EVGA GTX 670 FTW+ 4GB vs EVGA GTX 680

[PCMau5]

So i am planning on upgrading my XFX HD 5770 1GB in july but I am on a budget of £350,
i am looking for cards that don't really exceed 80c and are decently quiet as my XFX 5770 is loud as hell and hits 87c.

I found out that an EVGA GTX 670 FTW+ 4GB OC is the same price as the EVGA GTX 680 standard so i was wondering what one i should pick up as i have heard a GTX 670 OC'd will beat a GTX 680 so i searched but i cannot see a benchmark or information regarding these 2 cards put against each other.

I am open to other cards if anyone has any suggestions!

Thanks

 

[bigshootr8]

If you can find a way to utilize the 4 gigabytes of memory then sure go for it otherwise I would say a normal 670 will do the trick. I wouldn't purchase a 680. I feel the better value goes to the 7970 and the 7970 ghz when looking in spending the amount you would with the 680.

 

[17seconds]

4GB is only useful for multiple monitor situations. Extra RAM will not put a 670 above a 680 in normal gaming resolutions. It's the "FTW+" factory overclocking that would make that 670 better than a regular 680 in your example.

If I were you, and you want to stick with EVGA, I would look for the EVGA Signature 2 series, which has non-reference cooling to help you hit those lower temperatures and thus enable higher, more consistent Turbo Boost clocks.

 

[bigshootr8]

Yea I'm fond of the signature 2 cards as well get the best cooling situation you can with a reference card maker because you will be limited to the blower style fan otherwise.

 

[Guest]

As said above you don't need the 4Gb unless you game well over 1080p or with mulitple monitors depending also on the game. I have the 4Gb 680 for my 2560 x 1600 display and I think it helps more so than the 2Gb version but again depends on the game. Crysis 3 Beta it seems to help the most from my tests.

 

[TheBigTroll]

the ftw cards are probably the worse in terms of temps compared to the aftermarket solutions out there such as the asus directcu, gigabyte windforce, and the msi power editions. i have a gigabyte windforce 670 at 1300mhz and it runs at 60c full load after a week of folding@home

4gb cards are useless. if you are going high res, go get a better performing 7970. if you need physx for borderlands 2 at high res, then think about a 4gb 670

 

[17seconds]

Editor's Choice:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/EVGA/GTX_670_FTW_Signature_2/32.html

 

[TheBigTroll]

yes so is the msi power edition
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_670_Power_Edition/33.html

same goes for the gigabyte windforce
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Gigabyte/GeForce_GTX_670_Windforce/

 

[PCMau5]

Ah thanks, i thought the old Dual fan EVGA cards from the 500 series were loud apparently so i stayed away from them, are these ones loud compared to the old DS cards?

Thanks for all the information guys :3

 

[TheBigTroll]

they are louder than the gigabyte fans for sure. they arent quite, but they are quieter

 

[djangoringo]

they are louder than the gigabyte fans for sure. they arent quite, but they are quieter

Are you sure ? :

http://tpucdn.com/reviews/Gigabyte/GeForce_GTX_670_Windforce/images/fannoise_load.gif
http://tpucdn.com/reviews/EVGA/GTX_670_FTW_Signature_2/images/fannoise_load.gif

Get the evga 670 gtx signature 2 if you want the best customer support, if not get the gigabyte windforce 3x, it's a good card, it's not better, but it's much more cheaper, you can find one at 370$ after mir.

 

[TheBigTroll]

you do notice that it was overclocked right?

 

[djangoringo]

It came from factory that way, it was not a manual overclock.
The signature 2 has a higher oc from factory than the gigabyte oc, so i don't think that's the problem.

 

[bigshootr8]

I think when you compare aftermarket cards you are going into the ability to push cards further perhaps, cooler temperatures, and more quiet operation however I'm sure a signature 2 will be more then enough to fit the bill.

 

[JamesSneed]

This Gigabyte card doesn't OC as well as some others albeit it is factory OC'ed a little. It is a very quiet card. This was made later after the 660 TI's so its not in any reviews I have seen. The same cooler is on Gigabytes 660 TI's if you want a point of reference for sound.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125438

 

[TheBigTroll]

the 670 windforce does not use the 660ti windforce cooler. they are different. i think you are talking about the windforce 2x edition gtx 670.

mine clearly overclocks to 1300mhz at boost so i dont see the point of it not being able to overclock well

 

[bigshootr8]

Well it depends on what version of the 670 you purchase if you get the non oc version then yes you get the same cooler the 2 fan design and when you get the oc version you get the 680 pcb and the 3 fan design.

I know I have one

 

[PCMau5]

Ok i guess i have decided on getting the 2GB Signature 2 670 considering it's in my price range and is cool and quiet,

Thanks again guys!

 

[bigshootr8]

Good choice hope you enjoy it If you have a camera it would be way cool if you could test the acoustics of the card. I've only seen a guy show off two 680 sig 2's in sli. It's around the 4:05 mark.

[flash=560,315]http://www.youtube.com/v/BFPz99bwOOw?version=3&hl=en_US[/flash]

 

[JamesSneed]

the 670 windforce does not use the 660ti windforce cooler. they are different. i think you are talking about the windforce 2x edition gtx 670.

mine clearly overclocks to 1300mhz at boost so i dont see the point of it not being able to overclock well

The cards I was referencing use the same cooler with 2x 100mm fans and they both have the same PCB layout:

http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4320#ov
http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4282#ov