gb ram + 2x SSDs + 1tb mechanical HDD ?

Guru's test system with an I7 965 @ 3.8 and 6GB of ram and pulled 433w with 670's in SLI. I think a seasonic 750W will be plenty

http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforce-gtx-670-2-and-3way-sli-review/7

 

[guskline]

I tried the 4 monitors but only 3 run a game etc while the 4th is for other things. Problem was my 4th monitor was smaller and everytime I went to set up surround it was one of the 3 instaed of the 3 24" monitors. I have a GTX 680 running three 24" 1920 x 1080 monitors in surround. It is awesome but hard to find. A GTX 670 is close and I'm sure will also have the power to run the 3 monitors. Since it's more plentiful snag the best one you can buy.

 

[guskline]

BTW Don did you get your GTX 680 yet?

 

[SolMiester]

Found that here: Link

I'm guessing it'll push FOUR monitors with one card?!?! Or is that only in game?

3 in game with 4th still running other programs like benchmarks etc, GPU monitoring etc..

edit - nevermind, beaten to it!

 

[Don Karnage]

BTW Don did you get your GTX 680 yet?

Yeah. Sitting on my floor. Should have time to play with it this weekend

 

[toyota]

Guru's test system with an I7 965 @ 3.8 and 6GB of ram and pulled 433w with 670's in SLI. I think a seasonic 750W will be plenty

http://www.guru3d.com/imageview.php?image=39325

http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforce-gtx-670-2-and-3way-sli-review/7

433 is for 670 tri sli and they are testing cards not full system.

 

[blastingcap]

I would buy the 670 all day every day, over the 680, unless the price difference shrank a lot more than the $100 difference today.

 

[Don Karnage]

433 is for 670 tri sli and they are testing cards not full system.

Measured power consumption two cards in SLI x2

System in IDLE = 160W
System Wattage with GPUs in FULL Stress = 433W
Difference (GPU load) = 273W
Add average IDLE wattage ~20W
Subjective obtained GPU power consumption = ~ 293 Watts

 

[toyota]

Measured power consumption two cards in SLI x2

System in IDLE = 160W
System Wattage with GPUs in FULL Stress = 433W
Difference (GPU load) = 273W
Add average IDLE wattage ~20W
Subjective obtained GPU power consumption = ~ 293 Watts

well look at the image you put up though as that's what I was going by. it is a funny coincidence that gtx670 sli full system uses the same 433 watts as gtx670 tri sli cards by themselves.

 

[Don Karnage]

well look at the image you put up though as that's what I was going by. it is a funny coincidence that gtx670 sli full system uses the same 433 watts as gtx670 tri sli cards by themselves.

The TRI numbers suck because of them only testing at 3.8Ghz. I wonder what a 5Ghz 3930K would pull with 3 670's

Ahh thats more like it

25K GPU score... Mother Of God

 

[amenx]

OP's CPU 'upgrade' over what he currently has is questionable.

 

[alfa147x]

OP's CPU 'upgrade' over what he currently has is questionable.

It's not an upgrade. My current machine will become my gf's.

 

[guskline]

alfa147x: When I bought the GTX 680, the GTX 670s were not out. If I had the choice now, I would most likely buy the GTX670. My GTX 680 stock powers 3 Acer S242HL 24" 1920 x1080 monitors EXTREMELY well in NV Surround (your Dells are much nicer but have the same basic resolution). At 5670 x 1080 all the games I own ( including BF3) are very playable at the highest settings. Though the GTX 670 is slightly slower, I emphasize the word slightly. I highly doubt that it would noticeably affect a 3 monitor setup.

When you factor in the price difference (at least $100) and the availability of the GTX 670 vs the near impossibility of finding the GTX 680 your decision becomes easy. Since you future includes a second GPU

JUMP on the GTX 670.

 

[3DVagabond]

Found that here: Link

I'm guessing it'll push FOUR monitors with one card?!?! Or is that only in game?

4 monitors with one card. Only 3 can be used for surround.

The 680 is a complete waste when the 670 is $100 less. Besides you could be waiting a while for the 680. I'd buy a 670 with the full sized (680) PCB though.

 

[guskline]

4 monitors with one card. Only 3 can be used for surround.

The 680 is a complete waste when the 670 is $100 less. Besides you could be waiting a while for the 680. I'd buy a 670 with the full sized (680) PCB though.

I guess I'm one of the complete waste guys

 

[alfa147x]

670 it is! Now what's up with the full size PCB vs smaller PCB?

 

[exar333]

670 it is! Now what's up with the full size PCB vs smaller PCB?

Get the Asus, Gigabtye, or Galaxy full-size custom PCBs. Cooler, quieter, and likely more OC headroom within the given voltage requirements.

 

[alfa147x]

I bought the MSI N460GTX Twin Frozr II and liked the cooler. Too bad they don't have a similar one for the 670. I'll pick up the Asus one this weekend.

Thanks!

 

[exar333]

I bought the MSI N460GTX Twin Frozr II and liked the cooler. Too bad they don't have a similar one for the 670. I'll pick up the Asus one this weekend.

Thanks!

Good choice. Get the 'top' one if you can, it is supposed to be binned with the best cores around.

 

[guskline]

Newegg has 2 Asus GTX 670s listed.