NVIDIA Kepler Refresh GPU Family Detailed

[btarunr]

A 3DCenter.org report shed light on what NVIDIA's GPU lineup for 2013 could look like. According to the report, NVIDIA's next-generation GPUs could follow a similar path to previous-generation "Fermi Refresh" (GF11x), which turned the performance-per-Watt equation around back in favor of NVIDIA, even though the company's current GeForce Kepler has an established energy-efficiency lead. The "Kepler Refresh" family of GPUs (GK11x), according to the report, could see significant increases in cost-performance, with a bit of clever re-shuffling of the GPU lineup.

NVIDIA's GK104 GPU exceeded performance expectations, which allowed it to drive this generation's flagship single-GPU graphics card for NVIDIA, the GTX 680, giving the company time to perfect the most upscaled chip of this generation, and for its foundry partners to refine its 28 nm manufacturing process. When it's time for Kepler Refresh to go to office, TSMC will have refined its process enough for mass-production of GK110, a 7.1 billion transistor chip on which NVIDIA's low-volume Tesla K20 GPU compute accelerator is currently based.

The GK110 will take back the reins of powering NVIDIA's flagship single-GPU product, the GeForce GTX 780. This product could offer a massive 40-55% performance increase over GeForce GTX 680, with a price ranging anywhere between US $499 and $599. The same chip could even power the second fastest single-GPU SKU, the GTX 770. The GK110 physically packs 2880 CUDA cores, and a 384-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface.

Moving on, the real successor to the GK104, the GK114, could form the foundation for high-performance SKUs such as the GTX 760 Ti and 760. The chip has the same exact specifications as the GK104, leaving NVIDIA to tinker with clock speeds to increase performance. The GK114 will be relegated to performance-segment SKUs from the high-end segment it currently powers, and so even with minimal increases in clock speed, the chip will have achieved sizable performance gains over current GTX 660 Ti and GTX 660.

Lastly, the GK106 could see a refresh to GK116, too, retaining specifications and leaving room for clock speed increases, much in the same way as GK114, except, it gets a demotion to GTX 750 Ti, GTX 750, as well, and so with minimal R&D, the GTX 750 series gains a sizable performance gain over its previous generation.

Source: 3DCenter.org

[[H]@RD5TUFF]

So excited for this even if I have to wait like everyone else.

[Protagonist]

Why Nvidia why? I ordered a GTX670 and its still stuck at the customs, and now this news. For the same price next year a probable GK110 for GTX780 & GTX770. Then that will mean a GTX760TI will preform equal to or better than GTX680, that will make GTX760 perform equal to or better then GTX670, and all with better prices than what people are paying for currently.... why Nvidia? I love performance increase but i already feel bad, i should think of selling the GTX670 sometime early next year if this information turns out to be true.

[HumanSmoke]

Interesting stuff if true. GK110 takes GK104's place in the product stack, and the GTX 680 refresh gets pricing in the GTX 660 Ti's territory. Given that AMD's refresh seems to be looking at the same ~15% increase, it would seem that AMD might end up being pressured pretty hard in perf/mm^2, perf/$ and margins if they have to fight a GTX 680 successor that is 40% cheaper than the current model. A pricing overhaul like that will surely lay waste to the resell market- by the same token, a GTX670 or 680 SLI setup should be cheap as chips come March.

At least all the people screaming about Nvidia pricing a supposed mainstream/performance GK 104 at enthusiast prices, will now be able to vent their rage elsewhere.

[james888]

Originally Posted by st.bone

Why Nvidia why? I ordered a GTX670 and its still stuck at the customs, and now this news. For the same price next year a probable GK110 for GTX780 $ GTX770. Then that will mean a GTX760TI will preform equal to or better than GTX680, that will make GTX760 perform equal to or better then GTX670, and all with better prices than what people are paying for currently.... why Nvidia? I love performance increase but i already feel bad, i should think of selling the GTX670 sometime early next year if this information turns out to be true.

By the time you order your 7xx there will be news of the 8xx having 50% more performance and you will be asking the same thing once again.

