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NVIDIA GTX 660 Ti Launch Day Round Up Featuring EVGA vs. GIGABYTE vs. MSI – FIGHT!

Eric Garay
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Let’s be honest, we would all loave a video card powered by an NVIDIA GTX 690 or even a GTX 670 or GTX 680. But who has $400 – $1000 to spend on a GPU every year? That’s why many of us have been waiting for something more reasonably priced. Today NVIDIA has answered the call with the launch of their GTX 660 Ti. It’s got the heart and soul of the flagship NVIDIA Kepler GPU but along with a dramatic price drop. The new Kepler based GPU is suppose to be an impressive cost effective GPU offering true 1080p gaming with the capability to even run 3D at decent frame rates.

Unlike the GTX 680, 670 and 690 launch, NVIDIA partners have really stepped up and very few, if any GPUs, are hitting the shelves with stock clocks. To represent the first batch of “sweet spot” GPUs, we’ve invited EVGA, GIGABYTE, and MSI for a look at their efforts to win you over in the sweet spot GPU segment. Let’s see if the NVIDIA GTX 660 Ti is worth the upgrade!

GTX 660 Ti “Kepler” Comparison

First, lets get the Kepler GPU differences out of the way. Keep in mind these are reference frequencies and that partner cards often sport better specs depending on the model. The new GTX 660 Ti GPU requires less power at idle and has the same GPU boost capability as their higher end brethren. We’ve gathered up the GPUs we’ve still got in the lab for a closer look.

The GTX 660 Ti is very similar to the GTX 670 in terms of clock speed, but do differ when it comes to memory interface, memory texture units, and texture fill rate. The lower 192-bit rate really affects computation and polygon rendering which means lower frame rates are more noticeable when using higher settings and resolutions. But because GTX 660 Ti is tuned for 1080p, as long as you don’t go beyond, you’ll get the best possible experience. The new GTX 660 Ti Kepler GPU support the latest 3D Vision, 3D Vision Surround, CUDA, DirectX 11, PhysX, SLI, TXAA, Adaptive VSync, GPU Boost, and FXAA as well.

When it comes to eye candy, TXAA (temporal anti-aliasing) and FXAA (fast approximate anti-aliasing) smooth out detailed edges without using nearly as much video memory as MSAA (multi-sampling). One design benefit I believe over looked is that even though Kepler’s FXAA and TXAA features need less memory, NVIDIA still chose to increase memory capacity. Some cards even offer up to 3GB video memory. This means more memory for greater detail settings and larger textures.

Features and Specifications – EVGA vs. GIGABYTE vs. MSI

As usual, all the vendors are launching stock and factory overclocked GTX 660 Ti video cards. Each card offers increased GPU core and boost clock frequencies. Remember, the boost clock in Kepler automatically overclocks the GPU when the task demands it. It’s kind of like Intel Turbo Boost technology for CPUs, but on the GPU side. Pro overclockers aren’t big fans of this feature, but most gamers will appreciate the extra frames per second that comes with just a quick frequency boost. This helps smooth out frame rates in most games.

The three GTX 660 Ti cards we have here include the EVGA GTX 660 Ti Superclocked, GIGABYTE GV-N66TOC-2GD, and MSI N660Ti PE 2GD5 OC. From the table you can see each cards’ frequency differences. In terms of memory and potential overclock headroom, all the cards use Hynix DDR5 memory ICs.  

Now let’s go up close and check out each of these cards in detail including the cooling solutions, cosmetics and value added bundles.

EVGA GTX 660 Ti Superclocked – Up Close

First up is EVGA’s GTX 660 Ti Superclocked edition which will join a whole family of SKUs based on the GTX 660 Ti GPU. Our sample is the one in bold which features a reference style cooler tacked on to the smaller foot print PCB. It’s aimed at offering serious graphics users a more affordable card without the cost of a fancier cooler.

  • EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB – $299.99
  • EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Ti Superclocked 2GB -$309.99
  • EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Ti FTW 2GB – $329.99
  • EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Ti+ 3GB – $329.99
  • EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Ti Superclocked+ 3GB – $339.99
  • EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Ti FTW+ 3GB – $359.99

As mentioned, there are several different SKUs coming from EVGA that range from stock to FTW which naturally feature the most cherry picked GTX 660 Ti GPUs. These are often capable of impressive overclocking. The FTW often sport the nicest coolers as well which is important to hardcore DIY users who like to show off. But back to the Superoverclocked edition, the aluminum heat sink is still quite large meant to cool all the vital power components and memory ICs.

EVGA’s card bundle includes a detailed manual, neat Enthusiast Build sticker, 4pin to 6pin PCIE power adapters, VGA/DVI adapter, and drivers/software disc. EVGA also provides the new Precision X and OC Scanner X software which can be used on any NVIDIA based video card. It’s quite unique so let’s spend a few paragraphs on it.

EVGA updated their PrecisionX overclocking and real time monitoring software recently with some additional tweaks. With this utility, users can control the GPU, fans, power, and memory. And, naturally it syncs all your settings across multiple cards in SLI mode. There’s also a special GTX 660 Ti skin available. Just add the skin, select the skin in the settings, and apply. Easy.

After applying your settings, users can utilize the new OC Scanner X which stress tests and monitors your overclocked card. There’s a built in GPU-Z type specification tab which works in conjunction with the cards major components and reveals hidden attributes. And, yes, the software works on any NVIDIA based video card. They really spent a lot of time on this utility and it shows.

GIGABYTE GV-N66TOC-2GD – Up Close

Returning to our lab is another one of GIGABYTE’s Windforce cooled GPUs. The GTX 660 Ti OC (overclocked) video card sports the highest GPU frequencies of the three at the $319 price range, making it the most expensive GPU in this round up. It’s designed around the company’s Ultra Durable PCB and component selection which specifies better capacitors, chokes, and the signature 2oz PCB. The card is built on the shorter reference PCB, making it easier to fit into more compact builds.

Naturally, being the highest OC’d GPU of the round up means extra GPU heat and the Windforce 2X (for dual fan) VGA cooler is used to expel that heat. The compact cooler features two large heat pipes fused to a smoother copper base that carries away the bulk of the heat to the ends where aluminum fins help dissipate heat. A secondary silver base plate cools the memory ICs and VRM components. Interestingly, two of the memory ICs are on the back of the card and not the side that touches the thermal pads. We’re assuming that because the back of the card gets more fresh air, engineers felt this was acceptable, but it might just have to do with the limited size of the PCB.

Unlike the EVGA card, the bundle is very basic in the GIGABYTE box. There are two 6pin PCIE to 4 pin MOLEX power cable adapters, a manual, and a driver DVD. The best part is that this card will work on a system with a minimum 450 watt power supply, making it’s size and it’s power consumption perfect for upgrading many pre-built systems on the market. Hopefully you have four unused 4-pin Molex connectors on your power supply.

MSI N660Ti PE 2GD5/OC – Up Close

The Power Edition cards we’ve seen over the last couple years are a pretty strong breed. We saw this recently in their AMD HD 7770 GPU that we recently reviewed. The card is powered by a Triple Overvolt VRM design which does help overclock the GPU and stabilize power delivery. This requires a longer PCB design which is of no consequence if there’s a purpose to this. The cards till only requires two 6pin PCIE power cables.

The PE sports a black with blue striped Twin Frozr IV dual fan cooler. The cooler is substantial in design sporting four large heat pipes that stretch the length and width of the PCB. A secondary black plate covers and cools about half the components. In the past, typical loads pushed the fans to create about 20dB. Under atypical conditions, they can reach as much as 40dB in an effort to keep your GPU from overheating.

Our box bundle included two 4-Pin Molex to 6pin power cable adapters. While 450 watts is the minimum, I’ve found the PE series benefit from slightly stronger wattage PSUs, especially when overclocking and adding voltage. I would not recommend anyone overclock this card without a much more powerful PSU however so even the 450 watt minimum should really be updated.

