OTOY Forums

Hello everyone
I got stuck with my decision what option is more effective
GTX660TI has 1344 CUDA cores, it's just a bit less then 680 = 1536 CUDA Cores, but the price is almost half for 660ti!
GTX660TI x 4 = 5376 CUDA, but GTX690 = 3072. So I can get much more cuda with 660TI for the same price comparing with 690!
I just confused, is my calculation right or I have something missed?
Is 680 really worth the double price of 660TI ? just for 192 cuda more and the prise is doubled ?!
In case of gtx 690 I can get much more cuda and speed with 660ti x 4 right ?

Hi erges,

If you want to see the differences in detail take a look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeForce_600_Series

The 660ti is a popular card because of the reasons you say. It is obviously slower than a 680 but it is almost the same as a 670, hence the popularity. You will notice that the processing speed of the 660ti is the same as a 670, but the memory bandwidth is lower.
Also the 670 and 680 come in 4GB versions whereas the 660ti only has a 3GB version.

I think for comparisons, we need to compare to the Titan which is a far better option than the 690.

Looks like you are right that 4x660ti's would outperform a Titan for about the same cost.
But you are not getting the same thing at all. The 4x660ti's will only give you a max 3GB scene size (or 2GB if you have 2GB versions). Also they will draw 600Watts, where as a single titan would only draw 250. Also you will be filling up your machine's slots so there is no more room, if you want to upgrade you will need to get rid of one of the cards.

I think there are many advantages with getting a single more powerful card over multiple less powerful ones.

Hope my opinion helps...

Thanks
Chris.

Hi Chris,
Thanks for your explanation, yes, obviously all you said is right
Talking about Titan, I'm not sure we have to compare to as its price is even more than 690.
By the way CUDA is less ! (Processor Speed 837 MHz, cuda 2688) 690 = 3072...

Ok, I think we have to make the selection less obstructive, for example we don't need lots of memory, let say 2GB is ok
I'm not sure about the memory bandwidth, is it only important when uploading any new geometry into my scene? When I work on lights, materials, and do the final render it only CUDAs do the job?
Let's say in case of GTX660TI 2gb 1344 CUDA 1019 MHz =257 EUR, and 680 2gb 1536 CUDA 1056MHz =481.319 EUR - does 680 double speed the rendering time ? For the price it should.

Actually if we talk about multiple gpu I agree there are lots of advantage using only one but more powerfull.
Thanks so much again

Hi, Titan use a different core system and is a way aster than a GTX 690.
May you wait for the new GTX 700 series coming this month.
This make the choice more complicate but the prize of GTX 600´s go down for sure.

Cheers, mib.

Hi Erges,

The memory bandwidth is important during render too. Obviously the whole scene is stored in the VRAM of the card, and the processor core needs to access this when looking up textures, geometry etc.
So this is also a factor to render speed. Obviously all this kind of stuff can get really complex, well past what i know...

Hi,
Yes, looks like 680 will outperform 660TI in any cases,
So, I would buy 680 without any doubt if I knew exactly what type of workstation I was going to buy.
I have only money for 1 workstation, but I really need a laptop, because I on the road a lot. For a desktop I would go for 680 without any doubt. But I'm considering the mobile option too with External GPU, like PE4H (PCIe passive adapter ver2.4), so there is only an option (The PE4H is designed for Notebook PCs that converts PCI Express 16X Add-on Card to ExCard or mPCIe or PCIe 1x connecter)
So I just think this 1x line won't use all those memory bandwidth of 680, will it?

I thought about making a box for 2x660TI and connect to laptop then.

OR just make a mini system with micro ITX motherboard, put in a case like CoolMaster and put 1 Titan? But its a bit inconvenient to transfer too, without a monitor, keyboard... Ok there could be a solution to use a tablet with remote access (VNC), its a bit complex, isn't it ?

erges wrote: OR just make a mini system with micro ITX motherboard, put in a case like CoolMaster and put 1 Titan? But its a bit inconvenient to transfer too, without a monitor, keyboard... Ok there could be a solution to use a tablet with remote access (VNC), its a bit complex, isn't it ?

RDC, VNC..even if they work..they are just too slow =) tried & I personally don't like workin' that way at all.

mITX based on Intel will bottleNeck Your GPU rig with Titan as it will only have 2slots of RAM, so max - 16GB. To saturate Titan with heavy scenes because of voxelisation process You might need more. So the way to go would be mITX with AMD CPU/APU as there are systems that allow to put 32GB.

U can have wacom13" as a monitor+tablet & small keyboard & maybe even 3dmouse for input - not much space, but good for any work.

as Nvidia do recomend to use 600w to power the system with Titan SFX /Smaller form factor PSU/ is noGo - the maximum for those is ~450W & that might not be very stable under heavy loads.

You might fit PelliCase for all parts but have to consider weight..

If You really want small system mITX, low power CPU, 16GB of RAM, GTX670 would be my bet - rather cheep, small & pretty capable =)

cheers

HI glimpse, thanks
I thought about this motherboard :
http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z77TM-IT ... ifications
or H77TM-ITX

16 gb ram (1600 is ok ?)

CPU - i7 3570 with iGPU hd4000 for display purpose

Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced Mini-ITX case can fit full ATX PSU
http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/cooler-mas ... 5-07-2012/


wacom13
There is wifi option or only cable one ?
Ehhhhh I Really want to get rid of it ...

thanks
cheers