I currently run a 570 and have been pleased with it's performance though I have always wanted to run my games (Skyrim and BF3) on higher settings.
 
I've pretty well decided on the 680 SC but have a few questions I can't find answers to.
 
First, if I run the new 680, is there any reason not to sell the 570?
Could it be of any use as a PhysX  card?
 
Second, since I have a PCIe x1 USB 3.0 internal controller card for the USB header, would that force the lanes for dual graphics cards into a x16/x8 configuration?
The MB has a NF200 controller but not sure if that gives any benefit.
 
In my digging around, I found what seemed like a good thread that started to answer this question, then proved to be as entertaining as it was informative.
 
http://www.overclock.net/...ut-p67-z68-pci-e-lanes
 
My knowledge of SLI and it's options is limited and I would greatly appreciate some  advice.
 
Unrelated question: Better to run a DVI to the TV, and a seperate audio (optical) cable from the MB to my receiver than an HDMI  cable from the graphics card to the TV? 
 
MB

I can't answer your questions really, but just wanted to say I dropped my new GTX 680 SC into my system a few hours ago and cranked up Skyrim. I have the HD Texture pack, a bunch of additional high def texture add-ons, am running the game with all options maxed at 2560x1600 and locked at 60 frames a second (on purpose since that is what my monitor refresh rate is). It says I am using about 1.5 Gig of card memory, so I still have 500 Meg to spare. Running at about 90% card power.
 
This is an awesome card.

570 can run BF3 and Skyrim at max settings. BF3 will be maxed out with the exception of MSAAx4. You need to tell people what kind of motherboard and processor you have as well. If you have the Motherboard in your link which I'm assuming you do. The NF200 chip has been known to give equal or worse performance to running two cards at 8x. I don't recommend going SLI 680's on any p67 platform. Nor will you need to. If you think the 570 isn't cutting it get one 680, maybe buy another down the road if you go x79. 

That's so good to hear. I tried to use the DCL high-res texture packs but it was too much with the settings pegged out for the card to handle. The frame rate just fell too low. I'm really looking forward to seeing the differences.

Alex00322


570 can run BF3 and Skyrim at max settings.

Thanks Alex. Stock settings for the 570 wouldn't run Skyrim maxed out at all. Since I OC'd the 570, I have been turning up the settings with good success. I do have to keep the fan running pretty fast to keep the temps down so it's a bit noisy for game play for me.
 

Alex00322

 
BF3 will be maxed out with the exception of MSAAx4.
 

 
This is also good info.
 
 

Alex00322

 
The NF200 chip has been known to give equal or worse performance to running two cards at 8x.
 

 
Depends on whose posts you read.  I've scoured the net for days and I've read compelling arguments of both points of view. Most admit that it makes little difference one way or another, I personally just don't know.
 
My issue is that I don't know if it is worth keeping the 570 or not. I do agree, though that a different MB might be on the horizon if I were thinking bout 680 SLI.

I'm just going off past experience. I had a Gigabyte Z68 ud7 with SLI 570's for the past year. They ran @16x 16x through the NF200 chip. I would get micro stuttering up the ass because of that chip. They ran better @8x. Not sure why you had issues with Skyrim. It's just a console port. I didn't have any troubles running it with one 570 as SLI didn't work when it first released. 

I am doing a similar change. From three 570 HD 2560's... (3x 27" screens with 1920x1200 Res) 
  
At this time it seems that Nvidia, with all the technical changes, has improved on the performance/utilization of the Vram. 
  
My thinking (Not to be confused with facts as we are still early in the fact gathering) is those with 2.5GB Vram and going to the 2.GB Vram 680's will see the Vram performance be a draw. And experience a healthy performance increase due to the pure nuts and bolts and scale-ability these 680's have. 
  
My performance/utilization opinion based on limited information at this time... 
  
1.0GB Nvidia GPU's users to the 680 2G is like a 1.5GB jump. 
1.5GB Nvidia GPU users to the 680 2G is a 1GB jump. 
2.5GB Nvidia users to the 680 2G is a draw. 
3GB Nvidia users to the 680 2g is a LOSS of .5GB. 
  
Keeping in mind that a few games will saturate the Vram available giving uninformed users the impression that they have maxed out their Vram. And that many times the system "Stacks" Vram. In reality.. Only a system that has been shut down, goes straight into a game/benchmark reflects "Closer to reality" Vram usage.. Back to back test runs can suffer from the Vram not clearing itself and stack previous usage with current usage... 
 
Bottom line. The 680 truly has changed the entire GPU world. At this moment I am running 5760x1200 @ 35c while surfing. With the 570's I ran 42c and it required two to run the same res. So I am using less than half the power and using the lowest fan setting available compared to having to run two 500 series cards with their fans at 50% to surf. Please note the Case I am using is NOT air cooling friendly...
 
As far as PCI-E 3.0 is concerned. The higher resolutions can benefit from 3.0. But today, no need to get it. Now this time next year when we have more MOBO's that are not the first rounds of the tech... Then I beleive games, GPU's and the MOBO's will be in position to "Start" taking advantage of that tech even if only in synthetic benching (Basing opinion off of gamer needs nothing else)

Thanks Afterburner
 
That is a good validation for what I propose to do as well.
 
I know I will see significant performance gains.
 
Thanks for the info, and if you have any thoughts regarding my other questions, please let me know.

So, thumbs down on the 570 as a PhysX card?
Anybody?

mbraun777


So, thumbs down on the 570 as a PhysX card?
Anybody?

It's overkill for a PhysX card, you're better off selling it and putting some cash in your pocket to recoup the cost of the 680. 

Unless there are dramatic performance increases to be gained, it's not worth the extra noise, heat, and drain on my PSU.
So my assumption is that near-future games won't really be able to utilize this, particularly BF3, which I've just gotten into.
 
Thanks for your advice

Got the 680 SC up and running. What a beautiful piece of hardware.  Quiet, cool, awesome.
 
It was missing one the the backplate screws but I will hopefully be able to resolve this. I did notice that the bolt hole of the missing screw does not align with the threads on the PC board. Hopefully I can install that screw. If not, the backplate has the sticker with the SN on it which must follow the card or, no warranty, so if the backplate has to be replaced...?