GTX 670 or GTX 680

[Atollhouse]

I'm torn between several cards for my build. I want to purchase the best price/performance card I can get and not have to worry about getting a second card for SLI for a couple years. I've been looking between:

EVGA
GTX 670 FTW: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130787
GTX 670 FTW+: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130824

GTX 680 SC Sig2: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130797
GTX 680 SC Sig+ w/BP: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130780

Galaxy
GTX 670 GC 2GB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162109
GTX 670 GC 4GB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162118

I really do not want to spend over $500, but if I did, another option would be the Galaxy GTX 680 GC. I'm trying to keep my build below $1600, but the GPU is causing the most damage. If you could please, kindly, give me your opinion on which card I should get, that would be appreciated. I do not want to go AMD/ATI since I've been around Nvidia my whole life. Is it worth spending the extra to get the 680, or is the 670 better due to price? If you have any questions for me, please let me know.

I do also plan on watercooling my system towards the end of the year or beginning of next year, so the GPU has to have the ability to add a waterblock.

 

[ASHISH65]

Go with gtx 670 as the performance difference between 670 and 680 is just 5% and 680 is $100 price higher so i suggest go with evga gtx 670.

 

[Atollhouse]

Go with gtx 670 as the performance difference between 670 and 680 is just 5% and 680 is $100 price higher so i suggest go with evga gtx 670.

Is the GTX 670 FTW+ capable of installing a waterblock onto it?

 

[Nicolai92]

670 FTW has the same case as a 680, so whatever you do to the 680 you can do to that card.

Definitely go with the 670. I'm looking to SLI two 670 4GB FTW cards myself, and I've decided that I'm going with those over the 680's because price to performance it's just not worth it. $100 for a 5% increase? Nah, I'm good thanks. Plus if you add a water block you can overclock far above what a 680 can do out of the box.

Comparing EVGA's versions of the normal 670 and 680, all the 680 really has is a couple hundred more CUDA cores and a higher clock speed. The 670 FTW is factory overclocked, so you eliminate the clock speed problem, and you still have over a thousand CUDA cores to work with.

 

[Atollhouse]

Best answer selected by aTollhouse.