gzhil’s MSI N680GTX unboxing and review

My good friend Gil "gzhil" Navarro once again obliges us with a review of MSI's latest videocard, the MSI N680GTX. Let's see what he thinks of this bad boy...

I just finished testing out the MSI N680GTX-PM2D2GD5 video card and I was amazed what it can do. This is the latest codename "Kepler" (GK104)GPU Chip that Nvidia released which uses the new 28nm fabrication process technology. The card length is 10" inches long but boasts 1536 shader (CUDA) cores. It has a maximum of 195W power draw and now using the PCI-Express Generation 3.0 data path. As for memory is concerned, it features a 256-bit memory bus connected to 2GB of GDDR5 of memory and soon 4GB version will also be available.

Focusing more on the features of the Kepler. The new architecture do boast out a very high framebuffer bandwith structure. Its a combination of massive memory and core partitions and of the GDDR5 memory. Aside from this, it has also the so called "Dynamic Clock Adjustment Technology" which boost up the speed of the GPU core while stays within the Total Draw Power Bracket. From a standard speed of 1006Mhz it can go up as high as 1058-1124MHz. Like Intel's Turbo Boost Technology :)

Moving on, 3D Vision Surround is now doable in a single GPU configuration unlike before you need atleast 2 video cards in SLI. You can hook up to 4 displays (3840x2160 resolution) with multi streaming audio capability.

Below are still other Features of the Kepler GPU:

Adaptive V-Sync - adjusts vertical sync to your current frame rates for a stutter-free gaming experience
AA TXAA (Temporal Super Sampling) - s a new style anti aliasing technique that make the most of the graphics card high texture performance. TXAA is a mix of hardware anti-aliasing, custom CG style AA resolve and in the case of 2x TXAA an optional temporal components for better image quality
Supports DX11.1

Now going back with MSI's GTX680 :) Here is the package. Starting with the back area of the box. Please click the image to enlarge it.

If you read the information closely. The minimum PSU requirement for running the card is a 550W power supply only; that’s of course using a TRUE RATED PSU.

Bundled Accessories

Quick User Guide, Manual and Utility DVD Disc
DVI to VGA Adapter
2x 6Pins to 4 Pins Molex Connector

Here is the card. Nothing unique and the design is still based on Nvidia’s reference card.

Basic Specs Below:

GPU Core Clock: 1006MHz (Boost Clock:1058MHz)
Memory: 2048MB GDDR5 6008Mhz

Video Output Function
Dual-link DVI-I x 1
Dual-link DVI-D x 1
DisplayPort x 1
HDMI x 1

Power are being draw out from 2x 6Pins PCIE Power Connector. With the previous GTX 580 it was 1x 6Pin and 1x 8Pin

For the test system I used the following configuration:

Processor: Intel Core i7 3960X @ Stock & OC Speed
Cooler: Thermaltake Advanced Frio
Motherboard: MSI X79A-GD65 8D
Memory: Kingston HyperX Genesis Special Edition 2x2GB DDR3 2133MHz
Harddisk: OCZ Technology Agility 3 160GB
PSU: Antec TPQ 1200W
Software: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit, Futuremark Bench Softwares (3dmark06, 3dmark Vantage, 3dmark11), Heaven, CPU-Z, GPU-Z, MSI Afterburner 2.2.0 Beta 15

The following were all results from a stock speed system configuration.

•3dmark06 based on DirectX 9 language

•3dmark Vantage based on DirectX 10 language

•3dmark11 based on the latest DirectX 11. I used both “P” Performance and “X” Extreme tests with the card. Results below:

•Extreme preset 3dmark11

This 2nd set of tests that I did with the card is to see if i the speed of the i7 3960X was to be increased and if the Geforce GTX 680 would gain from it. In short to check if the processor’s stock speed was a bottleneck.

Somehow with an overclocked i7 3960X proc. Benchmark results did increased.

•3dmark06 from a score of 29k it went up to 35k

•3dmark Vantage (OC Proc / Stock VC)

•3dmark11 Performance (OC Proc / Stock VC)

•3dmark11 Extreme (OC Proc / Stock VC)

Third set of tests was for the sake of getting high benchmark scores; combination of tweaks with the Windows System, Tweaked the motherboard and Processor and overclocked video card using MSI Afterburner.

•3dmark06 - 36639