Friday, March 16th 2012

GTX 680 Generally Faster Than HD 7970: New Benchmarks

For skeptics who refuse to believe randomly-sourced bar-graphs of the GeForce GTX 680 that are starved of pictures, here is the first set of benchmarks run by a third-party (neither NVIDIA nor one of its AIC partners). This [p]reviewer from HKEPC has pictures to back his benchmarks. The GeForce GTX 680 was pitted against a Radeon HD 7970, and a previous-generation GeForce GTX 580. The test-bed consisted of an extreme-cooled Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition processor (running at stock frequency), ASUS Rampage IV Extreme motherboard, 8 GB (4x 2 GB) GeIL EVO 2 DDR3-2200 MHz quad-channel memory, Corsair AX1200W PSU, and Windows 7 x64.

Benchmarks included 3DMark 11 (performance preset), Battlefield 3, Batman: Arkham City, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Lost Planet 2, and Unigine Heaven (version not mentioned, could be 1). All tests were run at a constant resolution of 1920x1080, with 8x MSAA on some tests (mentioned in the graphs).

More graphs follow.

Source: HKEPC
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273 Comments on GTX 680 Generally Faster Than HD 7970: New Benchmarks

#151
buggalugs
nvidiaintelftwI think some people are forgetting this is meant to be a mid range card. ;)
Then why are Nvidia charging high-end prices for a mid-range card? Sounds like Nvidia are doing what they do best, taking gamers for idiots and charging too much for their cards.

People have been complaining about AMD prices for the 7970 but at least its a genuine highend card with 3GB of memory and plenty of overclocking.

Nvidia have just clocked their half-baked card higher, taken the overclocking headroom away and charge you high-end prices.

7970 for me.
Posted on Reply
#152
amdftw
nvidiaintelftwI think some people are forgetting this is meant to be a mid range card. ;)
Some people think it is a mid range card, but not...
Have not been officially confirmed that nv has a gk100 chip.
It might be planed but tsmc with this 28nm man. process can not make huge chips.
Over 400mm2 28nm process is very risky, too much faulty chip comes out from one yiled.
So the NV might dicided to delete the GK100, because not worth the processing price...
And the situation will be worse and worse as the nanometres will be lesser.
This is not 40nm+ period where huge chips can be made...
Posted on Reply
#154
L7R
btarunrThe test-bed consisted of an extreme-cooled Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition processor (running at stock frequency), ASUS
They have a CPUZ screen showing 5000MHz core clock:
Posted on Reply
#155
Fairlady-z
I was looking forward to the 680 crushing the 7970, but it seems its going to be a smaller gain after all. I think this is to be expected, and for any one to be surprised is just silly. Lets say April 1st(no pun) they start shipping thats 4 months delay compared to AMD. Well in those 4 months I had a blast with my 7970. Here is a link of my card single with stock 2600k no overclocking on CPU. I did use AMD's boost lol.... I went to The Catalyst and turned the slider all the way to the right.

3dmark.com/3dm11/2975241 :nutkick:

That link should post my system restults for ya.

Come Monday the second card I have here is going in, and the EK waterblocks and back plates are in woohoo. I love tweaking my system, and am not very much interested in a card that has not head room when it comes to OC. Now we all have no clue if the 680 can or can not OC, but I am going with my big fat gut which tells me no :cry:.


Cheers.
Posted on Reply
#156
Crap Daddy
Fairlady-zI was looking forward to the 680 crushing the 7970, but it seems its going to be a smaller gain after all. I think this is to be expected, and for any one to be surprised is just silly. Lets say April 1st(no pun) they start shipping thats 4 months delay compared to AMD. Well in those 4 months I had a blast with my 7970. Here is a link of my card single with stock 2600k no overclocking on CPU. I did use AMD's boost lol.... I went to The Catalyst and turned the slider all the way to the right.

3dmark.com/3dm11/2975241 :nutkick:

That link should post my system restults for ya.

Come Monday the second card I have here is going in, and the EK waterblocks and back plates are in woohoo. I love tweaking my system, and am not very much interested in a card that has not head room when it comes to OC. Now we all have no clue if the 680 can or can not OC, but I am going with my big fat gut which tells me no :cry:.


