OFFICIAL KEPLER "GTX680" Reviews

[BallaTheFeared]

 

[Silverforce11]

Thanks for this. The following is from the [H] conclusion:

[H] doesn't realize that in BF3 the setting on high vs ultra looks identical unless there's extra VRAM to load additional higher quality LOD models? DICE has already given presentations to explain how the game engine will take advantage of additional vram on ultra. That is the only discernible difference between high/ultra besides the auto setting of 4x MSAA.

You could just run the game on high, with 4x MSAA enabled and get the same visual quality while using less vram. Realistically, objects in the far distance you cannot tell whether its a high quality model or not, so the extra load placed on the GPU and vram gives no benefit.

That's about the only mistake in that review, otherwise gtx680 single or SLI smashes a stock 7970 thanks to turbo. I'm not impressed at the auto-OC (really how hard is it to OC manually?), but I am impressed at its low power use.

ps. Can next time some troll tries to diss [H] for being AMD biased, can we report them for trolling?

 

[BallaTheFeared]

Seems odd given all the 1GB SLI/CF card users having vram related stuttering and fps issues even when they have enough gpu power to push the game.

I know with my setup if I try to run ultra it turns into a choppy mess, it doesn't seem to auto decrease settings as was suggested.

 

[Silverforce11]

If you run ULTRA but turn off 4x MSAA (it defaults to this on ultra), it should run fine. I can run it on my 5850.

It's the deferred MSAA that really cripples card with 1gb vram.

 

[battletoad]

Just SLi'd 680s with stock clocks:

BF3 Karkland 64-man Conquest Large
1080p
4xMSAA
AND FXAA High
all others Ultra

60FPS the entire match,which was high tickets 500, so about a 45 minute match. Did not notice any micorstuttering. Early conclusion is 2GB Vram limit has no effect at this resolution with BF3.

Arkham City Funhouse Brawl Extreme Challenge Map (all rounds):
8xmsaa
DX11 and all settings max, except physx at normal.
Brief stutter to 45FPS when first given control of Batman for 2-3 seconds, then rock-steady 60FPS all rounds which has tons of guys on screen.

I klnow it isnt saying so much 60fps at 1080p, I got an AW Optx on the wa, looking forward to really pushing the cards at 120hz...

Just thought somebody might like to know how their rig stacks up if thinking of upgrading.

 

[Silverforce11]

A single gtx680 would get 60 fps at that res.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

My 7970 oc manages this through single player

Bf3
19 10 ultra 4x aa 4x msaa
Min above 60

25 14 ultra no aa no msaa
Min rarely below 60

 

[Grooveriding]

Just SLi'd 680s with stock clocks:

BF3 Karkland 64-man Conquest Large
1080p
4xMSAA
AND FXAA High
all others Ultra

60FPS the entire match,which was high tickets 500, so about a 45 minute match. Did not notice any micorstuttering. Early conclusion is 2GB Vram limit has no effect at this resolution with BF3.

Probably a bit of overkill, not that there is anything wrong with that.

I get the same 60fps steady results with 680sli at 2560x1600 except for no FXAA, but that has no performance hit.

 

[tviceman]

There are several non-reference gtx680's on the way soon. Both with upgraded PCB's and power connectors:

http://www.fudzilla.com/home/item/26569-zotacs-gtx-680-supreme-edition-pixellized
http://www.fudzilla.com/home/item/26551-evgas-dual-fan-gtx-680-pixellized
http://www.hardwareheaven.com/revie...dition-graphics-card-review-introduction.html

The power limiter on precisionX with the Palit went up to 150%.

 

[Keysplayr]

[H]

ps. Can next time some troll tries to diss [H] for being AMD biased, can we report them for trolling?

I don't think so. If they were labeled AMD biased in the past (not sure I remember anyone directly saying this, but I could have totally missed it) , nothing should change now. The fact that they have shown GTX680 in a positive light is because of the fact that it is an undeniable one. There is a difference between going against the grain, and really looking bad.

