Wednesday, December 22nd 2010
NVIDIA Readies GeForce GTX 560 to Counter Radeon HD 6950
NVIDIA is readying a new GPU to counter the Radeon HD 6950. Released earlier this month, reviews suggest that the HD 6950 managed to slip into a sweet-spot between GeForce GTX 470 and GeForce GTX 570/Radeon HD 5970, giving buyers an option for around $300. NVIDIA's counter to this is named GeForce GTX 560, it is based on the new 40 nm silicon. While specifications-wise, this GPU is identical to the GF104, it is redesigned to allow high-clock speeds with lower power draw, the same secret-sauce that went into making GF110 is applied here.
The GeForce GTX 560 features 384 CUDA cores, 32 ROPs, and a 256-bit wide memory interface that connects to 1 GB of memory. The new GPU has bolstered high GPU clock speeds, with 820 MHz core, 1640 MHz CUDA cores, and 4000 MHz (GDDR5 effective) memory, churning out 128 GB/s memory bandwidth. NVIDIA however, isn't in a hurry with its release, it has the GTX 560 slated for some time in January, 2011.
Source:
Expreview
The GeForce GTX 560 features 384 CUDA cores, 32 ROPs, and a 256-bit wide memory interface that connects to 1 GB of memory. The new GPU has bolstered high GPU clock speeds, with 820 MHz core, 1640 MHz CUDA cores, and 4000 MHz (GDDR5 effective) memory, churning out 128 GB/s memory bandwidth. NVIDIA however, isn't in a hurry with its release, it has the GTX 560 slated for some time in January, 2011.
37 Comments on NVIDIA Readies GeForce GTX 560 to Counter Radeon HD 6950
I'd hazard a guess it will be GF114.
I am a total newbie and have never posted on these forums. I do not claim any significant level of technical expertise.
I am currently building a gaming machine with crossfire or sli. I want to game with three monitors. I do not expect to upgrade to 3d right now, but in the next 2-3 years, maybe. I chose the 6950s, and let me tell you why.
Everyone agrees a 6950 doesn't come close to the performance of the GTX 570. It performs very well, and even beats the 6970 fairly regularly.
However, the 6950 crossfire performance is simply incredible, and frankly, the GTX 570 sli performance scales just okay. In many cases, two 6950s beat the GTX 570 SLI. When it is behind, it is not by much. I picked up two Saphire cards combined for $130 less, however I feel they will equal, and possibly take down GTX 570s SLI. (www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-6970-radeon-hd-6950-cayman,2818-16.html)
Second, of course is that I can unlock both my cards if I choose to to 6970s. Given complaints about artifacts and heat, I'm going to wait on that (and for more data). However, it is possible for me to get slightly better crossfire performance on my cards.
What are your thoughts on this? Why do the 6900 series cards crossfire better than NVidia, who used to be the king of dual card performance?
having said that I wouldnt count Nvidia out, the GTX570 scales great, I wouldnt just say OK, (given the 6900's seem to scale a little better) but what I feel is lacking for the GTX500 series is CPU horsepower. ie, when we have review sites testing CF and SLi at high res on an overclocked sandy bridge based system, i feel the SLi results will come up stronger than they do now.
also it depends on what you want really.... the 6950's can potentially unlock to 6970's but I would be VERY weary of that at the moment, given the threads about artifacts etc like you mentioned. but consider in comparison, most if not all GTX570's overclock like mad and will reach GTX580 baseline performance, something even a 6970 will struggle to do overclocked.
it all depends what you want really... but I think you made a solid choice with 6950's at the time.
Thanks for the response. I haven't yet built my system and could always return the components if I wanted. I have a P67 Asus Deluxe board with a 2600k. Do you have any benchmarks that support your belief that the CPU is limiting GTX 570s and 580s?
My understanding was that the binning process for GTX 570s limited their overclock potential - they are the rejects of the GTX 580 line as the 6950s are for the 6970 line. I called that a wash/lucky or unlucky gamble.
I would have thought the GTX 480 would be the best chip to gamble on for overclocking because it was the tier 1 chip at one time. However I wanted to avoid heat issues and the excessive cost of it.
yes a GTX570 is a 570 because it didnt make the bin to be a 580, but pretty much every review, and user account I've read or come across has them overclocking to match (some even exceeding) GTX580 stock performance, of course then a 580 can go farther yet, but my point is single card vs single card, a 6950/70 wont touch GTX580 performance on the whole (perhaps a couple of selective benches).
I'd love to see a sandy bridge test system based on a 4+ghz 2600K, testing 6950 CF, 6970CF, GTX570 SLi, GTX580 SLi and all single card performance too, AND all stock vs all OC'd :) I ask a lot huh :p
The GTX 560 is meant to counter the radeon 6950 1GB VERSION. The 2gb version is against the 560 ti. ATM Nvidia have a pretty good case against the radeon 6950 (a good card) and their own direct competitors are cheaper.