Archive notice: This article was originally published on May 3, 2012. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
The clock speed of the two Kepler GK104 chips in the GTX 680 is 2.8% lower than in the previous version, with a standard clock of 915 MHz. However, dynamically increasing the clock speed using the boost function can also reach up to 1,019 MHz. The card is equipped with a total memory configuration of 4GB(GDDR 5), and 512 data lines handle data transport at a speed of 6 Gbps. In addition, the GTX 690 has 3,072 Cuda cores. Three Dual Link DVI ports and one Mini DisplayPort(V 1.2) are available for connecting monitors.
In addition to the increased performance, Nvidia placed great emphasis on the actual design and materials of the installed parts. On its homepage, the graphics-card manufacturer compares the design of the GTX 690 with the design of a Formula 1 engine block, not only through the use of a magnesium housing, but through a large cooling system consisting of two vapor-chamber cooling units and an axial fan positioned in the middle.
In terms of price, the card is very high, just like its performance. At large online shops for IK technologies, it can already be preordered for a price of just under 1,000 EUR.
Here is the official press release.
