ASUS Announces the GeForce GTX Titan Z Dual GPU Graphics Card - Or rather not

[Kaapstad]

I think this must have got out before NVidia delayed the card. If you check the clockspeeds in the specs they are very poor and would have a job beating a couple of GTX 780s or 290Ps let alone anything faster.

In it's current state this card is a turkey and not much use for even workstations if a couple of Titan Blacks will give it a good thrashing. If NVidia can not get the clockspeeds above 705mhz base (876mhz boost) this could be the biggest white elephant for a long time. Hopefully it will be cancelled all together.

ASUS today announced the GTX Titan Z, a brand new high performance graphics card with dual NVIDIA GeForce graphics processing units (GPUs) and GPU Tweak for real-time graphics tuning. Additional features like 12 GB GDDR5 memory and NVIDIA GPU Boost 2.0 provides users with the visual performance required for today's cutting-edge games.

Real-time graphics tuning for gamers
The high performance GTX Titan Z graphics card comes with GPU Tweak - an ASUS-exclusive interface that allows users to tune graphics parameters in real-time. This intuitive tool helps modify clock speeds and voltage levels, as well as cooling fan speeds to let gamers overclock the GTX Titan Z graphics card with confidence. The addition of an online streaming function lets users share their gaming action live with friends.


Dual GPUs and 12 GB onboard memory for multi-monitor configurations
The GTX Titan Z graphics card boasts two NVIDIA GeForce GPUs running at 876 MHz boost clock, 12 GB GDDR5 on-board memory, and a combined total of 5760 CUDA cores to give fast and smooth stutter-free visuals even when powering multi-monitor gaming rigs or 4K/UHD (ultra-high definition) monitors.

NVIDIA-boosted gaming performance
NVIDIA GPU Boost 2.0 provides users with an intelligent tool to actively monitor clock speed and ensure the GPU is constantly at peak performance to run games at their highest frame rates. GPU Boost 2.0 also offers new levels of customization, letting users set GPU temperature targets, overclocking, and unlocked voltages.

The GTX Titan Z is also NVIDIA G-Sync-ready to provide users with a fast and smooth gaming experience. NVIDIA G-Sync synchronizes display refresh rates to the NVIDIA GPUs to eliminate screen tearing and minimizes display stutter and input lag.

AVAILABILITY & PRICING
ASUS GTX Titan Z dual GPU graphics card will be available worldwide from 29th April, 2014.

SPECIFICATIONS
GTXTITANZ-12GD5•Graphics Engine: NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z
•Bus Standard: PCI Express 3.0
•OpenGL: OpenGL 4.4
•Video Memory: 12 GB GDDR5
•GPU Boost Clock: 876 MHz
•GPU Base Clock: 705 MHz
•CUDA Cores: 5760
•Memory Clock: 7000 MHz
•Memory Interface: 768 bit
•Output: 1 x Native DVI-I, 1 x Native DVI-D,1 x Native HDMI, 1 x Native DisplayPort 1.2

http://www.techpowerup.com/200339/asus-announces-the-geforce-gtx-titan-z-dual-gpu-graphics-card.html

 

[Kaapstad]

Yea I'd see them trying to boost the clocks some more, or change the cooling in order to get higher clock speeds, but NVIDIA dropping prices... nahh. They'll figure out a way to inch out over the 295x2 and still charge the double time premium for it.

Usually the argument can be made for NVIDIA price against AMD price but in this instance it is very very hard to do so... Plus I thought this was aimed at designers, not gamers? So the competition shouldnt matter in that regard. Though benchmarks and reviews on gaming sites will toast the titan z. Which is weird to say as an owner of 2 290s, usually I am toasty sitting next to the computer

Even designers won't touch the Titan Z if they can get a lot more performance out of a couple of Titan Blacks.

Heck they could even buy 3 Titan Blacks for a fraction over the asking price of a Titan Z and get double the performance - now that's what I call a bargain (well sort of).

 

[Kaapstad]

Hey Mr Kapp I was looking forward to you getting a Titan Z and benching it for us

Too slow and so is the 295x2.

I may get a 4K monitor next month for a bit of benching fun - we can not leave it to the review sites with their turned down settings.

 

[Kaapstad]

Now that I'm looking forward to

Are you going to invest in some Titan Blacks to replace your older Titans ?

No I am quite happy with the old Titans.

With 4 cards the biggest problem is a CPU bottleneck which means 4 x GTX780/Titan's/780ti's/Titan Blacks will all be pretty close to each other in a lot of things. CPUs and drivers make a lot more difference.

This time next year I will be building something interesting though but the only thing I know for sure is it is going to be watercooled.

 

[Kaapstad]

hehe it might have been in Hongkong dollars so that's about £230+VAT

That would just about buy an NVidia branded SLI bridge.

