Getting a GTX 670 vs a GTX 680

[G80FTW]

Basically, the point of me listing all the prices was to tell anyone reading this particular thread to disregard price, they're all about the same and just consider which one would be the better performer with overclocking in mind.

If price is not the issue, and youd rather not wait for a new series, then I would have to actually recommend the 4GB 670 if you can find one. They run about the same price as the 2GB 680 if I remember correctly, and the extra VRAM will ensure you can run high resolutions and better handle tomorrows games. I already use at LEAST 2GB of VRAM in some games at 1080p, so if you plan on gaming beyond that 2GB wont be enough.

 

[ProtatoSalad]

If price is not the issue, and youd rather not wait for a new series, then I would have to actually recommend the 4GB 670 if you can find one. They run about the same price as the 2GB 680 if I remember correctly, and the extra VRAM will ensure you can run high resolutions and better handle tomorrows games. I already use at LEAST 2GB of VRAM in some games at 1080p, so if you plan on gaming beyond that 2GB wont be enough.

Well, I'll most likely only be using a single monitor, so 4GB of VRAM is overkill. To be honest, I highly doubt a single monitor set up will ever use over 2GB. I could get a 4GB card from ASUS though, but I really don't see a point in it.

 

[CrazyHV8000]

Well, I'll most likely only be using a single monitor, so 4GB of VRAM is overkill. To be honest, I highly doubt a single monitor set up will ever use over 2GB. I could get a 4GB card from ASUS though, but I really don't see a point in it.

He talk about game that use vRAM per monitor.

 

[salvage-this]

Well, I'll most likely only be using a single monitor, so 4GB of VRAM is overkill. To be honest, I highly doubt a single monitor set up will ever use over 2GB. I could get a 4GB card from ASUS though, but I really don't see a point in it.

Not true. Most games at 1080 will not go over 2gb but 1440 and 1600 go over 2gb quite a bit.

 

[ProtatoSalad]

He talk about game that use vRAM per monitor.

What?
Well, I highly doubt a single monitor uses more than 4GB.
Either way, I'm only using a single 1080p monitor.

 

[G80FTW]

What?
Well, I highly doubt a single monitor uses more than 4GB.
Either way, I'm only using a single 1080p monitor.

I am also using a 1080p TV, and thats what I play all my games on. And there are a few games out right now that can use over 2GB of VRAM at that resolution. Crysis 3 and Tomb Raider come to mind. There are a few others out there, but you can expect here soon for 2GB to be available on mid range cards and 4GB to be the norm for the high end cards.

This would be why I opted for a 4GB card. I knew 2GB would soon not be enough.

 

[turbobooster]

if I were you id go with this card...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130824

the extra ram will help with high levels of AA, and for the price its a good deal considering that you will be paying about the same for another card. when I play crisis 3, it goes over 2 gigs of vram used. good luck

you dont need the 4gb the extra ram dosent do anything if you are on a 1920x1080 resolution, 2gb is just fine.
crysis only uses the extra vram because it can, i played it perfect on a 2gb card.

 

[turbobooster]

but to give you an answer on youre quistion, go for the gtx 670 asus.
its a fast card and verry cool and sillent.
so you be saving a little money to.
evga is nice but as we all know, when de cards hit 70 degrees the will clock done to bring the temp back, and a evga will hit the 70 degrees easy.
i had one in a good ventilated case and it hit 70 degrees easy

 

[G80FTW]

you dont need the 4gb the extra ram dosent do anything if you are on a 1920x1080 resolution, 2gb is just fine.
crysis only uses the extra vram because it can, i played it perfect on a 2gb card.

Right. Because RAM plays such a minor role in computing. It should only become important when your games begin to stutter because your card keeps reloading itself.

If he can pick up a 4GB 670 for the same price as a 2GB 680, why would you say thats not worth it?

 

[ProtatoSalad]

Right. Because RAM plays such a minor role in computing. It should only become important when your games begin to stutter because your card keeps reloading itself.

If he can pick up a 4GB 670 for the same price as a 2GB 680, why would you say thats not worth it?

Keep in mind, the 680's on sale, so the 4GB 670 is actually going to cost more than the 680. I'm not saying RAM is unimportant, but I don't really want to fork out an extra $50 when I don't actually need it. I'm on a bit of a tight budget right now.

 

[salvage-this]

Right. Because RAM plays such a minor role in computing. It should only become important when your games begin to stutter because your card keeps reloading itself.

If he can pick up a 4GB 670 for the same price as a 2GB 680, why would you say thats not worth it?