Also in the box is a single VGA to DVI adapter, user guide, card documentation, plus a driver/software disc. MSI’s Afterburner overclocking and monitoring utility is included to get your OC fix. It’s been a staple piece of software for users and testers alike.

Test System Setup

Installing your video card, video drivers, and any extra software is all part of the user experience. In the past, we’ve had a couple large cards require some effort due to really large PCBs and oversized PCI brackets. Fortunately, all the cards install easily and worked fine with the NVIDIA GTX 660 Ti launch drivers. Only the EVGA and MSI have their own official overclocking utilities which also worked without issue. However, both utilities also work for any supported NVIDIA GPU including the GIGABYTE card.

Here’s the test system break down…

Screen resolutions are set at 1920 x 1080p on an ASUS VG27H 3D monitor. Benchmark resolutions are in the graph details. Power consumption was monitored using a Seasonic Power Angel with a minimum of 1 hr observation time. Fan noise was recorded using an Extech sound meter which has a limited 30dB lowest noise level detection. Therefore, fan noise was measured from 2 feet away so we could hear SOME difference.

Benchmarks were all chosen to reflect an upgrade scenario where new users looking for upgrades will want to play both new and old games. Thus we chose both new and old titles to test.

Overclocking the GTX 660 Ti – Is it Worth it?

Not everyone likes overclocking the GPU because it’s a potentially risky business. It’s the one component that easily heats up inside cases especially when there’s limited air flow. Honestly, the gaming performance benefits are often marginal versus the risk. Unless it’s for bragging rights in benchmarks, most of the time, it’s not going to improve your gaming experience by a tangible amount. In any case, all three cards were pushed to see just how far they would go.

Top clock goes to the MSI GTX 660 Ti PE card which managed to successfully pull off the highest core base and turbo clock. The GIGABYTE GTX 660 Ti OC clocks in a bit lower followed by the EVGA GTX 660 Ti Superclocked. Naturally, the other side affect of overclocking, besides heat, is the additional noise generated by the cooling solution. The MSI card boasted the most noise at about 44dB followed by the EVGA at about 36dB. The GIGABYTE hit a comparatively pleasant 29dB.

EVGA’s Precision X and new OC Scanner X were quite nice to work with and relatively easy to figure out. On occasion, Precision X would need a setting applied more than once before it would take. But the utility works within Kepler’s power limits so it’s possible the right, or optimal settings weren’t being used on my part. MSI will have to work on updating Afterburner some more as the temperatures didn’t always report properly. Temps are important to be able to see when overclocking any component is starting to have adverse affects that need to be addressed.

Now on to the benchmarks!

Synthetic Benchmarks – 3DMark11 and Unigine Heaven 3.0

Starting off with synthetic benchmarks, the EVGA SC falls behind rather oddly. Granted, the card isn’t clocked as high as the OC and PE but the score seems a bit low. This benchmark isn’t the authority on 3D performance but it is recognized for giving us a general direction of potential performance. Let’s look at another one that can generate some frame rates.

Under Unigine Heaven 3.0, the EVGA SC comes back to handle the tessellating, GPU crippling, Heaven 3.0 Demo. All three GTX 660 Tis leave one of our all time favorite GPUs, the GTX 560 Ti, in the dust. I’m beginning to love the new GTX 660 Tis and for good reason.

Let’s see how these tests translate into real gaming performance.

Metro 2033

And, the beatings just get worse with Metro 2033. Still, the three cards split the difference coming up with about 30 frames per second each in this still punishing benchmark. It’s worth noting thought that the GTX 480, which can still be found on the market for the same price, is more than 10 FPS ahead of the new GTX 660 Ti. Keep in mind, if Metro 2033 supported TXAA and FXAA, the cards would potentially offer a flip in the results. Either way, actual in game frame rates between our batch of GTX 660 Ti is very close and bests the card it replaces, the GTX 560 Ti.

