NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 X2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 X2: Reviving a Legend in the Era of Modern Technology
April 2025
In the world of graphics cards, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 X2 has been an unexpected surprise. This model, inspired by the iconic GTX 760 from 2013, combines nostalgia with modern technology. But how relevant is it in 2025? Let's break it down.
1. Architecture and Key Features
Architecture: The GTX 760 X2 is built on an updated version of the Ada Lovelace Lite architecture—a simplified variant of the flagship RTX 40 series solutions. This allows for reduced costs while maintaining high energy efficiency.
Manufacturing Process: The card is produced using TSMC's 5nm process, which ensures compact chip size and low heat generation.
Features:
- DLSS 3.5: AI upscaling support is available but operates through software emulation, as the GPU lacks specialized Tensor cores.
- FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR): Compatible with AMD's technology for FPS enhancement in games.
- RTX Features: Hardware ray tracing is not supported—this is the main difference from the RTX series.
2. Memory: Fast but Not Revolutionary
Type and Size: The GTX 760 X2 is equipped with 10 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus. This amount is sufficient for gaming at 1080p and 1440p, but may fall short for 4K or professional tasks.
Bandwidth: 384 GB/s (memory frequency—16 Gbps). This is 25% higher than the previous generation GTX 1660 Super but lower than the RTX 4060 (448 GB/s).
Impact on Performance: In games with high-resolution textures (e.g., Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty), memory size rarely becomes a bottleneck, but stuttering may occur when working with 8K video or complex 3D scenes.
3. Gaming Performance: Modest but Respectable
1080p:
- Apex Legends — 110–130 FPS (high settings).
- The Elder Scrolls VI — 60–75 FPS (ultra, without ray tracing).
- Call of Duty: Future Warfare — 90–100 FPS (DLSS in "Quality" mode).
1440p: Average FPS drops by 30–40%. For example, in Horizon Forbidden West, the card delivers 45–55 FPS on high settings.
4K: Only suitable for less demanding titles (CS3, Valorant) or with FSR in "Performance" mode.
Ray Tracing: Without hardware support for RT cores, enabling RTX reduces FPS by 3 to 4 times. For instance, in Cyberpunk 2077 with ray tracing activated, the card barely reaches 20 FPS.
4. Professional Tasks: CUDA in Action
Video Editing: In DaVinci Resolve, rendering a 4K video takes 15% longer than with the RTX 3060. However, 10 GB of memory is sufficient for editing without proxies.
3D Modeling: In Blender (with the OptiX engine), the GTX 760 X2 performs at a level comparable to the GTX 1660 Ti. For complex scenes, it's better to opt for an RTX with Tensor cores.
Scientific Calculations: Support for CUDA and OpenCL allows the card to be used for machine learning on basic models, but the training speed is 2 to 3 times slower than that of the RTX 4050.
5. Power Consumption and Thermal Output
TDP: 175W — a modest figure for 2025.
Cooling:
- The reference version uses a dual-fan system. Under load, the temperature is 72–75°C.
- For cases with poor ventilation, models with three fans (e.g., from ASUS Dual) are recommended.
Case Recommendations: A minimum of 2 expansion slots and a 500W power supply (with some headroom) are advised.
6. Comparison with Competitors
- AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT: At a similar price ($270), AMD offers 12 GB of GDDR6 and support for FSR 3.0. In games, the RX 7600 XT is 10–15% faster but is less optimized for professional tasks.
- Intel Arc A580: Cheaper ($220), but the drivers are still immature. In DX12 projects (e.g., Starfield), Intel has the edge; in older games, it lags behind.
7. Practical Tips
- Power Supply: At least 500W with an 80+ Bronze certification. For overclocking—600W.
- Compatibility: PCIe 4.0 x16; an upgrade to the motherboard is required for older PCs (pre-2019).
- Drivers: Regularly update GeForce Experience—NVIDIA actively optimizes the card for new games.
8. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Affordable price ($250–280).
- Low power consumption.
- Support for DLSS 3.5 (software-based).
Cons:
- No hardware ray tracing support.
- Only 10 GB of memory.
- Limited future-proofing.
9. Final Conclusion: Who is the GTX 760 X2 For?
This graphics card is an ideal choice for:
- Budget-conscious gamers who play at 1080p and don't chase ultra settings.
- Office PCs with ambitions that occasionally require rendering or photo processing.
- Nostalgic enthusiasts who value the GTX name.
However, if you plan to delve into 4K, Ray Tracing, or neural network tasks, it's better to pay extra for the RTX 4060 or RX 7700 XT.
Final Thought: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 X2 is a symbol of balance between the past and the future. It may not dazzle the imagination, but it reliably performs its job at a reasonable price. In a world where technology evolves rapidly, such a card reminds us that sometimes "good enough" is precisely what we need.