Gainward gtx 680 a bit of a let down

rob77 · 2 May 2012 at 12:31

Hi

I currently have a vtx3d 7970 which runs stock at 1050mhz. I had a bit of cash spare in the bank and decided to see what all the fuss was about and bought the gainward gtx 680, the version with 8pin and 6pin connectors. I did a totally clean install of the card and made sure all the AMD drivers were uninstalled first. The card runs fine and is about on par with the 7970 in various benchmarks I did:

Resident evil 5 demo max settings 1920x1200 7970 149fps 680 154fps
Heaven 3.0 1920x1080 7970 76fps 680 74fps
Dirt 3 benchmark max setting 1920x1200 7979 96fps 680 96fps
Trackmania 2 max setting 1920x1200 7970 105fps 680 106fps
Max payne I didn't have a benchmark tool but it ran better on the 7970 holding on to 60fps at max settings. The 680 dipping down to 45fps.

As you can see they are about on par clock for clock with the 680 and 7970 winning a few a piece. Although I wasn't overwhelmed with the 680's performance it was at least on par with my old card. Now for the letdown bit!

The main game I play is trackmania 2 canyon online and after benchmarking it was expecting it to perform about the same as the 7970. On my old card I could max the settings and run at 1920x1200 and it would be really smooth with vsync enabled and 60fps. The 680 for some reason just doesn't play as smooth as the AMD card. I have tried messing with the setting etc and have tried reinstalling the game but just can't get rid what I think is microstutter. It is like it is dropping frames or the framerate is dropping down to 30fps for a split second and then goes ok again. I have msi afterburner OSD installed and that shows it is not dropping frames, I'm wondering whether it's a vsync thing and the 680 is not running optimaly. In windows it's showing my monitor as running at 59hz too and when I set it to 60hz it just drops back to 59 again.

If anyone has any idea what I can try it would be most appreciated. I don't really want to get rid of the card but it's just not performing as good as my old one at the minute.

Cheers

Tute · 2 May 2012 at 12:33

Well TPU rate the GTX680 as about 6% faster than the HD7970, so what you've done is a more of a side-step really.

As for TM2, did you uninstall the old drivers first?

Darujhistan · 2 May 2012 at 12:41

What's that old saying about a fool and his money?

Jibber55 · 2 May 2012 at 13:22

A fool with lots of money can spend it on anything they want to?

chipachap · 2 May 2012 at 13:24

Darujhistan said:
What's that old saying about a fool and his money?

It goes something like "If you don't have anything informative or constructive to say then don't say anything".

@OP Is it only in this game? The driver you're using may just be bugged in that game, have you tried any other drivers and were the ones you are using betas?

trisp · 2 May 2012 at 13:32

Why would you do this.

straxusii · 2 May 2012 at 13:48

The cards are too close to notice the difference at stock and even closer when both are overclocked. Utterly no point moving from a 7950/7970 or 680 to any of the other 2

dave_beast · 2 May 2012 at 13:51

rob77 said:
Hi

I currently have a vtx3d 7970 which runs stock at 1050mhz. I had a bit of cash spare in the bank and decided to see what all the fuss was about and bought the gainward gtx 680, the version with 8pin and 6pin connectors. I did a totally clean install of the card and made sure all the AMD drivers were uninstalled first. The card runs fine and is about on par with the 7970 in various benchmarks I did:

Resident evil 5 demo max settings 1920x1200 7970 149fps 680 154fps
Heaven 3.0 1920x1080 7970 76fps 680 74fps
Dirt 3 benchmark max setting 1920x1200 7979 96fps 680 96fps
Trackmania 2 max setting 1920x1200 7970 105fps 680 106fps
Max payne I didn't have a benchmark tool but it ran better on the 7970 holding on to 60fps at max settings. The 680 dipping down to 45fps.

As you can see they are about on par clock for clock with the 680 and 7970 winning a few a piece. Although I wasn't overwhelmed with the 680's performance it was at least on par with my old card. Now for the letdown bit!

The main game I play is trackmania 2 canyon online and after benchmarking it was expecting it to perform about the same as the 7970. On my old card I could max the settings and run at 1920x1200 and it would be really smooth with vsync enabled and 60fps. The 680 for some reason just doesn't play as smooth as the AMD card. I have tried messing with the setting etc and have tried reinstalling the game but just can't get rid what I think is microstutter. It is like it is dropping frames or the framerate is dropping down to 30fps for a split second and then goes ok again. I have msi afterburner OSD installed and that shows it is not dropping frames, I'm wondering whether it's a vsync thing and the 680 is not running optimaly. In windows it's showing my monitor as running at 59hz too and when I set it to 60hz it just drops back to 59 again.

