ZOTAC GTX 680 Extreme Edition Clocked at 1.20 GHz

[btarunr]

ZOTAC's GeForce GTX 680 Extreme Edition is shaping up to be a monster. A preview by Expreview points out its clock speeds out of the box to be 1.20 GHz (base and boost), with memory staying at 1.50 GHz (6.00 GHz GDDR5 effective). The default core voltage is 1.212V. ZOTAC also told the source that the card is capable of delivering 1.5V core voltage to assist in extreme-overclocking. It also goes on to claim that 2.00 GHz core clock speed might just be possible, in the best case scenario (you have the best cooling, best overclocking skillset, best luck).

Apart from a strong VRM (detailed in the older article), the card is also backed by several nifty features, such voltage measurement points, extreme-cooling optimized BIOS, and adequate-looking VRM cooling. The USB mini type-B connector on the back of the card turns out to be not a connection to an OC module, but a USB connection to the motherboard. ZOTAC is routing the card's SMBUS to its Firestorm OC software over USB. Maybe they haven't figured out [how] this could be done through the NVIDIA driver interface, or they didn't trust NVIDIA. For example, NVIDIA blocks SMBUS access to components that they deem "sensitive".



More pictures, and videos follow.



The videos are in Chinese language.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Andrei23]

So now 1.2 ghz is 2 ghz. I see...

 

[Recus]

So now 1.2 ghz is 2 ghz. I see...

Nobody said about 2GHz out of box.

 

[hardcore_gamer]

How long will that card run at 2Ghz before it fails ?

 

[DarkOCean]

How long will that card run at 2Ghz before it fails ?

Doesn't matter its just for the record.

 

[TheLostSwede]

LN2? Elmor might have fun with this...

 

[xxdozer32]

^ long enough to save up for the 780.

 

[erocker]

Is he pushing 1.375v through that? Very neat card.

 

[radrok]

 

[raptori]

I wonder how long it take to be released

 

[dieterd]

clock raised to 1.2 ghz and price raised to ...?

 

[xenocide]

clock raised to 1.2 ghz and price raised to ...?

Probably $550-575. I would imagine Nvidia wants their Overclocked GTX680's to cost about the same as reference HD7970's if AMD refuses to budge on price.

 

[Hayder_Master]

i hope it will not expensive, think about SLI

 

[hardcore_gamer]

Probably $550-575. I would imagine Nvidia wants their Overclocked GTX680's to cost about the same as reference HD7970's if AMD refuses to budge on price.

AMD refuses to reduce the price because GTX680 is vapor ware now,and not because 680 is less powerful.

 

[AlienIsGOD]

AMD refuses to reduce the price because GTX680 is vapor ware now,and not because 680 is less powerful.

I think you need to learn terminology.... vaporware would mean that it pretty much didnt even exsist (Phantom console anyone?).

 

[Fairlady-z]

My stock eVga gtx 680's get to about 1250, buts bad boy starts at 1200 hmmmm droooollll lol.

 

[Crap Daddy]

My stock eVga gtx 680's get to about 1250, buts bad boy starts at 1200 hmmmm droooollll lol.

Just curious, you had 7970 as far as I remember from other posts. How do you compare the 680 to the 7970?

 

[Bjorn_Of_Iceland]

Nuthin' to see here

 

[amdftw]

1,375 VGPU...:shadedshu
24/7 usage only can do 1250-1300Mhz, not a big improve.

 

[Fairlady-z]

Just curious, you had 7970 as far as I remember from other posts. How do you compare the 680 to the 7970?

Hate to say it, but its day and night difference. Not necessarily in performance but driver stability. I had a lot of issues with eyefinity locking up and the catalyst controller being a pain in the ass. Also, some games had seriously hard time running two 7970's. From my understanding a lot of the performance issues have been ironed out though.

As for the 680's I love them to be honest. The fan is so darn silent even in SLI in a Corsair 800D case which is terrible for air cool they still run fairly cool and perform great. Also, the Nvdia control panel is on average 10 thousand times faster to respond. I dunno not a brand fanatic, but I must say I was very let down but I will keep an open mind when I upgrade next time. Still have the stupid water blocks I was gonna use :-(

 

[radrok]

Hate to say it, but its day and night difference. Not necessarily in performance but driver stability. I had a lot of issues with eyefinity locking up and the catalyst controller being a pain in the ass. Also, some games had seriously hard time running two 7970's. From my understanding a lot of the performance issues have been ironed out though.

As for the 680's I love them to be honest. The fan is so darn silent even in SLI in a Corsair 800D case which is terrible for air cool they still run fairly cool and perform great. Also, the Nvdia control panel is on average 10 thousand times faster to respond. I dunno not a brand fanatic, but I must say I was very let down but I will keep an open mind when I upgrade next time. Still have the stupid water blocks I was gonna use :-(

This is why at similar performance levels AMD must have lower prices, NVIDIA brings a much more mature software support.

 

[Fairlady-z]

This is why at similar performance levels AMD must have lower prices, NVIDIA brings a much more mature software support.

I agree Nvidia has a better product all around at a lower price to boot.

 

[eddman]

So now 1.2 ghz is 2 ghz. I see...

I read somewhere that it was a misquote and Kwai meant to say 1.2 GHz. Can't find the article.

 

[radrok]

I read somewhere that it was a misquote and Kwai meant to say 1.2 GHz. Can't find the article.

you can find it in this post's comments

http://www.techpowerup.com/163231/ZOTAC-GeForce-GTX-680-Extreme-Edition-Pictured.html

 

[bear jesus]

ZOTAC, Colorful and possibly MSI have most of my attention with their custom 680s, But i want more reviews before i can be sure who of them gets my money.

I hope to see TPU reviews of some of the more awesome custom 680s.