The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 is a high-performance graphics card designed to provide exceptional gaming experiences. Released in 2012, this dual-GPU card was based on the 28nm Kepler architecture, offering significant improvements in performance and power efficiency compared to its predecessors. The GTX 690 was positioned as a flagship model, targeting the premium segment of the gaming market.
Architecture and Specifications
The GTX 690 features two GK104 GPUs, each with 1536 CUDA cores, 128 texture mapping units, and 32 render outputs. The card has a total of 3072 CUDA cores, 256 texture mapping units, and 64 render outputs. It comes with 4GB of GDDR5 memory, with a memory interface of 256-bit per GPU, resulting in a total memory bandwidth of 384 GB/s. The card’s base clock speed is 915 MHz, with a boost clock of up to 1019 MHz. The GTX 690 requires two 8-pin power connectors and has a maximum power consumption of 300W.
Performance and Gaming Capabilities
The GTX 690 offers exceptional performance in modern games, thanks to its dual-GPU design and high clock speeds. It supports DirectX 11, OpenGL 4.2, and NVIDIA’s proprietary technologies like PhysX, 3D Vision, and Surround. The card is capable of handling demanding games at high resolutions, including 2560x1440 and 2560x1600, with high frame rates and detailed graphics settings. Some examples of games that can be played at high settings include Battlefield 3, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| CUDA Cores | 3072 |
| Memory | 4GB GDDR5 |
| Memory Interface | 256-bit per GPU |
| Base Clock Speed | 915 MHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 1019 MHz |
Power Consumption and Cooling
The GTX 690 has a maximum power consumption of 300W, which is relatively high compared to modern graphics cards. However, this is due to the card’s dual-GPU design and high clock speeds, which require more power to maintain optimal performance. The card uses a custom cooling solution, which consists of a large heat sink and two fans. This cooling system is designed to provide efficient heat dissipation and minimize noise levels.
Comparison to Other Graphics Cards
The GTX 690 was positioned as a competitor to AMD’s Radeon HD 7990, which was also a dual-GPU card. However, the GTX 690 offered better performance and power efficiency, thanks to its more advanced architecture and better cooling system. The GTX 690 was also compared to NVIDIA’s own GeForce GTX 680, which was a single-GPU card. While the GTX 680 offered similar performance to the GTX 690 in some games, the dual-GPU design of the GTX 690 provided better performance in games that supported SLI.
- The GTX 690 offers better performance than the Radeon HD 7990 in games like Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.
- The GTX 690 provides similar performance to the GeForce GTX 680 in games like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Diablo III.
- The GTX 690's dual-GPU design allows for improved performance in SLI mode, which enables the card to handle more complex graphics workloads.
What is the maximum power consumption of the GTX 690?
+The maximum power consumption of the GTX 690 is 300W.
What is the memory interface of the GTX 690?
+The memory interface of the GTX 690 is 256-bit per GPU.
What is the base clock speed of the GTX 690?
+The base clock speed of the GTX 690 is 915 MHz.
In conclusion, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 is a high-performance graphics card that offers exceptional gaming experiences. Its dual-GPU design, high clock speeds, and advanced architecture make it an ideal choice for gamers who demand the best performance. While it may have some drawbacks, such as high power consumption and noise levels, the GTX 690 remains a popular choice among gamers and enthusiasts.