Nvidea may pull me over for a 760ti. That is if the performance/price was good and I do like quiet cards and the 680 is not a hard card to cool. I wonder what amd will have to show for this. 89xx cards might be cheap little gpgpu powerhouses.

[Tensa Zangetsu]

Originally Posted by st.bone

Why Nvidia why? I ordered a GTX670 and its still stuck at the customs, and now this news. For the same price next year a probable GK110 for GTX780 & GTX770. Then that will mean a GTX760TI will preform equal to or better than GTX680, that will make GTX760 perform equal to or better then GTX670, and all with better prices than what people are paying for currently.... why Nvidia? I love performance increase but i already feel bad, i should think of selling the GTX670 sometime early next year if this information turns out to be true.

james888 is right on this one. It's not about having the "fastest and latest" GPU that matters, it's about getting the performance you want and need. You will be going through this cycle next year again.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by james888

By the time you order your 7xx there will be news of the 8xx having 50% more performance and you will be asking the same thing once again.

Nvidea may pull me over for a 760ti. That is if the performance/price was good and I do like quiet cards and the 680 is not a hard card to cool. I wonder what amd will have to show for this. 89xx cards might be cheap little gpgpu powerhouses.

Its the GK110 that makes me sad,.. if they were refreshing only the GK104 to GK114 and so on, while retaining the GK110 for Tesla. Then I would not have much to worry about.

I like performance increase so if GK110 is the way forward then I'm happy for them. Any way we always knew GK104 was a mid range card if the information is true.

[Delta6326]

Sweet can't wait...

[HumanSmoke]

Originally Posted by st.bone

Its the GK110 that makes me sad,.. if they were refreshing only the GK104 to GK114 and so on, while retaining the GK110 for Tesla. Then I would not have much to worry about

You still may have nothing to worry about. A certain logic would dictate that the best GK 110's are destined to end up as Tesla/Quadro parts, which would leave the GeForce parts as either salvage and/or high leakage parts. In either event I wouldn't expect the GTX 780 to be widely available, which is why the pricing is a head scratcher. It's pretty much certain that Tahiti's successor (like the GK 104) is likely only a minor refresh, so given the performance percentages given in the article, it would seem more likely that the pricing should be closer to:
GTX 780 (GK 110) @ $550 (or more, depending on % of full die)
GTX 770 (GK 110) @ $450
GTX 760Ti (GK 114) @ $350....likely price/performance comparable to HD 8970
GTX 760 (GK 114) @ $250-300

[james888]

Originally Posted by st.bone

Its the GK110 that makes me sad,.. if they were refreshing only the GK104 to GK114 and so on, while retaining the GK110 for Tesla. Then I would not have much to worry about.

I like performance increase so if GK110 is the way forward then I'm happy for them. Any way we always knew GK104 was a mid range card if the information is true.

I get what you are saying.

Originally Posted by Tensa Zangetsu

james888 is right on this one. It's not about having the "fastest and latest" GPU that matters, it's about getting the performance you want and need. You will be going through this cycle next year again.

The first read through that I thought "What! I am only right on this one?" I understand this concept very well myself. I want to upgrade every year and do have a feeling of missing out on that performance. Then I actually think about it and I only need a 660 ti's worth of performance for 1080p. I plan on getting a 1440p monitor sooner or later and will need more performance so I will need a 680's worth of performance. So a 760ti may be the card for me or even the 850ti depending on when I finally get that 1440p monitor.

Originally Posted by HumanSmoke

GTX 760Ti (GK 114) @ $350....likely price/performance comparable to HD 8970

Really? The 7970 and 680 are really close as is. If the 8970 reaches the proposed 30% increase in performance I could see the 8970 being closer to the 770

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Tensa Zangetsu

james888 is right on this one. It's not about having the "fastest and latest" GPU that matters, it's about getting the performance you want and need. You will be going through this cycle next year again.

I get your point, the GK110 stunt if what gets me. they should have at list given us the GK100 on the GTX680/GTX670. The way it was supposed to be or at list many thought it was to be, but oh well its like crying over spilled tea.

I know I'm not supposed to cry over spilled tea.

