Break through the gloom! Kepler comes to Mac Pro...GTX680!

[chiefroastbeef]

Thank you for this thread!

I have a almost 3 year old Mac Pro 4.1 2009.

I want it to last at least another three years.

I will be doing the 3.33 Hex Core CPU install once applecare ends in 3 months, and in the mean time, I plan on getting the 670. I was going for the 570, but decided I rather pay a little and future proof the GPU.

I can't wait!

 

[initialsBB]

I've been looking for luxmark scores for the GTX 670, but there are only the 570/580 and 680 results on the online database. Can anyone confirm a 670 2GB has close to those numbers (around 1000 for the Sala/medium scene) ?

I've seen posts saying the benchmarks on the 600 series aren't so great, but going from anything below the 5770 it is still a very substantial increase. As I need open CL I'd just like to make sure that it's no worse than a 570.

 

[chiefroastbeef]

I've been looking for luxmark scores for the GTX 670, but there are only the 570/580 and 680 results on the online database. Can anyone confirm a 670 2GB has close to those numbers (around 1000 for the Sala/medium scene) ?

I've seen posts saying the benchmarks on the 600 series aren't so great, but going from anything below the 5770 it is still a very substantial increase. As I need open CL I'd just like to make sure that it's no worse than a 570.

I ran the Luxmark test on my 4870, and I got a 169... I cried..

 

[Asgorath]

I've been looking for luxmark scores for the GTX 670, but there are only the 570/580 and 680 results on the online database. Can anyone confirm a 670 2GB has close to those numbers (around 1000 for the Sala/medium scene) ?

I've seen posts saying the benchmarks on the 600 series aren't so great, but going from anything below the 5770 it is still a very substantial increase. As I need open CL I'd just like to make sure that it's no worse than a 570.

The GTX 670/680 are gaming cards. As I understand it, it's expected that they will have lower OpenCL performance than a GTX 570 (though by how much, I'm not sure). If you care about OpenCL/CUDA, then the 570 is probably a better choice. If you care about gaming, then the 670/680 is probably a better choice.

 

[Panther Al]

I skimmed the thread so far, but didn't see a firm answer: Is there any way to run three displays using any of the 5xx or 6xx cards at this time? Or is this something we just have to wait for?

 

[initialsBB]

The GTX 670/680 are gaming cards. As I understand it, it's expected that they will have lower OpenCL performance than a GTX 570 (though by how much, I'm not sure). If you care about OpenCL/CUDA, then the 570 is probably a better choice. If you care about gaming, then the 670/680 is probably a better choice.

But the 570 has 480 CUDA cores whilst the 670 has 1344... wouldn't that be better ?

Edit : the 670 just seems like the better deal and it needs less power, even though it's $100 more. By the time I get around to buying it it will maybe drop in price too :
Anadtech GK 104 compute benchmark roundup

 

[Bubba Satori]

But the 570 has 480 CUDA cores whilst the 670 has 1344... wouldn't that be better ?

Yes.

 

[initialsBB]

Yes.

Short and concise, i like !

 

[steveOooo]

So will the 670 work ok in a mac pro 5,1 running 10.8? I have 10.6.8 at the moment but don't mind upgrading as 10.8 looks more snow leopard- reliable than lion

Buy this http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...p=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00829L3W0

And swap with my ati 5770? Will everything perform ok? Will I get improved cs5 usage - after fx, premiereamd photoshop?

It's £150 cheaper than the 680 so seems better

 

[derbothaus]

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-680-review-benchmark,3161-15.html

Slightly lower than this 680. Maybe Macvidcards can shed some light on the alluded to "capped performance". Nvidia looks like crap in these benches. AMD is ruling luxmark according to this. Also Sandra. But I have seen times when the 5xx and 6xx cards rule in OpenCL as well. Too bad you have to eat so much info for a concise picture.

 

[MacVidCards]

http://clbenchmark.com/compare.jsp?config_0=11972906&config_1=11954866

Reviews from launch in March are NOT good places to find numbers. They were on early BETA drivers.

This is all in Windows, keep in mind.

Nvidia (like APple and everyone else) runs a business to make money.

They make FAR MORE PER CARD on Tesla/Quadro type cards.

They don't actually develop 2 different GPUs, they develop one and then figure out ways to make the PRO cards work better at PRO apps.