If a game has more VRAM to use some of the game engines will use it. Take BF3 as an example. I have a few friends that played it maxed at 1080 with a 570 1.25gb card. It worked and they didn't notice any memory limitations even though when I tested it on a single 560TI 2gb I was using 1600mb of VRAM. So it bacame clear to me that that extra ~350mb used was nice to have but not necessary for the game to function at that resolution and settings.

However, Games are getting heavier in the VRAM usage and I would opt for more VRAM rather than more horsepower since games at 1080 are already pushing the 2gb limit of some cards. It seems to be fine for current titles but who really knows for next generation.

Keep in mind, the 680's on sale, so the 4GB 670 is actually going to cost more than the 680. I'm not saying RAM is unimportant, but I don't really want to fork out an extra $50 when I don't actually need it. I'm on a bit of a tight budget right now.

The difference between the 670 and 680 is pretty small when you consider the price difference. (I realize that you found a sale 680 2gb) So here is how I would look at it if I were you. If you want to focus on 1080p, never anything higher. The 680 will work. If you want to have most of the performance of a 680 with more VRAM to allow more overhead for newer games. Or ever consider getting a 1440p monitor (amazing) get the 670 4gb.

My official recommendation would be the 670 4gb. Ultimately it's your system. Look at the performance and see what makes sense for you and what you want in your system.

 

[G80FTW]

Keep in mind, the 680's on sale, so the 4GB 670 is actually going to cost more than the 680. I'm not saying RAM is unimportant, but I don't really want to fork out an extra $50 when I don't actually need it. I'm on a bit of a tight budget right now.

The 4GB 670 listed in the first few posts of this thread is the same price as the 680 you have listed. And its worth every penny.
Todays games are not using "more ram if available" they are using the ram they need period. But, at the same time a game can only use about 85-90% of a cards maximum memory because the system uses the rest so you will never see the game use all of the onboard memory. Which is why 2GB wont be enough. Because the game cannot use all 2GB of it, it can only use about 1.8GB of it. A game wont use more/less VRAM at the same settings with different hardware. I have personally never seen that effect. It will use all of the available onboard memory first and then when it runs out of that it will dig into system memory and once it starts doing that you will experience stuttering as the video/texture data is being transferred between the card and the system memory. Which may not be as noticeable today with the faster system ram and processors, but it certainly wont be smooth gameplay.

 

[ProtatoSalad]

The 4GB 670 listed in the first few posts of this thread is the same price as the 680 you have listed. And its worth every penny.
Todays games are not using "more ram if available" they are using the ram they need period. But, at the same time a game can only use about 85-90% of a cards maximum memory because the system uses the rest so you will never see the game use all of the onboard memory. Which is why 2GB wont be enough. Because the game cannot use all 2GB of it, it can only use about 1.8GB of it. A game wont use more/less VRAM at the same settings with different hardware. I have personally never seen that effect. It will use all of the available onboard memory first and then when it runs out of that it will dig into system memory and once it starts doing that you will experience stuttering as the video/texture data is being transferred between the card and the system memory. Which may not be as noticeable today with the faster system ram and processors, but it certainly wont be smooth gameplay.

Hmmm... seems like I forgot to mention, I'm buying at the particular retailer that I am right now with these prices as, through a friend, I can manage to get myself an extra 25% off of everything I buy, making it technically cheaper than the other ones posted in the thread, hence the reason why I don't want to buy from another retailer. They do sell 4GB versions of the cards at that specific retailer, but they do cost noticeably more.

Either way, it seems they finally were able to restock on AMD cards, so I've opted for that since an overclocked AMD card performs on par if not better than it's Nvidia counterpart. Not to mention it comes with a much better bundle and 3GB of RAM and is a fair bit cheaper, so the way I see it, it is a win-win situation.

 

[G80FTW]

Hmmm... seems like I forgot to mention, I'm buying at the particular retailer that I am right now with these prices as, through a friend, I can manage to get myself an extra 25% off of everything I buy, making it technically cheaper than the other ones posted in the thread, hence the reason why I don't want to buy from another retailer. They do sell 4GB versions of the cards at that specific retailer, but they do cost noticeably more.

Either way, it seems they finally were able to restock on AMD cards, so I've opted for that since an overclocked AMD card performs on par if not better than it's Nvidia counterpart. Not to mention it comes with a much better bundle and 3GB of RAM and is a fair bit cheaper, so the way I see it, it is a win-win situation.

If your THAT loyal of a customer that you will pass up a better deal, thats your choice I guess...

A 4GB 670 shouldnt cost more than a 2GB 680 anywhere.

The 7970 3GB is a great card. Id say go for it if you can get it for the same price as the 680.