NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 Reviews

**highoctane** · 05-18-2012, 08:19 PM

I don't personally recall anyone mentioning there was allot of 28nm supply at AMD or Nvidia's launch, all reviews pointed towards tight availability due to TSMC's slow ramp of 28nm and still do. Shortage in Nvidia's case means they cannot get enough product produced to meet demand, they are selling 28nm product as fast as it is boxed. We'll have pretty solid confirmation once q2 closes and the share numbers are in whether or not Nvidia just doesn't have any cards or has possibly moved a record number of cards for the quarter relative to AMD volume.

Just like when the 8800gt launched, demand kept them off the shelves for months. There was no excess supply setting around waiting for a buyer.

It's not to say AMD isn't moving cards, just like any company they wouldn't be around if they didn't move product but demand obviously wasn't enough to change their market share appreciably considering they had a full quarter to dominate before Nvidia's launch.

If AMD couldn't make a larger impact/shift in market share than they did based on the q1 results shown then that means demand for their product was largely flat even though they had no direct competition from Nvidia at the time, before gtx680 launch.

At any rate both companies are moving product for sure it's just the fact that Nvidia is selling out with no excess supply. If Nvidia was just sitting around without moving enough volume of product we would/will see a drastic shift in marketshare and a big loss in reported revenue.

**Final8ty** · 05-18-2012, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by highoctane

I don't personally recall anyone mentioning there was allot of 28nm supply at AMD or Nvidia's launch, all reviews pointed towards tight availability due to TSMC's slow ramp of 28nm and still do. Shortage in Nvidia's case means they cannot get enough product produced to meet demand, they are selling 28nm product as fast as it is boxed. We'll have pretty solid confirmation once q2 closes and the share numbers are in whether or not Nvidia just doesn't have any cards or has possibly moved a record number of cards for the quarter relative to AMD volume.

Just like when the 8800gt launched, demand kept them off the shelves for months. There was no excess supply setting around waiting for a buyer.

It's not to say AMD isn't moving cards, just like any company they wouldn't be around if they didn't move product but demand obviously wasn't enough to change their market share appreciably considering they had a full quarter to dominate before Nvidia's launch.

If AMD couldn't make a larger impact/shift in market share than they did based on the q1 results shown then that means demand for their product was largely flat even though they had no direct competition from Nvidia at the time, before gtx680 launch.

At any rate both companies are moving product for sure it's just the fact that Nvidia is selling out with no excess supply. If Nvidia was just sitting around without moving enough volume of product we would/will see a drastic shift in marketshare and a big loss in reported revenue.

Its in people nature to wait and see what the competition is before buying in this segment, plus there are other costly priorities at the time of the year and on top of that there is little need for upgrading at the time, there really was no rush.
I may even wait out for the refresh of the 8xxx.

**Rollo** · 05-19-2012, 06:38 AM

Originally Posted by Final8ty

Its in people nature to wait and see what the competition is before buying in this segment, plus there are other costly priorities at the time of the year and on top of that there is little need for upgrading at the time, there really was no rush.
I may even wait out for the refresh of the 8xxx.

Why would anyone wait to see what the 7990 is?

We know it won't win on performance, features, power, heat, noise, and the odds are good it won't be an over engineered work of art like the 690.

It will likely win on compute and price. Do people considering $1000 video cards put price as key factor? My guess is no. Do people buying gaming cards put compute as the key factor? Sales of 680s and 670s compared to 7950s and 7970s tell us no.

This is one time when there's not much reason to wait. The 7990 can't win due to the engineering limitations it has to follow.

Last night I got my fourth auto notify for a 690, OOS when I clicked immediately. People aren't waiting- they're buying any and all things Kepler. As a guy running a 670 on my 25X16 rig and 680 SLi on my 57X10 rig, I can't say that I blame them. These chips are the best thing NVIDIA has ever done, which is saying a lot.

I'm not saying Tahiti GPUs are "bad", they're just not a home run like Kepler. Between the Adaptive Vsynch, auto overclock, FXAA, TXAA, and all the other features they had before, NVIDIA basically removed all reason for anyone spending $350 and up to buy other products.

**Manicdan** · 05-19-2012, 06:48 AM

you dont KNOW any of that, its all assumptions

if all they were planning to do was slap together 2 chopped up chips and call it the 7990, it would have been out in feb
the lack of information is making it really interesting as to what they have planned.

**Final8ty** · 05-19-2012, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by Rollo

Why would anyone wait to see what the 7990 is?

My post and the article i linked has nothing to do with anything you just posted.

**Lanek** · 05-19-2012, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by Rollo

Why would anyone wait to see what the 7990 is?

