XFX GTX260 896MB 'Black Edition'

Introduction

Search Reviews

Introduction
 
Black EditionBlack is a colour that typically depicts power, stealth, death, prestige, and mystery. If you're looking for a dominating presence, you don't wear a kipper tie, you wear a black suit and black tie. From Darth Vader to Reservoir Dogs, down to your city centre doorman, all choose black attire for good reason - to instill fear into their subjects.
 
The XFX GTX260 has evolved into the 'Black Edition' which  comprises of 2nd generation unified architecture, and an increase from 192 stream processors to 216. Known throughout the world as the 'GTX260 216' because of the increase in shaders, this card is the revised edition of the already high performing GTX260. The new card should give a significant increase in performance as the clockspeed has been increased over the XFX GTX260 XXX card (reviewed here) from 640mhz to a devilish 666mhz. The card also sees an increase in shader clockspeed from 1363 to 1440. While this might not seem like a major difference in speed, one has to take into account that this is compared to XFX's previous overclocked edition of the GTX260. With a little luck and perhaps with a little help from the 'Dark Side', we will be able to overclock the Black edition even further!
 
 
Specifications
 
Specifications
 
An impressive specification indeed! Incorporating Nvidia's latest features along with 2nd Generation Unified Architecture, an increase in stream processors as well as blistering clockspeeds, the Black Edition has set the scene for some serious performance for the serious enthusiast.
 
Let's take a look at the GTX260 Black edition in its new package...
«Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next»

Most Recent Comments

03-12-2008, 17:50:37

AndrewDrinnan
Got a bit worried last night, was trying out Crysis since i'd only seen it struggling to reach good fps on medium settings at 800x600 with my previous 8500gt. Anyway i started a new game with 1280x1024 on highest dx10 settings just to see how much better it looked and after the sky diving, i'd barely gotten on the beach when i smelled something burning. Nothing was on fire, but the psu was kicking out some heat out the back kinda like a heat gun for stripping paint. I quit the game and within a minute the temperature was down again but i'm not going to push it again.

I will just have to wait till tomorrow when i get paid to buy a new psu before i can game. I'm gonna get something about 700W as the box for the 260 BE says XFX recommended power requirements Non-SLI = 630W or greater and SLI = 680W or greater. The chances of me buying another card to SLI are slim but i'll go for 700W anyway.

It's either just wait till tomorrow or i underclock the card to run at normal 260 speeds just for tonight and see if it doesnt whore the Wattage so much

03-12-2008, 17:55:30

AndrewDrinnan

:o Got 500w ppc&c powering gaming rig atm >.<

Works fine ;)



That you may have, but what kind of card is it? Is it the Watt raping gtx200 series lol

03-12-2008, 18:03:38

w3bbo
Do yourself a very big favour and bin that EZ cool PSU. Why anyone would spend quality money on a PC then cheap out on the most important PC component is simply beyond me.:(

03-12-2008, 20:19:05

AndrewDrinnan

Do yourself a very big favour and bin that EZ cool PSU. Why anyone would spend quality money on a PC then cheap out on the most important PC component is simply beyond me.:(



Well to be honest, i cheaped out to start with and i'm slowly building up my parts, still on my list is psu and 2 medium sized drives to raid.
Looks like its the psu tomorrow

04-12-2008, 13:41:28

w3bbo
Remember, better to get a quality brand with lower wattage than a cheap brand that claim high watts.

04-12-2008, 14:20:57

Jim
..and check the OC3D PSU reviews section if you need guidance:

http://www.overclock3d.net/index.php?/power_supply

There's a whole lot of reviews in there which should help you decide.

(or just tell us how much cash you've gor set aside for a new PSU and we'll pick one for ya)

04-12-2008, 18:24:52

AndrewDrinnan
Ok i'v went for the corsair TX650W £75 from scan

09-12-2008, 16:28:42

AndrewDrinnan
Anyway sorry to go off topic for a bit about PSU's but anyway...

My comments on the XFX GTX260 Black Edition are that its a great card, pushed a little i can get the core/mem/shader clocks to 730/2546/1520 so performance is not an issue.
Ok so the £230 i paid is a bit more than the 4870 1gb but the rest of my parts are sli ready and i did get FarCry2 and 3DMark Vantage bundled with it. I dont feel ripped off at all as its coping with all my demands no problems. Thank you XFX.

02-01-2009, 16:03:09

lasher
folks is this a "reference design" ie would it take a standard block from EK and XSPC for example. Thinking of XSPC Razor full cover block.

Thanks in advance.

02-01-2009, 18:47:02

w3bbo
Yes it is reference design - any 260 block should fit fine.
x

Register for the OC3D Newsletter

Subscribing to the OC3D newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest technology news, reviews and goings-on at Overclock3D. We won't share your email address with ANYONE and you can unsubscribe at any time by sending a blank email to newsletter-unsubscribe@overclock3d.net.

Simply enter your email address in the box below and be sure to follow the confirmation emails that will arrive in your e-mail shortly after to complete the registration.

If you run into any problems, just drop us a message on the forums or at one of the addresses on our Contact Us page.