The GeForce GTX 660 Ti Review, Feat. EVGA, Zotac, and Gigabyte
by Ryan Smith on August 16, 2012 9:00 AM ESTBattlefield 3
Its popularity aside, Battlefield 3 may be the most interesting game in our benchmark suite for a single reason: it’s the first AAA DX10+ game. It’s been 5 years since the launch of the first DX10 GPUs, and 3 whole process node shrinks later we’re finally to the point where games are using DX10’s functionality as a baseline rather than an addition. Not surprisingly BF3 is one of the best looking games in our suite, but as with past Battlefield games that beauty comes with a high performance cost.
The reduction in memory bandwidth and ROP throughput coming from the GTX 670 comes with roughly an 11% performance cost here, just about splitting the difference between the best and worst case scenarios. This is important for the GTX 660 Ti since it means the card doesn’t surrender NVIDIA’s performance advantage in BF3. At 1920 with FXAA that means the GTX 660 Ti has a huge 30% performance lead over the 7950, and even the 7970 falls behind the GTX 660 Ti. The only real disappointment here is that 1920 with MSAA isn’t quite playable – 53fps means that framerates will bottom out in the mid-20s, which isn’t desirable.
Meanwhile the factory overclocked cards continue to up the ante, and ends up being another game that factory overclocks offer a decent improvement. Zotac tops the factory cards at 10%, followed by Gigabyte and EVGA. We’re once again seeing the impact of Zotac’s memory overclock, and how in memory bandwidth limited situations it’s more important than Gigabyte’s higher power target, though Gigabyte does come close.
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CeriseCogburn - Thursday, August 23, 2012 - link
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2012/08/16/nvidia...ROFLMAO - the ONLY REASON you say you wanted the 7950 and it LOSES.
There's the level of "your cred", you freaking loser.
Galidou - Saturday, August 18, 2012 - link
This is only the point of the iceberg when we speak about credibility. Anandtech was nice enough to have a stock clocked part, we can't say that for most of the reviews on the internet.I even got on a website ''not gonna say it, could be too much shame for them'' that was comparing a non reference 660ti overclocked with... suspense... a 7850. And then some times in the review offered an ''alternative analysis'' against a 6870, who's dirty now?
I won't name any but of all the review sites I usually read, they were all testing overclocked cards (plus the included Nvidia boost) against stock clocked AMD cards, ALL of them... Only one included minimum frame rates to all of the games tested which was interesting to see the limiting bandwidth acting at certain points. One can only wonder if the games released won't have any problem with that.
I first came here on anand and almost pulled the trigger buying one RIGHT after finishing reading. Then I visited my other sites and it got all messed up. Anand didn't have minimum frames everywhere, others had different results, the games I play switch from one brand to another for the ''best bang for my bucks''.
With all that mixed up mess, one can only wonder where the ''real'' truth is. I'll probably just end up buying a 7950 overclocking it 40-50% higher and not wonder about future games. At least I waited long enough to see the 660ti. Anyway the other reviewers had quite good result with the 7950 and it was STOCK omg 40-50% overclock can't give a bad performance...
CeriseCogburn - Sunday, August 19, 2012 - link
*OC 660ti's on newegg and only 3 Stock.The author pointed out there is no default version, and Partners have a somewhat free reign on released clocks.
Now be a good person and go look for yourself, you'll have a hard time finding a stock card vs an OC oob card.
I'd also like to see that 40-50% 7950 OC....(methinks you really spewed overboard there)
Reviews are noting a 17%-22% max performance gain on maximum 7950 OC, and that does not mean it's stable, except on a sole rider, non internet server, spanking clean, just defragged, built for benching, top of the line components, reviewer super massive rig.
So, can we get that 50% OC bench set from you ?
NO, of course we can't.
Galidou - Sunday, August 19, 2012 - link
My friend bought the Twin frozr 3 while it was on special on newegg(300$ a week ago). overclocked 1150/1700 stable that's a 44% overclock and he could go higher, with the stock cooler. We reported gains of around 30 to 36% performance gain in games.On newegg, there's plenty of people reporting 1150 to 1200 core overclock, because it is in fact a 7970 board at a very cheap price. If you really can't accept one good thing about AMD that's where I differ from you.
The thing is, Nvidia won this round for the average user, most of us don't overclock and are not fiddling with voltages and such. Including a nice boost is good for those average users, the fact is and whatever you might say, overclockers know it. AMD is very overclocker friendly this gen, end of the line, cry about it some more, it doesn't change the fact that they already know it, sorry. If you tried to misinform the people, you're too late, it's already circulating on the internet my friend.
Now you shall say and I've heard it: ''People have been able to get their gtx680 overclocked to 1300 core in some cases so they are..........''. I know the drill, 680 has for the most part, a boost clock of around 1100 - 1150 boost clock. Lemme translate that, 200mhz overclock on a 1100 boost clock, 18% overclock on the cherry picked 680, because I'm comparing it with a 7950 which didn't pass the 7970 requirement.
CeriseCogburn - Thursday, August 23, 2012 - link
Oh look at that, I didn't use a single fact again.you're pathetic.
CeriseCogburn - Thursday, August 23, 2012 - link
the 660Ti's are hitting 1300+ cores.you're losing at stock out of the box in your highest triple monitor rez dummy
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2012/08/16/nvidia...
Keep attacking like the fool you are.
Now you may apologize profusely and thankme for saving you from your brainwashed amd embolism you claim to have acquired at overclock net
thebluephoenix - Monday, August 20, 2012 - link
Cerise, as a punishment i would make you read few nvidia related articles at site called Semi Accurate to see why is so wrong to be biased idiotic crazy fanboy.CeriseCogburn - Thursday, August 23, 2012 - link
Charlie is a liar, I am not. Deal with it.Galidou - Thursday, August 23, 2012 - link
Everyone is a liar but you Cerise, all hail to you ohh great hardware god, I'm still waiting for news of you on Overclock.net you almighty owner of all the knowledge.Come and teach the nitrogen overclockers of the world about your so great knowledge about video card.
CeriseCogburn - Thursday, August 23, 2012 - link
Yes, time for you to bow down, then thank me for having to correct you three times already, on the FACTS.