GTX 670 or 680?

[CyanoticBrute]

I am upgrading my pc and I am just wondering which I should get because, I can get a reference 680 for only $10 more than an Asus Direct CU 670. Also both are 2Gb but I could get an Evga Gtx 670 with 4Gb which is $20 less than the 680. Thanks!

 

[XXStavrosXX]

Post the exact prices in order for us to see which GPU is most cost-efficient. Generally speaking, 670 has better vfm than 680, but still loses to 7970 on the same price.

You should try to find 670 on $370 or less in order to have as good value as a $400 7970.

 

[reaper90]

How much are the gigabyte gtx 670's where you are? I got mine in the UK for less than some reference 670 models. It's pre-overclocked (with plenty of headroom) and a lot cheaper than a 680 or 4gb 670 (which at the moment isn't necessary).

 

[mvitkun]

unless your playing at extremely high resolutions like ones higher than 2560x1600 ,and 2560x1600 can still be played with 2gb.
cards could play 2560x1600 with 1.5gb so 2gb should be plenty.
and the gtx 680 2gb version can play 5760x1600 @ 37 fps average.

although there is a very small difference between the gtx 680 and the gtx 670 have very little difference in performance,with a small overclock the speed of the gtx 680 should be attainable.

So I'd say go for the gtx 670,more memory,and can achieve the gtx 680 speeds with overclock

 

[CyanoticBrute]

Post the exact prices in order for us to see which GPU is most cost-efficient. Generally speaking, 670 has better vfm than 680, but still loses to 7970 on the same price.

You should try to find 670 on $370 or less in order to have as good value as a $400 7970.

The 670 is $439.99 and the 680 is $449.99 and the 4Gb 670 is $424.99

 

[CyanoticBrute]

How much are the gigabyte gtx 670's where you are? I got mine in the UK for less than some reference 670 models. It's pre-overclocked (with plenty of headroom) and a lot cheaper than a 680 or 4gb 670 (which at the moment isn't necessary).

The gigabyte 670's here are usually between $340 and $400.

 

[geofelt]

I am upgrading my pc and I am just wondering which I should get because, I can get a reference 680 for only $10 more than an Asus Direct CU 670. Also both are 2Gb but I could get an Evga Gtx 670 with 4Gb which is $20 less than the 680. Thanks!

For $10 more, I would buy the reference GTX680.
The original $100 difference was so much more than the added value of 192 more CUDA cores.
With a reference GTX680, you may do even better with your own overclock.
The GTX680 has a good cooler design and they run cool anyway. No need to spend extra on aftermarket specialty coolers.

As to 2gb vs. 4gb, I would not put much value on more vram with either card.
Here is a study on that:
http://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Video-Card-Performance-2GB-vs-4GB-Memory-154

 

[CyanoticBrute]

unless your playing at extremely high resolutions like ones higher than 2560x1600 ,and 2560x1600 can still be played with 2gb.
cards could play 2560x1600 with 1.5gb so 2gb should be plenty.
and the gtx 680 2gb version can play 5760x1600 @ 37 fps average.

although there is a very small difference between the gtx 680 and the gtx 670 have very little difference in performance,with a small overclock the speed of the gtx 680 should be attainable.

So I'd say go for the gtx 670,more memory,and can achieve the gtx 680 speeds with overclock

I agree I think I will just buy the 680 2Gb and overclock it.

 

[CyanoticBrute]

For $10 more, I would buy the reference GTX680.
The original $100 difference was so much more than the added value of 192 more CUDA cores.
With a reference GTX680, you may do even better with your own overclock.
The GTX680 has a good cooler design and they run cool anyway. No need to spend extra on aftermarket specialty coolers.

As to 2gb vs. 4gb, I would not put much value on more vram with either card.
Here is a study on that:
http://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Video-Card-Performance-2GB-vs-4GB-Memory-154

Eventually i will be doing 2 or mabye even 4 way sli with 680's.

 

[outlw6669]

The 670 is $439.99 and the 680 is $449.99 and the 4Gb 670 is $424.99

The gigabyte 670's here are usually between $340 and $400.

If you can get another GTX 670 for $110 less than the GTX 680, I would definatly recommend that.
The performance difference between stock GTX 670's and GTX 680's is fairly small and a bit of overclocking to a GTX 670 can bring performance parody with a stock GTX 680 (although the GTX 680 can also be overclocked a bit as well...).

IMO, a minor performance increase is not worth a $110 increase in price.

 

[geofelt]

Eventually i will be doing 2 or mabye even 4 way sli with 680's.

Before you get to that, "son of kepler" GTX780 will launch and 2/4 way sli GTX680 will not be a good option.

Graphics card designers know very well how to balance the specs for optimal effect. Today, the amount of vram supplied with each card is appropriate to it's capabilities.
The 4gb spec is largely a marketing response and product differentiation.

The benchmarks I linked to seem to show little benefit of 4gb, even with triple monitors.
In some cases, the 4gb cards did slightly worse.
No doubt, there might be some situations where 4gb is helpful, but is it worth the extra cost/
If money is no object, and you are thinking about quad sli gtx680, why not buy a top GTX680 with 4gb in the first place. Cost be dammned, buy the best you can afford.

 

[CyanoticBrute]

If you can get another GTX 670 for $110 less than the GTX 680, I would definatly recommend that.
The performance difference between stock GTX 670's and GTX 680's is fairly small and a bit of overclocking to a GTX 670 can bring performance parody with a stock GTX 680 (although the GTX 680 can also be overclocked a bit as well...).

IMO, a minor performance increase is not worth a $110 increase in price.

You are right the cheapest 680 is $445 where as the cheapest 670 is $350. I think i may just do a 670 and save that extra $100 for something else on my build.

 

[reaper90]

As I said above, if you can get the gigabyte windforce 3x gtx 670 as it has great cooling performance and is very quiet even under load.

I don't know how much they are as I'm from the UK, but I got mine for under £300.

Apparently they are between $340 and $400. I wouldn't pay more than $375 for a 670 when the 680 is $445 though!

 

[jaideep1337]

1. Get 670
2. OC to 680 speeds
3. Save $$$
4. Enjoy!

 

[DarkOutlaw]

Whichever one you can afford

 

[CyanoticBrute]

Best answer selected by CyanoticBrute.