Can EVGA's solution challenge ASUS's similarly-priced DirectCU II TOP? There's only one way to find out!!
 
!! F I G H T !!
 
Having just read the review on Hexus.net directly comparing these two cards its a very difficult choice. Both cards are quiet simply amazing and seriously question the role of the GTX 680 with both of these almost matching performance straight out of the box.
 
But when it boils down to the figures how do they both shape up? In BF3 they are almost too close to call. I don't think you could pick either card just based on the bench done at Hexus.net


 
Shogun Total War 2 tells a slightly different story however, although still a very close race we do see the Asus card come out on top. I honestly don't think the extra couple of FPS will make any difference in the real world with it being so close but this one has to be handed to Asus.
 

 
Onto our third game and were at somewhat of a tie with both cards winning out on the benches at one a piece. Crysis often seen as the standard when benching games these days should allow both cards to really flex their binary muscles. The Asus card is the clear winner this time but again at such a small FPS increase can we really damn the EVGA card when in real world situations its hardly going to be noticeable.


 
With the benching aside how well do they compare on noise, temp and power? Unfortunately for EVGA this is where the Asus custom cooler comes into its own and decimates the reference 680 design that EVGA have adopted for their 670 FTW.
This really leaves us the consumer some difficult choices both cards are almost identical in terms of bench results with the Asus card coming in at a fair bit quieter, cooler and less noisy.
 
My original choice was going to be another EVGA card due to the high quality they often produce but this really has thrown the cat among the pigeons! What do you guys think?
 
 
Full review can be found at www.hexus.net

The TOP's have been having issues. If going asus go with the non top. 

In my situation, the cooling design is the biggest factor in deciding. I don't like cards that expel the heat into the case!
 

I originally wanted the ASUS Top. But since it is either not available AT ALL (online shops don't even have an estimated stock date) or terribly overpriced I opted for the FTW.
 
I love my 670 FTW. Out of the box 1215 Mhz, overclocked I get 1300+ Mhz. Memory 3400 Mhz. Yes, with the powerlimit up to 140% the fan definitely gets noisy. And the green Geforce logo is downright ugly. Also, no backplate.
 
The ASUS has the better cooler and imho the better design (I have a ROG mainboard and fancy the black/red design). Also, it comes with a backplate. Last but not least it performs incredibly well, too
 
The 670 FTW "only" has great performance.
The ASUS Top card has great performance, low noise and a cool design. If only the card was available, ...
 
Still, I am VERY happy with my 670 FTW.
 

Well, I was happy with my 670 FTW.
 
First card was DOA.  Didn't even get to play with it.  Got a replacement.  Worked great for about a week.  Last night the replacement card started flaking out.
 
If you tally how much I have spent on this one card (including RMA incurred costs) I am starting to get a wee bit frustrated with this thing.  If this current card flakes out completely, I am going to just want my money back (or a new card w/o any headaches or costs incurred by me).
 
I can handle one card being bad.  EVGA did a good job getting my RMA to me.  However, if I have to go through that process again (with more money involved) I have to be honest...I won't be too pleased. 
 
I am hoping last nights hiccups were just driver related and not the card flaking out.  Going to put it through the tests tonight/tomorrow. 
 
Keep your fingers crossed.
 
 

fredbsd

Well, I was happy with my 670 FTW.

First card was DOA.  Didn't even get to play with it.  Got a replacement.  Worked great for about a week.  Last night the replacement card started flaking out.

If you tally how much I have spent on this one card (including RMA incurred costs) I am starting to get a wee bit frustrated with this thing.  If this current card flakes out completely, I am going to just want my money back (or a new card w/o any headaches or costs incurred by me).

I can handle one card being bad.  EVGA did a good job getting my RMA to me.  However, if I have to go through that process again (with more money involved) I have to be honest...I won't be too pleased. 

I am hoping last nights hiccups were just driver related and not the card flaking out.  Going to put it through the tests tonight/tomorrow. 

