Test Methodology
GPU Comparisons |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graphics card | GPU clock (MHz) |
Stream processors |
Shader clock (MHz) |
Memory clock (MHz) |
Memory bus (bits) |
Graphics driver | |
| KFA2 GeForce GTX 680 LTD OC (2,048MB) | 1,150+ | 1,536 | 1,150+ | 6,008 | 256 | GeForce 304.48 beta | |
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 (4,096MB) | 915+ | 3,072 | 915+ | 6,008 | 256 x 4 | GeForce 304.48 beta | |
| 2x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 in SLI (8,192MB) | 915+ | 6,144 | 915+ | 6,008 | 256 x 4 | GeForce 304.48 beta | |
Test Platform: Scan 3XS Carbon SLI |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i7-3930K @ 4.6GHz (12MB smart cache, hexa-core, LGA2011) | |||||||||||
| CPU Cooler | Phanteks PH-TC14PE_BL | |||||||||||
| Motherboard | ASUS P9X79 PRO | |||||||||||
| Memory | Corsair Vengeance LP 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3 | |||||||||||
| Power Supply | Corsair Professional Series Gold AX1200 (1,200W) | |||||||||||
| Sound Card | ASUS Xonar Essence STX | |||||||||||
| Monitors | 3x 24in Philips Brilliance (241P4QPYES/00) | |||||||||||
| Primary Storage | 256GB Corsair Performance Pro SSD | |||||||||||
| Secondary Storage | 2TB Seagate Barracuda HDD | |||||||||||
| Chassis | SilverStone Fortress SST-FT02B-W | |||||||||||
| Operating system | Windows 7 Ultimate (64-bit, SP1) | |||||||||||
HEXUS High-End, Multi-Monitor Benchmark Suite |
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|---|---|---|
| Mode and Resolution | High Quality Settings | |
| Aliens vs. Predator | DX11 at 5,760x1,080 | 2xAA, 8xAF, Maximum Image Quality |
| Battlefield 3 | DX11 at 5,760x1,080 | 0xAA, 16xAF, High Preset |
| Batman: Arkham City | DX11 at 5,760x1,080 | 8xMSAA, Extreme Preset, PhysX Off |
| DiRT Showdown | DX11 at 5,760x1,080 | 8xMSAA, High Preset |
| Just Cause 2 | DX10 at 5,760x1,080 | 4xAA, 16xAF, Very High Quality, PLS Off, GPU Water Off |
| Total War: Shogun 2 | DX11 at 5,760x1,080 | MLAA, Trilinear Filtering, High Quality |
| General Benchmarks | ||
| Power Consumption | To emulate real-world usage scenarios, we record mains power draw both when idle and while playing Batman: Arkham City | |
| Temperature | To emulate real-world usage scenarios, we record GPU core temperature both when idle and while playing Batman: Arkham City | |
| Noise | A PCE-318 meter is used to record noise levels when idle and while playing Batman: Arkham City | |
Notes
Following on from our GeForce GTX 690 SLI review, we've plugged the KFA2 GeForce GTX 680 LTD OC into the same Scan 3XS Carbon SLI PC to see how a single factory-overclocked GTX 680 compares against dual- and quad-GPU configurations at 5,760x1,080.
Most HEXUS readers will have seen three-screen setups in the past, but if you're wondering how today's games look at these ultra-wide resolutions, check out the following screengrabs from all six benchmarked titles. You can click to get a bigger view, but we warned, the pictures aren't small.
Aliens vs. Predator at 5,760x1,080
Battlefield 3 at 5,760x1,080
Batman: Arkham City at 5,760x1,080
DiRT Showdown at 5,760x1,080
Just Cause 2 at 5,760x1,080
Total War: Shogun 2 at 5,760x1,080
