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Best Extreme Graphics Cards

Best Graphics Cards For The Money: August 2013
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Honorable Mention:

GeForce GTX 780

Excellent 2560x1600 performance

GeForce GTX 780
Codename: GK110 (Kepler)
Process: 28 nm
Unified Shaders: 2304
Texture Units: 192
ROPs: 48
Memory Bus: 384-bit
Core Speed MHz: 863
Memory Speed MHz: 1502
DirectX/Shader Model: DX 11/SM 5
Max TDP:
250 W

The GeForce GTX 780 is a cut-down version of the fastest single-GPU graphics card available, the GeForce GTX Titan. With an additional two SMXes disabled, the GK110 GPU still sports about 25% more CUDA cores than the GeForce GTX 680/770, and only about 16% fewer than the Titan. Wealthy gamers are excited that the 780 sells for around £250 less than the GK110-equipped flagship. So, technically, the GeForce GTX 780 is a better value. However, this is still a very expensive video card. And the 780's value story is overshadowed by the GeForce GTX 770. As a result, we're giving the GeForce GTX 780 an honourable mention for its uncontested speed at an unmatched price.

Read our full review of Nvidia's GeForce 780 for more information on the card and its accompanying architecture.

Honourable Mention:

Radeon HD 7990

Radeon HD 7990
Codename: Tahiti
Process: 28 nm
Unified Shaders: 4096 (2 x 2048)
Texture Units: 256 (2 x 128)
ROPs: 64 (2 x 32)
Memory Bus: 384-bit
Core Speed MHz: 1000
Memory Speed MHz: 1500
DirectX/Shader Model: DX 11/SM 5
Max TDP:
375 W

When it comes to shader horsepower, the frames-per-second performance reported by Fraps, and a lower price, there's no denying that AMD's Radeon HD 7990 should be an appealing card. At £650, it looks like a shoo-in compared to the £800 GeForce GTX 690. But closer inspection uncovers much higher power consumption, issues in dual-card configurations, and, more concerning, a less-smooth experience compared to Nvidia's flagship. AMD recently published a beta driver that's supposed to help solve 7990's frame pacing issues. However, we're still in the process of testing it. Until we generate and present our data, the Radeon HD 7990 remains an honorable mention rather than a full-fledged recommendation.

Honorable Mention:

GeForce GTX Titan

Excellent 2560x1600 performance

GeForce GTX Titan
Codename: GK110
Process: 28 nm
Unified Shaders: 2688
Texture Units: 224
ROPs: 48
Memory Bus: 384-bit
Core Speed (Turbo) MHz: 837 (836)
Memory Speed MHz: 1502 (6008 effective)
DirectX/Shader Model: DX 11/SM 5
Max TDP:
250 W

The GeForce GTX Titan sports the fastest GPU ever seen: GK110. As it happens, though, that one chip isn't quite as fast as the two GK104s you find on Nvidia's GeForce GTX 690 (even though it also costs over £800). We're impressed by what GK110 can do. But the GeForce GTX Titan is overpriced by most accounts. Two GeForce GTX 770s are faster, and for far less money. Nevertheless, GeForce GTX Titan gets an honorable mention for the two applications where it really shines: small form factor and multi-card machines. 

Read our full review of Nvidia's GeForce Titan for more information on the card and its accompanying architecture.

Honourable Mention:

GeForce GTX 690

Excellent 2560x1600 performance

GeForce GTX 690
Codename: 2 x GK104
Process: 28 nm
Unified Shaders: 3072 (2 x 1536)
Texture Units: 256 (2 x 128)
ROPs: 64 (2 x 32)
Memory Bus: 256-bit
Core Speed MHz: 915
Memory Speed MHz: 1502 (6008 effective)
DirectX/Shader Model: DX 11/SM 5
Max TDP:
300 W

Nvidia's GeForce GTX 690 is one of the fastest graphics cards in the world. It's essentially two GeForce GTX 680s on a single PCB, with a slightly lower core clock and a 300 W TDP. The company sets this card's MSRP right around £800, which is significantly more than two GeForce GTX 770s in SLI. AMD's Radeon HD 7990 should be in the same performance category as the GTX 690 at a lower price, but we're still waiting on the outcome of our Catalyst 13.8 beta driver analysis before revising our outlook on that card.

Read our full review of Nvidia's GeForce GTX 690 for more information on the card and its accompanying architecture.

Honorable Mentions:

Assorted Multi-Card Configurations

The Radeon HD 7970 delivers such strong performance at £290 that we find it hard to recommend faster (but sometimes-inconsistent) multi-card configurations for more money.

We'll call out some other options, though, mostly for folks with one of these cards already installed: two GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost 2 GB cards in SLI, two GeForce GTX 660s in SLI, two GeForce GTX 760s in SLI, and finally, two GeForce GTX 770s in SLI.

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  • 0 Hide
    aje21 , 21 August 2013 06:49
    Hmm, I miss the "fastest card which doesn't need an auxiliary power connector" recommendation which usually went to the 7750. With the pricing of the 7770, how cheap would the 7750 need to go to make it worth slotting in between the 6670 and 7770?
  • 0 Hide
    sam_p_lay , 21 August 2013 09:07
    GTX670 for £170 on Novatech!
  • 0 Hide
    MajinCry , 21 August 2013 09:14
    £150 for a 7850? Hell, I nabbed one for £60 of Ebay. One of the 2GB cards with dual fans, too.

    Wonder when prices will come down to Earth.
  • 0 Hide
    bemused_fred , 21 August 2013 09:36
    I don't normally do this sort of thing, but I think I would be doing prospective GTX 760 and HD 7950 buyers a massive disservice if I failed to point out that you can get the GTX 670 (which is better than both) for the same price here:

    http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=701&catid=1914&subid=2294

    (Really hope this doesn't get me the bannhammer)
  • 0 Hide
    IIFlexxy , 22 August 2013 17:12
    7950 Windforcex3
  • 0 Hide
    ericlokness , 12 September 2013 14:07
    I am in the process of building a new desktop and wanted to build a linux based system which is also capable of gaming with steam. I am very conscious about how much energy my computer draws - I want to make a lower power, yet powerful computer. (I am aware of the contradiction) How does the Asus GTX650-E-2GD5 stack up against other more power "thirsty" graphics cards? Will I be wasting my money investing in this board? Do you have any other efficient graphics cards that you would recommend for my build?

    Proposed system:
    AMD X4 740 (four cores and 65 watts for only $80!)
    Motherboard (is there much difference in power draw between brands?)
    8GB Corsair Ballistix Memory
    Samsung 840 SSD 500GB
    Asus GTX650-E-2GD5 (only about 65 watts!)
    Rosewell 80 plus Gold PSU

    All told this system will max out at 200 watts, or so that is the estimate. Any recommendations?

    Thanks,
    Newbie Eric :)