NVIDIA Kepler GeForce GTX 680 Video Card Review @ [H]ardOCP

Devistater said:
Hardocp is clearly in the pocket of AMD!
...
oh wait...

j/k.

I'm just amused at everytime [H] gives an award to AMD or nvidia, they get accusations like that. Clearly they are impartial and objective and just want to do a thorough review regardless of who makes it. One of the reasons I always look for reviews on [H] first.

This is quite an interesting review and I'm looking forward to the standalone articles on the new technology!
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Same. I look to this site for honesty. Praise and criticism both come here when they're due.

I've been on AMD for a while (and have a 6950 that I'm happy with). Planning on an upgrade in maybe a year though. Right now it's looking like a 6xx unless AMD has a surprise up their sleeve.

With that said, I want to see some OC'ing. The 7970 review on Xbit Labs showed the 7970 to really hold its own with overclocking.
 
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what what in the butt? this thing only has a 6 fps advantage over the gtx580 in bf3

why is this card good again?
 
Acoustique said:
what what in the butt? this thing only has a 6 fps advantage over the gtx580 in bf3

why is this card good again?
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Different games work differently with cards. Some like others more than others or about the same. Also, it not only runs cooler, quieter and more power efficient, is it mostly if not always faster than than GTX 580 and mostly faster or about the same as the 7970 with it being 50 bucks cheaper as well. Lots of great things going for it. It's also just a bit smaller than the 7970.
 
Okay, my budget can't spring for a $500 card. Grr. I'm stuck waiting for the 660ti vs. 7870 comparison! C'mon Nvidia: release the 660ti (for $200!). :)
 
SolidSnakeUS said:
Different games work differently with cards. Some like others more than others or about the same. Also, it not only runs cooler, quieter and more power efficient, is it mostly if not always faster than than GTX 580 and mostly faster or about the same as the 7970 with it being 50 bucks cheaper as well. Lots of great things going for it. It's also just a bit smaller than the 7970.
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Delta on the apples to apples looks like a 26 frame average to me...
 
demingo said:
This makes me think the overclocking results are looking very good... :D
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Or they got tired of people trying to say that the review wasn't fair because the AMD cards weren't overclocked like Nvidias, the new verbage helps kick those sentiments to the curb.
 
Acoustique said:
what what in the butt? this thing only has a 6 fps advantage over the gtx580 in bf3

why is this card good again?
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Hardocp doesn't do canned benchmarks. They do best playable experience. It's only 6fps faster but running at a much higher visual setting, mainly 2x MSAA which is very taxing.
 
TroyX said:
that's going to be insane if it turns out to be true.
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I couldnt help but wonder how much TXAA is going to end up like Physx... With current AA developers dont have to do crap, with TXAA, how much extra work is going to have to be done? and what happens if AMD says "OK, well here is our super awesome AA that gives great results and very low cost but also has to be programed into the games!"

I think anything that has to be implemented and is Nvidia/AMD specific is not really a good thing for us gamers...
 
Any chance of some folding benchmarks? I do more [H] folding than gaming in my old age...
 
darkstarcow said:
I couldnt help but wonder how much TXAA is going to end up like Physx... With current AA developers dont have to do crap, with TXAA, how much extra work is going to have to be done? and what happens if AMD says "OK, well here is our super awesome AA that gives great results and very low cost but also has to be programed into the games!"

I think anything that has to be implemented and is Nvidia/AMD specific is not really a good thing for us gamers...
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Yes, it would be nice to find an API way to do it, instead of being vendor specific. Although it may be something that the developer can implement that benefits everybody, like FXAA in BF3. The real question is how long it'll be until we see it available, and whether it can be back-ported to existing games.
 
MavericK96 said:
Seeing as it has to be implemented by developers on a game level...we don't know yet. :p

Though I hope there can maybe be some sort of injector like with FXAA and SMAA.

If nothing else I would guess a tech demo will come out at some point that shows it off.
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Does anyone happen to have a link to some good reading that explains all the antialiasing alphabet soup, and how to best implement and test it all to greatest effect for minimal performance hit? I'm completely confused at this point by what does what, what's exclusive to Nvidia/AMD, and what options can be enabled with others at the same time, etc.

Really excited to try some of this stuff out with my new 680 SLI setup!

Thanks in advance.
 
Man, everywhere is sold out in AUS. Major bummer.

Hopefully they can keep the stock levels up.
 
shad0w4life said:
Well I would gather a kick in the teeth = beating someone so badly they are laying down bleeding and then get a punt in the face.

I don't think that's quite the case.
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A lot of people are commenting that AMD ought to bring their cards down a full $100 to be competitive. That is a pretty strong blow if you ask me.
 
According to nVidia's website, the 680 operates at pcie 2.0 on the x79 boards, even for those that have the pcie 3.0 slots. Does anyone know why they chose to have the card do this?
 
