Testing Thread: GeForce GTX 660

[MacMan]

The best bet for easy of installation and compatibility is to wait for the NVIDIA retail drivers to be updated for 10.8.2.

I was able to install them on 10.8.2 but they do not work at all. I could only get to the desktop booting in safe mode to uninstall them.

 

[pbryanw]

The best bet for easy of installation and compatibility is to wait for the NVIDIA retail drivers to be updated for 10.8.2.

I've come to the same conclusion. I was having some sound problems, so I tried installing 10.8.2 again - getting the hack to work again was time consuming as I had to reinstall the nVidia kexts before I could boot in. Luckily I still had 10.8.1 on a usb stick, so reinstalled ML again (and kept all my settings and apps). Then installing the nVidia drivers was simple compared to using the hack for 10.8.2.

 

[inkobl]

Is there any differences between GTX660 form EVGA and the one from ASSUS as in France (where I live) there is 5 years warranty for Assus material and less for EVGA. There is also more ventilation on the ASSUS and price is a bit less as you can see here : http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0098VKIRC/?tag=tonymacx8607-21

Will you advise me to buy ASSUS over EVGA ? As it's quiet difficult to choose when it's only about brand for almost the same conception...

Thanks for information

 

[grimAXE]

I would believe now with official 10.8.2 drivers from Nvidia, and native support from Apple's Nvidia drivers that the 6xx Series cards should work fine now. No more patches needed for the 660ti-680.

However with GTX 660 being a new GPU, with regard with 10.8.2, what needs to be done?

Install it and use it with native ML drivers
or Install it and use official Nvidia 10.8.2 Drivers.

I would assume either of those would work but I don't have a GTX 660 at the moment. Going to build one for my friend though.

 

[pbryanw]

However with GTX 660 being a new GPU, with regard with 10.8.2, what needs to be done?

Install it and use it with native ML drivers
or Install it and use official Nvidia 10.8.2 Drivers.

I would assume either of those would work but I don't have a GTX 660 at the moment. Going to build one for my friend though.

Hi, I don't think there are native ML drivers for the GTX 660 yet. I think the nVidia drivers are the only option at the moment.

To reinstall 10.8.1 I had to copy the kexts from the nVidia drivers dmg (by going into the pkg files) and copy them to my install stick. Only then could I boot into the USB stick. I'd be interested if there's a easier way but that's how I got a working ML USB Drive.

I can also confirm that the just released nVidia 10.8.2 drivers are working fine with my GTX 660 and ML 10.8.2. I did the combo upgrade then installed the new graphic drivers before the requested restart.

 

[Jerime]

Would it be worth updating to the GTX 660 from an XFX Radeon HD 6870 1GB, especially budget wise, I'm poor as hell?
I do a lot of 3D modeling. Which is why I want to know, because of CUDA. That and I would like to be able to use both DVI ports. I'd more than likely use both of these cards until I could afford a second card for SLI.

 

[pool1892]

@pbryanw very good news, thank you!

@jerime For real gpgpu stuff (read: CUDA) you might be better off with a used geforce 570 or 580, both cards are way faster in double precision calculation. both work very well with osx 10.8.2. only downside is they need a lot more power.

 

[Jerime]

I don't think power should be an issue.
Here is my PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341052

Edit: Seems they are more expensive than the newer 660?

 

[pool1892]

I don't think power should be an issue.
Here is my PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341052

Edit: Seems they are more expensive than the newer 660?

yes, your psu will do fine, no problem. it's just that rendering a given task consumes more power on the older cards and that means it is more expensive. depending on the work you do this cost might add up to quite a few bucks over the year. and the 660 does produce less heat and is generally easier to cool: silent operation.

and yes, the 580 is more expensive than the 660. it is faster as well.
take a look at these benchmarks:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5699/nvidia-geforce-gtx-680-review/17
the 660 has roughly 2/3 of the raw power of the 680.
but it all depends on the specific work you do and if the software you use has CUDA optimization either option will be massively faster than your old card.

 

[danosborne661]

Very glad to be hearing the positive things about the GTX 660 on 10.8.2. I've think I've found the graphics card for my new build now