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Topic: Hardware

Nvidia launches $1,000 GeForce GTX Titan desktop graphics card

Summary: While based on the existing GK110 Kepler GPU, the new board is heavily tweaked to maximize performance while staying (relatively) cool and quiet.

Sean Portnoy

By for Laptops & Desktops |

nvidia-titan-graphics-card

In addition to debuting a new Tegra 4i chip with LTE capabilities, today Nvidia has also unleashed what it's touting as its most powerful single-GPU desktop graphics card ever.  Dubbed the GeForce GTX Titan, it will set you back a cool $1,000, unless you are buying it as part of one of the new gaming systems featuring the card (see more below), which will cost you even more.

Unlike the similarly priced Nvidia GeForce GTX 690, which is comprised of two GPUs, the Titan is based on the GK110 "Kepler" architecture, though with some tweaks. Those include 6GB of GDDR5 video memory with a 384-bit memory interface, along with an enormous aluminum heatsink and a vapor chamber to cool things down. The company has also rolled out an updated version of its GPU Boost technology, which monitors temperature and power numbers and adjusts graphics performance accordingly to maximize efficiency.

While hard-core gamers will no doubt drool over the capabilities -- according to AnandTech, it promises "46% more shading/compute and texturing performance, 25% more pixel throughput, and a full 50% more memory bandwidth than [the] GTX 680" -- the Titan stems from the Titan supercomputer used by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and based on Nvidia's GPUs. As such, AnandTech says the card could serve as an entry-level GPU compute product.

At the same time, Nvidia is hoping the Titan will spur the growth in small-form-factor gaming PCs. These range from Falcon Northwest's Tiki to Velocity Micro's Micro Raptor. Of course, you also have the option to hook three Titans togther in a triple SLI configuration, and that requires a traditional desktop tower like the Maingear Shift or a liquid-cooled Origin PC system.

One thing we don't know yet is how the Titan performs in third-party benchmark testing from independent sources. HotHardware points out performance results from reviewers are still under embargo. If it performs as expected, will the Titan be a success for Nvidia? Or is it just an expensive niche product? Let us know your thoughts in the Talkback section below.

Topics: Hardware, PCs

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Talkback

19 comments
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  • So the big question is...

    ..how do I get this installed on my iPad, and how will it affect the battery life?

    ..or is the whole "desktop is dead" sentiment still a tad premature?
    daftkey
    Reply 1 Vote

  • Desktop gaming is dead

    Just walk into any "computer store" and try to find a game. 10-15 years ago there were aisles upon aisles of video games available. Now, there might be an endcap at the end of the aisle devoted to "bargain basement" stuff and the occasional rack of "previously owned" titles available. I think the MS windows 8 initiatives ("write once, sell many"), if it ever bears any fruit, may bring some of that back ,but right now it's totally dead. For pete's sake, just walk into a "Best Buy". There is more floor space devoted to ink cartridges and mousepads than for PC software!!! And most of that is productivity and security software. The PC software market is dead and stagnant. There hasn't been a "killer app" since Office 2007, and none of the major vendors are retooling for "tiles". Never mind high-end games. They're actually trying to sell a $1,000 graphics card when the entire PC market is in the $300 range?! This isn't going to end up in laptops and tablets - it draws too much power and heats up too much. There is no "fix" for those problems that don't involve turning a $1000 board into a $50,000 one. You would have to make this thing way more efficient, way more of a power miser, and much much physically smaller (read: concentrated heat) to even have a chance. It couldn't fit in the 11" tablets, and the market is shifting into the 7" field.
    If you want one, buy it quick. I suspect they won't be around for very long at all. Maybe the Chinese will buy them in mass and make their next supercomputer out of them, but beyond that there just isn't a market. Sorry - too much, too late. Way too late.
    rock06r
    Reply 1 Vote

    • PC gaming is NOT dead.

      BOXED games are giving way to digital copies with DRM. Look at the steam store, or EAs origin store and come back and spout that nonsense.

      Secondly, please tell me what crack pipe you've been smoking? The entire PC market is NOT in the $300 range by a long shot. Chrome books are the ONLY laptops that cost $299 and those aren't good for anything but angry birds and facebook. Dude, you info is full of more fud than wallstreet!
      ericblr
      Reply 1 Vote

      • On one hand...

        ...you're calling me an idiot, and then on the other you're trying to mention a $300 chromebook in a discussion about game systems?

        Dude, people aren't spending $1000 on computers. And they're not spending $1500 on game systems. Not when they can get a Wii, Xbox, or PS3 for a FRACTION of that price. And, once more, they are certainly not going to spend $1000 on top of that for a graphics card.

