XFX 280GTX XXX Edition

 

XFX have long been the leaders in packaging, so it should come as no surprise that the XFX 280GTX XXX edition, costing £356.69 from Scan, be packaged with the same high standards XFX have previously set. True to form, the product arrives in a very sleek matt and gloss finished outer package with neon green trademarks, along the Alpha Dog set as the backdrop. The only difference between this box and the stock 280GTX is a very subtle additional sticker, no doubt making it a nightmare for warehouse staff to identify! To the rear, we see the usual ‘Key Features’ along with the claim that the GTX280 is 50% faster than previous generations.

 

 

The sides of the packaging are nothing extra ordinary with the ‘Nsist on NVidia’ emblem to the left hand side and the recommended requirements along with a PSU advisory situated along the bottom of the box. A 630W PSU with a 12v current rating of 40A or more is the order of the day or if you are rich enough for SLI 280GTX XXX’s, a 680W PSU will be required.

 

  

Taking the outer sleeve off the package, we find a traditional but sturdy lime green box emblazoned with the XFX logo. Opening that box, we find a very securely packed GTX280 GTX XXX, contained in an anti-static bag. There is not a chance in hell, bar a nuclear blast, that the card would get damaged in transit with excellent packing like this. Beneath the card and the layer of foam, we find the driver CD, the excellent Assassins Creed game and manuals for the card

 

A cardboard separator houses a molex-6 pin adapter, HDMI Audio cable and VGA-DVI adapter. So everything you need to get started. There is a little minor point and that is there is no molex-8 pin adapter so please make sure your PSU has an available PCIe 8pin before buying as unlike the ATI cards which can be powered via 6pin, the GTX280 definitely needs an 8 pin supply or it will not post.

 

 

 

The card itself measures 10.5″ x 4.4″ x 1.5″ (LxWxH) so will fit in any case that an 8800GTX will. The actual card is fully encased in a plastic and metal frame that serves to both channel air through over the card and lower the possibility of static discharge. The case is then emblazoned with full length XFX ‘stickery’ that is going to be there for the duration. I was tempted to rip the sticker off to gain access to the GTX’s innards but I doubt I would have been able to do so without destroying the look of the card, which I’m certain XFX wouldn’t have been too happy about! Rest assured the stickers will not come off on their own accord.

 

 

 

Taking a closer look at the card, we see that the fan is the same size and specification as it’s sibling GTX260’s, in fact, apart from the stickers and obviously the performance, you would be hard pushed to tell one card from the other. Nowhere on the card is there any notification that this is a XXX edition either which is a little surprising but given the clockspeed attained it would be doubtful that there are many yields capable of such a speed that would warrant a different design.

 

 

 

 A neat little touch on the 200 series of cards is an SLI tab. This removable tab gives access to the SLI keys should you wish to use them. If not, then the rubber tab keeps them hidden away out of harms way without destroying the sleek lines of the card.

 

  

Last of all, we come to the business ends of the card. Firstly and as stated previously, you will need both a 6pin and 8Pin PCIe power cables. Disappointingly, the PCIe power sockets do not light up red/green as with the 9800GX2 but it is really only cosmetic, as the card will refuse to allow your PC to post should you not supply it with the correct power cables.

 

The backplate is a pretty standard affair with 2x DVI ports (1 x VGA adapter included) and an S-Video port. There is also a tiny green LED that notifies you when the card is powered on. Below the connections is the main vent area.

 

  

So, a very strong showing from XFX with class leading packaging and a stunning looking card. Although the card is a  reference design, the stickers are top quality glossy affairs and not some dodgy, paper type ones that peel off after an hours use. The card feels solid, heavy (but not overly so) and because of the casing should last the test of time. I do have some concerns about the heatsink getting clogged with dust and the inevitable cleaning required. With no easy access to the card itself, the only way to clean the heatsink would be by the use of compressed air cannisters but even then you have no way of knowing that the heatsink is clean and dust free. Not really a concern initially and not XFX’s fault as it is a standard design but something worth thinking about if you intend to keep the card for a few years.

 

Overall, I’m very impressed with the presentation and as stated previously, it is something we have become accustomed to with XFX who are without doubt, second to no-one in this department.

 

Lets take a look now at the main feature of the review, PhysX.