GeForce GTX 660 Arrives Mid-August: Report

[btarunr]

NVIDIA's newest product designed to strike the price-performance "sweetspot," the GeForce GTX 660, is set for a mid-August market launch, according to a SweClockers report. The new chip could roll out some time between August 13 and 19. Given that other Kepler-based SKUs have been launched on Tuesdays or Thursdays, it's likely that the launch date could be either the 14th, or the 16th. The GTX 660 will be based on the 28 nm "GK104" GPU. It will feature 1,344 or 1,152 CUDA cores, and a 192-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface, holding 1.5 GB of memory, according to the report. The new GPU could capture a crucial sub-$300 price-point.



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[hhumas]

its my gpu ...........

 

[Elmo]

hard to believe when they said it was suppose to be this month -_-

 

[Prima.Vera]

This number 660 brings back memories. I still have a working nVidia GeForce 6600 GT back in some dusty box out there...

 

[nikko]

even better than 1152 / 960 rumors but still we know that the cut down core of a middle end cards cost 130$. guess that time has not yet come

 

[Elmo]

This number 660 brings back memories. I still have a working nVidia GeForce 6600 GT back in some dusty box out there...

http://www.germes-online.com/direct/dbimage/50305900/NVIDIA_VGA_Card_6600_GT_PCIE_MBGA.jpg

Take that 6600 GT out of the box and polish it now !

 

[Casecutter]

These are to be "sub-$300 parts? offering, 192-Bit with only 1.5 Gb?

We wait... the Saga of Kepler!

 

[djisas]

In the meanwhile hd78xx sell like cookies, and by September we might be able to get an hd7870 for less than 250$...

But it's not like my hd6950 need replacement anyway, maybe next generation...

 

[Wastedslayer]

This number 660 brings back memories. I still have a working nVidia GeForce 6600 GT back in some dusty box out there...

I had a 6800GS for the longest time, total BAMF card

 

[sanadanosa]

I had a 6800GS for the longest time, total BAMF card

I still have 6200 TurboCache running on my old p4 pc

 

[dj-electric]

Screw the report, what w1zzard say?

 

[Elmo]

i have nvidia riva tnt2 still along with a fx5200 and a 6200 agp card ah old times And all of them still work perfectly. except the palit fx 5200 where the caps blew up and i had to replace the caps.

 

[Avelict]

If they can't market it around the $250 price point to remain competitive with the 78xx series (which Im sure will get another price), this card will be as good as useless to consumers who are only looking for a mid-grade card that delivers good 1080p performance.

 

[Phusius]

Screw the report, what w1zzard say?

I agree.

 

[Crap Daddy]

The 6$$ series strike again. One chip fits all.

 

[Zubasa]

The 6$$ series strike again. One chip fits all.

Its the new G92 man

 

[alwayssts]

even better than 1152 / 960 rumors but still we know that the cut down core of a middle end cards cost 130$. guess that time has not yet come

Not that everything always meshes, but 1152/192-bit makes the most sense.

6sm = 1152sp + SFU (6x32) = 1344 Radeons cores...or roughly 5% greater than 7870.

1152 (1344) does not require more than 24 ROPs...a big reason 7800 was rumored to have the same configuration as it is not a bottleneck and should be more efficient in that regard.

When you start factoring in bandwidth though, 7870 needs 4500mhz/256-bit (just like how 7770 is clocked). If you start figuring this is equal to 1344...and that nvidia likes to clock ram at the actual rating...they could do something like 6008mhz (like the other gk104 parts) on a 192-bit bus...which would be equal to 4506mhz on a 256-bit bus...just edging out 7870 ipc if clocked efficiently. The other option is 256-bit at 5000mhz.

192-bit (6 chips) may offset the price of the more expensive ram vs 7870 which uses 8 chips at 5gbps, and it shouldn't really be a bottleneck for it's market. Couple that with ROP efficiency and greater yields because of it, I could see them taking that route.

At 192-bit/6008, it would start being bw limited around the exact average clockspeed of 670 (952mhz...670 is 912 base-980 max boost)...not coincidence and pretty much identical over-all to 7870. OTOH, 5ghz would allow up to 1058ish...the 680 average boost...also not a coincidence. My guess is we see the former now, and the later when gk104 is respun/repackaged as the 700 series after the gk110 launch.

Either is an option, but 192-bit probably makes the most sense, as in the long-run it would be very cheap to produce because they could use more chips...which makes sense given the state of 28nm...and they need any cost/power-trimming tactic they can versus 7870 because it uses such a small native die and low-cost ram. Vicariously, if next year they release the other option, yields/production should not only be higher, but they will be able to use the new 1.35v 5ghz RAM which is coming at the same time as 1.5v 7gbps bins (which I infer will go on the updated '680+'). Lower voltage ram could then off-set some power consumption by the higher core clock/wider bus/more ram/rops.

Decent theory?

 

[Stephen.]

1.5GB at this time:shadedshu 192bit:shadedshu shame on you Nvidia, why do you let people down? Nvidia Geforce 6xx series got their asses handed to them by AMD Radeon this time round.

And the winner to current gen graphics card is AMD Radeon
@Nvidia Geforce better luck next time

 

[Xzibit]

The 6$$ series strike again. One chip fits all.

