Gainward announces a 2GB GTX 460
by Ian Cutress on July 31, 2010 5:55 AM ESTIf you’re on the lookout for a GTX460, you had two choices – the 768MB versions, or the 1GB variants. From our recent review, the 1GB versions, due to their increased memory bus width, outperformed the 768MB versions by quite a few percentage points. This is also reflected in the price of the 1GB 460 over the 768MB 460. So now Gainward are adding to the mix, with a 2GB GTX 460 model.
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The Gainward GTX 460 2GB ‘Golden Sample’ uses the same 256-bit memory bus width as the 1GB cards, giving the same rated memory bandwidth as the 1GB models. Out of the box, the card comes pre-overclocked from 675MHz to 700Mhz on the GPU, and stock-clocked at 3600MHz (effective) for the memory. Ports come in the form of HDMI, two DVI, and a VGA.
Gainward’s marketing of their ‘Golden Sample’ series is to promote the overclockability of their cards through improved design and cooling – this card is promoted with 6mm water-based heatpipes and an 80mm fan. The GPU of the 1GB version of the cards, as shown at AnandTech, overclocked to around 825MHz-835Mhz on stock voltages; the double memory on this Gainward 2GB card could ultimately limit memory overclocking.
Two questions arise from the dust – does anyone really need a 2GB frame buffer on a graphics card, and how much does it cost? To answer the first, not many; GPU programmers who require large graphics memory and do not want to shell out money for Tesla products could take advantage. In terms of gaming, a few gaming situations and resolutions would see an immediate benefit from the extra memory; however, with the expectation that gaming will become more detailed in the future, the 2GB could allow for a degree of future proofing. In answer to the second, we’ve heard around $280 is the consumer price. Looking at Newegg.com, a 1GB GTX 460 will set you back at least $230, and the 1280MB GTX 470 comes in at $330 – thus positioning the 2GB GTX 460 between the two.
Ultimately, performance and overclocking figures will show if the 2GB frame buffer, and the price, is justified. There’s no word on release date yet, but expect Gainward to start shipping review samples as soon as they can.
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rupertmorris - Saturday, July 31, 2010 - link
For mudbox and Maya, this is perfect.vol7ron - Tuesday, August 3, 2010 - link
mmmm maya or zbrush. really, any sort of CAD or 3D modeling intensive software (especially combined with animation) - or are there more enterprise video cards for this?Javadevil - Thursday, August 5, 2010 - link
Great for rendering, Octane and IRAY !Earthmonger - Saturday, July 31, 2010 - link
Next month I have to have a new GPU for the wife. I was originally going to go with the GTX470. Then the 460, based on the GF104 showed up. Now I don't want to waste money on the GF100 based 470, unless there's a revision. But the revision, or conversion to GF104, won't be here for months. So then there's the 460, with 1GB of ram, which overclocked is very close to the 470's performance, but maintains a lower TDP. But there isn't a waterblock for the 460 yet. EK and AquaComputer have blocks coming, of course, but not until the end of August. Now there's a 2GB version. And more are going to show up. I like Gainward, always have. But their PCBs are often self-designed, requiring specialized non-reference waterblocks. I don't have the time to wait. Damn you, nVidia.And ATI is out, as they are too long for the case, and I'm not replacing this new, expensive case on account of ATI's poor design strategy. Hell with you, ATI.
tviceman - Saturday, July 31, 2010 - link
The whispering rumors are that Nvidia will release a fully unlocked GF104 core once it can sell through the majority of it's gtx470 stock. I think the end of August / beginning of September is the time frame they're aiming for. Depending on how they decide to clock a 384 shader GF104, it'll end up being about as fast to a little faster than the gtx470. It could be named anything from a gts470, to a gts475, or if it's fast enough a gtx475. So if you can hold out for just a little bit longer, this might be THE card to get.Eugenester - Saturday, July 31, 2010 - link
There are cards called the 5770 and the 5830...Both are shorter or the same size as the 460....And if your case was as expensive as you claim, then it would at least be able accommodate a 5850....Poor design strategy my foot.Earthmonger - Saturday, July 31, 2010 - link
The 5770 and the 5830 are both beneath the performance of the 460. They aren't even a worth a consideration.synaesthetic - Saturday, July 31, 2010 - link
agree, the 5770 is not even in the same class and the 5830 just has too much stuff disabled to be competitive (it's not a very good card from a price/performance standpoint).AMD better drop the prices on the 5850 or nvidia is going to clean up.
Quidam67 - Sunday, August 1, 2010 - link
I loved the HD 5770, but I've got to say, if the GTX 460 had launched around the same time, I would have been more than happy to take the minor step up in price to get the higher performance. As for the HD 5830, that card never factored as an option and I can't understand why anyone would have considered buying itcaoder - Sunday, August 1, 2010 - link
what high end case doesn't fit a extra large gfx card? jw