Today we shall review four graphics cards from ASUS, Gigabyte, Palit and Zotac, all based on the GeForce GTX 670 GPU, the lower-end version of NVIDIA's top-level GeForce GTX 680 GPU. Let's see if the major difference in price justifies the difference in performance.

Specifications

ASUS GeForce GTX 670 DirectCU II Top

GPU: GeForce GTX 670 (GK104) Interface: PCIe 3.0 x16 GPU clock rate (ROPs/shaders): 1058–1137 MHz (the standard is 915–1084 MHz) Memory clock rate, physical (effective): 1502 (6008) MHz (the standard is 1500 (6000) MHz) Memory bus: 256-bit Stream processors: 1344 Texture units: 112 (BLF/TLF/ANIS) ROP units: 32 Dimensions: 272x138 mm, 2 slots PCB color: black Peak power consumption (3D/2D/standby): 176/68/50 W Output connectors: DVI-I, DVI-D, HDMI 1.4a, DisplayPort 1.2 Multi-GPU mode: hardware SLI

Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 Overclock Edition

GPU: GeForce GTX 670 (GK104) Interface: PCIe 3.0 x16 GPU clock rate (ROPs/shaders): 980–1058 MHz (the standard is 915–1084 MHz) Memory clock rate, physical (effective): 1500 (6000) MHz (standard) Memory bus: 256-bit Stream processors: 1344 Texture units: 112 (BLF/TLF/ANIS) ROP units: 32 Dimensions: 275x137 mm, 2 slots PCB color: blue Peak power consumption (3D/2D/standby): 170/62/50 W Output connectors: DVI-I, DVI-D, HDMI 1.4a, DisplayPort 1.2 Multi-GPU mode: hardware SLI

Palit GeForce GTX 670 JetStream

GPU: GeForce GTX 670 (GK104) Interface: PCIe 3.0 x16 GPU clock rate (ROPs/shaders): 1006–1084 MHz (the standard is 915–1084 MHz) Memory clock rate, physical (effective): 1527 (6108) MHz (the standard is 1500 (6000) MHz) Memory bus: 256-bit Stream processors: 1344 Texture units: 112 (BLF/TLF/ANIS) ROP units: 32 Dimensions: 247x112 mm, 2.5 slots PCB color: dark brown Peak power consumption (3D/2D/standby): 178/69/55 W Output connectors: DVI-I, DVI-D, HDMI 1.4a, DisplayPort 1.2 Multi-GPU mode: hardware SLI

Zotac GeForce GTX 670 AMP! Edition 2048MB

GPU: GeForce GTX 670 (GK104) Interface: PCIe 3.0 x16 GPU clock rate (ROPs/shaders): 1098–1176 MHz (the standard is 915–1084 MHz) Memory clock rate, physical (effective): 1652 (6608) MHz (the standard is 1500 (6000) MHz) Memory bus: 256-bit Stream processors: 1344 Texture units: 112 (BLF/TLF/ANIS) ROP units: 32 Dimensions: 254x112 mm, 2 slots PCB color: black Peak power consumption (3D/2D/standby): 177/66/54 W Output connectors: DVI-I, DVI-D, HDMI 1.4a, DisplayPort 1.2 Multi-GPU mode: hardware SLI

Comparison with the reference design, front view

ASUS GeForce GTX 670 DirectCU II TOP	Reference NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670

Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 Overclock Edition	Reference NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670

Palit GeForce GTX 670 JetStream	Reference NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670

Zotac GeForce GTX 670 AMP! Edition	Reference NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670

Comparison with the reference design, rear view

ASUS GeForce GTX 670 DirectCU II TOP	Reference NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670

Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 Overclock Edition	Reference NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670

Palit GeForce GTX 670 JetStream	Reference NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670

Zotac GeForce GTX 670 AMP! Edition	Reference NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670

ASUS GeForce GTX 670 DirectCU II TOP is a fully customized product with only the number of memory chip seats (which is 16) left from the reference design, probably to assemble 4GB versions. The VRM has a digital controller and 6 phases for the GPU and 2 phases for the memory. The voltage is managed by the DirectCU utility. The graphics card has two DVI outputs: Dual-Link (HDMI-compatible) and Single-Link (VGA-compatible).

Gigabyte GTX 670 PCB is based on that of the top-level GeForce GTX 680. The manufacturer just installed the GPU with fewer stream processors and texture units. There's a chance those are just locked out in BIOS—something a GeForce GTX 680 firmware can help override. We haven't tried this and obviously bear no responsibility for any damage you do to your card while trying the same.

Palit GeForce GTX 670 JetStream isn't much different from the reference card. There are only 8 memory chip seats on the front and the VRM has 4 phases for the GPU. There are 6-pin and 6-pin supplementary power connectors—also a copy of the reference design.

Zotac GeForce GTX 670 AMP! Edition features a GeForce GTX 680 PCB, essentially being a copy of the reference card.

Maximum resolutions and frequencies:

• 240 Hz maximum refresh rate
• 2048 x 1536 @ 85 Hz max. analog (VGA) resolution
• 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz max. digital (DVI) resolution (for Dual Link DVI-D)

Write a comment below. No registration needed!