nordichardware: GTX 590 in February

[Creig]

Looks like Nv will have the fastest dual GPU as well. Although price, power consumption will likely weigh heavily on that privilege.

Given the fact that AMD cards typically have lower power consumption than their Nvidia counterparts, I would have to guess that the 6990 is going to be faster than the 590 at stock speeds. With dual GPU cards, the limiting factor is the 300w ceiling dictated by PCI-SIG. And since AMD seems to be able to get more performance per watt than Nvidia, the 6990 should be the faster of the two cards.

Of course, once you start overvolting/overclocking it's anybody's guess as to which one will come out on top.

 

[amenx]

Given the fact that AMD cards typically have lower power consumption than their Nvidia counterparts, I would have to guess that the 6990 is going to be faster than the 590 at stock speeds. With dual GPU cards, the limiting factor is the 300w ceiling dictated by PCI-SIG. And since AMD seems to be able to get more performance per watt than Nvidia, the 6990 should be the faster of the two cards.

Of course, once you start overvolting/overclocking it's anybody's guess as to which one will come out on top.

If Nvidia saw any chance the 6990 would outperform the 590 at lesser wattage, I'm pretty sure they'd scrap the card altogether.

 

[nanaki333]

mmmm... i may be swapping out the 6970 crossfire setup.

would you be able to run a gtx 590 with a gtx 580 and the faster card will just downclock itself to match (like amd cards do)?

i may have to buy a couple more asus 120hz monitors and try out some 3d surround if i can pair up the 590 and 580.

 

[PingviN]

If Nvidia saw any chance the 6990 would outperform the 590 at lesser wattage, I'm pretty sure they'd scrap the card altogether.

Not showing up to the fight makes you lose by default.

 

[Will Robinson]

Project "Antilles" or HD6990 gets the best of the Cayman chips clocked up to as high as they can go within the heat/power/noise envelope.
That will be a formidable card.
GTX590 will be similarly restricted by H/P/N and will likely be very fast as well.
Hopefully we'll see the new AMD card in a month and one from NVDA too.
This oughta be good.^_^

 

[amenx]

Not showing up to the fight makes you lose by default.

So will showing up for a flight that takes you to the wrong destination.

 

[Edrick]

I'll pay 999.99 for it.

Why not 2?

 

[happy medium]

If Nvidia saw any chance the 6990 would outperform the 590 at lesser wattage, I'm pretty sure they'd scrap the card altogether.

this^^^^^^

 

[Skurge]

If Nvidia saw any chance the 6990 would outperform the 590 at lesser wattage, I'm pretty sure they'd scrap the card altogether.

I still find it odd that there hasn't been an official announcement from nVidia. AMD announced the 6990 even before the 6950/6970 launched. They also just showcased it a few days ago and it looks ready to be launched.

All we've seen from the 590 is a PCB shot.

 

[Jionix]

If Nvidia saw any chance the 6990 would outperform the 590 at lesser wattage, I'm pretty sure they'd scrap the card altogether.

Somehow, I don't think this sentence is at all accurate in describing how Nvidia makes decisions. That's not how they "do" things over there.

If Nvidia thought like that, well, then it certainly didn't stopped them before from releasing what they did (I'll save the Nvidia bashing, it's pointless to recall their disgraces).

The fact is, if Nvidia can, they'll release a card, no matter the outcome, and trust their loyal legions to fangasm and proclaim it the best ever (which they will).

I think both these cards from AMD and Nvidia will be pointless --- they're gonna perform nearly the same in the stuff that matters (crossfire and SLI already show this), and 40nm is done and over, with 28nm cards are coming later this year, which will get get power and heat back in check.

Besides, the 5970 will go down as the original king.

 

[PingviN]

this^^^^^^

Wouldnt they've scrapped GTX480 then? I mean, it's in no way as fast as HD5970, something Nvidia probably knew long before release.

 

[Grooveriding]

would you be able to run a gtx 590 with a gtx 580 and the faster card will just downclock itself to match (like amd cards do)?

No, this will not work. SLI only works with identical cards. Nvidia's dual gpu cards have always fit the niche for people who cannot run two cards or prefer just using one card.