 

[Kaapstad]

Why do they need to tweak it? The people buying these will not consider an AMD card at all, because they prolly need CUDA or another NV tech, so it is not really competing with the 295. They are both silly prosumer cards or w/e you want to call them.

Because the Titan Black has these same things and you can buy nearly 3 of them for the price of a Titan Z.

Worse still 3 Titan Blacks will have the same performance as 2 Titan Zs

It is not often that you see the Titan Black quoted as a real bargain.

705 base? Over 2 grand? WTF are nVidia smoking.

£50 notes of course.

 

[Kaapstad]

Please don't put an AIO on it NV for crying out loud. Just cancel it.

Or let EVGA launch it as part of their watercooled classified range, that will be 1 - 0 to NVidia with AMD having nowhere to go.

 

[Kaapstad]

What is with the bashing the 295x2, the AIO limits it, it can't overclock, it doesn't save power over two cards. The only problem with that is, Nvidia went air cooling only and ended up with a significantly slower card, the AIO doesn't limit it. You can stick a waterblock on anything but the AIO categorically allows a tdp/clock/dual gpu card that can't be achieved with a stock air cooled card.

Multiple reviews show it can overclock, there is decent headroom in the cooler(you linked to a site showing it running 646W in furmark, leaving almost 30% cooling headroom for stock, and gaming it was only running 430W, leaving an almost 50% increase in cooling capacity. 430W is also significantly less than double the 258W single card power usage.


If Nvidia release a waterblock only card, firstly, price increases, secondly it literally can't run out of the box AND you suddenly get 95% of review sites unable to review it. It goes from something that a few hundred thousand people might consider with an air or AIO cooler, to something only a couple thousand people would consider buying.

Even with a waterblock it looks set to be slower and twice as expensive as the 295x2, regardless of what Nvidia do it's a win for AMD.


As for the cooler, the cooler hasn't changed in the pictures, identical cooler but it's got an extended pci bracket. With a wider bracket they are making it difficult(not impossible, can always remove it) to put two cards side by side, there would have to be at least a one slot gap.

While increased airflow could be a sign they will release it with higher clocks than intended, it could also be as simple as even at the listed clocks two cards in sli without a gap isn't actually safe for the cards. I lean towards the former but the latter is possible.

They've designed a card with a target for TDP and cooling, with the same heatsink and power circuits it's hard to actually increase clocks significantly or increase cooling. I'd be very surprised if they can delay a few weeks and then launch it with 20-30% higher clocks. We'll see.

Two GK110 full fat chips v two full fat Hawaii chip on water cooling - the GK110 chips win most of the time. This is something I know only too well as I am often on the receiving end and find myself coming second.

As for how many people will buy a Titan Z with or without waterblocks at the price NVidia are looking for - it is going to be very small.

I also find it appalling in this day and age that a review site can not test a watercooled graphics card. All it takes is a watercooled test rig in place equipped with quick disconnects.

 

[Kaapstad]

We want Max4well instead !... at least I do

+1

And fixed.

 

[Kaapstad]

New GTX TITAN-Z Launch Details Emerge

NVIDIA's GeForce GTX TITAN-Z missed the bus on its earlier 29th April, 2014 launch date, which was confirmed to the press by several retailers, forcing some AIC partners to content with paper-launches of cards bearing their brand. It turns out that the delay is going to be by just a little over a week. The GeForce GTX TITAN-Z is now expected to be available on the 8th of May, 2014. That will be when you'll be able to buy the US $3,000 graphics card off the shelf.

A dual-GPU graphics card based on a pair of 28 nm GK110 GPUs, the GTX TITAN-Z features a total of 5,760 CUDA cores (2,880 per GPU), 480 TMUs (240 per GPU), 96 ROPs (48 per GPU), and a total of 12 GB of GDDR5 memory, spread across two 384-bit wide memory interfaces. Although each of the two GPUs is configured identical to a GTX TITAN Black, it features lower clock speeds. The core is clocked at 705 MHz (889 MHz on the GTX TITAN Black), with GPU Boost frequencies of up to 876 MHz (up to 980 MHz on the GTX TITAN Black); while the memory remains at 7.00 GHz. The card draws power from a pair of 8-pin PCIe power connectors, and its maximum power draw is rated at 375W. It will be interesting to see how it stacks up against the Radeon R9 295X2 by AMD, which costs half as much, at $1,500.

http://www.techpowerup.com/200390/new-gtx-titan-z-launch-details-emerge.html

Unless they get the clockspeeds sorted out the performance will be as big a joke as the price.

 

[Kaapstad]

Will all depend on case cooling. If you have good case cooling temps will be in the mid 60's or lower. Add as couple of 1850 GT's onto that rad and it will lower temps further. It certainly knocked a few C off my AIO cooled 7970 @1250/1823 and running @1.275v.

Or you could rip the whole lot off and use a proper waterblock.