Gtx 670 FTW vs gtx 680?

Solution
Well, you could get a non reference gtx670, such as the gigabyte gtx670 windforce ( $399), and then overclock it. When a gtx670 is overclocked it can match a gtx680 for less $$$, while having a better cooler. The gigabyte gtx670 has the same PCB as a gtx680, and the same amount of power phases. A stock gtx680 costs $69 more, and has a stock cooler (gigabyte windforce cooler is better). Even if you don't overclock the gtx670 it will max out the games you want to play.

Hope this helps!

fil1p

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Well, you could get a non reference gtx670, such as the gigabyte gtx670 windforce ( $399), and then overclock it. When a gtx670 is overclocked it can match a gtx680 for less $$$, while having a better cooler. The gigabyte gtx670 has the same PCB as a gtx680, and the same amount of power phases. A stock gtx680 costs $69 more, and has a stock cooler (gigabyte windforce cooler is better). Even if you don't overclock the gtx670 it will max out the games you want to play.

Hope this helps!
 
Solution

calumconroy

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Compared to an MSI Power Edition 670, probably about 5-10 frames,
Compared to a 680 most likely around 15 frames
Another thing though is and ASUS or MSI card will stay cooler and go slightly faster as the EVGA has a reference fan / cooler that isn't as good as MSI Twin Frozr fans or the ASUS DirectCU II cooling.
 


Newegg has the GTX670FTW on sale for less...$369.99 after $20 rebate.
But the real deal is their low price protection until Christmas.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130787

You can tell the diffence among the top cards like GTX670/GTX680 or 7950/7970 with a synthetic benchmark. But in actual usage, you really would not notice the difference.

BF3 is not particularly gpu intensive, so I would not worry too much there.
 

fil1p

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I recommend a non reference gtx670 in general. I have a gigabyte gtx670 windforce and its pretty good. It also has a good price at $399, but so does the Asus gtx670 directcuII and the msi power edition. But I would recommend the cards I just listed as they cost less than a gtx680 and perform pretty well against one while having custom PCB's and custom coolers.

The gigabyte one has a pcb of a gtx680 along with 5phase power circuitry. The asus direct cu also has a custom pcb, and has 6 phase power circuitry if I remember correctly. Both have great coolers (OEM for the coolers is cooler master). The asus one includes a nice backplate, though. The asus gtx670 direct cu II TOP has had instability issues as they pushed the card too far, plus it has a price approaching that of a gtx680. I had a asus gtx570 direct CU II and it came dead on arrival (frequent crashes, artifacts, etc.). But that was a year ago, and asus has some nice cards overall.
 

calumconroy

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Indeed, like I said the MSI is good, the Gigabyte is good, the ASUS is good, The EVGA not as good due to the reference cooler that doesn't compare to a Twin Frozr, DirectCU II, or Windforce - it's just about preference.
 

Kiowa789

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Uh, nope.

670 can be overclocked to outperform a 680 very easily, which is why ALWAYS, GET, THE 670.
 

Jordannn15

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Wait your telling me the link you posted is cheaper than this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0083Y6MV6?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links

And if BF3 is not gpu intensive what is it because I'm pretty sure its not cpu intensive... Correct me if I'm wrong though.
 

Jordannn15

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Will there be any hiccups like drops below 45 or 30? I don't want to deal with any of those.

What if I throw a reference or black edition 7970 into the mix what would you guys choose?
 

fil1p

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Well anything below 30fps is unfavorable, but the gtx670 will do fine. My question is do you plan on doing any overclocking to your GPU once you get it. Because as I said earlier, an overclocked gtx670 can match or slightly outperform a gtx680. Now that you mention a hd7970, if you do overclock that then you will get some great performance. For the price, I would go with a non reference gtx670, or if you want to spend a bit extra a hd7970. Some people say that the fan on reference hd7970's can get pretty loud though. I would not really take the gtx680, don't get me wrong, its a great card, but an overclocked gtx670 can do the same. However a hd7970 with a custom cooler costs about ($399) which removes any fan related issues. If you overclock the hd7970 it will outperform the gtx670 in certain cases.

Here is one from gigabyte:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125413

Here is one from sapphire:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202008
 

Jordannn15

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No I don't plan on overclocking any card I get. So I really just need the best performance/cost card that I can get.
 

OOPS! You are correct. The amazon is $3.01 cheaper.
But the newegg has a low price guarantee until Xmas. Is that worth$3.01?

BF3 in single player is not cpu intensive.
Mut in multiplayer, it can be very cpu intensive. You don't see multiplayer benchmarks because they are hard do correctly.
 

Jordannn15

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Okay, I have decided to get the one you suggested or somebody did: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0080I06WQ?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links

Now this probably isn't the right place to ask this but I have this case: http://www.amazon.com/GAMMA-Classic-Interior-Chassis-Black/dp/B002UDK9U6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352673103&sr=8-1&keywords=gamma+classic+series+atx+mid+tower+interior+steel+chassis

^ that case is too small to house that gigabyte card so I need a decently nice full tower with good wire routing and a big enough case to hold that card. Thanks!
 

fil1p

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Yep, as I earlier suggested the gigabyte gtx670 is a good choice, the card is a bit long, so i would measure inside your case to make sure it fits. And yes, as you said it may be too small. A cooler master haf x is nice, but thats upwards of $140. Measure the inside of your case.