Not really there 2 already GK107 & GK104

If the reports hold true, There is gonna be a Third GK106

650 & 660 will be based on the new smaller chip GK106 and the 660 Ti will be on GK104 with similar specs to 670 with a 192bit bus, lower ROPs and 1.5gb mem. Much like the 560 Ti 448 was to the 500 line up.

The GK106 from what i've been reading is just above 200mm2 so they probably figured disabling the GK104 that much is not feasable and could put more of the new chip GK106 chips on wafer hence the delay.

 

[alwayssts]

The GK106 from what i've been reading is just above 200mm2 so they probably figured disabling the GK104 that much is not feasable and could put more of the new chip GK106 chips on wafer hence the delay.

I think it is more-so that there is absolutely no way gk106 can beat 7870 and that is why all chips are going to gk104. If it has 4 sm it is 7850 competition with less ipc but greater clock potential to make up the difference. If it is 5, it is STILL less ipc than 7870 which has the capability to max the 28nm core clock out and has sufficient bw to make that feasible.

Said it on Fudzilla days ago for the hundredth time...and I think people are starting to get it:

AMD can sell 7870 for peanuts because of native die size and ram. It is placed in the perfect spot for 1080p. It has two setup engines which puts it in the higher-echelon for tesselation purposes. It can overclock amazingly and is set up so the max clockspeed of the shaders on the 28nm process mesh with avg overclocks of the memory. It was ingenious. IT SCREWED NVIDIA BIG TIME.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

1.5GB at this time:shadedshu 192bit:shadedshu shame on you Nvidia, why do you let people down? Nvidia Geforce 6xx series got their asses handed to them by AMD Radeon this time round.

And the winner to current gen graphics card is AMD Radeon
@Nvidia Geforce better luck next time

LOL

This is the funniest thing ive seen all day.

If you haven't noticed Nvidia GTX670 which is meant to be competitive with the 7950 at launch priced at $399, and what do we see in reviews. It goes out and actually beats AMD's $499 card(HD7970) left and right and comes just about 3-5% slower then Nvidias flagship(GTX680). So no, Nvidia's GTX6xx hasn't gotten their ass handed to them yet.

 

[lukcic]

I think it is more-so that there is absolutely no way gk106 can beat 7870 and that is why all chips are going to gk104. If it has 4 sm it is 7850 competition with less ipc but greater clock potential to make up the difference. If it is 5, it is STILL less ipc than 7870 which has the capability to max the 28nm core clock out and has sufficient bw to make that feasible.

Said it on Fudzilla days ago for the hundredth time...and I think people are starting to get it:

AMD can sell 7870 for peanuts because of native die size and ram. It is placed in the perfect spot for 1080p. It has two setup engines which puts it in the higher-echelon for tesselation purposes. It can overclock amazingly and is set up so the max clockspeed of the shaders on the 28nm process mesh with avg overclocks of the memory. It was ingenious. IT SCREWED NVIDIA BIG TIME.

Even if it can beat 7870, AMD will launch their new 8000 series in October or maybe later. So Nvidia doesn't get much more than 2~4 months of "good selling" peak until comes 8000 series. Nvidia should compete launch their products as soon as AMD does, or short after that...

 

[Crap Daddy]

I think it is more-so that there is absolutely no way gk106 can beat 7870 and that is why all chips are going to gk104. If it has 4 sm it is 7850 competition with less ipc but greater clock potential to make up the difference. If it is 5, it is STILL less ipc than 7870 which has the capability to max the 28nm core clock out and has sufficient bw to make that feasible.

Said it on Fudzilla days ago for the hundredth time...and I think people are starting to get it:

AMD can sell 7870 for peanuts because of native die size and ram. It is placed in the perfect spot for 1080p. It has two setup engines which puts it in the higher-echelon for tesselation purposes. It can overclock amazingly and is set up so the max clockspeed of the shaders on the 28nm process mesh with avg overclocks of the memory. It was ingenious. IT SCREWED NVIDIA BIG TIME.

Yes, the GK106 (if we will ever see it) cannot beat Pitcairn. It was never meant to do it but rather to compete with the 7770/50. GK104 was designed as a performance part, the chip that can destroy AMD's mid-level 7870/50... which it actually does. Now the thing is that this performance chip turns out to be better than Tahiti, AMDs high-end. So what do they do? They sell the $250-$300 parts with $400-$500. Are they screwed?

And now they will sell a $300 GPU (based on that very same performance chip gimped down) which will beat the more expensive 7950 and the same priced 7870. Are they screwed ? I personally don't think so.

 

[radrok]

1.5GB at this time:shadedshu 192bit:shadedshu shame on you Nvidia, why do you let people down? Nvidia Geforce 6xx series got their asses handed to them by AMD Radeon this time round.

And the winner to current gen graphics card is AMD Radeon
@Nvidia Geforce better luck next time

Careful man, you are going to get jumped on with your statement

 

[Stephen.]

Yes, the GK106 (if we will ever see it) cannot beat Pitcairn. It was never meant to do it but rather to compete with the 7770/50. GK104 was designed as a performance part, the chip that can destroy AMD's mid-level 7870/50... which it actually does. Now the thing is that this performance chip turns out to be better than Tahiti, AMDs high-end. So what do they do? They sell the $250-$300 parts with $400-$500. Are they screwed?

And now they will sell a $300 GPU (based on that very same performance chip gimped down) which will beat the more expensive 7950 and the same priced 7870. Are they screwed ? I personally don't think so.

No they are far from being screwed, coz they are screwing you the consumer even harder