I'm not saying Tahiti GPUs are "bad", they're just not a home run like Kepler. Between the Adaptive Vsynch, auto overclock, FXAA, TXAA, and all the other features they had before, NVIDIA basically removed all reason for anyone spending $350 and up to buy other products.

Adaptative is not used, all 680 users i have seen on forums like guru3d said it is working bad, it dont remove tearing as V-sync does, maybe it is capable of offer a better average fps when you are close to 30fps, but thats all... Nvidia have a big problem with standard v-sync, many games stutter like hell with it enabled,( they are working on a fix for next drivers, something with a problem of polling, i think i dont have to point you the Nvidia forums threads about it ) TXAA is not used in any games.. Peoples have bought cards thinking they will get a 1110mhz turbo boost and performance who go with it based on review and they end with 680 who dont pass over 1058mhz as Nvidia qualificatrion for chip is rather large, and cards was well choose for be send to the press, problem the retail cards dont wok the same... ( ofc it is easy fixed by pushing the TDP sliders ) .. most overclocker ask to get a way to disable completely turbo boost for going back to the standard method ....

The GK104 is an excellent card, an excellent chip,... but seriously im not sure nvidia need you for sold us this card...

**Rollo** · 05-19-2012, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by Lanek

The GK104 is an excellent card, an excellent chip,... but seriously im not sure nvidia need you for sold us this card...

I certainly hope no one is buying video cards based on what I say. I'm a hobbyist talking about my hobby.

People shouldn't base their purchasing decision on ANYONE's forum posts- they should read independent reviews and decide what fits their needs and budget best. Why would anyone spend money based on some unknown guy on a forum?

As for the rest:

I'm using adaptive vsynch on my 670 at 25X16, seems smooth and fast to me.

Auto OC- I like it. I've been gaming a long time, and if I had ten bucks for every time I've read "Oh noes. I have destroyed my video card with my 30% OC and now company X is giving me a hard time on the RMA" I would be in the Caymans now with a Patron drip going into one arm and Sophia Vergara feeding me lobsters on the other. It's a good idea whose time has come- the OC is adaptive based on load so your UT3 OC goes higher than your Metro 2033 boost. And your card stays cool and safe throughout.

**BababooeyHTJ** · 05-19-2012, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Rollo

I certainly hope no one is buying video cards based on what I say. I'm a hobbyist talking about my hobby.

People shouldn't base their purchasing decision on ANYONE's forum posts- they should read independent reviews and decide what fits their needs and budget best. Why would anyone spend money based on some unknown guy on a forum?

Actually forum posts are a very important part of my buying decision. It is very, very rare that I see any known driver issue mentioned in a review. Its as if half of these sites just run a bunch of timedemos with their eyes closed.

The most blatant is the 3d vision benchmarks with 6xx series from Hardware Canucks, Alienbabeltech, and another site that I can't remember the name of where vsync was as clearly broken as it is for me just by seeing framerates over 60fps yet not a single one noticed the screen tearing. I saw it the first day that I owned my 680. "Professional reviews" kind of suck for the most part. They're a part of the puzzle but thats about it.

**Manicdan** · 05-19-2012, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by Rollo

I certainly hope no one is buying video cards based on what I say. I'm a hobbyist talking about my hobby.

People shouldn't base their purchasing decision on ANYONE's forum posts- they should read independent reviews and decide what fits their needs and budget best. Why would anyone spend money based on some unknown guy on a forum?

As for the rest:

I'm using adaptive vsynch on my 670 at 25X16, seems smooth and fast to me.

Auto OC- I like it. I've been gaming a long time, and if I had ten bucks for every time I've read "Oh noes. I have destroyed my video card with my 30% OC and now company X is giving me a hard time on the RMA" I would be in the Caymans now with a Patron drip going into one arm and Sophia Vergara feeding me lobsters on the other. It's a good idea whose time has come- the OC is adaptive based on load so your UT3 OC goes higher than your Metro 2033 boost. And your card stays cool and safe throughout.

your very biased, and thats why no one should listen to you for a purchase opinion. other people give very good information and let you know the real pros and cons. i bet you wont list a single con about the 680 because your just that biased. but even though i paid 500$ for mine, i will be honest with people as to how the card really is.

30% oc is just laughable. how many people where able to get 30% on a their 680 without doing any hardware voltmoding? i bet its 0% since you need to be well into the 1400mhz to get 30%. and btw that adaptive oc has actually CAUSED instability. and if you dont know how, then i guess you need to do some more research on your card.