[mastrdrver]

Originally Posted by btarunr

When it's time for Kepler Refresh to go to office, TSMC will have refined its process enough for mass-production of GK110, a 7.1 billion transistor chip on which NVIDIA's low-volume Tesla K20 GPU compute accelerator is currently based.

Of which on nVidia seems to be having problems making working chips on TSMC's 28nm process. Not a peep from AMD or Qualcomm.

[Aksh_47]

Although performance is sweet, for someone who cant buy new GPUs every year, this annual system of launching GPUs really sucks :/

[krimetal]

We will just have to wait and see the reviews on this GPUs next year when it will be released. For now, it's just Nvidia showing off.
6xx series have a good power consumption draw? Yeahh, of course, when they chopped off much of the GPUGPU power.
Then, AMD will show off about the 8xxx series.
Just wait for the reviews.

@Aksh_47:

Although performance is sweet, for someone who cant buy new GPUs every year, this annual system of launching GPUs really sucks

Unfortunately, thats the way things work. If your video card runs your favorite games, then it's fine, upgrade at 3-4 years.

[HumanSmoke]

Originally Posted by james888

Really? The 7970 and 680 are really close as is. If the 8970 reaches the proposed 30% increase in performance I could see the 8970 being closer to the 770

Kind of depends whose proposing the 30% increase does it not?.

[Recus]

Originally Posted by mastrdrver

Of which on nVidia seems to be having problems making working chips on TSMC's 28nm process. Not a peep from AMD or Qualcomm.

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardwar...8nm-capacity/1
http://wccftech.com/amd-28nm-processors-delayed-2014/ (Global Foundries problems)

[NC37]

Worst case scenario...AMD is right back where ATI was with the HD2000 series. Totally surpassed by NV with no way to really compete coming any time soon. But will they be able to pull off another 3870? Time will tell!

[Prima.Vera]

I"m looking forward of it since I am getting tired on crappy AMD cards. After so long still no Physics alternative or support for it, even that a lot of games are using it, the MLAA quality and speed sucks compared to FXAA, very crappy crossfire support, etc, etc. Enough is enough!

[iO]

I just don´t believe these performance increase claims. They gonna double the transistor count but won´t get even 50% more speed. GK110 will be highly optimised for DP computing.
GK110 will definately shine in some selected benchmarks but there will be a lot of die area that won´t be touched by even the latest games.
Big Kepler just makes no sense as a gaming card. Huge die size, huge power consumption and a huge pricetag. GK114 might de worth waiting for...

[BigMack70]

It's still too early to really know what's going on... we have rumors saying GK110 won't be a GTX 7xx card, rumors saying it is, rumors saying that the performance increase will be 15-25% on both sides, and now this, which is probably relying on old rumors from last January of the GK110 being ~45% faster than the 7970.

The 7xxx and 6xx round was pretty much a tie and I expect that to continue next round with no major shakeups from either green or red.

[Selene]

This just proves every thing I and many others said early on, the GTX 680 was to be the GTX 660Ti but AMD flopped and left the door open for Nvidia to cash in on a mid range part at high end prices. I could not wait and went with a pair of GTX670 FTW's to feed my needs and will do me for a few years I think.

[Ikaruga]

Originally Posted by btarunr

could offer a massive 40-55% performance increase over GeForce GTX 680

[BigMack70]

Originally Posted by Selene

This just proves every thing I and many others said early on, the GTX 680 was to be the GTX 660Ti but AMD flopped and left the door open for Nvidia to cash in on a mid range part at high end prices. I could not wait and went with a pair of GTX670 FTW's to feed my needs and will do me for a few years I think.

Also, Nvidia couldn't get yields up enough on the GK110 to make it viable. It's not like Nvidia was sitting on a GK110 based GTX 680 and then suddenly just decided to hold it back. If AMD had done anything much better, Nvidia would have been in a really nasty predicament.

As it turned out, it was win-win for them and lose-lose for the consumer. AMD really helped them out by (severely) underclocking and overpricing their 7970 and 7950 at launch.

[BarbaricSoul]

So Nvidia IS going to release what was suppose to be the GTX680 as the GTX780.

[Hilux SSRG]

Looks like I'm picking up another GTX670 to do SLI in 2013. I hope prices will drop significantly after release of the 780/770.