Quad SLI scales terribly. The fastest/best setup with nvidia has always been tri-sli of three of their fastest single gpu cards.

 

[Genx87]

I still find it odd that there hasn't been an official announcement from nVidia. AMD announced the 6990 even before the 6950/6970 launched. They also just showcased it a few days ago and it looks ready to be launched.

All we've seen from the 590 is a PCB shot.

While we were all expecting a GTX 485. The 580 showed up really quick from media leaks to actual reviews and cards shipping. It wouldnt surprise me if we have something similar with this card. Basically following a similar pattern. The rumor comes out 2-3 weeks before expected release. We all wonder if it is true, and bam, the cards are on the shelf.

 

[tincart]

Given all the erroneous dual-GPU rumors of the past year, I'm putting myself in the "wait and see" crowd.

Also agreed that the lack of info on 6990 is frustrating. We've known about the model number forever...

 

[nanaki333]

No, this will not work. SLI only works with identical cards. Nvidia's dual gpu cards have always fit the niche for people who cannot run two cards or prefer just using one card.

Quad SLI scales terribly. The fastest/best setup with nvidia has always been tri-sli of three of their fastest single gpu cards.

well that just stinks! i'm one of the people that prefer the dual GPU on a single card. i did my first crossfire setup with 6970s and it's unbearably loud under full load. my 5970 that i replaced never got even a fraction as loud as these do.

i'm definitely getting a single card dual gpu setup though. probably nvidia this time so i can start rocking the asus 120hz as my primary display. i'll toss one of my *old* 6970s in my wife's pc so she can deal with the loudness of crossfire, then use the other as a paperweight.

it's a shame nvidia doesn't loosen up it's sli compatibility like amd has. i like having the option of adding another single GPU to a dual GPU card.

 

[RaistlinZ]

Hm... buy a 6990/590 or wait for the 7xxx series later this year?

 

[Skurge]

well that just stinks! i'm one of the people that prefer the dual GPU on a single card. i did my first crossfire setup with 6970s and it's unbearably loud under full load. my 5970 that i replaced never got even a fraction as loud as these do.

i'm definitely getting a single card dual gpu setup though. probably nvidia this time so i can start rocking the asus 120hz as my primary display. i'll toss one of my *old* 6970s in my wife's pc so she can deal with the loudness of crossfire, then use the other as a paperweight.

it's a shame nvidia doesn't loosen up it's sli compatibility like amd has. i like having the option of adding another single GPU to a dual GPU card.

Thats probably why it took AMD so long to catch to nVidia's scaling.

 

[Castiel]

Besides, the 5970 will go down as the original king.

Of being overpriced with bad drivers? Agreed

 

[Jionix]

Of being overpriced with bad drivers? Agreed

Obvious troll is obvious.

Ha, I always wanted to use that one.


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[Skurge]

Of being overpriced with bad drivers? Agreed

Where do you get this bad drivers malarkey? I personally know 2 people who have 5970s one of then runs 2 in quadfire. I don't hear them constantly complaining about drivers.

 

[s44]

Obvious troll is obvious.

Ha, I always wanted to use that one.

Have you made a single post to AT that's not Red Team fanboyism?

Checked... no, no you haven't.


Member callouts are not acceptable.

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[Castiel]

Where do you get this bad drivers malarkey? I personally know 2 people who have 5970s one of then runs 2 in quadfire. I don't hear them constantly complaining about drivers.

I meant at launch. I'm not sure of driver status now. Know of 3 guys who 6 months after launch still had driver issues. They should not be existent on a card thats priced so high

 

[Jionix]

Have you made a single post to AT that's not Red Team fanboyism?

Checked... no, no you haven't.

What? Common sense and logical thoughts? If that is considered "Red Team fanboyism", then I guess so.

 

[Skurge]

I meant at launch. I'm not sure of driver status now. Know of 3 guys who 6 months after launch still had driver issues. They should not be existent on a card thats priced so high

Well fair enough it did have some eyefinity problems at the start. Although they didnt get theirs at launch.

But it was no 4870x2, don't remember that having many driver problems.

 

[Castiel]

Well fair enough it did have some eyefinity problems at the start. Although they didnt get theirs at launch.

But it was no 4870x2, don't remember that having many driver problems.

Yes they did.