        Those days came and went a long, long time ago. Those days of computer swap meets, trade shows, etc. All gone. All kaputt. The market has shifted to laptops and tablets. Just try to tell yourself that home buyers are still buying desktop systems. You're nuts if you do.

        And guess what - this $1000 graphics card isn't going to fit into your ESATA plug on the back of your laptop, now is it? Nor are you gonna sandwich it into the memory slot or the (rare) DVD drive bay, now are you. This card is for the 1 in 1000 users that might be mildly interested in upgrading his gaming rig and has an extra $1000 lying around. Know anyone by that name? Me neither - and believe me, I know them ALL.

        They've moved on (and down) to the Xbox and PS3. That's it. End of story. Don't try to tell me that there's a market for desktops systems. Don't BS everyone here with tales of record PC sales. Not even Oscar Meyer would buy that beloney.
        rock06r
        Reply Vote

    • You can buy gaming PCs anywhere from $700-$10000

      The $700 ones are a joke. You're looking a $1000 rig for mid-level gaming.

      You can find monster gaming setups running $10,000 (liquid cooling, lighting, dual XEON, with 1000+Watt power supplies. Apparently people buy these things.

      You won't see this kind of GPU compute power in a tablet for a long long time. These kinds of desktop GPUs were never intended to make it to Tablets. Tablets are a long way from the compute power of an i3 much less i5 or i7 and even the integrated graphics that come with these guys. We don't even have 64 bit yet!
      DevGuy_z
      Reply Vote

      • As a non gamer...

        I'm actually interested in the advantage of a dual Xeon set up for gaming? It doesn't jump straight out at me, I would expect a single hex core i7 to be more than sufficient?

        I built a 8 core dual Xeon board for virtualisation about 18 months ago and came across an EVGA motherboard during my research that seemed to be designed for gaming - SLI cards, over locking, etc and I wondered then what kind of games people needed it for?

        All enlightenment from knowledgable gamers welcome! (The only thing that's ever tested the board I'm referring to was a two hour movie rendering by a friend of mine that shoots in HD!)
        MarknWill
        Reply Vote

        • As a gamer

          MarknWill makes some valid points, however it mirror the kind of questions asked when someone is seem dropping larger turbos in a car that already too fast for most.
          MarnWill, there is an enthusiast market and too much is never enough, this goes for the PC market as much as any other.
          As an avid gamer and an individual of modest means a $1000 video card as well as a $3000 dual Xeon set up is way beyond my means - but in a single second flat I would grab them and dance with you at owning a system like that!
          My current system (starting with 2 GTX570s) is no slouch and here I give merit to your statements in that I havent come across any titles that would grief my PC. I cant think of any IMMEDIATE need for dual Xeon or 3-way SLI Titans and wouldn't be able to make any clear distinctions for you as to any advantages a system like that would afford a gamer, if any. Though the power potential in a system like that certainly future proofs those with the financial means.
          With 4-6GB of memory more than enough for 98% of the software and games out now, there are still people buying 16, 32, 64 and even 128GB why? Because they can and why not if you have that kind of disposable cash.
          In any hobby there are enthusiasts and with any enthusiast there will be (seemingly to non-enthusiasts) large amounts of excess and overkill.
          Where as a weekend bicyclist is content with a $100 no-name bike.. rest assure the pros and wanna-be's alike can spend $500,000 on one.. I'll post the link for anyone else that thinks a half a mil bike can exist.. lol
          http://www.bornrich.com/entry/world-s-most-expensive-bicycles-for-eco-luxurious-ride/
          Lord EOD
          Reply Vote

          • I can totally respect that.

            A little glad I hadn't missed anything obvious! It'll probably depress you a little to know that the machine of which I speak only has a $60 MSI graphics card bought primarily for it's connectors and lack of need for additional power. But then, as I say it mostly virtualises, and the card is simply to provide graphic capabilities as my E5630's don't obviously provide integrated graphics. I too went for 16gb initially but have since upped it to 24gb.

            I suppose I'm quite the build enthusiast myself, building far more than necessary for the fun of it; this Christmas I Built a replacement home office/theatre PC for someone seeing how small and quiet I could go with the mini itx form factor. It only needed an i3 which helped with cooling, but I managed to pack it all into a case roughly 10"x8"x16"

            For me it's valve audio circuits; am/fm receivers, hi-fi amplifiers, guitar ampsand distortion. I can usually only afford to tinker , play with different components on breadboard, but every now and then I'm able to fund a real nice project. If I was able to blow a grand on a new hi-fi amp using some legendary tubes with all manner of analogue meter readout and eq... In a heart beat too!

            Fully aware of being such a tech junkie and coverting PRE 70's tech... Maybe it's spending your working life with silicon that makes you want to build things completely free of it!!

