Nvidia Specs vs AMD Specs

[Zaspera]

How come spec-wise Nvidia seems to always have lower core and memory clocks and like half the stream processors? On the flip side, how come I never see shader clocks for AMD cards? Just trying to learn a bit. Thanks guys.

 

[Red_or_Dead]

why is an aerial atom quicker round the top gear track than a Lamborghini, yet has a smaller engine?

different technologies!

shader clocks (or stream cores) for AMD cards are locked to core speed, where nVidia cards are not.

 

[a_ump]

You could very easily have googled "Nvidia Stream Processors vs AMD Stream Processors" and got an answer, but as said above difference techs. Nvidias SPU's aren't tied to their core clock whereas AMD's are. AMD uses many smaller SPU's in a block, whereas Nvidia goes with a bulkier single SPU for a block.

At one point since AMD's SPU's are smaller, people used to divide AMD's shader count by 4? or 5 and then compare to nvidia. Though AMD's CoreNext architecture for their GPU's is supposed to be more along the lines of Nvidia's design logic of a single large SPU instead of 4-5 smaller SPU's per block.

 

[wolf]

Simple answer is Nvidia's stream processors are beefier per unit, so they need less of them, and to boot they run faster (generally 2x as fast) as the rest of the GPU to up the power.

As for the lower core and memory clocks, nvidia have a different approach where the GPU itself and the memory bus are 'fatter' than AMD cards, so they get away with lower clock speeds. eg:

48 ROPs @ 700mhz - 384 bit memory @ 1000mhz
32 ROPs @ 880mhz - 256 bit memory @ 1375mhz

you might want to look up 'ROP' lol. in a very basic sense, lets say they're both cars, the Nvidia car has a 5 liter V8 making 300hp @ 5500rpm. the AMD car has a 3 liter V6 making 300hp @ 8000rpm.

hope it helps.

 

[Zaspera]

Thanks guys. I've decided to go with a GTX 590. I've never used an Nvidia card.

 

[erocker]

Thanks guys. I've decided to go with a GTX 590. I've never used an Nvidia card.

Lol, okay! That's one heck of a purchase! Really stream processors, frequency.. none of it matters. What matters in this case is performance after you install the card. Enjoy that thing, it's a beast.

 

[TheMailMan78]

Lol, okay! That's one heck of a purchase! Really stream processors, frequency.. none of it matters. What matters in this case is performance after you install the card. Enjoy that thing, it's a beast.

Yeah......

"Ive never driven a car before what/how do they work?"

(short explanation by the community)

"Right, I'm gonna go pick up a Bugatti. Thanks guys!"


All I can say man is enjoy that monster! I'm jelly.

 

[robn]

OP apparently likes 5 liter V8s then...!

 

[Damn_Smooth]

OK, I guess I'll be the fanboy that points out that the 6990 would be a better purchase.

 

[Jstn7477]

I would've stuck with the 6970 since you just have 1 1080p display. A 590 will be overkill and may even be bottlenecked by the 1090T (The Intel boys are convinced, at least).

 

[Zaspera]

OK, I guess I'll be the fanboy that points out that the 6990 would be a better purchase.

According to FPS benchmarks for WoW, the 590 blows the shit out of the 6990. WoW is the only game I care about for FPS gains (25man raids).

Yeah......

"Ive never driven a car before what/how do they work?"

(short explanation by the community)

"Right, I'm gonna go pick up a Bugatti. Thanks guys!"


All I can say man is enjoy that monster! I'm jelly.

Haha. I built this current rig so I atleast have my license! Previously when looking at video cards, I always went off clock speeds which is probably why I always stayed with AMD because they are higher.

 

[Zaspera]

I would've stuck with the 6970 since you just have 1 1080p display. A 590 will be overkill and may even be bottlenecked by the 1090T (The Intel boys are convinced, at least).

Ya, my 6970 runs almost flawlessly. My only concern is during 25man raids in WoW with almost everything at Ultra, I still get some lag spikes here and there and I want them to stop. I know it's not my internet as I'm running 25D/10U with a pingtest of an A and WoW's latency claims 30-50ms as well.

