MSI N280GTX OC HydroGen
Packaging & Appearance
Published: 22nd January 2009 | Source: MSI | Price: £359.99 |
Perhaps the most striking aspect of the packaging is the size of the box being almost twice the length of the card itself. The front of the package displays the main features of the card; 1GB DDR3, 3-way SLI and PhysX capabilities. Strangely the front of the package does not give any indication that this is a water-cooled card. The rear of the package goes into the finer points of the cards features as well as the basic system requirement for running the GTX280.
It isn't until we flip the lid of the outer sleeve that the main feature of this unique GTX280 is indicated. MSI claim a drop of 10c from a standard aircooled GTX280 which is a very reserved amount judging by the results we came across later in the review. The full cover, high grade copper waterblock has a Delrin port featuring a G1/4 thread size ensuring compatibility with most common barbs on the market today.
The inner box is a very well packed hard foam structure ensuring the contents are secure from damage during transit. The compartmentalised box is split into two sections, the main carrying the card and the secondary cardboard box holding the accessories. The usual assortment of accessories are included, however there is no Molex to 6-pin PCIe nor 6pin PCIe to 8-pin PCIe. I could perhaps live with that (luckily we have a choice of supporting PSU's) but something I was none too impressed by was the omission of barbs or elbows. Unfortunately you will have to buy your own connectors for the HydroGen to fit this into your loop be it 1/2" or 3/8". Considering the cost of the card I would have thought that a selection of barbs would be included but sadly this was not the case.
The card itself is a stunning looker with the full copper block looking both very sleek and futuristic. Our card needed a quick douse of metal polish before photographing due to oxidised finger prints covering the card but once polished up it certainly looked the business. The card itself appears to be a standard affair with no differences that I could find from the standard GTX280.
The GTX280, as with the standard version, is powered by PCIe 6-pin+PCIe 8-pin cables, the dual SLI tabs are there as are the 2xDVI ports (HDMI + VGA adapter included) and S-Video port.
Disappointingly, despite the slimline copper block, MSI opted not to adapt the I/O shield to single PCI. This is a real shame as the card would be ideal for those wanting to make use of that extra PCI slot which otherwise would be taken up with the double slot aircooled version.
While most reviewers would leave it right there and run a few benchies, here at OC3D we like to go that extra mile so let's delve a little deeper and take the card apart to explore the finer points of the waterblock...
Most Recent Comments
Impressive performance for a GTX 280! And the card has an interesting heatsink.
First time I seen a fine machined waterblock from a watercooled ready gpu manufacturer. Looks like it cools well too 
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Originally Posted by name='moogle'
First time I seen a fine machined waterblock from a watercooled ready gpu manufacturer. Looks like it cools well too
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Stunning performance. It's so nice to see proper paste instead of that awful white goop too. But wow what a huge performing card and block.
Shame about the bracket. The devil is in the details.
VB
Shame about the bracket. The devil is in the details.
VB
Have you tried overclocking past the limits?
At 40C that is so cool.
At 40C that is so cool.
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Originally Posted by name='Jim'
Agreed. I'd actually prefer that block (in terms of looks at least) over anything that EK could offer.
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Originally Posted by name='VonBlade'
Shame about the bracket. The devil is in the details. VB |
Or can't you buy a single bracket that will fit on it. Only problem is I think there is an LED indicator on the 2nd grill part of the bracket, so you'd have to take that off.
Those blocks are awesome.. I believe Aqua-pcs may be stocking them soon, not too sure though.
What company manufactured the blocks for them. Reminds me of aquagraFX blocks a bit.
wow, loved that block pretty cool 
, and great performance, +1 for MSi. 
, also wc it wont obviously wont void warrantry 
thanks for the review jim, pretty cool one
Soap.
, and great performance, +1 for MSi. , also wc it wont obviously wont void warrantry thanks for the review jim, pretty cool one
Soap.
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Originally Posted by name='AntiHeroUK'
What company manufactured the blocks for them. Reminds me of aquagraFX blocks a bit.
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Also known as heatkiller.Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='AntiHeroUK'
What company manufactured the blocks for them. Reminds me of aquagraFX blocks a bit.
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Thanks Luigi.
How do you reckon MSI's water cooled 260's compete against the BFG variant? Granted there are marketing terms like MAXCORE and thermointelligence used, but do these actually play any part in making the cards have more bang for their buck?
-HypoG
-HypoG
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Originally Posted by name='HypoglossalXII'
How do you reckon MSI's water cooled 260's compete against the BFG variant? Granted there are marketing terms like MAXCORE and thermointelligence used, but do these actually play any part in making the cards have more bang for their buck?
-HypoG |
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Originally Posted by name='HypoglossalXII'
Granted there are marketing terms like MAXCORE and thermointelligence used, but do these actually play any part in making the cards have more bang for their buck?
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I still prefer choosing your own waterblock because when it comes to selling your card, you're limited to a small market of watercoolers rather than everyone (if you had the original cooler).
Hasn't anybody here at OC3D heard of Zotac? They've got a GTX 280 AMP clocked at CC 700, SC at 1400, and MC at 2300 on air! So MSIs N280GTX OC doesn't really impress me. I purchased two of these Zotacs just recently and current OC is 730/1536/2650...still on air! Fan is set to auto and flucs between 40 - 60 with temps rarely getting above 64C. Things are so steady and quiet, I may try pushing Core a little higher. At my current OC, I've even got the Zotac 285 AMP beat!
Of course we have heard of Zotac - we reviewed a GTX260 from them already.
MSI also have an air cooled GTX280 available which runs at the same clocks as the warercooled version. Somehow though I doubt it would run as cool, silent or indeed overclock aswell as the HydroGen. I am however, happy to be proven wrong
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MSI also have an air cooled GTX280 available which runs at the same clocks as the warercooled version. Somehow though I doubt it would run as cool, silent or indeed overclock aswell as the HydroGen. I am however, happy to be proven wrong
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Originally Posted by name='w3bbo'
Of course we have heard of Zotac - we reviewed a GTX260 from them already.
MSI also have an air cooled GTX280 available which runs at the same clocks as the warercooled version. Somehow though I doubt it would run as cool, silent or indeed overclock aswell as the HydroGen. I am however, happy to be proven wrong . |
"Thermointelligence"... That's what I use when I look out the window and decide to stay inside because it's winter. I have just got myself 2 EVGA GTX280 cards. I would love to get them watercooled at a later stage. And the SLI-Set HEATKILLER® GPU-X² G200 they have at watercool.de seems spot on when the time comes
Thats just sexy, I'll have two please.
Why stop at two? Get TRI SLI and be a man
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Originally Posted by name='w3bbo'
Why stop at two? Get TRI SLI and be a man
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MSI N280GTX OC HydroGen