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GTX670 upgrade dilemma

covenantuk

covenantuk

covenantuk

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Joined
23 Apr 2012
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Edinburgh
So after upgrading my screen to 1440P from 1900x1200 it seems like I'm reaching the limit of my Gigabyte Windforce 3x.

Most games still run fine at max settings, but the extra pixels have killed Crysis3 at ultra settings.


Looking to the near future, I'm thinking that while the old GTX range is selling cheaply I should buy another GTX670 but...

(1) I'd prefer matched cards and the Gigabyte is not THAT cheap.
(2) The 3x cooling doesn't seem to work as well in SLi


So - advice please? Sell the Gigabyte and go for a matching pair, or try another 3x and see how it goes. Or sell up and get a single faster card?

Saying right now that I want to stick to nVidia - very happy with the current cards and drivers
 
Go GTX 670 SLI, and you should not have a problem if just you have 1-1.5cm clearance between the cards in SLI mode - AND some good airflow in the case. Else the only real upgrade option is a single GTX 780.
 
Well, if the 780 won't do max settings, then a single card is out of the window budget-wise. I'd really have liked to go for 4GB versions though just to futureproof a little more.

Looks like I'll have to grab another Windforce 3x - case airflow is good in my Raven RV02 and if it's an issue I can always use it as an excuse to watercool them :)
 
I had this same problem. Bought a 1440p monitor and the 670 wasn't cutting it.

I had the MSI power edition, which has a fan that dumps heat into the case so I didn't want two of them. So I just went for the MSI standard overclock that exhausts heat out of the back of the case.

The second card has made a huge difference. Running most games with all the eye candy at 60 fps. Crysis 3 runs between 45 and 55 on Ultra, have to crank down AA though. Games just feel really smooth and responsive, most noticeable upgrade I have ever done.

I have a full tower cooler master case, with super airflow. My cards have to sit on top of each other though, due to my motherboard. So the top card is hitting 20c more than the bottom. I have tweaked my case a bit and got the top card down to 80c under load, which I can live with.

I wouldn't worry too much about getting two different cards unless it for aesthetics. You can pick a 670 up for £180 now, stop being so anal and get yourself one immediately you wont regret it.
 
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Well, I know the gigbyte uses the full 680 pcb, so it'd have to be another one with full PCB in case I go for watercooling.

Anyone know what other 670s used the 680 PCB/power?
 
BRIGGBOY81 said:
asus direct cu ii
Click to expand...

Has a dedicated block for that card though, i think he means shares the same PCB with a 680 so he can have two of the same 680 blocks incase he wants to dabble in WC.

In what case:

KFA2 EX OC (Pretty sure it's 680 PCB, not sure if its custom though - so no 680 block fits?? Check on this one!)
EVGA FTW
Zotac 670 something
Giga WF3

Only ones i know that use 680 PCB, probably more :D

Edit: This one does as well!

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-052-KF&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=2294
 
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Whats the spacing like on your motherboard op? Running wf 670's here in sli, temps arent that bad as theres a decent gap. During the recent hot weather, my cards were hitting 78 and 60c in crysis 3. Now that the weathers a bit cooler theyre getting to 72 and 56c. This is in a case with virtually zero front air intake. Pic below of spacing.

 
setter said:
Whats the spacing like on your motherboard op? Running wf 670's here in sli, temps arent that bad as theres a decent gap. During the recent hot weather, my cards were hitting 78 and 60c in crysis 3. Now that the weathers a bit cooler theyre getting to 72 and 56c. This is in a case with virtually zero front air intake. Pic below of spacing.

Click to expand...

I have the same mobo and spacing is perfect for me:D
 
I've gone from 2 x 670 Windforce OCs in SLI to a single 780. Couldn't be happier. Quiet, cool, less power draw and plays all the games I have with excellent fps at 1440p. Also I was getting microstutter with the 670. Yes a bit slower that 670s in sli but do you really care?
 
alex_123_fra said:
I've gone from 2 x 670 Windforce OCs in SLI to a single 780. Couldn't be happier. Quiet, cool, less power draw and plays all the games I have with excellent fps at 1440p. Also I was getting microstutter with the 670. Yes a bit slower that 670s in sli but do you really care?
Click to expand...


My benchmark would be "has to run Crysis3 at decent framerates on Ultra". This was the case with 1900x1200, but it's awful at 2560x1440.

Anyone got a 780 and 1440p running Crysis 3?
 
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