- Joined
- Oct 6, 2009
- Messages
- 2,820 (0.53/day)
- Location
- Midwest USA
System Name | My Gaming System |
---|---|
Processor | Intel i7 4770k @ 4.4 Ghz |
Motherboard | Asus Maximus VI Impact (ITX) |
Cooling | Custom Full System Water cooling Loop |
Memory | G.Skill 1866 Mhz Sniper 8 Gb |
Video Card(s) | EVGA GTX 780 ti SC |
Storage | Samsung SSD EVO 120GB - Samsung SSD EVO 500GB |
Display(s) | ASUS W246H - 24" - widescreen TFT active matrix LCD |
Case | Bitfenix Prodigy |
Power Supply | Corsair AX760 Modular PSU |
Software | Windows 8.1 Home Primeum |
Let me tell you the truth bud.... I have owned both 2 x HD7970's and 2 x GTX 680's. I can tell you for a 100% fact that the GTX 680 is not the killer they claim it is. Yes the GTX 680 is a great powerful card..... but it does not destroy the HD 7970. Especially when you factor in overclocking.
The GTX 680 is a card that is overclocked from the get go. When I say this I am referring to the Offset style of clocks it has. While Nvidia's guaranteed minimum clock is 1006 base 1056 Boost, some cards will actually ship with a 1006 base and a 1124 boost. This is even a reference card I am referring too. You see the GTX 680 will continue to clock up by 13% as long as the performance is needed and the thermals are below Nvidia's spec.
So that is the good news about the GTX680.... the other good news is that it is a good overclocker as long as the allowed voltage will allow it.
That's where the bad news comes in.... The GTX 680's voltage is only able to raised up to 1.21 per Hardware monitor 1.175 per software monitor. This will allow the GTX 680 to get up to speeds of about 1250Mhz or so. (very few up to 1300Mhz) Which is not a bad overclock but it is no where near the speeds we have seen the HD7970 be able to reach.
The other bad part of this is.... these clocks are Boost clock speeds. Meaning that if you are on air and pass the Nvidia allowed thermal the clocks will automatically down clock. (Which can happen often especially since the Max fans speed is 85%) Also since these are boost clocks if you do not need the performance the cards can choose to down clock a little on their own.
So you see when running these speeds .... you are not always running these speeds officially like you would with standard video card overclocking techniques. (Even with Power Limit turned all the way up.... it helps but it is not a full proof fix.) If Nvidia's Distributors allow a higher voltage the GTX 680 might turn out to be a better overclocker in the future but right now.... that is where it is held back.
Now with the HD 7970 1st off want to start off saying... I had no Crossfire issues like people said. I also have a few friends who own a couple HD 7970's in Crossfire and they also have no issues either.
Stock for stock the HD 7970 will often loose (By a small real world margin) to the GTX 680. Almost every time.
The Drivers also hinder the card from being stronger..... Better driver support from AMD and the cards wouldn't be close.
Overclocking the GTX 680 vs the HD 7970 up through about 1200Mhz is pretty even. But that is where the strength of the HD 7970 comes in.... after that. Anything above 1200Mhz is where the GTX 680 starts to get beaten.... why???? It can't keep up because of it's handy caps.
You see because of the HD 7970's standard style of overclocking it keeps it's speeds steady at what ever clock you set it at. It also has the capabilities of bypassing the 1300 Mhz Mark without hardware mods. When the GTX 680 starts to run out of space @ 1220 to 1250Mhz the HD 7970 can keep going and usually about 50 to 200 Mhz past it. This is also because the ability to set the voltage higher. 1300mv
So you see both cards have their ups and downs. In the end they do break even. If you are going for a benchmark record at your local forum and don't want to hardware mod.... I would suggest a HD 7970 because you won't get the GTX 680 to beat those scores. But if you want a card that will give you the power of an overclocked card without any fuss.... go with the GTX 680 because it will beat the HD 7970 stock for stock and even up through the 1200Mhz range.
So you see there is no reason to even have to defend the HD 7970.... it is just as good as it's Nvidia counter part. I would even argue better in some areas if not over all.
The GTX 680 is a card that is overclocked from the get go. When I say this I am referring to the Offset style of clocks it has. While Nvidia's guaranteed minimum clock is 1006 base 1056 Boost, some cards will actually ship with a 1006 base and a 1124 boost. This is even a reference card I am referring too. You see the GTX 680 will continue to clock up by 13% as long as the performance is needed and the thermals are below Nvidia's spec.
So that is the good news about the GTX680.... the other good news is that it is a good overclocker as long as the allowed voltage will allow it.
That's where the bad news comes in.... The GTX 680's voltage is only able to raised up to 1.21 per Hardware monitor 1.175 per software monitor. This will allow the GTX 680 to get up to speeds of about 1250Mhz or so. (very few up to 1300Mhz) Which is not a bad overclock but it is no where near the speeds we have seen the HD7970 be able to reach.
The other bad part of this is.... these clocks are Boost clock speeds. Meaning that if you are on air and pass the Nvidia allowed thermal the clocks will automatically down clock. (Which can happen often especially since the Max fans speed is 85%) Also since these are boost clocks if you do not need the performance the cards can choose to down clock a little on their own.
So you see when running these speeds .... you are not always running these speeds officially like you would with standard video card overclocking techniques. (Even with Power Limit turned all the way up.... it helps but it is not a full proof fix.) If Nvidia's Distributors allow a higher voltage the GTX 680 might turn out to be a better overclocker in the future but right now.... that is where it is held back.
Now with the HD 7970 1st off want to start off saying... I had no Crossfire issues like people said. I also have a few friends who own a couple HD 7970's in Crossfire and they also have no issues either.
Stock for stock the HD 7970 will often loose (By a small real world margin) to the GTX 680. Almost every time.
The Drivers also hinder the card from being stronger..... Better driver support from AMD and the cards wouldn't be close.
Overclocking the GTX 680 vs the HD 7970 up through about 1200Mhz is pretty even. But that is where the strength of the HD 7970 comes in.... after that. Anything above 1200Mhz is where the GTX 680 starts to get beaten.... why???? It can't keep up because of it's handy caps.
You see because of the HD 7970's standard style of overclocking it keeps it's speeds steady at what ever clock you set it at. It also has the capabilities of bypassing the 1300 Mhz Mark without hardware mods. When the GTX 680 starts to run out of space @ 1220 to 1250Mhz the HD 7970 can keep going and usually about 50 to 200 Mhz past it. This is also because the ability to set the voltage higher. 1300mv
So you see both cards have their ups and downs. In the end they do break even. If you are going for a benchmark record at your local forum and don't want to hardware mod.... I would suggest a HD 7970 because you won't get the GTX 680 to beat those scores. But if you want a card that will give you the power of an overclocked card without any fuss.... go with the GTX 680 because it will beat the HD 7970 stock for stock and even up through the 1200Mhz range.
So you see there is no reason to even have to defend the HD 7970.... it is just as good as it's Nvidia counter part. I would even argue better in some areas if not over all.
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