With Fermi they made the "Pro" cards have 4 times the Double Precision Float abilities. Since no Mac app that I know of uses DPF, this means that a GTX card with similar specs will slaughter a Quadro/Tesla card in performance per dollar in EVERY SINGLE APP CURRENTLY OUT THERE. The only other special thing about Quadro Tesla is amount of RAM. The QUadro 6000 has 6 GB, so there might be an app somewhere that can use this. If someone knows of one, please post it.

Point being, it is very hard for ANYONE to justify spending $$$$ on a Quadro when a GTX for $$$ will leave it for dead in rendering in OSX. (You read it right, you will pay MORE for LOWER performance in most cases if you chose Quadro/TEsla)

Nvidia isn't a bunch of idiots, they realize that plenty of people will pony up the BIG BUCKS for a card if it can be shown to increase their output. So Nvidia has hobbled GPGPU on Kepler a new and better way. The consumer cards are designed to EXCEL at gaming type calculations, leaving the GPGPU mastery to the (yet to be released) Pro level cards which will likely give CUDA & OpenCl scores the likes of which we have never seen. They will also cost $$$$.

Right now this means GTX5xx cards are quite a deal since they offer un-hobbled GPGPU performance. The GTX6xx have been partially castrated.

 

[Asgorath]

Yes.

It's not as simple as that.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5699/nvidia-geforce-gtx-680-review

Take a look at the FP64 numbers. The GTX 580 has 1/8 FP32 perf, while the GTX 680 has 1/24 of FP32 perf. There just aren't as many FP64 computation units in the Kepler SM found in the 680 as there were in the Fermi SM from the 580.

Now, take a look at this one:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5840/...s-gk104-based-tesla-k10-gk110-based-tesla-k20

The GK110 will have FP64 that is only 1/3 of FP32 performance, which means it will be an absolute beast.

 

[Tysusmed]

My 2009, 4,1 Octo is loving its new GTX 670.

A big thanks to Nektas!!!

I'm really hoping Nvidia gives us some better drivers in the near future, but the new card is still scoring 4-5 times faster on Luxmark compared to my old 4870!

Exciting times ahead.

 

[patlee88]

Dear All,

Currently I"m using MacPro 09, and love to have GTX680 to boost win7 gaming experience. I would like to buy those custom heatsink fan GTX680, but most of them are using 6+8 pcie power pin, may this card also works and macpro should be power enough to run that '2 extra pin' ? Thanks.

 

[chiefroastbeef]

Dear All,

Currently I"m using MacPro 09, and love to have GTX680 to boost win7 gaming experience. I would like to buy those custom heatsink fan GTX680, but most of them are using 6+8 pcie power pin, may this card also works and macpro should be power enough to run that '2 extra pin' ? Thanks.

Most people would recommend you to stick with the 6+6 pin gtx cards. No point to risk a 2000usd+ machine right? Or spend even more money and waste space to get an extra power supply for the 8 pin.

 

[patlee88]

Actually I'm using GTX570 nonflash in macpro, would it be huge performance boost for playin battlefield 3 in 2046x1440 in Dell U2711 monitor?

For GTX 570 under 2046x1440 resolution, fps only 2x and sometimes even lower... but if i change the resolution to 1920x1080 then everyhing is fine and having 3xfps in most scene, under the best visual setting.

Some ppl say that 4GB ram would be gain peformance in above 1920x1080 screen, is it true?

 

[Asgorath]

Actually I'm using GTX570 nonflash in macpro, would it be huge performance boost for playin battlefield 3 in 2046x1440 in Dell U2711 monitor?

For GTX 570 under 2046x1440 resolution, fps only 2x and sometimes even lower... but if i change the resolution to 1920x1080 then everyhing is fine and having 3xfps in most scene, under the best visual setting.

Some ppl say that 4GB ram would be gain peformance in above 1920x1080 screen, is it true?

Search the web for GTX 680 reviews, like this one:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5699/nvidia-geforce-gtx-680-review/13

Looks like a pretty substantial improvement at high resolutions.