 

[Damn_Smooth]

According to FPS benchmarks for WoW, the 590 blows the shit out of the 6990. WoW is the only game I care about for FPS gains (25man raids).
http://tpucdn.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_580_Lightning_Extreme_Edition/images/wow_1920_1200.gif



Haha. I built this current rig so I atleast have my license! Previously when looking at video cards, I always went off clock speeds which is probably why I always stayed with AMD because they are higher.

Do you plan on overclocking?

 

[slyfox2151]

Do you plan on overclocking?

the 6990 still wont win if thats your angle .... nvidia cards are just better for WoW...



i would recommend changing to a 2500k and clocking that to 4.6-4.8 if possible, if you really are after all the fps possible in wow. (and money is not much of an issue)


the CPU plays a very big roll in the performance of wow.

 

[Damn_Smooth]

the 6990 still wont win if thats your angle .... nvidia cards are just better for WoW...



i would recommend changing to a 2500k and clocking that to 4.6-4.8 if possible, if you really are after all the fps possible in wow. (and money is not much of an issue)


the CPU plays a very big roll in the performance of wow.

That wasn't my angle at all. I just noticed that he has his CPU overclocked and overclocking is safer with the 6990.

 

[Zaspera]

Ya, I know an Intel CPU would provide a bit of a boost. I don't see how and kind of disagree with that but we'll save that for another thread. I'm using my AMD setup and if I change to an Intel setup, it won't be for another 6 months or so. As to the overclocking, nothing super major. Maybe a tad bit on the video card. I've heard OC'ing the 590 was nearly impossible. But even without it overclocked, it spanks the 6990 in FPS, noise, and temperature (based on charts I've seen).

 

[n-ster]

Another 6970 in Crossfire X would have been the logical choice. At that point, the lag spikes would be gone.

The 6990/6970 CFX are much cheaper than a 590 usually. After OCing, in general the 6970 CFX pretty much catches up to the 590 on average.

I know you really want the 590, but it is illogical. Unless noise is a huge factor ofc, then 590 or custom cooling would be a better purchase.

Intel CPU would make a difference... With SB-E and IB coming out, they would boost your performance by a fair bit in minimum fps (ie: eliminate lag spikes better)

 

[Damn_Smooth]

Ya, I know an Intel CPU would provide a bit of a boost. I don't see how and kind of disagree with that but we'll save that for another thread. I'm using my AMD setup and if I change to an Intel setup, it won't be for another 6 months or so. As to the overclocking, nothing super major. Maybe a tad bit on the video card. I've heard OC'ing the 590 was nearly impossible. But even without it overclocked, it spanks the 6990 in FPS, noise, and temperature (based on charts I've seen).

Yeah, I guess if you only play WoW, and you only plan mild overclocking, the 590 is the right choice for you.

 

[Zaspera]

Well about the 6990 pricing, it seems to be the same as the 590. And I'd love to use 6970 in Crossfire, but I hear mixed reviews about Crossfire and WoW.

 

[ViperXTR]

(AMD)VLIW vs (Nvidia)SIMD
VLIW has been used by AMD (or rather ATi at that time) since the Radeon 9700 Pro, SIMD like shader archi was used by nVidia since GeForce 8 afaik.

 

[javaking]

What about the 580x2

 

[Zaspera]

I don't think my PSU could handle that.

 

[ViperXTR]

Asus MARS II lol, 3 x 8pin power XD

 

[javaking]

Probably your pocket to priced at 1499.99 yeap that's the one

 

[n-ster]

Well about the 6990 pricing, it seems to be the same as the 590. And I'd love to use 6970 in Crossfire, but I hear mixed reviews about Crossfire and WoW.

6990 IS in Crossfire btw... and 590 IS in SLI (Nvidia's equivalent to Crossfire)... It is just internal. 6970 Crossfire performs better than a single 6990.

Logic says to buy a second 6970