The 680 Monster

[Vancha]

http://www.techpowerup.com/159009/GeForce-Kepler-104-%28GK104%29-Packs-256-bit-GDDR5-Memory-Bus-225W-TDP.html

For those of you less technically inclined, AMD's HD7000s and Nvidias 600 series GPUs are being built with a 28nm process as opposed to the previous generation's 40nm process, this results in equal performance for less power, or better performance for equal power (whichever way you want to look at it). Basically, it's more efficient.

Now, while having the same power draw as the 6970, the 7970 managed to beat out Nvidia's 580 by 10% or more. So, if Nvidia's new 680 (225w TDP), despite being built with the 28nm process, is going to draw nearly as much power as their 580 (244w TDP), what does that say about it's performance?

I can't wait.

Edit: Upon further research, the GK104 might actually be the 670 (to the 570's 219w TDP), rather than the 680, which implies even grander things.

[SKYeXile]

Don't wait then, buy ATI.

[Vancha]

Don't wait then, buy ATI.
I think you may have drawn the wrong conclusion from what I said.

[SKYeXile]

I think you may have drawn the wrong conclusion from what I said.

I came to that conclusion before reading your post.

[Vancha]

You are being quite the silly goose sir.

[Mutant]

Edit: Upon further research, the GK104 might actually be the 670 (to the 570's 219w TDP), rather than the 680, which implies even grander things.

If one presumes that Nvidia have not changes the way the use code names the GK104 would be the 2nd chip in the Kepler range and equivalent to the GTX 560 so is likley to end up being the GTX 660 (GK100 seems to be MIA and would be the 680 (it looks like GK100 was killed off and we wont see a "big" Nvidia chip till GK110)

And the GK110 timeframe may well have been accelerated if this image is true
http://diybbs.zol.com.cn/upload_pic/5984/a5983386.jpg
[edit] seems this pic is quite likely a fake.

The few bit of info we have on the GK104 is that it has 256 bit memory bus and is targeting 225W TDP. but that TDP is Nvidia W so who knows what it might actually draw.
I have heard murmurings that 104 is going to be a nice chip in terms on performance/power/cost but seen nothing to back any claims up.




Chip Code names and cards:

GF100: GeForce GTX (465, 470, 480, 480M) Quadro 4000, 5000(M), 6000
GF110: GeForce GTX (560 Ti OEM, 570, 580, 590) Quadro 3000M, 4000M, 5010M

GF114: GeForce GTS 450 v2, GTX (460 v2, 560, 560 Ti, 570M, 580M)
GF104: GeForce GTX (460, 460, 470M, 485M) Quadro 5000M

[Vancha]

I was aware of that, but considering the performance implications, I'm assuming they've switched it up. For an Nvidia mid-range card to blow the 7970 out of the water would be disastrous.

[Mutant]

If the GK110 ends up being 12 months away and GK104 is around Tahiti performance i could see why Nvidia would bump up the card name.

Charlie Demerjian (http://semiaccurate.com/2012/01/23/exclusive-and-the-nvidia-keplergk104-price-is/) has set his stick in the sand at $300 which if true either means GK104 is going to change the GPU market a bit like the G80 days, or absolute performance is at best nipping at the heals of Tahiti Pro/LE.