Question: GTX 680 with 4GB GDDR5?

[Chess Gator]

Hi,

I notice there are several GTX 680 with 4GB GDDR5 memory, which one are you recommending as the best of the round-up?

Thank you,

CG

[Arinoth]

Do you plan on running nvidia surround, if the answer is no then the 4GB models are really for bragging rights and you'll never even 3/4 of that video ram at 1080p

[Soultribunal]

Originally Posted by Arinoth

Do you plan on running nvidia surround, if the answer is no then the 4GB models are really for bragging rights and you'll never even 3/4 of that video ram at 1080p

I would like to see benches as well with the new Kepler cores vs the Fermi Ones. After all, there were situations where the 3GB RAM cards actually lost performance in certain situations.

But, to the OP. What Arinoth says is very correct.

-ST

[IRQ Conflict]

Generally speaking it's always been that video cards and computers suffered slightly in performance (think overclocking with two sticks of ram vs. four) I think because of timing issues.

However you will be better off with a three or four GB model when using high res textures. And yes, multi monitor setups use extreme resolutions as well. But even a single monitor at 2560x1600 with a texture pack would benefit greatly from more ram.

[Dragonstongue]

There would be some benefit to more ram, but as it stands, the kepler cards use thier memory very efficently. 6800 with 2gb ram running said ram at 6Ghz effective giving was it 192gb/sec is very fast and ample. I do not think I have heard of anyone running out of ram even using high res texture packs and such on the 680. Now as mentioned, using Nvidia surround and popping res above the magical 2560x1440 will chew more ram. I have a freind using one for his triple screen 120Hz setup, and its not the lack of ram that kills the performance, its the lack of horsepower at those resolutions.

[Chess Gator]

Hi fellows,

Any chance some pundits can answer my OP question?

Thank you,

CG

[SugarJ]

I'd be partial to EVGA for the warranty, or MSI for the Twin Frozr cooling.

[Masteroderus]

I'm a huge fan of DCUII video cards by ASUS. They make it in the 680 4 gig flavour.

Make sure you have a case that can handle it. It needs 3 slots and good case airflow. It is quiet and quite ocable with stock cooler.

[magiwizard]

unless you're running 3 monitor its not necessary and my 680 lightning (2gb) does fine with my triple monitor setup

Keep in mind that you're not increasing memory bandwidth only the amount of available memory (correct me if I'm wrong) so it's still limited by the bottleneck of the 256 bit memory interface.

I would go with a high end 2gb version if you want 4gb buy the classified (one with the evbot plug if you can find one like that) or msi, the cooling is comparable to asus direct cu II without the ugly honking huge heatsink (asus directcu II is not as good as they advertise and can easily be made into a 2 slot with the same performance, I had one and it didn't provide any better temps than the twin frozr IV that i switched to)

If water cooling go with any reference if you want a cheaper block or the classified especially if you can find one with evbot plug

[SugarJ]

Keep in mind he's not asking WHETHER he should go 4GB, but which card? The OP has made his decision already that he needs the extra RAM.