**Tim** · 05-19-2012, 03:34 PM

So what if he's biased, he loves nVidia. We need more people saying as it is, who can just come and say, you know what, I love AMD/NVIDIA. Full stop. None of the sugar coating stuff pretending they like both AMD and nvidia whilst really they are fanboys for one camp or the other. Nothing wrong with loving a company who's got good products. I've owned every single high end card from ATI till 2003 as a collector. In my daily gaming rigs I've had nothing but nVidia, and I've loved every minute of it. Would I buy a 680 if I had the money, certainly. Nvidia has served me well and on every upgrade I've done they have had compelling reasons to go with them over AMD. Yay for me. As I see it Rollo has got good reason to have nVidia cards in his computers. I'm happy for him. Read reviews, look at prices, buy card. Simple. Good grief, why make it so stupidly difficult.

**STEvil** · 05-19-2012, 03:49 PM

Nothing wrong with saying you like one or the other, but the problem is he goes beyond that.

Thanks to issues from both camps i'm sitting on my 480's still..

**Manicdan** · 05-19-2012, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by Tim

So what if he's biased, he loves nVidia. We need more people saying as it is, who can just come and say, you know what, I love AMD/NVIDIA. Full stop. None of the sugar coating stuff pretending they like both AMD and nvidia whilst really they are fanboys for one camp or the other. Nothing wrong with loving a company who's got good products. I've owned every single high end card from ATI till 2003 as a collector. In my daily gaming rigs I've had nothing but nVidia, and I've loved every minute of it. Would I buy a 680 if I had the money, certainly. Nvidia has served me well and on every upgrade I've done they have had compelling reasons to go with them over AMD. Yay for me. As I see it Rollo has got good reason to have nVidia cards in his computers. I'm happy for him. Read reviews, look at prices, buy card. Simple. Good grief, why make it so stupidly difficult.

dont get me wrong, i love having people around here who know every detail to a product. with cpu overclocking, knowing what all the voltages and p-states and toggles in the bios can be overwhelming, and we need those dedicated experts to help show the average group of us here how to do things right. but then theres also the marketing guys, who only try to jump into arguments about why their product is the best, when there wasnt even an argument about it. and i cant stand when they spew out lies or are simply in denial, since it wastes our time as readers.

**Dimitriman** · 05-19-2012, 04:37 PM

Good one Dan.

**iboomalot** · 05-20-2012, 04:54 AM

only auto notify on newegg for the 690 in my inbox says "Weekend Deals! $59.99 WD 250GB HDD, Plus 40% OFF Adobe Elements 10 Series"

maybe I need to redo auto notify

**Jamesrt2004** · 05-20-2012, 05:25 AM

Originally Posted by Manicdan

dont get me wrong, i love having people around here who know every detail to a product. with cpu overclocking, knowing what all the voltages and p-states and toggles in the bios can be overwhelming, and we need those dedicated experts to help show the average group of us here how to do things right. but then theres also the marketing guys, who only try to jump into arguments about why their product is the best, when there wasnt even an argument about it. and i cant stand when they spew out lies or are simply in denial, since it wastes our time as readers.

Truth.

This guys ruined any graphics card discussion for me on this forum now that i rarely come here as apposed to posting a few posts every other day!

People like that should be blocked from news and such and just be stuck in nvidia sub forum.

**Andrew LB** · 05-20-2012, 06:04 AM

Originally Posted by Manicdan

you dont KNOW any of that, its all assumptions

Unless AMD is planning on designing an entirely new 7970 GPU to replace the current one AND then use 2x of them for the 7990... you can pretty much bet the house on GTX 690 being faster and more energy efficient (added that last bit for the usual suspects).

Correct me if i'm wrong, but wouldn't slapping two full speed 7970's onto a single PCB result in the cards power draw exceeding the limit allowable via the PCI-e bus and 2x 8-pin connectors. That said, I don't see how AMD could possibly run 2x 7970 gpu's at the speed required to catch nVidia... all while staying within the required power envelope. Nothing short of a new chip design or manufacturing process shrink would be required in this situation.

if all they were planning to do was slap together 2 chopped up chips and call it the 7990, it would have been out in feb

Aren't you forgetting that TSMC has had very low chip production on 28nm across the board, regardless of who the customer was. And all those customers had demand for chips that far exceeded what TSMC could crank out. So no... it wouldn't have been out in Feb, unless you consider a paper launch with zero products for a month being "out".

I have a feeling that AMD may scrap the 7990 and focus all their resources on the HD8xxx series which won't be available until 2013.

the lack of information is making it really interesting as to what they have planned.

The lack of information is probably due to AMD finally realizing that by continually leaking information about future products, they're in effect killing the sales of product already on the shelves. AMD users always seem to be waiting for the next gen CPU or GPU to get released so they can (in their own words)... wait for the big price drop, and then buy.

They think they're saving money and doing the right thing, but when you consider how little profit is made from clearance items, its actually hurting the bottom line for retailers and manufacturers since on certain products they'd be lucky to break even.

**Rollo** · 05-20-2012, 07:38 AM