Gallager2014 said:
According to nVidia's website, the 680 operates at pcie 2.0 on the x79 boards, even for those that have the pcie 3.0 slots. Does anyone know why they chose to have the card do this?
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Because it has almost zero impact on anything at the moment. It affects GPU Compute a bit, but for gaming, not noticeable.
 
As is the case with Bulldozer launch, Kepler's near release (1-2 months) leaks are not inaccurate.
If the mid-end version is as good when it's out, I'll make sure to snatch that one, been a while since I use an nVidia card.
 
Wow...finally got a chance to read this review. Excellent work, can't wait for the follow-up articles on AVS, Turbo Boost, etc. I am happy with my 570 right now but I am planning on surround so, not having to do AMD or multi-card solution for nVidia is great news.
 
Trepidati0n said:
Holy Mary mother of God....

Lets see..it is

1. Faster
2. Smooth
3. More power efficient
4. Better detail

for the same baseline price as a 7970. That is what you call "fuck yeah". Thanks nVidia for stepping up. It is a win for consumers all around.
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You forgot 5. WHQL drivers with working SLI on launch day 0.

Whisperfang said:
So uhhh... who wants to buy my two GTX 580's?
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I would, if they were super extra cheap. Like say $50 cheap :)

Bosom said:
This is kind of an odd request, but would [H] ever conside a "View all pages" link? I have a captcha system at work and sometimes I like to open an article and look at it once in a while throughout the day, but I don't like to have to sign back in to our external net over and over to change pages. Just a question/thought.
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Most of the time when this isn't done, its because of the ads. Doing a single long page means much less ads. Also, people start going ZOMG WALL OF TEXT when there's one long page, even if the multiple pages are same length.
jonneymendoza said:
only 2gb = no buy
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And in this review, it didn't make any difference.
daglesj said:
Amazed at how excited folks get at paying $500 for an extra 5-10fps over what they got with their previous purchase.
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Isn't that the point of [H] ? :) Plus, looking at your sig, pretty sure you are into doing that too :)
chillstatus said:
Hmm how much can I get for my EVGA 470's? 160 a piece?
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I'd give you $10 since I'm a cheapskate. It just depends on what people are willing to pay for it.
 
Brent, can I combine three different sized monitors, a 1920x1200 center display, with two flanking 1600x1200 displays? I run my current desktop this way with my 5870, although I only game on my main display.
 
I'm excited to see when the 660 comes out as this release by Nvidia is great! the 7 series is still good but I'm waiting for the price wars to start. This is actually looking like a great time for us since Nvidia one upped AMD on an already great product.

Now nvidia needs to release mainstream cards so AMD can lower prices too!
 
Thanks for the awesome review... very very nice card :D

Sometimes I hate living in New Zealand...

Cost in USA: $US 499
Cost in NZ: $US 810

It's sad when it's cheaper to buy in the USA and get it shipped here than it is to buy it here.
 
Stoly said:
I have mixed feelings on the GTX680

On one hand I'm impressed that a card that was supposed to replace the 560Ti can manage to take on the 7970.

On the other hand. This card was supposed to be under $300 bucks, but since its so good it carries a higher price tag.
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This was the 680, not the 660. It is to replace the 580, not the 560. 6!=8
 
ugh no i am in a condundrum: 2x 2gb 680s .... or wait for superclocked versions ugh decisions decisions
 
The GeForce GTX 680 marks the introduction of NVIDIA's next generation of GPUs and will eventually be followed by others in the family. As of right now, only the GeForce GTX 680 is being launched. ... The GTX 570 and 560 GPUs are going to stay in the mix for a little while longer.
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This makes it sound like it will be a while before we see a midrange kepler card. Really want to know what they plan to offer in the $300-$400 range. The 680 is just so much overkill for us 1080p people.

I wonder if we can get a carefully-worded, NDA-safe comment from someone in the know... ;)
 
Devistater said:
You forgot 5. WHQL drivers with working SLI on launch day 0.
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Then nVidia failed big time if the following is true. (So did these images! :()
Link #1

Link #2 (Metro 2033)

2875


2876


2873
 
I was reading the techreport review and they mentioned that the GTX 680 is the "spiritual successor" to the 560 Ti. So they are saying this is the mid-range card, as others have.

If you take a moment to digest this and then consider how the AMD 7000 line has 10 cards, from entry level to enthusiast level. AMD has the 7570, 7650, 7670, 7750, 7770, 7850, 7870, 7950, 7970, and 7990 out now or coming soon.

Now you look at Nvidia's, at the moment, single entry, the GTX 680. This card destroys essentially the entire AMD 7000 line, with one card. On top of this, it's considered the mid-range card. What the hell?

...what? AMD is going to respond with the AMD 8000 line in September? The 7000 line just started.

This is ridiculous. AMD missed a step so badly?

I'm thinking AMD is purposefully holding back so they can bin models to rake in cash. Probably the 7970 was AMD's mid-range card, but AMD thought to chop it up and create lower end models.