Batman Arkham City

The GTX 660 Ti trio have no problems with part two of the GOTY. Batman Arkham City looks fantastic on all three cards. If you’re going to play this on your GTX 660 Ti, you can also try it with 3D Vision 2 with few adverse affects and very playable frame rates. We now begin to see the new GPUs surge ahead of older parts and all of which are within striking distance of the higher end GTX 670.

Stalker Call of Pripyat

Here, we see the trio provide ample frame rates for this oldie but goodie. Interestingly, the EVGA SC did fall behind about 6 frames which isn’t the end of the world by any means, but may point to an issue that isn’t simply driver related. Still, frame rate junkies may mind but gamers looking for EVGA’s nice rebates for a deal on the latest and greatest, won’t mind at all. It is here that we continue to see great improvements over the previous generation GPUs, some of which are in the same price point on clearance.  All of which are tucked nicely behind the GTX 670.

Let’s see what happens in another FPS.

Battlefield 3

Yes, Ultra settings in Battlefield 3 will slap any GPU silly especially at 1080p resolutions. Overall, everything was smooth sailing throughout with any of the GTX 660 Ti as I get my war zone fix on. For a minute there, each card made me wonder if the GTX 670 OC was accidentally installed due to the close proximity of the frame rates to one another. The trio GTX 660 Ti again offer very playable frame rates. One thing you might have noticed is that despite the higher overclock of the GIGABYTE, the MSI still manages to best it in the last few benchmarks. It appears that the more stable voltage of the MSI is starting to play its hand.

Alien vs Predator Benchmark

Well, the trend continues. The GPU muscle and memory frequencies add up to strong frame rates overall. While not shown, overclocking these cards was practically pointless as it would only add about 3 frames extra. Frankly speaking, it’s just not worth pushing these lean and mean cards any further.  Due to the age of this benchmark, you can see the older cards start to file in, but based on the majority of benchmarks, you can see that the newer the game, the better the new GTX 660 Ti performs.

Temperatures and Power Consumption

It’s been rather warm on the West Coast as of late, so keeping the lab temperatures under control have been a challenge. The ambient temperature was around 22C during the tests. The test system was covered in a DangerDen tech station. Power consumption wattage included the entire system under load.

I’d say this is all pretty par for the course. The EVGA reference cooler didn’t top 74C and was always too quiet to notice during regular 3D tests which is an outright pleasant experience. GIGABYTE’s Windforce cooler seemed to be spinning the same undetectable RPMs at all times but cooled a bit better. But, MSI’s Twin Frozr II was the coolest and almost as quiet as the Windforce thanks to its more aggressive design. However, on ocassions the cooler could be heard just over the 26dB CPU fans.

Finally, the GTX 660 Ti cards are not power hungry at all. The MSI GTX 660 Ti PE required the most power but it also features a more aggressive VRM than the rest. Granted, the ASUS Maximus V Gene is a somewhat lean gamer platform, but to be able to run one card and not top 250 Watts is awesome. It’s obvious that power gamers can run two GTX 660 Ti on a good quality 80PLUS Bronze or higher 650 Watt power supply without issue.

Which NVIDIA GTX 660 Ti is for You?

When it came down to testing, the three GTX 660 Ti flexed their best CUDA cores rendering extremely similar frame rates in games which is really all anyone should expect from the first cards based on this new GPU. While, the EVGA GTX 660 Ti Superclocked fell just a few frames behind on one benchmark, it still performed well within reason and it was still very quiet and stable. GIGABYTE’s GTX 660 Ti OC card performs admirably as well providing the second highest results. However, the MSI GTX 660 Ti PE consistently lead the trio overall and is built the best for overclocking.

Overall, the ultimate winner is the GTX 660 Ti GPU and gamers looking for an affordable GPU that will increase frame rates and give you the latest features without destroying the piggy bank. Low power consumption, 1080p resolutions, and the ability to upgrade without upgrading your power supply, makes this card the right choice if the games you play are the latest DX11 titles. If all you play are older titles, then the advantages aren’t quite as clear cut as demonstrated in our results.

To summarize, here’s the low down on each of our test subjects.

