MSI Releases GTX 680-L Graphics Card

Spotted in Asia, MSI's new GTX 680-L's has lower clock speeds than MSi's original GTX 680 Lightning, featuring a 1019 MHz core, as opposed to 1110 MHz and 1084 MHz Boost clock instead of 1176 MHz. For the sake of comparison, Nvidia's reference specifications show a base core clock at 1006 MHz with GPU boost speed at 1058 MHz.

Aside from the aforementioned changes to the the core speed, none of the PCB parts have changed and the card still comes with MSI's TwinFrozr cooler which means that an experienced overclocker could easily match the GTX 680 Lightning's clock speeds and save a few bucks.

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Niels Broekhuijsen

Niels Broekhuijsen is a Contributing Writer for Tom's Hardware US. He reviews cases, water cooling and pc builds.

  • TheBigTroll
    still better than a reference design or anything cooler + pcb that evga churns out
    Reply
  • Au_equus
    BigMack70Why? No 680s have software voltage control. You don't need to pay extra for all that power circuitry on this card. It's a waste of money. If they sell it at a similar price to other 680s, that's great! But if they hike the price, as I'm sure they will, it's not worth anything."this card is a bit cheaper than MSI's original GTX 680, and a small tad slower." Ummm.... Just get a 7970?
    Reply
  • TheBigTroll
    the lightning cards did. until nvidia tanked them down. the lightnings can overclock like a beast with the voltage unlocked. but there were only 5000 that had the unlocked bios

    this will sell for roughly 459.99 or under, given the regular lightning sells for 499.99
    Reply
  • TheBigTroll
    10438127 said:
    "this card is a bit cheaper than MSI's original GTX 680, and a small tad slower." Ummm.... Just get a 7970?

    if you play borderlands 2, there is no reason to get a amd card. the game looks completely different. and also to note that nvidia still has better drivers overall. depends what you want really
    Reply
  • TheBigTroll
    the pe is actually 379.99 after a MIR.

    Reply
  • phamhlam
    TheBigTrollstill better than a reference design or anything cooler + pcb that evga churns outEVGA makes great looking card. They are simple and clean. The GTX 690 that EVGA produce also looks amazing with its aluminum cover. Why are you hating on EVGA?
    Reply
  • TheBigTroll
    10438167 said:
    EVGA makes great looking card. They are simple and clean. The GTX 690 that EVGA produce also looks amazing with its aluminum cover. Why are you hating on EVGA?

    they look good, but it doesnt mean they perform the best.

    lol. all 690s are made of aluminum and magnesium.

    evga is good. just that their blower coolers are no where near what the others offer
    Reply
  • _Pez_
    I entered here to read why the L stands for ... but no one knows ... I tough it was to stick it in some special slim cases... but nervermind..
    Reply
  • master_chen
    FINALLY! About goddamn time, MSi! I've been waiting for this for months! >:\
    Reply
  • EzioAs
    10438191 said:
    I entered here to read why the L stands for ... but no one knows ... I tough it was to stick it in some special slim cases... but nervermind..

    I think it was Lite. That's what I saw in TechPowerUp though. This is old news. Not that it's entirely bad, just old.
    Reply