If this is indeed the case, lets not exhonerate H just yet because of a single good Nvidia launch review from them. Lets take it on a launch by launch basis shall we?

 

[realjetavenger]

If you run ULTRA but turn off 4x MSAA (it defaults to this on ultra), it should run fine. I can run it on my 5850.

It's the deferred MSAA that really cripples card with 1gb vram.

That and textures.
Are you running textures at ultra or high? I have to turn msaa off and keep textures at medium (with everything at else at ultra) or it turns into a slideshow. Tried msaa off and textures at either high or ultra, still a slideshow. This is with 1GB 460's sli.

 

[Silverforce11]

There are several non-reference gtx680's on the way soon. Both with upgraded PCB's and power connectors:

http://www.fudzilla.com/home/item/26569-zotacs-gtx-680-supreme-edition-pixellized
http://www.fudzilla.com/home/item/26551-evgas-dual-fan-gtx-680-pixellized
http://www.hardwareheaven.com/revie...dition-graphics-card-review-introduction.html

The power limiter on precisionX with the Palit went up to 150%.

At 150% it reached 1.34ghz. Not bad.

 

[Ajay]

There are several non-reference gtx680's on the way soon. Both with upgraded PCB's and power connectors:

The power limiter on precisionX with the Palit went up to 150%.

So it must have a modded BIOS. That is going to be the key differentiator when it comes to non reference designs. You can put 4GB and 8 phase power on a non reference card with the stock bios and you'll probably grab a little bit of extra performance but it won't likely be worth it, IMHO.

Add a factory modded bios and and a 6+8 pin connector (plus a better quality non-reference PCB) and the 680 could be quite impressive. If I had $500 jingling around in my pockets, I'd wait 3 months or so (for better quality ASICS) and then buy a non-reference OC edition with dual fans.

 

[Keysplayr]

So it must have a modded BIOS. That is going to be the key differentiator when it comes to non reference designs. You can put 4GB and 8 phase power on a non reference card with the stock bios and you'll probably grab a little bit of extra performance but it won't likely be worth it, IMHO.

Add a factory modded bios and and a 6+8 pin connector (plus a better quality non-reference PCB) and the 680 could be quite impressive. If I had $500 jingling around in my pockets, I'd wait 3 months or so (for better quality ASICS) and then buy a non-reference OC edition with dual fans.

These new non-reference cards will likely be more costly than 500.00.

 

[Ajay]

These new non-reference cards will likely be more costly than 500.00.

Correct, I was just generalizing.

 

[notty22]

This looks like a nice model.
Its called Signature SC with backplate.
They are going to have a stock model with a SC naming and slight o/c but stock reference board specs.
The Signatures SC are going to have a slight hardware upgrade.

• 8+6 Power Design
• 5 Phase PWM Design
• EVGA Backplate

I'm guessing between 550.00 and 600. I wonder if owners of recent stock gtx 680's will be allowed to upgrade for the price difference. If so, a nice option.

GTX 680 SC Signature + backplate

I noticed this under the gtx 680 SC memory specs, it listed a spec I never saw referred to before.
Memory Specs

• Memory Detail: 2048 MB GDDR5
• Memory Bit Width: 256 Bit
• Memory Clock: 6208 MHz
• Memory Speed: 0.33 ns
• Memory Bandwidth 198.66 GB/sec

 

[Ajay]

• Memory Detail: 2048 MB GDDR5
• Memory Bit Width: 256 Bit
• Memory Clock: 6208 MHz
• Memory Speed: 0.33 ns
• Memory Bandwidth 198.66 GB/sec

The increase memory bandwidth will help, but models like the classified (http://www.evga.com/articles/00669/#GTX680Classified) have a "OC BIOS Mode" listed in the description - I think when these come out, we'll see much/consistent overclocks.

