Hey all, its been a while since I posted in the GPU section and I couldn't find anything that satisfied my questions so I'll ask in this tread.   I've had a 5870 for the past 3 years and have decided its time to upgrade (yay!!!) and gonna go back to the Nvidia side of things.  So, I need a few opinions and if you have any graphs or data to share that would be great as opinions are baseless unless you can back it up.   I'm looking at either a 680 or 670.  My current display is 2560x1440 so its gonna need some horsepower to push skyrim and BF3 at that res, though my 5870 could play it, just not maxed. 
 
1.)  Do I even need to worry about 4GB versions?  My gut feeling is "no" but I'm not sure. 
2.)  Are the bugs for the 670s fixed? 
3.)  What card is better for gaming at the resolution?
4.) My budget is $500 and cheaper is better unless the higher priced cards are worth the cash.  Which card is the best price/performance ratio? 
5.)  What card overclocks better?  (obviously it depends on each card, but in general do 670s or 680s get better mild overclocks?)
 
 
Those are a few of my questions, what should I do? 
 
 

I'd suggest holding out just a bit longer if you've already held out this long and just wait for the "real" high end Kepler based card packing the GK110.

I would get the 670 4GB, at that resolution you will like the extra 2gb of vram...it's also future proof...

Oh? When are these supposed GK110 cards going to be released? 4-6 months from now? So we can play the "camp EVGA website" game trying to snag one for another 2-3 months? But by then, the GTX 700 series will about to launch! So we might as well wait ANOTHER few months for those! Ahah!... Oh wait, the next GK110'ish card will launch 6 months after that.......
 
AFAIK, GTX 670 is the best price/performance card. The 680 Classified is supposedly dropping within 1-2 weeks from now.

There all good, get what you like that's available!
 
Just do it! 
  
  http://www.evga.com/products/moreInfo.asp?pn=02G-P4-2685-KR&family=GeForce 600 Series Family&sw=

malVizio


I would get the 670 4GB, at that resolution you will like the extra 2gb of vram...it's also future proof...

 
+1
 
I've heard of games using over 2GB VRAM at huge resolutions, Skyrim in particular (and BF3 just might).  Overclock it enough and it will be as fast as a GTX 680.  

I would wait for the GK110, but without any real numbers behind it (prices and performance) I hate to wait for it if its beyond my price range.  And with Nvidia holding the crown for now, I don't think they will push it out sooner and will probably delay it longer.  But ya, GK110 is something I wish I could wait for.  Got any insider info on its release crap?

Life's too short to be waiting for something that may never happen, plus will the cost of the unit be within your price range.  I say get what your budget can get you now and enjoy.  I can tell you at resolution 2560x1600, 680 sli with all settings maxed, 4x AA, blur off, battlefied 3 it peaks at about 1.8gb in the really demanding battles with all the explosions and what not and the not so demanding it's peaks at about 1.5 gb - so no issues there, plus at that resolution I can drop down to 2x (knock off between 200-300mb) and she still is purdy.  I can't speak for the surround stuff as I am not interested in it.  I recall there being a review on Anantech site (I think) and the conclusion was that nothing really was going over 2gb though.
 
Don't play the waiting game, enjoy now.  Life happens.
 
Al

CraptacularOne


I'd suggest holding out just a bit longer if you've already held out this long and just wait for the "real" high end Kepler based card packing the GK110.

I've seen nothing to indicate that GK110 will be available for consumers to buy before 2013 - and even then, it's only (currently) scheduled to be released on the 'GP-GPU' computing/server 'Tesla' line.  It's all but certain that they will put out a 'graphics card' version of the chip, but as they've only demo'd the Tesla version of it and THAT has retail availability 6+ months out, I wouldn't hold your breath.

malVizio


I would get the 670 4GB, at that resolution you will like the extra 2gb of vram...it's also future proof...

If his budget is $500, I'd say to go for the 680 over the 670.  More cores > more video memory.

Are you planning on keeping this card as long as your 5870? If so, more cores over more vram is not the way to go with your resolution. The new titles over the next several years will only need more vram...the games just keep getting more demanding. With your resolution, it won't be long before 2 gb's isn'nt enough. I bought 2 x 670 4 gb cards, and in sourround, 5760 x 1200, Bf3 with ALL settings maxed, it uses 2400 mb of vram. Back it down to 2x msaa, it drops to about 1900 mb of vram. Turn msaa off, it drops to like 1500 mb of vram.

raw2dogmeat

I bought 2 x 670 4 gb cards, and in sourround, 5760 x 1200, Bf3 with ALL settings maxed, it uses 2400 mb of vram. Back it down to 2x msaa, it drops to about 1900 mb of vram. Turn msaa off, it drops to like 1500 mb of vram.