Cheers.
It's unrealistic to expect a smaller chip with a lower TDP to crush TahitiXP. To beat it by let's say up to 10%, yes and this is what's going to happen.

It's not 4 months, availability for the 7970 was on the 9th of January, GTX680 will have a hard launch probably on the 22nd of March so in my book that's 2 months and a half.

I am pretty sure that a smaller chip with a lower TDP will overclock at least as well as Tahiti. The question is how well the performance will scale.
Posted on Reply
#157
Evolved
Sorry, this might sound a bit off topic but... I had to ask.

I heard (just murmurs amidst my surroundings) that AMD will re-release a newer and more refined and better revision of Tahiti to combat against the GTX 680 and and other cards that Nvidia releases.

Is this true? I know it could be just rumours or someone making crap up.
Posted on Reply
#158
NHKS
EvolvedSorry, this might sound a bit off topic but... I had to ask.

I heard (just murmurs amidst my surroundings) that AMD will re-release a newer and more refined and better revision of Tahiti to combat against the GTX 680 and and other cards that Nvidia releases.

Is this true? I know it could be just rumours or someone making crap up.
Well, yes,, there have been speculations recently.. and the chip is called 'tenerife' with 2304 stream processors.. at the moment no one knows if it will come soon.. AMD apparently is waiting to see final preformance of GTX680 before they make a move... and before the 'tenerife' comes(some say it will be part of 8xxx series) , AMD is preparing for their dual GPU 7990 which could very well come in Q2(april?).. so go the speculations
Posted on Reply
#159
Crap Daddy
EvolvedSorry, this might sound a bit off topic but... I had to ask.

I heard (just murmurs amidst my surroundings) that AMD will re-release a newer and more refined and better revision of Tahiti to combat against the GTX 680 and and other cards that Nvidia releases.

Is this true? I know it could be just rumours or someone making crap up.
I really don't think it will happen soon, things just don't go so quick and easy.
Posted on Reply
#160
FreedomEclipse
~Technological Technocrat~
Crap DaddyI really don't think it will happen soon, things just don't go so quick and easy.
sure they do... Do you remember how fast ATi killed off the X1800 series in favour of the X1900XTX? the X1800 was only out for a for a few months.
Posted on Reply
#161
NHKS
Crap DaddyIt's unrealistic to expect a smaller chip with a lower TDP to crush TahitiXP. ...
Isnt it called Tahiti XT?? just confirming
Posted on Reply
#162
NHKS
FreedomEclipsesure they do... Do you remember how fast ATi killed off the X1800 series in favour of the X1900XTX? the X1800 was only out for a for a few months.
anything's possible.. depends mainly on how fast TSMC's 28nm process ramps up yields.

just posting this image(probably official slide) i found.. I am NOT claiming it :o

Posted on Reply
#164
Fairlady-z
nVida VS me (AMD7970 owner)!!!

:nutkick:
Posted on Reply
#165
AvonX
Guys quit arguing about this.
It is normal that nvidia would tweak to match or even get better performance from amd.
Amd released first their cards and they knew there was no competition at that time.
This nvidia cards are heavily clocked according to this post here.
All AMD needs to do is a refresh and then again will kick nvidias butt again. :p
Posted on Reply
#166
beck24
Actually I have seen reports that the 680 core turboclocks automatically to 1400 in intensive scenes. This card will be a winner. Nvidia driver teams the last couple of years have been outstanding getting higher performance out of new cards. Lower temps and power, multi gpu support finally, the new adaptive v sync, cool image tech. It will be fun to play with!
Posted on Reply
#167
Initialised
DarkOCeanThey are also showing gpu scores which are not influenced to much by the oc on the cpu.
Right... it's not going to be an overpriced power hungry monster of a card that'll burn itself out in 6 month in the under ventilated budget chassis that was all you could afford after spending the rest of your budget to get the latest nvidia card in your system like the GTX480 or the legendary FX?
Posted on Reply
#168
MxPhenom 216
ASIC Engineer
buggalugsThen why are Nvidia charging high-end prices for a mid-range card? Sounds like Nvidia are doing what they do best, taking gamers for idiots and charging too much for their cards.

People have been complaining about AMD prices for the 7970 but at least its a genuine highend card with 3GB of memory and plenty of overclocking.