If anyone has any idea what I can try it would be most appreciated. I don't really want to get rid of the card but it's just not performing as good as my old one at the minute.

Cheers

RMA the 680 if the main game you play is worse.

Tute said:
Well TPU rate the GTX680 as about 6% faster than the HD7970?

Most review sites won't give an accurate review of Nvidia products as they won't get future samples, everyone wants to hate on AMD.

straxusii · 2 May 2012 at 13:59

dave_beast said:
Most review sites won't give an accurate review of Nvidia products as they won't get future samples, everyone wants to hate on AMD.

I think a fairer comment Dave is that some review sites do.

I know you are on a personal crusade against it but every single review site I read concluded the 680 has reclaimed the performance crown and thought it was good.

dave_beast · 2 May 2012 at 14:02

straxusii said:
I think a fairer comment Dave is that some review sites do.

I know you are on a personal crusade against it but every single review site I read concluded the 680 has reclaimed the performance crown and thought it was good.

Wind your neck in with the crusade stuff ok.

You think reviewers that would have given a proper critical review of the 680 would have even got near a 680?

Funny how most end users find no difference whatsoever between the 7970 and 680 but all official reviews said it is better :rolleyes:

OptimaLnrg · 2 May 2012 at 14:03

Nvidia currently have 680 driver issues related to vsync/adaptive vsync

Edit: oc3d concluded the 680 and 7970 were almost identical.

dave_beast · 2 May 2012 at 14:08

OptimaLnrg said:
Edit: oc3d concluded the 680 and 7970 were almost identical.

Yes, one of the few that did an honest review - Don't expect anymore Nvidia products to be reviewed by Tom

Stanners · 2 May 2012 at 14:15

dave_beast said:
Yes, one of the few that did an honest review - Don't expect anymore Nvidia products to be reviewed by Tom

So the sites that say what you want to hear are the honest ones, oh dear.

Or using your logic, they are in amd's pocket

straxusii · 2 May 2012 at 14:19

dave_beast said:
Wind your neck in with the crusade stuff ok.

Only if you 'wind your neck in' with the crusade ok?

You think reviewers that would have given a proper critical review of the 680 would have even got near a 680?

I think if Anand had given a fair appraisal yes they would still get future Nvidia stuff. Look back at the fermi reviews and you will see fair and critical appraisal of it and still the sites got Nvidia product to review.

Funny how most end users find no difference whatsoever between the 7970 and 680 but all official reviews said it is better

It's not funny at all, it's fairly obvious that something that is only 6-10% faster will not be noticeable to the human eye, only noticeable in benchmarks.

Rusty0611 · 2 May 2012 at 14:24

dave_beast said:
Yes, one of the few that did an honest review - Don't expect anymore Nvidia products to be reviewed by Tom

It's only honest if it puts AMD higher or you agree with it

rob77 · 2 May 2012 at 14:28

Thanks for the reply's guys.

It didn't buy it as an upgrade as such. It was more to test them both out and then decide which to keep and which to sell on.

I wanted to go in to this with an open mind and test both cards for myself fairly. My honest opinion is that they are both about even at the same clocks but will probably keep the 7970 just because it runs my game better. I will try installing different drivers though and see if that makes any difference.

dave_beast · 2 May 2012 at 14:28

straxusii said:
It's not funny at all, it's fairly obvious that something that is only 6-10% faster will not be noticeable to the human eye, only noticeable in benchmarks.

What like Heaven? rofl, the 680's are getting raped by the 7970's dude

Lol at the green fanboiiss. Mustn't attack the precious

rob77 said:
but will probably keep the 7970 just because it runs my game better.

Good choice, and some honesty from someone who has run both cards

Darujhistan · 2 May 2012 at 14:29

Jibber55 said:
A fool with lots of money can spend it on anything they want to?

He said 'a bit of spare cash' doesn't sound loaded to me...

But yes, you are perfectly entitled to fritter your hard-earned away on expensive gear you don't need on a whim.

He's got a 7970, why isn't he playing games with it?

arc@css · 2 May 2012 at 14:30

Is Heaven just single player, or does it have a co-op mode?

Darujhistan · 2 May 2012 at 14:31

chipachap said:
It goes something like "If you don't have anything informative or constructive to say then don't say anything".

@OP Is it only in this game? The driver you're using may just be bugged in that game, have you tried any other drivers and were the ones you are using betas?

It is constructive - stop wasting money you fool!