NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 Launch Recap
by Andrew Cunningham on March 24, 2012 10:00 PM EST- Posted in
- GPUs
- GeForce
- Kepler
- GeForce GTX 680
- NVIDIA
If the numbers are true, then most of you have already read our Kepler review, and you know that the card has made quite a splash - it's the highest-performing single-GPU card you can buy today, and it's got solid power consumption and a lower price than the AMD Radeon HD 7970 to boot. Kepler still needs to trickle down through the rest of NVIDIA's lineup, but for now NVIDIA has the high-end sewn up. Let's look at what its partners have put together.
| ASUS | EVGA |
Galaxy |
Gigabyte | |
| Part Number | GTX680-2GD5 | 02G-P4-2680-KR | 68NPH6DV5ZGX | GV-N680D5-2GD-B |
| Core Clock | 1006 MHz | 1006 MHz | 1006 MHz | 1006 MHz |
| Memory Clock (Effective) | 1502 MHz (6008 MHz) | 1502 MHz (6008 MHz) | 1502 MHz (6008 MHz) | 1502 MHz (6008 MHz) |
| Boost Clock | 1058 MHz | 1058 MHz | 1058 MHz | 1058 MHz |
| Dimensions in inches (dimensions in mm) | 10.08 x 4.37 x 1.47 (256.03 x 111.00 x 33.34) | 10 x 4.38 x ?? (254 x 111.25 x ??) | 10 x 4.33 x 1.57 (254 x 109.98 x 39.88) | 10.83 x 4.96 x 1.50 (275 x 126 x 38) |
| Outputs | DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI-I, DVI-D | DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI-I, DVI-D | DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI-I, DVI-D | DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI-I, DVI-D |
| Included accessories | 4-pin to 6-pin | DVI to VGA, 2x 4-pin to 6-pin | 2x DVI to VGA, 2x 4-pin to 6-pin | 2x 4-pin to 6-pin |
| Warranty | 3-year | 3-year | 3-year | 3-year |
| Price (Newegg) | $499.99 | $499.99 | $499.99 | $499.99 |
|
MSI |
PNY | Zotac | |
| Part Number | N680GTX-PM2D2GD5 | VCGGTX680XPB | ZT-60101-10P |
| Core Clock | 1006 MHz | 1006 MHz | 1006 MHz |
| Memory Clock (Effective) | 1502 MHz (6008 MHz) | 1502 MHz (6008 MHz) | 1502 MHz (6008 MHz) |
| Boost Clock | 1058 MHz | 1058 MHz | 1058 MHz |
| Dimensions in inches (dimensions in mm) | 10.63 x 4.38 x 1.53 (270 x 111.15 x 38.75) | ??? | 11.10 x 4.9 x 2.3 (281.9 x 124.46 x 58.42) |
| Outputs | DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI-I, DVI-D | DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI-I, DVI-D | DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI-I, DVI-D |
| Included accessories | DVI to VGA, 4-pin to 6-pin | DVI to VGA, 4-pin to 6-pin, HDMI cable | DVI to VGA, 2x 4-pin to 6-pin |
| Warranty | 3-year parts/2-year labor | 1-year (Lifetime with registration) | 2-year |
| Price (Newegg) | $499.99 | $529.99 | $499.99 |
As we've noted in past recaps, you should take these card measurements with a grain or two of salt. Manufacturers haven't standardized on a unit of measurement for their cards - some measure in inches and some in metric. I've done the necessary conversions and presented all measurements in both inches and millimeters, but manufacturers play a bit loose with these measurements and the actual physical dimensions may not exactly match the dimensions given on the spec sheet.
Common to all of these cards is 2GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus and all of Kepler's features - in fact, most of these cards have pretty much everything in common with one another, from the across-the-board stock clocks to the display outputs to the single-fan, dual-slot coolers to the lackluster bundles of accessories. This isn't uncommon with high-end launches of all-new architectures - we saw the same thing happen in our Radeon HD 7970 launch recap, another crop of cards that stuck to the reference design.
As such, there's not a ton to say about them, so I'll just make notes below when there's something about the card that makes it different from the stock card that we reviewed a couple of days ago.
ASUS (Product page)
EVGA (Product page)
Galaxy (Product page)
Gigabyte (Product page)
MSI (Product page)
MSI's graphics cards usually have a 3-year parts and 2-year labor warranty, and this card is no exception.
