As usual, end-users can expect their own cards to boost significantly higher given adequate cooling we’ve seen our GTX 660 2GB review sample reach 1,071MHz even under extended heavy load. Using the GPU Boost technology shared by the high-end GeForce cards, it’s base clock of 980MHz and guaranteed boost clock of 1,033MHz are 65MHz and 53MHz higher respectively than those of the GTX 670 2GB. While it offers a steeply reduced resource count, the GTX 660 2GB is made more competitive thanks to its higher clock speeds. In total the new GPU sports 960 stream processors and 80 texture units in total, in comparison to the 1,344 stream processors and 112 texture units of the GTX 660 Ti 2GB. This means it boasts a trio of raster engines (as these are part of the GPC and not the SM design). The GK106 GPU of the GTX 660 is built using three GPCs, with two containing a pair of SMs and the third just a single SM in a similar fashion to the 4th GPC of the GTX 670 2GB and GTX 660 Ti 2GB. Gk106 is still based around the same Kepler core architecture though, with the GPU comprises of graphics processor clusters (GPCs), subdivided into streaming-multiprocessors (SMs) or ’SMXs’ as Nvidia dubs then (the X makes it sound cool). The new 28nm GPU has a 2.54 Billion transistor count, 28 per cent less than that of the GK104, allowing for more chips on a wafer and, as such, a lower production cost. Unlike the rest of the 6-series range so far, which have all used GK104 GPUs running at various clock speeds and with some resources disabled, the GTX 660 2GB uses an all-new GK106 design. Well, the GTX 660 2GB is it, with an Nvidia set MSRP of £179. End-users weren’t clamouring for yet another high-end £200+ part, but instead wanted a sub-£200 entry point into the Kepler family of GeForce GPUs. GTX 660 2GB – The card you’ve (probably) been waiting for.While the GTX 660 Ti 2GB offered a fair price/performance reduction from the GTX 670 2GB, it’s fair to say it was met with a luke-warm reception.
#NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 680 2GB 16X PCIE 3.0 VIDEO CARD REVIEW FULL#
While we’ll talk about the GTX 650’s new architecture and specifications then, we won’t be able to bring you a full GTX 650 performance run-down until (hopefully) later this week. Nvidia has told us this is to ensure the GTX 660 gets its day in the sun, although it’s certainly not the most confidence inspiring decision when it comes to the GTX 650’s performance.
However, in a somewhat concerning turn of events, Nvidia has stopped its partners from sampling GTX 650s, either in their 1GB or 2GB varieties, before launch. While the high-end cards already on sale offer the most attractive of frame rates, it’s these cards in the sub-£200 price sector which the majority of users buy, and as such the area in which Nvidia needs to be the most competitive. It feels as if we’ve been waiting an age for Nvidia to release the full-line up of its 6-series GPUs AMD managed the same feat inside of three months after all, hitting every price point from sub-£100 to the £400 heights of the HD 7970 3GB.įinally though, today sees Nvidia deliver Kepler cards for the masses, with the launch of both the GTX 660 2GB and the GTX 650. US Price (as reviewed): MSRP $229 (ex TAX) UK Price (as reviewed): MSRP £180 (inc VAT) Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 2GB Review Manufacturer: Nvidia