Hey guys,
Just have a question Id like to ask:
My current GPU is a 295 GTX which needs a upgrade (?),
So I was thinking,
Would it be better to save some money and get another 295 for SLi
OR
Sell my current 295 and buy a 680 GTX?
I have a 1200W PSU.
The only concern with the 680 is that I think it takes two 8 Pin connectors while my setup has a 6 & 8 Pin setup. Would this be a problem to change ?
Sell and get a 680, Quad Sli doesn't scale very well and I don't wanna imagine the microstuttering and input lag. Apart from all that you are not dependant on certain games being able to use all 4 GPUs with a 680 and it is a DX11 card afterall. The 680 also has more memory, lower power consumption/heat output, do I need to go on? Get a 680!
The 680s uses 2x6 pin connectors btw
Last edited by Alvie1981; 05-03-2012 at 05:26 PM.
Originally Posted by Alvie1981
With the 680 using two 6 pin connectors, is it easy to swap out the 8 pin for a 6 pin ? (yes I'm a complete noob and have no idea)
Yeah the plug should be 6/8 with the two extra pins coming away from the other six.
Your old GTX 295:
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desk...specifications
The new GTX 680:
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desk...specifications
GTX 690 if you thinking about getting that:
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desk...specifications
GTX 680 = CUDA 1536, OpenGL 4.2, 4 display monitor support. Maximum Graphics Card Power (W) 195W, Two 6pin (some does use 1x6pin, and 1x8pin.)
GTX 295 = CUDA 480, OpenGL 2.1, not sure how many monitor support. Maximum Graphics Card Power (W) 289W, 6-pin & 8-pin
GTX 680 wins. 3times more CUDA, faster card, newer tech, and best of all use less power.
When getting your GTX 680. You should look at the "Package Contents" and look at the picture. I think most of them comes with adapter to change 4pin to 6pin, some has two 6pin to an 8pin etc. Again some GTX 680 use two 6pin, some use one 6pin, and one 8pin. Some times the picture will show it. Some times they will list it under "Package Contents" which adapters it comes with.
This should be the one your PSU is using
Last edited by OrionCheung; 05-03-2012 at 07:06 PM.
Your old GTX 295:
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desk...specifications
The new GTX 680:
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desk...specifications
GTX 690 if you thinking about getting that:
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desk...specifications
GTX 680 = CUDA 1536, OpenGL 4.2, 4 display monitor support. Maximum Graphics Card Power (W) 195W, Two 6pin (some does use 1x6pin, and 1x8pin.)
GTX 295 = CUDA 480, OpenGL 2.1, not sure how many monitor support. Maximum Graphics Card Power (W) 289W, 6-pin & 8-pin
GTX 680 wins. 3times more CUDA, faster card, newer tech, and best of all use less power.
When getting your GTX 680. You should look at the "Package Contents" and look at the picture. I think most of them comes with adapter to change 4pin to 6pin, some has two 6pin to an 8pin etc. Again some GTX 680 use two 6pin, some use one 6pin, and one 8pin. Some times the picture will show it. Some times they will list it under "Package Contents" which adapters it comes with.
This should be the one your PSU is using
As regards to the 690,
A little advice please,
My motherboard is a Nvidia 780i with PCI 2.0, will that be a problem?
Also my CPU is a QX6700 @ 3.2 GHz, is that also ok?
Thanks.
Last edited by New2PCs; 05-03-2012 at 11:04 PM.
GTX 600 series and HD7000 series will work on PCI-Express 2.0 mainboard/cpu. Not sure how much more you will get out of a PCI-Express 3.0 mainboard/cpu.
Your cpu is kinda old school. Pretty sure it will bottleneck it. I'm not sure by how much.
I am waiting for GTX 670(going to get 3. one for me and 2 for my 2 older bro's). Going to run it on a PCI-Express 2.0 mainboard, and i7-875k 4Ghz. I think my cpu also bottleneck the card. I do not know by how much. I am sure it will be slower on my bro's computer. Since, they are using Q6600 at 3Ghz. LOL. Have to wait and see.
When you get the GTX690 and the rest of the system is slowing it down. Remember this, all you have to do now is upgrade cpu/mainboard/ram when you have the cash. That video card should last you 4years.
I type mainboard/cpu because. Not only does the mainboard has to support(maybe by bios upgrade) the Intel cpu also need to support PCI-Express as well. The only support I know that support PCI-Express 3.0 is Ivy Bridge. Which just came out early this week. http://promotions.newegg.com/intel/1...%2f696x288.jpg
QX6770 Kentsfield < Lynnifield(i7)/Gulftown< Sandy Bridge < Sandy Bridge-E < Ivy Bridge(were are here.) < Haswell(2013)
Not 100% sure will Haswell support DDR4 ram. Which was slated late 2013/2014.. just rumors.
Last edited by OrionCheung; 05-03-2012 at 11:49 PM.
Cuda cores can not be compared to older generations, the 680 has 3x the amount of cuda cores as that of the 580 but is only around 20~30% faster.
I would stick to a 680, it would be a shame to put a card worth more than your entire system in there, plus the 680 is more than awesome enough.
If you notice. I was just comparing the spec GTX 680 vs. GTX 295. So, he will know what has been improved.
Yes but you pointed out the GTX680 has more 3x the amount of cuda cores of a GTX295, the architectures are so different they are not directly comparable. Even though the GTX680 has 3x the amount of cuda cores and is clocked much higher it is not 3x faster by any means. Just making the OP aware of that, even so the GTX680 is still a far superior card as I stated before, it has so much going for it.
Also PCI-E 2.0 is no problem for a GTX680, heck its fine even for GTX690 according to this study
Last edited by Alvie1981; 05-04-2012 at 08:00 AM.
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