Your resolution is also running at nearly double the number of pixels his is.
 
Unless he plans on going surround like you have, his memory demands will be considerably less than yours, and 2gb appears to be fine for even your system without maxing out the AA in BF3 - surely, the most 'extreme' case we will be seeing any time soon.

From the sound of it you may not need the 4gb for that res but man go for the 670 , (you'r model preference) if you arent happy step that baby up to a 680!

boredgunner

malVizio


I would get the 670 4GB, at that resolution you will like the extra 2gb of vram...it's also future proof...

+1

I've heard of games using over 2GB VRAM at huge resolutions, Skyrim in particular (and BF3 just might).  Overclock it enough and it will be as fast as a GTX 680.  

+2... Then use it for 88 days, on the 89th schedule it for a step up to the 680 if you feel so inclined 
 
P.S. There is a reason I went with the 680 2G card and not the 4G... We do not need it at this time because Nvidia has continued to improve the GPU efficiencies at multiple levels and the Vram is one of them (Utilization). This coming from a person who HATES lackluster performance, should shed light on this.

sorry guys Double post

Afterburner

boredgunner

malVizio


I would get the 670 4GB, at that resolution you will like the extra 2gb of vram...it's also future proof...

+1

I've heard of games using over 2GB VRAM at huge resolutions, Skyrim in particular (and BF3 just might).  Overclock it enough and it will be as fast as a GTX 680.  

+2... Then use it for 88 days, on the 89th schedule it for a step up to the 680 if you feel so inclined 

P.S. There is a reason I went with the 680 2G card and not the 4G... We do not need it at this time because Nvidia has continued to improve the GPU efficiencies at multiple levels and the Vram is one of them (Utilization). This coming from a person who HATES lackluster performance, should shed light on this.

+3 :) I completly agree grab a 2gb 670 unless your going tri screen , and again step it up if you arent happy

Good responses here.  I will keep the card for about 3 years, so its gotta be a card that can handle things that long.  Both of these cards should do that, but I think I'm leaning slightly more toward the 680 2GB based on your responses.  Not gonna buy anything for another 2 days, so I'm gonna keep thinking before I pull the trigger.  Keep em coming, persuade me more, lol
 
 
Also, is it worth the extra cash for the SC or signiture cards?  I usually do a mild overclock myself, but just wondering if those cards have any other benefits over the reference?

The EVGA 670 FTW is clocked to default GTX 680 clocks, and it uses the same PCB as the 680 at ~ 100$ cheaper as of a week ago.  I got mine, LOVE IT!!!

I personally have a GTX 480 right now 55 days left to step uo. I'm getting the 680 vanilla myself , and on the last question they bump clock speeds up a lil (also 6200 mem instead of 6000?) , vanilla's have been known to clock higher you never know . Its all opinion,  well facts too , Evga qoute or a review I found "
GTX 680 SC Signature comes with reference dual slot cooling that should ensure quality cooling for the factory overclocked components. In order to keep efficiency and silence at reference levels, EVGA designed a special bracket with bigger exhausts for easier air movement. Nvidia and EVGA have decided to trust the reference cooling and you’ll soon learn that there’s indeed no reason not to."
whisper: "Get the 680" (/grin)

the_real_maverick



Also, is it worth the extra cash for the SC or signiture cards?  I usually do a mild overclock myself, but just wondering if those cards have any other benefits over the reference?

Not sure what the diff is on my 680's as that is the way they came (w/BP's and HF Brackets), but I recently installed the HF Brackets and Backplates on my 465's and did get a 4-5 degree drop in temps. You could always add those later thou. Just a thought.

Totally get a 670 or 680. New graphics card won't be released until a year from now...it wouldn't be a good business move to launch "another" card this year when the current 600 series is so popular that they can't keep them in stock. GK110 might come but definitely not this year.

I recommend 4GB GTX670 or 4GB GTX680.
 
Start with one, then get an addition each year for future gaming demands. 4GB is for future high-res displays made available starting next year.  There is a reason Intel supports 4k res on their integrated video in Ivy Bridge, it isn't for multi-monitor: A new standard is coming, so plan ahead.
 
Who cares if 4-way doesn't scale well now, I'm not talking about "now", especially since you're keeping this for another three years.  Anyone that purchased multiple 2GB non-ref GTX285's didn't need to upgrade until recently.  Give yourself years of just concentrating on what games to get until the GeForce 900-series rolls in.
 