 

[patlee88]

Today I found a Zotac GTX680 4GB, using Nvidia reference cooler with 2x 6pin power, if Mountaion Lion may fully recognise these 4GB ram?

http://www.zotac.com/index.php?page...ion=com_virtuemart&Itemid=100282&lang=en[/URL

 

[initialsBB]

It's not as simple as that.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5699/nvidia-geforce-gtx-680-review

Take a look at the FP64 numbers. The GTX 580 has 1/8 FP32 perf, while the GTX 680 has 1/24 of FP32 perf. There just aren't as many FP64 computation units in the Kepler SM found in the 680 as there were in the Fermi SM from the 580.

Now, take a look at this one:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5840/...s-gk104-based-tesla-k10-gk110-based-tesla-k20

The GK110 will have FP64 that is only 1/3 of FP32 performance, which means it will be an absolute beast.

Thanks for the links ! They do bring the 570/580 into another light.

The more I look at the numbers the more I realise that the GTX cards are not hugely beneficial for OpenCL, but they have the luxury of being both OpenCL and CUDA - whereas the AMD 7xxx numbers are huge in OpenCL but at the cost of any CUDA support.

 

[chiefroastbeef]

Just installed a ZOTAC GTX 670 AMP (overclocked) with two 6 pin connectors.

Popped it in, no boot screen(I don't care, I actually like the black screen), and both DVI ports work for my 30" and 20" ACD. Did the easy Netkas OpenGL hack and ran Luxmark with scores below.

ATi 4760- 219
Zotac GTX 670 OC- 1162

One question: How do you guys monitor your GPU temperature and activity?

 

[patlee88]

Hi, I'm also consider if this card, if the fan noisy? How's the temp under full load in game and if idle?? Thanks

Just installed a ZOTAC GTX 670 AMP (overclocked) with two 6 pin connectors.

Image

Popped it in, no boot screen(I don't care, I actually like the black screen), and both DVI ports work for my 30" and 20" ACD. Did the easy Netkas OpenGL hack and ran Luxmark with scores below.

ATi 4760- 219
Zotac GTX 670 OC- 1162

One question: How do you guys monitor your GPU temperature and activity?

----------

U can use Msi afterburner to monitor your card, and even it can display the temperature and other info like fps in game

Hi, I'm also consider if this card, if the fan noisy? How's the temp under full load in game and if idle?? Thanks

 

[pprior]

If I'm not using final cut, is there any reason I need to be concerned about openCL at all? I installed my 680gtx to gain cuda support for adobe apps, which is my thing, but haven't installed any "netkas opencl hacks" and really don't want to muck around unless I'm missing something.

 

[chiefroastbeef]

Hi, I'm also consider if this card, if the fan noisy? How's the temp under full load in game and if idle?? Thanks



----------

U can use Msi afterburner to monitor your card, and even it can display the temperature and other info like fps in game

Pat,

Thank you for the tip,I will download that program and try it out.

As for the 670amp, it is absolutely silent at idle, quieter than the 4780. The only game I play is team fortress 2 via steam with settings maxed, I don't know how much load it puts on the card, but there is no sound from the card, or the computer for that matter.

Let me know how else I can help, I love this card, bought it here in Hong Kong.

 

[patlee88]

OH, I'm from HK too, u using msn? Did you buy it in Centralfield? How much is it? Actually I'm thinking to get Zotac 4GB version which i saw $4,4xx only. My msn is patlee88@hotmail.com

We may further discuss there, thanks.

Pat,

Thank you for the tip,I will download that program and try it out.

As for the 670amp, it is absolutely silent at idle, quieter than the 4780. The only game I play is team fortress 2 via steam with settings maxed, I don't know how much load it puts on the card, but there is no sound from the card, or the computer for that matter.

Let me know how else I can help, I love this card, bought it here in Hong Kong.

 

[chiefroastbeef]

OH, I'm from HK too, u using msn? Did you buy it in Centralfield? How much is it? Actually I'm thinking to get Zotac 4GB version which i saw $4,4xx only. My msn is patlee88@hotmail.com

We may further discuss there, thanks.

Yes, I bought it from Centralfield, my GTX 670 2GB was $3,298, not a bad deal, cheaper than the prices I've seen from the US.

One more question, since installing my 670, I've performed the netkas openGL fix, and installed the nvidia cuda driver.

now, when I boot up my mac, it would be blank until it gets to the login screen, however, only the gray textured screen appears, there is no password input box with the name, personal icon, or anything. But I am still able to login by typing my password, and pushing enter.

Do you guys know how I can get my login window back?

I don't mind the blank start up screen, but I would like a login window..