Nvidia have just clocked their half-baked card higher, taken the overclocking headroom away and charge you high-end prices.

7970 for me.
well look at the size and TDP of the GK104. Does that sound like a high end card to you? To me no not at all. Seeing how its got lower TDP, smaller die size, lower heat, and obviously lower power its in the range of a mid range card. Now, since nvidia has only been working on GK104 because GK100 was probably having issues on the 28nm process they decided to just make a mid range card try to compete with a AMD flagship which is what it is doing right now. If GK104 is deemed to be a mid range card(which im confident it is), then AMD has some problems. Why wouldn't you price a card that was meant to be "mid range" but is beating out your competitors high end flag ship cards, as high as a high end? I mean yeah they coudl probably price it at $300-$350, but since the performance seems to be there why not price it a bit more?

Also we don't have any information regarding overclocking headroom. Its all speculation that nvidia took out the overclock headroom. Also maybe thats a AMD weakness by being conservative on clocks when its obvious the cards can be clocked to 1GHZ+? Nvidia took advantage that there cards could do that so they did that. Is that a fair reason to bash their card?
Posted on Reply
#169
Delta6326
I like competition when its close, great for the consumer.
Posted on Reply
#170
N3M3515
Delta6326I like competition when its close, great for the consumer.
That's why i find so hard to understand so many people here that have so high hopes of one company crushing the other, are they stupid? i just don't get it.
Posted on Reply
#171
N3M3515
nvidiaintelftwI mean yeah they coudl probably price it at $300-$350, but since the performance seems to be there why not price it a bit more?
Oh yeah lets price it a "bit" more (200 - 250 bucks more), hilarious.

The only upside of gk104 being a small chip is that nvidia can price it far lower than 7970 if needed.
Posted on Reply
#172
N3M3515
I think the real question here is:

1. Nvidia realised GK104 was competitive with 7970 ?
2. Nvidia realised GK104 was a little slower than 7970 ?

so,
1. If it was already competitive to begin with, why not release it simultaneously with 7970?, why take 2.5 months?

2. I think it is logical that being slower, they took this 2.5 months and tweak it(oc), so that it beats 7970 by a small margin.

then,
which scenario do you prefer, because if 1 is correct then GK104 oc potential is untouched, nvidia will price same as 7970 or higher(because it's faster). If 2 is correct GK104 won't have much oc headroom, leading to an equality btween the two, then i think the prices would be more just.

Until reviwes pop up it's all wishfull thinking.
Posted on Reply
#173
MxPhenom 216
ASIC Engineer
N3M3515I think the real question here is:

1. Nvidia realised GK104 was competitive with 7970 ?
2. Nvidia realised GK104 was a little slower than 7970 ?

so,
1. If it was already competitive to begin with, why not release it simultaneously with 7970?, why take 2.5 months?

2. I think it is logical that being slower, they took this 2.5 months and tweak it(oc), so that it beats 7970 by a small margin.

then,
which scenario do you prefer, because if 1 is correct then GK104 oc potential is untouched, nvidia will price same as 7970 or higher(because it's faster). If 2 is correct GK104 won't have much oc headroom, leading to an equality btween the two, then i think the prices would be more just.

Until reviwes pop up it's all wishfull thinking.
im thinking competitive. Nvidia did release something say they were a bit surprised with hd7xxx series. They thought AMD would have released something better.
Posted on Reply
#174
swirl09
For the love of <your god here>, why do people keep bringing up nV saying they thought AMD would have released something better? If you are mentally challenged, I apologise. Otherwise, the next time you feel like stating this, pause for just a moment and think how likely would it be for nV to make a statement which congratulated AMD on a great GPU.

....... If the penny still hasn't dropped, kindly don't reproduce.
Posted on Reply
#175
magibeg
nvidiaintelftwim thinking competitive. Nvidia did release something say they were a bit surprised with hd7xxx series. They thought AMD would have released something better.
How does that make sense. Nvidia would have spent a huge amount of resources and money developing their high end chip, then when they see what ATI has they just go "Oh.... well lets just not continue the work flow and waste millions of dollars instead of stomping out the competition".

If you're going to talk about being competitive, at least get a business background.
Posted on Reply
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