Opinions: 590s or 680s?

[Neenja_Jenkins]

Okay, two things: Through a bit of dumb luck and a rather awesome wife, I got a brand new EVGA Classified 680 Hydro Copper for Christmas (who knew she was listening when I jokingly mentioned the new 680s). I'm considering ordering another if I can find one somewhere and going SLI, but...

...would it really be worth it if I'm already running dual watercooled 590s?

A little more than a year ago, I scored a REALLY good deal with someone selling two GTX590s. I thought it was overkill, but I really couldn't beat the price. So I grabbed them quick. Turns out, they are fairly powerful cards, but also very HOT cards, with them hitting 90C and higher under load. I watercooled them with EK water blocks, the temps fell back into desirable ranges and things have been very nice since.

I feel like I have more "theoretical" power than real usable power though, and at mega resolutions, I feel like I'm being held back by 1.5gb of vram which really keeps those 590s from flexing their muscles.

Secondly, what do you guys think I could get for two watercooled 590s if I sold them?

 

[SePhIrOtX]

I think you should get about 250-300 each with waterblock. I see a lot of 580 going at 200-225 with the stock air cooling. If you really need a sli, sell them to get another 680 but only one is a good horse power.

 

[{NG}Fidel]

680

 

[Neenja_Jenkins]

Really? I know it's folly to expect a real return on something like this, but ouch. Stock 580s go for 200+ still, but a 590 (which at retail was double the price of a 580), with about the nicest waterblock available already installed only gets $50 more!? Boo. I guess I won't know until I try though.

Haha, I guess my expectations were a bit high

 

[ccityinstaller]

Really? I know it's folly to expect a real return on something like this, but ouch. Stock 580s go for 200+ still, but a 590 (which at retail was double the price of a 580), with about the nicest waterblock available already installed only gets $50 more!? Boo. I guess I won't know until I try though.

Haha, I guess my expectations were a bit high

The 590s were good cards when they were King, but as you mentioned there are several reasons why you can't expect to sell them for the same price as a 680..

1. The 1.5GB of Vram does really limit them @ high resolutions

2. The power draw on a 590 is insane, nearly double that of a 680 with lower performance

3. A 590 suffers from the same issues as any other set of cards in SLI..If the game doesn't scale well, it doesn't matter that you have two gpus on a single PCB..The second one is just barely being taxed or even worse, not being used at all..