Conclusion: Adding Value to Loftier-End GFX?

The Gainward GTX 770 Phantom is an impressive graphics card that not only looks bully, but also runs cool and very repose, making less noise than nigh case fans -- it certainly wasn't heard over anything else in our test system.

While the Gainward GTX 770 Phantom does provide more performance when compared to a standard GTX 770 (~5% in the ten games we tested), as is oftentimes the case with manufactory overclocking the gains are not huge, but it does grant you a lilliputian extra peace of mind knowing that the manufacturer is treatment the extra heave under warranty. From here on we'll use the Phantom'southward additional figures to compare against the balance of the cards.

The GTX 770 Phantom was seven% faster than the Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition, 13% faster than the GeForce GTX 680, and xi% slower than the GTX 780. The frame time results varied a a percent point or ii, but the overall trend was untouched. Unsurprisingly the GTX 770 Phantom, which enjoys 17% more than bandwidth than the GTX 680, is 13 to 15% faster.

Nevertheless all these figures are fairly meaningless without a cost tag to put things in perspective. Nvidia has set the suggested retail cost for the GeForce GTX 770 at $400.

The GeForce GTX 680 started life at $500, and while some cards still cost that, many can be had for a little less at around $470. So it looks like the GTX 770 is going to come in at a lot less than the GTX 680, effectively replacing it in the process in this price bracket.

Compared to the Radeon Hd 7970GHz Edition, which can exist purchased for $430, the GTX 770 provided seven% more functioning in our frames per second testing, while this figure was increased to 13% in our frame fourth dimension testing. That puts them alee in performance vs. value in the games that we tested with. The GTX 770 too has the upperhand on efficiency equally it consumes less power to deliver more functioning.

When all is said and done the GeForce GTX 770 doesn't modify the high-cease graphics card landscape (or should we say the new "mid-range"). Information technology is replacing the yr-old GTX 680 at the same price point, while delivering some extra oomph, both are good things. Overall we are impressed with Gainward's GTX 770 Phantom offering, and for would be GTX 680 buyers it'due south a welcomed pick.

Note: We have updated pricing data for GeForce GTX 770 cards which offset at $400. Nosotros have been unable to confim if Gainward will sell the Phantom at a premium, just this price correction means the GTX 770 matches the price of the older GTX 670 cards at launch and currently undercuts both the GTX 680 and Radeon 7970 GHz while delivering meliorate performance.

Pros: Better performance and slightly less price, means the GTX 770 brings amend value than the GTX 680 ever did. Gainward's Phantom version of the carte du jour is phenomenal.

Cons: Based on year-old architecture means it's substantially a college clocked GTX 680. Competition is as competent as it'south been for the by year.