Upgraded to GTX690
 

I changed out my 580 this afternoon for a 690. It was a smooth operation — I already had the latest Nvidia driver installed (314.07) so I didn't even need the disc that came with it.

The new card had two 8-pin power connectors instead of the 6-pin and 8-pin that the old card had, but I found two 8-pin cables that came with the original power supply.

I turned off SLI in the Nvidia control panel which gave me a little better performance on two mfaktc instances. I am getting about 315 Ghz-d/d on each half of the card.

It is quite a bit quieter than the old card and runs more than ten degrees cooler with its stock fan.

The extra two pins on the 8-pin connector are both "ground", aren't they?

[QUOTE=Batalov;334061]The extra two pins on the 8-pin connector are both "ground", aren't they?[/QUOTE]

I don't know; the instruction manual said to use 8-pin cables and there were two 8-pin sockets, so that's what I did.

Something I found searching.

[QUOTE=Chuck;334057]I am getting about 315 Ghz-d/d on each half of the card.
[/QUOTE]

The 630 GHz-d/d total is almost identical to what I'm getting from a 460 (@ 823 MHz) and a 570 (@ 810 MHz).

[QUOTE=kladner;334107]The 630 GHz-d/d total is almost identical to what I'm getting from a 460 (@ 823 MHz) and a 570 (@ 810 MHz).[/QUOTE]

I knew it wasn't going to have the capability of a 590; but it runs so quietly and cool compared to the 580 that I am completely satisfied. Later this year I think I will put together either a Haswell or Ivy Bridge E and use the 580 there. It can go into a spare room where I won't notice the fan.

I was being rhetorical.

The question behind the question was why do the card maker even pretend to bother (other than make people's life difficult - and making people buy new cables, or even a PSU, if they cannot figure this out)? Most cable makers immediately short these two extra wires, so the argument "Ah, but this increases the potential max amp" doesn't fly, really. Doesn't take off the ground. ;-)

[QUOTE=Chuck;334108]I knew it wasn't going to have the capability of a 590; but it runs so quietly and cool compared to the 580 that I am completely satisfied. Later this year I think I will put together either a Haswell or Ivy Bridge E and use the 580 there. It can go into a spare room where I won't notice the fan.[/QUOTE]

I know in the past you have said that the noise was really getting to you. Does the 580 have a centrifugal blower? Those are notorious, though I admit that in warm weather the 3 fans on my 570 become pretty noticeable.

[QUOTE=kladner;334111]I know in the past you have said that the noise was really getting to you. Does the 580 have a centrifugal blower? Those are notorious, though I admit that in warm weather the 3 fans on my 570 become pretty noticeable.[/QUOTE]

Both cards (580 and 690) have the same style centrifugal blower. It turns more slowly on this new card. Looking at the layout of the card a little more closely, the fan on the new one is exactly in the middle and heat is exhausting out of each end (one GPU board on each end of the card). On the 580 the fan was at one end and exhausted out the other end of the card. The shorter air path must account for the difference.

[QUOTE=Batalov;334110]I was being rhetorical.

The question behind the question was why do the card maker even pretend to bother (other than make people's life difficult - and making people buy new cables, or even a PSU, if they cannot figure this out)? Most cable makers immediately short these two extra wires, so the argument "Ah, but this increases the potential max amp" doesn't fly, really. Doesn't take off the ground. ;-)[/QUOTE]

So why do you suppose they do this? Why not just use the two 6-pin connectors? Fortunately my machine came with a big powerful PSU and a bunch of sheathed cables, so I had both kinds.

[QUOTE=Chuck;334119]Both cards (580 and 690) have the same style centrifugal blower. It turns more slowly on this new card.[/QUOTE]

I guess that goes along with the power efficiency of the 600 series. I'd bet that my setup is sucking down more amps for the same output.