 

[notty22]

I mentioned a nice option above, but I'm actually not excited about escalating prices for a few features.
Though they are a a few features only a few really value. It would be nice if price wars started and these replaced the stock reference gtx 680's at around 500.00 while the others slip a little in price to counter a yet AMD price decrease !
Let's hope and 'May the odds be ever in your favor'

 

[Quantos]

This looks like a nice model.
Its called Signature SC with backplate.
They are going to have a stock model with a SC naming and slight o/c but stock reference board specs.
The Signatures SC are going to have a slight hardware upgrade.

• 8+6 Power Design
• 5 Phase PWM Design
• EVGA Backplate

I'm guessing between 550.00 and 600. I wonder if owners of recent stock gtx 680's will be allowed to upgrade for the price difference. If so, a nice option.

GTX 680 SC Signature + backplate

I noticed this under the gtx 680 SC memory specs, it listed a spec I never saw referred to before.
Memory Specs

• Memory Detail: 2048 MB GDDR5
• Memory Bit Width: 256 Bit
• Memory Clock: 6208 MHz
• Memory Speed: 0.33 ns
• Memory Bandwidth 198.66 GB/sec

I gotta say, that thing looks classy.

 

[Ajay]

I mentioned a nice option above, but I'm actually not excited about escalating prices for a few features.
Though they are a a few features only a few really value. It would be nice if price wars started and these replaced the stock reference gtx 680's at around 500.00 while the others slip a little in price to counter a yet AMD price decrease !
Let's hope and 'May the odds be ever in your favor'

I wasn't knocking your point notty22. That's a sexy card (oh man am I a geek!). While that card is out of my price range, ATM, I'm an overclocker at heart - that why I brought attention to the Classified.

BTW, I highly approve of your sig :thumbsup:

 

[notty22]

I wasn't knocking your point notty22. That's a sexy card (oh man am I a geek!). While that card is out of my price range, ATM, I'm an overclocker at heart - that why I brought attention to the Classified.

BTW, I highly approve of your sig :thumbsup:

Yeah NP, I was just adding a afterthought.

 

[p_monks33]

That Palit 680 looks so dang nice. I have an MSI 680 and cant get over how quiet the reference cooler is and how cool it keeps the card. I cant imagine the low temps we will see with nice air coolers. Ive had a palit 460 and its a nice cooler on that card as well.

 

[railven]

This looks like a nice model.
Its called Signature SC with backplate.
They are going to have a stock model with a SC naming and slight o/c but stock reference board specs.
The Signatures SC are going to have a slight hardware upgrade.

• 8+6 Power Design
• 5 Phase PWM Design
• EVGA Backplate

I'm guessing between 550.00 and 600. I wonder if owners of recent stock gtx 680's will be allowed to upgrade for the price difference. If so, a nice option.

GTX 680 SC Signature + backplate







I noticed this under the gtx 680 SC memory specs, it listed a spec I never saw referred to before.
Memory Specs

• Memory Detail: 2048 MB GDDR5
• Memory Bit Width: 256 Bit
• Memory Clock: 6208 MHz
• Memory Speed: 0.33 ns
• Memory Bandwidth 198.66 GB/sec

Really love that backplate. Shame that the HD 7970 and GTX 680 stock don't come with them. I always thought the backplates gave the cards a nicer looking design.

 

[Lepton87]

Really love that backplate. Shame that the HD 7970 and GTX 680 stock don't come with them. I always thought the backplates gave the cards a nicer looking design.

It's more about protection that looks. I had one card fail on me due to a short circuit. A wire clip that attaches a fan to the CPU heatsink fell off on my 4890 and the card was dead.

 

[railven]

It's more about protection that looks. I had one card fail on me due to a short circuit. A wire clip that attaches a fan to the CPU heatsink fell off on my 4890 and the card was dead.

I thought it was more about durability and cooling? I've had wires resting on my GPUs before due to cramp cases or just laziness on my behalf. Never had a card die because of that (I've had wires get a little burnt though haha.)

Still, the backplates made the cards look more industrial - which I'm all for.