Keep your fingers crossed.

Got to say you have patience my friend, a very good trait to have but it must be getting thin. I commend you.

I had a bad and a good TOP.  They are great cards as I am sure the FTW cards are as well.  Some of the reported issues had to do with an outdated GPUz program that Asus put into their card controlling software leading to RSODs.  It seems the latest WHQL drivers are also not that stable.
 
As for heat in the case I guess it depends on your case, but I have no heat issues with two of these cards putting "hot" air into the case.  Granted I have a HAF-X.  These are by far the quietest video cards I have ever had.  

Evva no loner has a lifetime warranty beginning with the 600 series catds

I do like both EVGA and Asus, never had problems with either products to have to use their customer service and to be totally honest I'm from the UK I deal with the retailer not the manufacturer anyway (scan.co.uk in my case who RMA things still in warranty next day exchange) so I take any comparisons using customer service with a pinch of salt.
I do really love the custom cooler on the DirectCU II cards, the fact that it blows the hot air back into the case is rendered mute when you've got a water cooled CPU with a H100 and a powerful exhaust fan.

It seems that more and more flaws are becoming visible with the GTX 670 cards though a lot of complaints on the many different forums I frequent which is never a good sign. I think this time round I'm going to spend a little more and go for a GTX 680 version which thanks to scan are always in good supply (god it must suck to be in the USA and not just order a GTX680 and get it the next day)

Well when I benched my asus after a hour there was very minor heat in my case, it was also very stable at stock 1280mhz 60-63C with a very minor voltage tweak

I just realized my 480 will play any game I have fine so I returned it after playing with it...I see no major differences between my 480 and the 670 in my games

Big Shadow

DarkSacred

Asus GTX 680 DirectCU II TOP 2Gb @ £449

EVGA GTX 680 FTW 2Gb @ £549

Well after hunting about the +£100 premium on the EVGA FTW 2Gb card doesn't make it compete with the Asus one.

Guess I can call this one a "good game" and I'll be going with the Asus card.

Thanks for everyones views!

Thanks for outing yourself as a troll.

Just checked your link and you posted bogus numbers.

Asus 680 direct cu top is 529.98 AND there is no 680 FTW listed.

 
http://www.dabs.com/produ...ct-cu-ii-top-84CF.html £449* (also on novatech and ginger6) Don't know where you're shopping for your components?
 
http://www.evga.com/produ...eries%20Family&sw= £539* based on regional price changes and Overclockers were taking pre-orders earlier this week.
 
Cheers and that.

Big Shadow

Maybe the price is an error.

I can't see why an evga card would cost so much more in the uk, simply doesn't make sense. Maybe the retailers jack up the prices on the more sought after brands.

 
I originally thought that it was a price error but after finding several websites (notably Dabs and Novatech who are good etailers) with them for the lower price I think its Scan who have priced incorrectly.
 
Everything in the UK costs a fortune more, none of this mail in rebate stuff, VAT of +20% etc etc a like for like between Scan and NewEgg for the reference EVGA GTX 680 works as follows:
 
Scan = £431 which is equivalent to $669
 
NewEgg = $499 which is equivalent to £321
 
I can't imagine anyone in the US wanting to fork out $669 for a reference GTX 680. Which ever way you look at it the UK totally get ripped off be thankful you live in the US. (not forgetting in the UK we don't benefit from EVGAs super customer support, what support we can get is via an international number and their EU HQ is based in Germany, we don't get any of the advanced RMA options, if we do need to RMA a card we have to ship internationally to EVGA and we also don't get the step up program that the US gets)
 
As for prices of EVGA vs. Asus its to do with the size of the companies and their access to global markets Asus is considerably bigger (110,000+ employees compared to EVGA and its 250+) and has much easier access to the EU/UK market as a result because of this they can price more aggressively. Living in the US and EVGA being mainly a US focused company you guys reap the benefits ten fold.