GTX 570 SLi or GTX 680 SLi

[halcyon]

Tomorrow I will be having a 30" display delivered and am wondering if there's any real perceivable benefit to upgrading from dual GTX 570 to dual GTX 680 for gaming @ 2560x1600. The difference is only a couple hundred dollars but if I'm not going to be able to subjectively see the difference then I'd like to know that.

Thanks for help.

 

[MMO Fan]

Um the 570 SLI should run all the games that can run at a full 60fps @ 60fps the GTX 680SLI is a needless upgrade at this point if you already have 570SLI

 

[pezonator]

well I've heard stories of certain games not running at all with that resolution such as BF3 on Ultra with AA. It seems to require a card with 1.5GB VRAM.

Please someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it's the VRAM at that Res that's the problem, the cards are more than powerful enough.

 

[MMO Fan]

well I've heard stories of certain games not running at all with that resolution such as BF3 on Ultra with AA. It seems to require a card with 1.5GB VRAM.

Please someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it's the VRAM at that Res that's the problem, the cards are more than powerful enough.

Still it's seems foolish to spend $1000 on 1 game when you could turn off AA at that ultra high resolution anyway and that way completely mitigate the problem whilst saving over $1000. Man $1000 could buy allot of Steam games thats where I would put the money.

 

[JAYDEEJOHN]

Forwards looking yes, otherwise no

 

[MMO Fan]

"Future Resilient" would be a good word but I must also object to Future Proof LOL that is such a logical fallacy and just bad misinformation all around.

 

[photonboy]

My advice is get a SINGLE GTX680.
2xGTX680 is pretty much overkill unless you have a triple monitor setup.

If you are considering GTX680 SLI, wait and get a single GTX680 4GB card. If it's adequate then it wasn't much more expensive (the extra VRAM likely won't see an advantage in any games), but if you go SLI you need the extra VRAM.

2xGTX680:
If you are certain you'll go with this way (not recommended) then wait and get a GTX680 4GB version. SLI and Crossfire setups do not add Video RAM, it's cloned. That's the reason the HD7970 has 3GB, not for single card but for Crossfire and you can see the improvements in several games if you compare a 2xGTX680 2GB vs 2xGTX7970 3GB. You can observe a VRAM bottleneck for the SLI configuration.

RESOLUTION and game setup:
I have a 2560x1440 monitor. I've discovered that for most games it's actually better to use 1920x1080. Basically I get an IDENTICAL image but slightly better anti-aliasing and a lower frame rate.

You can experiment, but here's my rule of thumb for the GTX680:
1) run FRAPS and then the game
2) aim for an average of 70 to 80FPS to minimize sub 60FPS dips
3) if FPS drops below 60 and you have 2560x1600, lower to 1920x1080
4) compare 1920x1080 vs 2560x1600 for quality (Max settings)
5) enable adaptive VSYNC when done testing

*Basically a single GTX680 can max out pretty much every game on a single monitor, and there are a LOT of advantages over previous gen cards so definitely get the GTX680.

Read a few reviews and look at the benchmarks.

 

[Arimurad]

i got the gtx 680 its a monster

 

[MANOFKRYPTONAK]

1 680 is faster than two 570s, but then something will come out in the next 3 to 6 months that's faster than the 680. Your cards are so new and still more than adequate for gaming, IMHO if you already have two 570s in SLI no reason to upgrade.

 

[MANOFKRYPTONAK]

Oh and I have an EVGA 680, it is a beast! Worth $500 IMHO, faster than two 300 last gen cards less heat less power consumption.

 

[MMO Fan]

1 680 is faster than two 570s, but then something will come out in the next 3 to 6 months that's faster than the 680. Your cards are so new and still more than adequate for gaming, IMHO if you already have two 570s in SLI no reason to upgrade.

A GTS 680 is not even close to being faster than 2 GTX 570s in SLI

 

[photonboy]

Does he already have a 2x570 setup? I reread and it's confusing because he says "upgrading from" but that the "difference is only a couple hundred dollars".

I took it to mean he was debating buying a 2x570 or 2x680 setup.

My advice then is:
- if you have a 2xGTX570 there's really no point in upgrading. Once you're running a game at max settings at 1920x1080 60FPS VSYNC'd there's no where to go.

- if he has neither my advice is get a single GTX680. It'll max out basically every game. It's very power efficient, supports the new PhysX v3 standard, has a dedicated encoding chip etc.

 

[MMO Fan]

Does he already have a 2x570 setup? I reread and it's confusing because he says "upgrading from" but that the "difference is only a couple hundred dollars".

I took it to mean he was debating buying a 2x570 or 2x680 setup.

My advice then is:
- if you have a 2xGTX570 there's really no point in upgrading. Once you're running a game at max settings at 1920x1080 60FPS VSYNC'd there's no where to go.

- if he has neither my advice is get a single GTX680. It'll max out basically every game. It's very power efficient, supports the new PhysX v3 standard, has a dedicated encoding chip etc.

I agree with what you have said and will add IMO the only reason for two 680s or two 7970s would be to try and get 120fps minimum for running a 120hz monitor in Vsync across most games.

 

[halcyon]

Thanks all, for all the advice. I already have the 2 x 570's...just got them last week. I just want to play any game I may choose at 2560 x 1600 with all the settings cranked up and have it be smooth. I'll be doing some testing this week. ...I was even considering 2 x 7970's (and I'm still considering). It looks like I won't be able to get the 680's as soon as I'd hoped...Dell now says 3-5 weeks and I may have to settle for the 2 x 7970's...which I can have by Friday (and then return the 2 x 570's) ...but if my existing 2 x 570's offer good enough performance @ 2560 x 1600 I may just call it a day and live with them.