CraptacularOne

I'd suggest holding out just a bit longer if you've already held out this long and just wait for the "real" high end Kepler based card packing the GK110.

I'm pretty sure we'll see GK112 and not GK110, thus a 2304-CUDA core GeForce product. Both AMD and nVidia will still be on 28nm for the next refresh, and both companies may have 30-40% headway in power from HD7970/GTX680 considering historical trends. I don't see neither being so much faster to use that much more power. Also don't see GK112 coming as close to GTX690 as GTX680 did for GTX590.
 
If GK110 is sensitive about yields as big as it is, then nVidia will prefer the higher premiums of supercomputing rather than gaming. I'm sure we'll get a cut down version, we always do.

lehpron


I recommend 4GB GTX670 or 4GB GTX680.

A new standard is coming, so plan ahead.

This is exactly what I have been warning folks about. 

Ok, now I'm leaning toward the 680 4gb.  Anyone know when Nvidia is gonna start ramping up production and getting more of these on shelves?  I know, they are sold out everywhere, but they said a while back that they would have an abundance soon, and this was like 3 weeks ago I think.  Anyway, even if I decide to go with the GTX 680 4GB, I don't think I can find one anytime soon.

I say get the 2Gb GTX 680 it will meet all of your needs at that resolution and you wont run out of vRAM.
 
While I agree that the new panels will make better use of a higher vRAM GPU are you really going to fork out another £250+ per panel to see how much of the 4Gb you use? Probably not.
 
I personally love the EVGA Signature+ card due to the custom cooler (I really think the reference one is super ugly!) the FTW is also a good bet too!
 
Lastly remember theres no such thing as futureproofing in the tech industry as everythings moving so fast what you buy today will be outdated three months down the line.

the_real_maverick


Ok, now I'm leaning toward the 680 4gb.  Anyone know when Nvidia is gonna start ramping up production and getting more of these on shelves?  I know, they are sold out everywhere, but they said a while back that they would have an abundance soon, and this was like 3 weeks ago I think.  Anyway, even if I decide to go with the GTX 680 4GB, I don't think I can find one anytime soon.

i suggested you to keep the 670 4gb 'cause you said that your budget should be 500$ or less, but i also think that the 680 4gb it's the best choice!
About the SC or the FTW i don't recommend you unless you don't like the custom cooler...'cause you are going to spent more money for a card that got voltage locked...
Actually mine Vanilla OC better than some FTW...
On 5 days the Classified will be coming out but it will be around 650~700$ i presume...
and hope it will be with unlocked voltage!
 

Well, I never up the voltage on my GPU so thats not an issue for me.  If the classified is around $650, I'd pass for sure.  $150 markup on a card is too much for me to justify, but then again I don't know the numbers it can get.  Still $500 max budget so stick with vanilla or around that price range.

I'm still waiting for everything to be released. I really want the classy, but I don't think the 650+ price tag is worth it. 670's by far seem the better choice and as others said, 4GB to future proof yourselves. Hopefully they decide theres a demand on the 670 classys instead and make it happen :P

or get a 2GB 670/680 now for $4-500 and get another later for less and then have 4GB and 2 GPU's SLI

Pgcmoore


or get a 2GB 670/680 now for $4-500 and get another later for less and then have 4GB and 2 GPU's SLI

 
vRAM doesn't "add" together, you still only have 2Gb available per card so your limit is still going to be 2Gb

DarkSacred

Pgcmoore


or get a 2GB 670/680 now for $4-500 and get another later for less and then have 4GB and 2 GPU's SLI

vRAM doesn't "add" together, you still only have 2Gb available per card so your limit is still going to be 2Gb

Exactly, and with Skyrim with full textures and more mods it eats up a lot of vram.  While normally I would think a gtx 670 2 gig would be plenty for most users, with your higher resolution, three year lifespan for the card, and you mentioned Skyrim specifically-  I would suggest the gtx 670 4 gig.  It is enough power for right now and at this point you wont need the extra 2 gigs, but there will be more games coming (including another Elder Scrolls) and when gk110 hits the price of 670 and 680s will go down. 
 
 You can pick up a second 4 gig 670 down the road for SLI for much cheaper than you can now and have plenty of power for your big res monitor.  Having two of the 2 gig gtx 670 in SLI for that resolution will hold you back on some games, and texture modded Elder Scroll games like Skyrim suck up a LOT OF RAM!  I still remember having to unload some of my mods on Morrowind for my gtx 260-216  
 
There is no such thing as 'future-proofing' but you can make your system more viable for a longer period of time.  The gtx 670 4 gig will give you a better and cheaper upgrade path.