amazon GTX 660 Ti reviews
Confused memory configuration
The 660 Ti’s VRAM memory capacity is also an interesting point. It reminds me of the GTS 550 Ti. Both cards are based on harvest GPUs, so instead of having 4 MCs (256-bit equivalent), they have only 3 MCs (192-bit). In other words, “192-bit or 384-bit” memory bandwidths are responsible for some “weird” VRAMs like 768 megabytes (8800 GTX, 8800 GS). After the graphics card evolved and the VRAM capacity increased, we got the “odd” memory like 1.5 GB or 3 GB. Cause nowhere else from this stupid MC.
These “odd” MCUs have a different downside: their VRAMs are usually not equal to GPUs whose MCs are CID-2s. For example, 1.5 GB equals 75% of 2 GB and in some cases, especially VRAM memory intensive games, this difference will lead to inferior performance. This is the reason that NVIDIA offers a strange memory configuration, starting with the 550 Ti card.
The mechanism is quite simple: let 2/3 of the MCs go with the DRAM chips so that their total capacity is only one-third of the remaining MCs. Like the 550 Ti, two MCs come with 1 Gb (256 MB) chips and the other one comes with 2 Gb chips (512 MB). Same with 660 Ti. Here NVIDIA “suggests” two ways for manufacturers (NSX) cards: either they use two chips with the capacity of the other four chips (occupying six memory cells on the circuit board), or they use up eight identical chips in Four chips with one MC and the other four chips divided equally into two other MCs (occupying eight memory cells). In the case of the REF card, we find that six memory cells are occupied.
The ultimate goal of this is to enable GPUs with only three-quarters of MCs to still have VRAMs on GPUs with four-quarters of MCs.
Counterattack from AMD
Competition is always good for consumers, especially in this case. On the same day NVIDIA launched the 660 Ti, AMD released a new BIOS for the HD 7950 model (models sold later with the new BIOS). This BIOS is just overclocking (OC) the memory and core of the HD 7950 up, ensuring stability by increasing the input voltage to the GPU. And since there is no change in chip design, the power consumption of the card increases. This step is not considered a satisfactory response because it does not really improve the situation (anyone can OC their card without a new BIOS)..
where can you get a GTX 660 Ti online
EVGA GeForce GTX 660Ti 2048MB GDDR5 DVI-I, DVI-D, HDMI, DP, SLI Graphics Card (02G-P4-3660-KR) Graphics Cards 02G-P4-3660-KR: Buy it now
EVGA GeForce GTX 660Ti SUPERCLOCKED 2048MB GDDR5 DVI-I, DVI-D, HDMI, DP, SLI Graphics Card (02G-P4-3662-KR) Graphics Cards 02G-P4-3662-KR: Buy it now
Nvidia – Geforce GTX 660 Ti 2gb Gddr5 PCI Express 3.0 Graphics Card: Buy it now
ASUS GTX 660 Ti Series Graphics Card Overclocked Edition Graphics Cards GTX660 TI-DC2O-2GD5: Buy it now
MSI NVIDIA Geforce GTX 660 Ti 3GB GDDR5 OC 2DVI/HDMI/DisplayPort PCI-Express Video Card N660TI TF 3GD5/OC: Buy it now
Temperature, power, noise
As always, here are the remaining elements to evaluate the design of a good graphics card. You note that the models are listed here except for EVGA based on NVIDIA’s REF, the rest are custom made (other than heat sinks or PCBs). Often custom heat sinks provide better performance, so GPU temperatures are lower than REFs. Noise also depends on the structure of the heat sink.
It’s easy to see that the power consumption 660 Ti, which is equivalent to the GTX 670. This is understandable because their input voltage is similar and the pulse level is the same. Can see 660 Ti like GTX 670 but cost only 300 USD.
Conclusion
The new Kepler card that NVIDIA debuted today is a good model. At a price tag of $ 300 less than the nearest GTX 670 card – up to $ 100, the difference in performance is not that remarkable, the 660 Ti is actually more attractive considering the performance / cost (p / p) criteria. ): Less than ~ 10% but less than 25%. The 660 Ti is especially suitable for those who want to experience the new Kepler architecture, but not enough with the GTX 670 or better.
But 660 Ti is not enough to change the graphics card market. In fact, its price tag coincides with what it offers, especially when compared to the HD 7870 and HD 7950. The p / p rates between these models are similar. Especially considering the issue of temperature and power, the HD 7870 is slightly better.