 

[MMO Fan]

Thanks all, for all the advice. I already have the 2 x 570's...just got them last week. I just want to play any game I may choose at 2560 x 1600 with all the settings cranked up and have it be smooth. I'll be doing some testing this week. ...I was even considering 2 x 7970's (and I'm still considering). It looks like I won't be able to get the 680's as soon as I'd hoped...Dell now says 3-5 weeks and I may have to settle for the 2 x 7970's...which I can have by Friday (and then return the 2 x 570's) ...but if my existing 2 x 570's offer good enough performance @ 2560 x 1600 I may just call it a day and live with them.

I don't know why you would get mixed up with "Dell" being you are a TH Vet LOL sorry for your luck ;-( GTX 570 SLI will be fast @ 2560x1600 but the 7970s will max out Metro 2033

 

[halcyon]

I don't know why you would get mixed up with "Dell" being you are a TH Vet LOL sorry for your luck ;-( GTX 570 SLI will be fast @ 2560x1600 but the 7970s will max out Metro 2033

Lol...Dell gives me a pretty good discount because of my job. I think I may order the 7970's today.

 

[MMO Fan]

Lol...Dell gives me a pretty good discount because of my job. I think I may order the 7970's today.

Dell PCs Suck along with most of there overpriced shlock however the Dell Ultra Sharp monitors are MINT and you just can't beat the clarity and color reproduction on the Ultra Sharp U 27

 

[halcyon]

Dell PCs Suck along with most of there overpriced shlock however the Dell Ultra Sharp monitors are MINT and you just can't beat the clarity and color reproduction on the Ultra Sharp U 27

I have no complaints whatsoever about my Ultra Sharp U3011...just received it yesterday. No pixel defects and its a nice image. TBH though, while there's no problems at all with the U3011's image I think I prefer the image from my 27" Apple Cinema Displays.

Well, I just ordered two Visiontek 7970's @ $489 each so they should hopefully push my monitor for a little while. Thanks again everyone.

 

[MMO Fan]

I have no complaints whatsoever about my Ultra Sharp U3011...just received it yesterday. No pixel defects and its a nice image. TBH though, while there's no problems at all with the U3011's image I think I prefer the image from my 27" Apple Cinema Displays.

Well, I just ordered two Visiontek 7970's @ $489 each so they should hopefully push my monitor for a little while. Thanks again everyone.

3 years or tell a year after the new consoles come out 7970 CF will do great @ 2560x1600 but I like 1440P better myself because it is higher Dpi

 

[halcyon]

3 years or tell a year after the new consoles come out 7970 CF will do great @ 2560x1600 but I like 1440P better myself because it is higher Dpi

Perhaps that's what I like about the Cinema displays...the high DPI. However, the 30" is like having a wall that's a screen. ...a frivolous waste but I'll enjoy it and it should last me a while.

 

[MMO Fan]

Perhaps that's what I like about the Cinema displays...the high DPI. However, the 30" is like having a wall that's a screen. ...a frivolous waste but I'll enjoy it and it should last me a while.

Well the Apple Cinema Display are very very beautiful but remember your Dell has the exact same Dpi 30" 2560x1600 as the Cinema Display. I think what I like most about the Apple Displays is the color reproduction and contrast is so vivid and life like and the HD+ rez is just the cherry on top plus IPS FTW of course it could be the glass panel that just makes everything pop that much more I don't know but I love it. I would never buy any Apple product brand new cause I will not directly support Apple inc just on principle therefore Dell or Samsung will get my money when I can drop $1000+ on a supreme HD+ monitor. Star saving your cash now because the 4K monitors will be coming out sooner than later and that means resolutions of 4096 x 2160 that will be close to real time images on the monitor ain't technology is great.

 

[halcyon]

Well the Apple Cinema Display are very very beautiful but remember your Dell has the exact same Dpi 30" 2560x1600 as the Cinema Display. I think what I like most about the Apple Displays is the color reproduction and contrast is so vivid and life like and the HD+ rez is just the cherry on top plus IPS FTW of course it could be the glass panel that just makes everything pop that much more I don't know but I love it. I would never buy any Apple product brand new cause I will not directly support Apple inc just on principle therefore Dell or Samsung will get my money when I can drop $1000+ on a supreme HD+ monitor. Star saving your cash now because the 4K monitors will be coming out sooner than later and that means resolutions of 4096 x 2160 that will be close to real time images on the monitor ain't technology is great.

I wonder how long it will be before we GPUs that could game well at that res. I didn't realize that my Cinema Displays has the same DPI as my U3011. It must be the coating they put on the U3011 vs. the glass on the Cinema Display. The Dell just doesn't look as crystal clear... It looks like how a phone looks when they put anti-glare film on it...sparkly.

Well I'm anxious to get the 7970's and see if they resolve some weird image-quality issues I see with the 570's...almost like a grid that overlays the scene. It's really noticeable in dark scenes.

...we shall see.

 

[bystander]

Are you sure it isn't just that you like glossy screens versus matte? I know Apply likes glossy, I personally prefer matte.

 

[MMO Fan]

Are you sure it isn't just that you like glossy screens versus matte? I know Apply likes glossy, I personally prefer matte.

matte is good for anti glar glossy is good for making the colors pop.

 

[halcyon]

Are you sure it isn't just that you like glossy screens versus matte? I know Apply likes glossy, I personally prefer matte.

Na...it's more than that. I've read some other reviews that mention it. It's not that bad and the display is still very nice. Well, on another note looks like I may be in for some fan noise with the 7970's...I guess you can't have everything.