EVGA GTX 660 Ti Superclocked

Price: $309.99 US Warranty: 3 Year Parts / 3 Year Labor

Pros

  • Low power consumption
  • Quiet, stable operations
  • Gamer bundled sticker and poster
  • Precision X and new OC Scanner X software
  • SLI support on much lower Wattage power supplies

Cons

  • Slightly slower performance here and there
  • Doesn’t overclock as well as others

EVGA packs a little extra value with the inclusion of stickers and posters. While not important to performance, this is something that some gamers and enthusiasts really enjoy. Their latest Precision X overclocking and monitoring software is simple to use, works relatively well, and being able to add new skins is a bonus. The new OC Scanner X is especially handy for detailed monitoring while stress testing the GPU overclock.

The EVGA Superoverclock did have some anomalies with frame rates that made us believe that there could be some BIOS or hardware inconsistencies, but given its competitors have highly tweaked GPUs delivering better power, we can only assume that the GPU boost was affected by this. Still, most gamers will not notice the single digit frame rate drops, although benchmarkers will.

GIGABYTE GV-N66TOC-2GD

Price: $319.99 US Warranty: 3 Years Parts / 3 Years Labor

Pros

  • Good factory OC frequencies
  • Windforce 2X cooler is very quiet
  • Good, stable performance all around
  • Offers some overclocking headroom
  • SLI support on much lower wattage power supplies

Cons

  • Heat gets high too quickly for Windforce 2X to expel
  • Meager bundle
  • The highest priced GPU in our round up at launch
  • OC GURU not very aggressive

If your needs are for a good all around gaming GPU that’s very quiet, then the GIGABYTE GV-N66TOC-2GD will treat you to a good experience. It also has the highest overclock out of the box, but seems to also have the highest price at around the $319 US price point on NewEgg. I’m sure rebates will correct the price out as this seems to be one of the most competitively priced launches in a while.

In our testing, the GIGABYTE unit takes the overall silent prize with cooling that is above normal for the type of noise level produced. We also have to applaud the GIGABYTE for staying very compact, allowing it to fit in even the tightest gaming rigs. An enhanced Ultra Durable PCB also puts it just just second behind the MSI in terms of overall performance, allowing GPU boost rates to deploy when needed.

MSI N660Ti PE 2GD5/OC

Price: $309.99 US (Plus $10 rebate at launch for $299.99) Warranty: 3 Years Parts / 3 Years Labor

Pros

  • Decent factory OC frequencies
  • Triple Overvoltage offers good overclocking
  • Strong, stable performance
  • Twin Frozr IV cools very well
  • SLI support on much lower wattage power supplies

Cons

  • Meager bundle
  • MSI Afterburner still needs some polishing
  • Odd 3 year part / 2 Year labor warranty – Who solders my parts on after 2 years??See Update Below

Serious enthusiasts will want to consider the MSI N660Ti PE 2GD5/OC. In our tests, it seemed to put down the best overall overclock with the most aggressively designed cooler. The Twin Forzr IV cooler has always been one of the best performing coolers for pure performance and it definitely helps out the GTX 660 Ti GPU. The price at launch is also the most aggressive at $299 after a last minute rebate so it should fly off the shelves quickly. MSI’s Afterburner software continues to improve, but is still a little rough in some areas and what’s with that odd 3 year part / 2 year labor warranty? Do they expect you to solder your own parts on or something? UPDATE: MSI has informed us that their warranty policy is 3 years both parts and labor. You can verify the info on their website. We recommend MSI get the info out to all their retailers as even NewEgg still lists the policy as 3 year labor / 2 year parts. As consumers, their first point of contact is with the retailer when issues arise, so this should be looked after immediately.

Overall, not a bad pick if you want the best overclocking, lowest price and are willing to live with a strange warranty and no extras. Even though it wasn’t the highest overclock out of the box, the Triple Voltage design seemed to maintain the most consistent GPU Boost rates, which ultimately, gave it our highest scores even without the highest base overclocks.

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