NVIDIA GTX 770 2GB Graphics Card (Pre Owned)

NVIDIA's GTX 770 card launched in May 2013 and is built on the Kepler architecture – the same GK104 chip used in the GTX 680. Essentially, the GTX 770 is an overclocked and refined version of the GTX 680, with increased core and memory clocks, as well as improved technologies like GPU Boost 2.0.

At the time of its launch, this card was considered one of the fastest and most affordable options in the "second-tier high-end" category, even surpassing the top-tier cards of the previous generation. Today, this card is outdated for modern AAA games, but it can still prove to be a working solution for older esports titles, retro gaming, and light multimedia tasks.

Performance and Architecture

The GTX 770 features 1536 CUDA Cores, 128 Texture Units, 8 Tessellation Units, and 32 ROPs. These are divided across 4 Graphics Processing Clusters (GPCs) and 8 Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs). The base clock is around 1046 MHz and the boost clock goes up to 1085 MHz, while some factory-overclocked variants (such as the PNY OC) can even reach core speeds of 1150 MHz to 1202 MHz.

Supporting DirectX 11 (with DirectCompute 5.0 support) and OpenGL 4.3, this card remained well-compatible with games of its era, although it's now outdated for DirectX 12 and modern rendering technologies. Features like NVIDIA GPU Boost 2.0, PhysX, 3D Vision-Ready, and 3-Way SLI Ready are also included in this card.

Memory and memory bandwidth

The card features 2GB of GDDR5 video memory (a 4GB variant was also launched), running at effective speeds of 7000-7200 MHz over a 256-bit memory interface—at launch, it was the fastest graphics memory in that price range. This provides memory bandwidth of around 224 GB/s, which is still better than many entry-level modern cards, though the 2GB VRAM capacity is now significantly insufficient for modern heavy games.

Display Output and Connectivity

The GTX 770 features two Dual-Link DVI, one HDMI 1.4b, and one DisplayPort 1.2 outputs. The card supports up to four concurrent displays via NVIDIA Surround Technology, making multi-monitor gaming setups or 4K output (at the time) both possible. The PCI Express 3.0 x16 interface makes the card easily compatible with any modern motherboard, and there's also the option to increase performance by connecting up to three cards via 3-Way SLI.

Cooling and Build

The card comes in a dual-slot design and measures approximately 267mm tall, so it requires a mid-tower or full-tower cabinet. With a TDP of 230W, most variants feature a multi-fan cooling design, which helps maintain stable temperatures even under heavy gaming loads. Due to its high power requirements, it supports both 6-pin and 8-pin power connectors.

Things to keep in mind during installation

Ensure the card is properly seated in its PCIe x16 slot and that both the 6-pin and 8-pin power connectors are connected, as the card will not boot without them. A minimum 600W PSU is recommended. Since this is an older card, download drivers from NVIDIA's legacy driver list, as the latest driver versions no longer support this card.

Who is this graphics card for?

The GTX 770 2GB is now only suitable for users who already have this card and want to use it for light esports titles, older games, or retro gaming setups. This card is no longer recommended for new purchases, as more efficient and modern cards like the GTX 1050 Ti are available for even lower prices. However, this card can still be useful for repurposing older builds or for collector purposes.

GTX 770 2GB Specifications Table

GTX 770 2GB Price (New vs Second-Hand)

Note: This card is an older 2013 model and is now quite limited by modern gaming standards, so its price has dropped significantly. Be sure to test the card's condition, cooling fan, and power draw before purchasing, as cards this old can experience issues like capacitor degradation.