Zotac GTX285 Infinity Edition PCIe Graphics Card

 

The Zotac GTX285 Infinity edition is the fastest single core GPU we have tested to date at OC3D. It absorbed everything we threw at it, chewed on it a while and spat it back out. The performance really is that good. Being an Infinity edition, it’s also clocked to the high heavens and is cooled sufficiently with the very good looking Danger Den full cover GPU block ensuring that heat will not be an issue.

 

I would have liked the block to be attached more thoughtfully with a thin layer of paste instead of the thermal pad as I believe this would have brought temps down further. The load temperature was certainly nothing to shout from the rooftops about.and while it was well within the realms of safety, even when overclocked past its pre overclocked state, I expected it to run cooler than it did. This could be down to the waterblock itself as the design is very basic with the GPU channels reminiscent of early CPU waterblocks. It seems GPU waterblocks have some catching up to do if they are to match the cooling properties of CPU waterblocks. This is not a fault of Zotac though as the block is not manufactured by them but I do believe their are better solutions on the market.

 

The packaging is fantastic with a well presented box and protected padding contained therein. The accessory list is complete and the two software additions in the form of 3DMark Vantage and Race Driver:GRID are most welcome. I would have preferred the card to come with a single slot backplate, freeing up the use of an extra expansion slot and a choice of barbs would have been nice but this is a minor oversight on Zotacs part.

 

All in all I was impressed with the Zotac Infinity, it’s performance is second to none in the single core GPU market, the packaging and presentation was excellent and despite my reservations of the GPU block it cooled the card well enough throughout my testing. The one stumbling block for this card could be the price. The air cooled Zotac GTX285 AMP! Edition retails for around the £310 mark so adding the price of the waterblock as well as the additional, higher overclocks,could see this card retailing around the £400 mark. For that money we are well into 4870×2 territory and knocking on the door of the GTX295 so it would then be hard to justify such a high price tag. You could buy your own GTX285 and fit the waterblock of your choice yourself but you risk damaging the card or at best, invalidating the warranty. The Zotac GTX285 Infinity takes these risks out of the equation and it features an extended warranty for your peace of mind (5 years when registered).

 

If money is no object and you want a hassle free, no fear, watercooled and pre-overclocked GPU then the GTX285 is the perfect solution. The only problem you might have is finding somewhere that stocks them!