Going by the past releases, the AMD 7990 is the highest model right? So technically the 'high-end' entry for the AMD 7000 line will be the 8000 line? But because of binning, AMD will announce to the world that the 8000 series is a brand new line?

Just like game developers are making gamers buy lots of DLC content, that in the past would be included with the game [free], video card makers seem to have developed a scheme of extreme binning of their products. But people are looking at it as if it's the regular flow of technological development.

People paying upwards of $500-$600 for mid-range quality, when in the past that was for top top of the line.
 
oopspowsurprise said:
I was reading the techreport review and they mentioned that the GTX 680 is the "spiritual successor" to the 560 Ti. So they are saying this is the mid-range card, as others have.

If you take a moment to digest this and then consider how the AMD 7000 line has 10 cards, from entry level to enthusiast level. AMD has the 7570, 7650, 7670, 7750, 7770, 7850, 7870, 7950, 7970, and 7990 out now or coming soon.

Now you look at Nvidia's, at the moment, single entry, the GTX 680. This card destroys essentially the entire AMD 7000 line, with one card. On top of this, it's considered the mid-range card. What the hell?

...what? AMD is going to respond with the AMD 8000 line in September? The 7000 line just started.

This is ridiculous. AMD missed a step so badly?

I'm thinking AMD is purposefully holding back so they can bin models to rake in cash. Probably the 7970 was AMD's mid-range card, but AMD thought to chop it up and create lower end models.

Going by the past releases, the AMD 7990 is the highest model right? So technically the 'high-end' entry for the AMD 7000 line will be the 8000 line? But because of binning, AMD will announce to the world that the 8000 series is a brand new line?

Just like game developers are making gamers buy lots of DLC content, that in the past would be included with the game [free], video card makers seem to have developed a scheme of extreme binning of their products. But people are looking at it as if it's the regular flow of technological development.

People paying upwards of $500-$600 for mid-range quality, when in the past that was for top top of the line.
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I would seriously doubt that AMD re-badged a mid range card for the 7970. The TDP on that chip is already pretty high for something they would normally produce, it's extremely unlikely that they have some 300watt power drainer sitting around.
 
Kor said:
I would seriously doubt that AMD re-badged a mid range card for the 7970. The TDP on that chip is already pretty high for something they would normally produce, it's extremely unlikely that they have some 300watt power drainer sitting around.
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Power guzzlers aren't AMDs style. The 7970 is the top end, just needed higher stock clocks. But...boy do they tape out new hardware like a boss.
They will have new hardware on the market Q42012/Q12013.
 
oopspowsurprise said:
I was reading the techreport review and they mentioned that the GTX 680 is the "spiritual successor" to the 560 Ti. So they are saying this is the mid-range card, as others have.

If you take a moment to digest this and then consider how the AMD 7000 line has 10 cards, from entry level to enthusiast level. AMD has the 7570, 7650, 7670, 7750, 7770, 7850, 7870, 7950, 7970, and 7990 out now or coming soon.

Now you look at Nvidia's, at the moment, single entry, the GTX 680. This card destroys essentially the entire AMD 7000 line, with one card. On top of this, it's considered the mid-range card. What the hell?

...what? AMD is going to respond with the AMD 8000 line in September? The 7000 line just started.

This is ridiculous. AMD missed a step so badly?

I'm thinking AMD is purposefully holding back so they can bin models to rake in cash. Probably the 7970 was AMD's mid-range card, but AMD thought to chop it up and create lower end models.

Going by the past releases, the AMD 7990 is the highest model right? So technically the 'high-end' entry for the AMD 7000 line will be the 8000 line? But because of binning, AMD will announce to the world that the 8000 series is a brand new line?

Just like game developers are making gamers buy lots of DLC content, that in the past would be included with the game [free], video card makers seem to have developed a scheme of extreme binning of their products. But people are looking at it as if it's the regular flow of technological development.

People paying upwards of $500-$600 for mid-range quality, when in the past that was for top top of the line.
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I don't even know what to say to this. Companies just don't 'hold back' so they can maybe make more money later. Both the 7970 and 680 ARE high end parts. If either company had something more powerful that could be released at competitive prices they would release it. The fact that they haven't means that for all intents and purposes these are the high end parts for now.

Yes, either company can come out with something faster sooner or later, but there will be trade offs (larger size = less # per wafer= more cost). But all this talk of nvidia's card being mid-range is just stupid. It's close enough to the die size of the 7970 to not really matter - it's no more or less mid-range than AMD's offering. They also both blow the last generation cards out of the water, so in that sense neither are mid-range either.

People seem to like to attribute all kinds of conspiracy theory strategies to these companies. It's honestly sad to watch: if either company could they would release an amazing product that would kill the competition. The fact is that they can't, they are both just hitting similar performance numbers with similar amounts of chip.
 
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