            As an exercise in what's possible I can totally see the sense in that evga board... No home server board I've ever used has 2 pci-e card slots, let alone sli/crossfire!
            MarknWill
            Reply Vote

          • I love digital, but analog can be beautiful!

            Like I said, enthusiasts.. lol.. at home, I use my PC for everything except making dinner and love. I work in IT and set up PCs for friends and family at no charge.. definitely I love what I do, so I don't mind it.
            I might not express myself a colorfully a Jeffrey below, but he's right.. I can put a nice gaming rig together of about $700 - $800 and it certainly would be "mid-range". A $1000 rig, thought out right and shopped around for could basically run anything out there right now gaming wise without much trouble.
            You don't need a Lamborghini to go grocery shopping, but its understandable that one doesn't want to be seen in a junker either.
            Its in the best interest of Intel, EVGA, ASUS and the rest of the gang to convince you that a $2000 rig is the only option, but that just inst true.. there is no NEED for dual Xeon for even this Titan card. WANT and NEED are very different things.
            On a final note, and this one is also strictly IMHO, is that the industry is heavily shaped and driven by the tinkerers and basically the type of people that CANT afford these kinds of cards.. the pursuit to find answers for not having $$$ often yields wonderful breakthroughs.. lol
            Lord EOD
            Reply 2 Votes

          • Big mem machines

            I routinely build machines with 128G to 512G of RAM. But they're database servers, one of the few places that much memory can be useful. They also have 32 to 80 cores.
            Scott Marlowe
            Reply Vote

        • Save your money

          Wait for the next xbox to come out. The capabilities that this will bring to your screen will pretty much kill of home PC's. Even Intel is starting to talk about pulling out of the PC market. There's no money in it for them anymore - that scale, that market share is shrinking, and it needs to not only be stable - it has to increase - to be profitable for these chipsets and the tech to make sense financially at the end of the day. That's the real grub.
          rock06r
          Reply Vote

      • You can BUILD you a gaming PC for 400-1000+

        And it will preform much better than current gen game consoles, the bullshit some people spew out of their face holes is such shit that their assholes are jealous.

        I have a gaming PC which is also a work station that is worth 750 bucks. It plays EVERY single game a throw at it with great frames. I am able to max out just about every game I play. Soon I'll upgrade the GPU, so really, it will soon be a 900 buck gaming PC.

        My specs:
        AMD Piledriver FX-6300 OC'd @ 4.3ghz
        GPU: AMD Radeon HD 6950
        RAM: G.Skill RipJaw X Series 8gb 1600mhz

        This is way more than adequate for PC gaming.
        Jeffrey Layne
        Reply Vote

      • $700 is VERY reasonable for a gaming rig

        Case: $50
        500W PS: $30
        Mobo: $50
        i5-3470 CPU: $150
        8G RAM: $50
        1TB HD: $60
        Medium grade video card (AMD 7850, GTX560ti etc) $200
        misc (keyboard, mouse, speakers): $50
        $640 total
        Add a monitor:
        $22" 1080p monitor: $100

        Total: $740.

        On that you can play any modern game in at least medium gfx settings at 1080p, except maybe the latest incarnation of Witcher.

        Admittedly I'd spend another $200 or so getting a better CPU/Mobo but the extra money spent on $599 video cards etc makes little sense for most games.
        Scott Marlowe
        Reply Vote

    • PC gaming has basically gone fully digital

      There is no reason to go to a store and pick you up a hardcopy, when Steam has a vast library of games to sale you. Especially when they go on sale for 30-75% off
      Jeffrey Layne
      Reply Vote

    • Rocko6r you have NO idea.

      you are completely wrong, you seem to have replaced fact with make-believe. Gaming is alive and thriving on PC's. See google... MMO's, Steam etc. etc.
      Graham Bedford
      Reply Vote

  • When I win the lottery

    When I win the lottery and run out of things to buy.
    adacosta38
    Reply 1 Vote

  • Wow

    this is a deff good card but the gt 7 series are coming out soon soooo u can buy this just to be a tool or wait for a card that might be slightly less in quality n still be able to handle bf3 or Crysis 3 and to the guy who said pc gaming is dead obvs hasnt done his googling
    Mike Masters
    Reply Vote

    • 7 Series vs 6 Series

      The 7 series first batch of cards won't outdo say a GTX 680 or a 690 this will happen over time. as for this Titan card, not even a 7 series will touch this until the very end. It has always been this throughout the series of Nvidia cards.
      kainswiss
      Reply Vote

  • I always

    preferred the nVidia cards over ATi/AMD offerings.. but this current rig of mine is running a relatively ancient HD4650.

    I will return to using an nVidia GPU next time i upgrade systems.

    This GTX Titan is the stuff of dreams for most PC gamers.
    thx-1138_
    Reply Vote
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