PNY (Product page)
This card is the only one in the lineup that costs more than $500, and there are a couple of reasons why: one is the lifetime warranty you can get by registering the card, and the other is the bundled HDMI cable. It's the only card in the lineup with anything more than power cables and DVI to VGA adapters. It's also the only card for which I can't find measurements (Amazon lists the length at eight inches, which I find suspect since the rest of the cards are at least ten). The card's dimensions should be similar to the others.
Zotac (Product page)
Zotac's is the only card in this lineup with a 2-year warranty instead of the 3-year warranty shared by most of the rest of them.
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RussianSensation - Wednesday, March 28, 2012 - link
GTX680 still wins in most benchmarks, and esp. screams in 1080P and in latest popular games such as BF3, Batman AC, SKYRIM. Lower memory bandwidth is not an issue since HD7970 still cannot outperform it even in 3x1080P gaming.Also, recall GTX560Ti vs. GTX285. Memory bandwidth cannot be accurately compared across different videocards to imply better performance. That's because memory bandwidth is just 1 factor in determining performance.
COALESCENT - Saturday, March 31, 2012 - link
Actually, this is NOT true.Only non-XLR8 cards have the 'lifetime' warranty that ends with the product's life cycle.
http://www3.pny.com/support/media/Files/1c00f9fc-8...
Notice that the part you are referencing does not exist on that warranty document.
Stop spreading fud.
Cobra Commander - Monday, April 30, 2012 - link
EVGA will replace, so long as you're a good little boy or girl and register within 90 days of buying the product. Why register anything with a lifetime warranty, you ask? Good question! The answer is "Because if you don't, you're f__ked."overzealot - Sunday, March 25, 2012 - link
Manufacturers may not have standardised on measurements, but I'm glad you settled on "Inches" and "Metric" as your template for describing their metrics.overzealot - Sunday, March 25, 2012 - link
Note, I only meant this as a friendly jibe.Thanks for including both inches and mm in your measurements - it's a nice touch.
Andrew.a.cunningham - Sunday, March 25, 2012 - link
Ha, that's actually not a mistake - most people using metric standardize on mm, but some people actually use cm instead. Glad you appreciate the conversions, though. :-)Andrew.a.cunningham - Sunday, March 25, 2012 - link
And I guess I should point out that by "people" I mean "graphics card manufacturers".silverblue - Monday, March 26, 2012 - link
One thing I learned from D&T class was that drawings always use mm measurements; it'd feel wrong seeing card dimensions in cm.danjw - Sunday, March 25, 2012 - link
You didn't mention EVGA's step-up program to exchange a card if they come out with a better one in 90 days. As long as you are mentioning differentiation, you should include that.nleksan - Sunday, March 25, 2012 - link
I have been waiting for going on 8 months to build a new gaming rig, and all I have left to wait for is Ivy Bridge, so I can get my hands on one of those i7-3770K beauties, and the full release of high-end Z77-chipset Motherboards from the likes of ASUS (Maximus-series), Gigabyte, etc...I was pretty set on getting a 7970, but with this GTX680 outperforming it 75% of the time while costing $150 LESS, it is hard to justify the ATI/AMD card... The only thing that has me "tripped up" is that I intend to be watercooling this rig within 4-6mo of having up and running (although I will probably just start with a Corsair H100 during the build as it should fit a Xigmatek Elysium case no problem... would love a Lian-Li but can't justify $500+ for a case that will do what the $175 Xig does already), and I will obviously be overclocking...
I have seen how well the 7970 overclocks on AIR, and I can only imagine that a custom water-loop with a 360mm radiator (6 fans for push-pull), combined with a very nice waterblock, would allow core speeds in excess of 1400mhz... That, and the 3GB of GDDR5 seems a MUCH better choice in terms of CrossFire/SLI setups due to only the main card's memory being available for use...
So, I am kind of lost as to which way to go... Initially, my system will be a single-GPU machine, but within 8mo or so there will be a second video card of the same make/model allowing me to finally be able to use BOTH 30" displays I have...
NVidia has put out a SOLID showing here, but I can't help from feeling that the AMD/A TI 7970 might be better in terms of a card to "grow with"?