GPU help plz

[Invisahealz]

Ok so i have an EVGA gtx 690 now, In my new computer should i get another gtx 690, or should i switch to the gtx 680?
The 690 is 2 chips(gpu's) split at 2gb each totaling to 4gb.
The 680 is a single chip(gpu) at 4gb total.

Only real difference is the 690 has twice as many cuda cores. I dont know if this will make a difference for multiboxing world of warcraft or not.

On DX9 with the 690 i max out at 1.4gb ram usage out of the 2gb total.
The 690 runs on SLI because there is 2 gpu's built into the one card, What im asking is will a single card with basically more memory per GPU give me better performance multiboxing wow?

thanks

[Chivalrous]

Don't SLI, it will hinder performance when multiboxing. I built a new computer with 2 GTX 560 2GB and was having issues, I hav since disabled SLI and dedicate 1 GPU to each monitor. Just make sure to set it up properly in window layout so that the windows stay powered by the Proper GPU. Works great!


Also, thanks for showing me your healing method. Works great for me.

[Invisahealz]

No problem Chiv glad the method works well Im adding 5 more resto druids to my group so should b pretty awesome! And as of the SLI with the 690 dont really have a choice as it is 2 gpu's built into the single card. It runs 10 wows fine but when i do 15 it gets close to the vmemory max of 2gb. Thats the crappy thing about the 690 is it technically has 4gb but only 2 is utilized and the other 2gb is used for rendering/buffering for the other gpu.

[Chivalrous]

I see, well guess you don't have a choice. I wish I'd had spent money on 1 great GPU instead of buying 2 mediocre ones, but doesn't matter I suppose. I limit myself to 5 box so my machine is more than enough. I run all 5 at good graphic setting on two monitors with no lag or choppiness, etc. I couldn't imagine doing more than 5! Maybe if I had more time. Working 70 hours a week doesn't leave me as much time to play as I'd like

[Ualaa]

I'd think the 680 would be a superior choice.

The 690 is basically a pair of 2GB 680s.
But wow doesn't really take advantage of the on-board or off-board SLI of multiple cards.

The 680 is similar in power.
And the entire 4GB is on the one card.

[MiRai]

The 690 is 2 chips(gpu's) split at 2gb each totaling to 4gb.

Unfortunately, 2GB + 2GB doesn't equal 4GB in this case. You only have 2GB at your disposal at any one time. SLI mirrors the memory across each GPU, it isn't additive (nor is it used for buffering another GPU). If you shut off SLI, you have one single underclocked GTX 680 with 2GB of RAM. I know you mention this later in your post which I didn't quote, but I just wanted to point this out for anyone else that browses through this thread and selectively picks things out of it.

Only real difference is the 690 has twice as many cuda cores. I dont know if this will make a difference for multiboxing world of warcraft or not.

That's just more marketing bullshit. It's marketed that way the same way that its memory is marketed. You have so many CUDA cores per GPU and they only work together when the GPUs are SLI'd; but again, SLI doesn't exactly double/triple/quadruple your performance as they'd like you to think -- Especially while multiboxing.

And as of the SLI with the 690 dont really have a choice as it is 2 gpu's built into the single card.

Of course you have a choice, turn off SLI in the control panel and let the other GPU sit there idle.

[Invisahealz]

Unfortunately, 2GB + 2GB doesn't equal 4GB in this case. You only have 2GB at your disposal at any one time. SLI mirrors the memory across each GPU, it isn't additive (nor is it used for buffering another GPU). If you shut off SLI, you have one single underclocked GTX 680 with 2GB of RAM. I know you mention this later in your post which I didn't quote, but I just wanted to point this out for anyone else that browses through this thread and selectively picks things out of it.


That's just more marketing bullshit. It's marketed that way the same way that its memory is marketed. You have so many CUDA cores per GPU and they only work together when the GPUs are SLI'd; but again, SLI doesn't exactly double/triple/quadruple your performance as they'd like you to think -- Especially while multiboxing.


Of course you have a choice, turn off SLI in the control panel and let the other GPU sit there idle.

Only other question i have is the gtx690 gpu is 512bit card where the 680 is only 256bit memory. Is this because the 690 is 2x 680's basically or is it higher quality memory/card?

[Ñightsham]

I'm running a gtx 690, driving 3 monitors (1)24" via displayport and (2)20" using DVI, If you need benchmarks let me know and I'll be glad to post them. My rig consists of x79 Sabertooth, i7-3930 @ 3.2Ghz 6core, 32Gb ram.

If had a do over, I probably would have gone with the 680 from what MiRai & Ualaa have posted on here before.

{nm ... I see you were adding to a new computer... }

[Invisahealz]

I'm running a gtx 690, driving 3 monitors (1)24" via displayport and (2)20" using DVI, If you need benchmarks let me know and I'll be glad to post them. My rig consists of x79 Sabertooth, i7-3930 @ 3.2Ghz 6core, 32Gb ram.

If had a do over, I probably would have gone with the 680 from what MiRai & Ualaa have posted on here before.

{nm ... I see you were adding to a new computer... }

Ty for the info ya this is my 3rd computer, i have the gtx690 in my current computer and decided to go with the gtx680 4gb for my new build. Now just need to decide what cpu to go with. lol

[Ñightsham]

Ty for the info ya this is my 3rd computer, i have the gtx690 in my current computer and decided to go with the gtx680 4gb for my new build. Now just need to decide what cpu to go with. lol

Yeah, my 2nd (stby) computer has the 580, I may subst it for a 680 and give the 580 to my Son.