NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 Review: Retaking The Performance Crown
by Ryan Smith on March 22, 2012 9:00 AM ESTThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Prior to the launch of our new benchmark suite, we wanted to include The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, which is easily the most popular RPG of 2011. However as any Skyrim player can tell you, Skyrim’s performance is CPU-bound to a ridiculous degree. With the release of the 1.4 patch and the high resolution texture pack this has finally been relieved to the point where GPUs once again matter, particularly when we’re working with high resolutions and less than high-end GPUs. As such, we're now including it in our test suite.
Skyrim presents us with an interesting scenario. At anything less than 2560 we’re CPU limited well before we’re GPU limited, and yet even though we’re CPU limited NVIDIA manages to take a clear lead while the 680 still finds room to push to the top. For whatever the reason NVIDIA would appear to have significantly less driver overhead here, or at the very least a CPU limited Skyrim interacts with NVIDIA’s drivers better than it does AMD’s.
In any case 2560 does move away from being CPU limited, but it’s not entirely clear whether the difference we’re seeing here is solely due to GPU performance, or if we’re still CPU limited in some fashion. Regardless of the reason the GTX 680 has a 10% lead on the 7970 here.
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kallogan - Thursday, March 22, 2012 - link
There will be lots of HD 7970 for sale on the second hand market in the next few days huhuthebeastie - Thursday, March 22, 2012 - link
I been playing a lot of my PC games in 3d lately and have developed a real taste for it, any chance we could see some 3d performance tests?Dustin Sklavos - Thursday, March 22, 2012 - link
I'm actually trying to put something for 3D Vision 2 together, so stay tuned. ;)Death666Angel - Thursday, March 22, 2012 - link
Considering the trash talk and hype nVidia put out after Tahiti launched, this card leaves me feeling thoroughly "meh". It wins some, it loses some against the 7970 and it is always funny to see any wins get small and smaller the higher the resolution goes.Don't get me wrong, the GTX680 is the better performing card most of the time.
But I don't regret the decision to buy a 7970, with water cooling having it overclocked 37% core and 24% memory, which translates in 25 to 30% gains most of the time.
Power consumption is a bit better for the 680 (worse case wise), which is refreshing coming from nVidia. But the other reviews I've seen put the 7970 and the 680 nearer each other than anandtech and have the 7970 beat the 680 in idle.
Most importantly, we have 2 new generation that are both performing well and costing about the same (at least when I look at actual prices, not MSRP). Go with whichever company you like best or whichever small featureset you like best. :-)
kreacher - Thursday, March 22, 2012 - link
Very nice review and extremely comprehensive about the new architecture / features. Great to see Nvidia back with a bang.For the benchmarks I know Skyrim sold lots more but wouldn't Witcher 2 be a better game for GPU benchmarks.
Aenslead - Thursday, March 22, 2012 - link
It's a good review, and although PERFORMANCE WISE it's not an AMD killer, you guys clearly skipped on the important gaming technologies like FXAA, TXAA and Adaptive Vsync, as well as 3+1 monitors.Incomplete review, as far as product goes.
silverblue - Thursday, March 22, 2012 - link
We'll probably get a follow-up guide on it.claysm - Thursday, March 22, 2012 - link
This is impressive stuff, and I should expect AMD to drop the prices on every one of their 7xxx series cards by a large margin. The 7970, in particular, I think, should go as low as $400, with the 7950 dropping to $330-50, and the 7870 down as well.marc1000 - Thursday, March 22, 2012 - link
no it wont. 3gb cards have that extra 1gb to justify their prices.ol1bit - Thursday, March 22, 2012 - link
Love the details and design elements you went into. For a few years it looked like Nivida was building Super chargers. Just Through more power/heat/fuel at it.The 680 is something special, More speed, less juice, clearer design. Lover It!
I can't help but think their foray into Smartphones/tablets have help them reconsider what is important, is a clean power conservative design.
I've always been a fan of Nivida cards, not so much for the card, but for the software, no issues with games. I've only had 2 Amd cards the last was the 5780. Great card, but lots of games just didn't work on it. Sold that card on ebay and bought dual 460's for less cost.
Anyway, I'm glad they seem to be heading in a good direction now. Go Nivida!
And AnandTech, awesome review as always! I trust your reviews more than any other sites. Thanks!