**GAINWARD PHANTOM 680 NOW AVAILABLE & CRAZY GTX 580 3GB PHANTOM DEAL!!**

[AndyOcUK]

It would help buyers of the Phantom 680 to know this is classed as a "2.5 Slot Fan cooler" as stated on Gainwood's website.



Hi Andy, to clarify I was referring to the Classified edition with a rumoured 4GB VRAM. For The Win 4GB edition - due May at the latest - is a nice addition for the restless here with big screen gaming in mind



Since I'm quoting directly I should note that word 'desing' obvious means design. These Classified cards are designed from the ground up with kingpin to ensure they remain the fastest beyond this generation. The 14-phase VRM is 3 less than the Classified Ultra. Expect to pay quite the premium beyond the £100 here and ensure you have a beefy PSU for stable overclocks (ideally 1Kw). A slightly factory-overclocked GPU such as the custom-cooled Phantom 680 are fine for 600W branded PSUs - talking generally here without insane CPU overclocks or fancy watercooling.

Yes mate....4GB Editions will be A LOT sooner than may

 

[The Halk]

Expect to pay quite the premium beyond the £100 here and ensure you have a beefy PSU for stable overclocks (ideally 1Kw). A slightly factory-overclocked GPU such as the custom-cooled Phantom 680 are fine for 600W branded PSUs - talking generally here without insane CPU overclocks or fancy watercooling.

I don't agree with you there at all. A 680 system under load on Anand's bench is 360W. Even if you're putting a LOT more voltage through that and a hell of a lot more clock you're not going to need more than a good 600W PSU. A 1KW PSU is no more stable at 500W than a 600W PSU in any detailed test I've seen. What matters is how good the PSU is rather than what the total wattage is.

Are you perhaps suggesting the 1KW PSU in order to ensure people have something that's up to the job to compensate for 600W branded PSUs with 30A on the 12V?

 

[AndyOcUK]

I don't agree with you there at all. A 680 system under load on Anand's bench is 360W. Even if you're putting a LOT more voltage through that and a hell of a lot more clock you're not going to need more than a good 600W PSU. A 1KW PSU is no more stable at 500W than a 600W PSU in any detailed test I've seen. What matters is how good the PSU is rather than what the total wattage is.

Are you perhaps suggesting the 1KW PSU in order to ensure people have something that's up to the job to compensate for 600W branded PSUs with 30A on the 12V?

Spot on. Any half decent 600W PSU is plenty for a 680

 

[FMTopfan]

I don't agree with you there at all. A 680 system under load on Anand's bench is 360W. Even if you're putting a LOT more voltage through that and a hell of a lot more clock you're not going to need more than a good 600W PSU. A 1KW PSU is no more stable at 500W than a 600W PSU in any detailed test I've seen. What matters is how good the PSU is rather than what the total wattage is.

Are you perhaps suggesting the 1KW PSU in order to ensure people have something that's up to the job to compensate for 600W branded PSUs with 30A on the 12V?

I thought I previously mentioned only branded PSUs but I didn't, I'm happy to correct that. I'm well aware that for a branded 1KW PSU you need to be using 50-75% load for efficiency (less draw from the wall) - running it near capacity will age the capacitors (aim for 100% Japanese, ideally polymer-made solid state) and decrease efficiency over time. My post however, was regarding the 14-phase VRM EVGA Classified 4GB edition (8-pin, 8-pin, 6-pin) that would draw approx 470W, not the reference GTX680 which in your example would be correct. If you used a branded 1KW and consumption was 500W, this falls within the ideal range for efficiency of 50% usage (no less though for 1KW). A 600W PSU under 500W load would really push any PSU and consume 83%, some can peak around 10% above stated wattage which gives nice headroom so no need to worry there as long as the PSU isnt' too warm / above 50c.

Here is a suggestion from Guru3d as one quick example as recommended by Nvidia for reference GTX680s ...

GeForce GTX 680 - On your average system the card requires you to have a 550 Watt power supply unit.
GeForce GTX 680 SLI - On your average system the cards require you to have a 750 Watt power supply unit as minimum.

 

[TaeK]

Oh.. do WANT! Bleh, I can't justify the buy though as I have the phantom 580 that I only bought like 2 month ago >.<

 

[crinkleshoes]

Some people have no interest in waterblocks but still want a fast, overclockable and Quiet card.



For five Grand you can get a perfectly good car, so why do people spend £200,000 on Ferrari's and Lambos????

Its a high end product and, as such, commands a much higher price tag. Simples.

You can apply this to pretty much any purchase.....Tesco Kettle = £5......Breville kettle = £60.

Why do people have such a massive problem with this???

Read the post right below... I corrected myself and may even buy one... but i'm waiting for reviews.

 

[AndyOcUK]

Read the post right below... I corrected myself and may even buy one... but i'm waiting for reviews.