MSI N260GTX Lightning Black Edition
Lastly, we'll look at a very different rendition of the GeForce GTX 260: MSI's N260GTX Lightning.
MSI is taking a clear shot across the bow of the Asus ENGTX260 Matrix with this card. Just consider the specifications: 1,792 MB of video RAM (which is the most on a single-GPU GeForce GTX 260, as far as we’re aware) and 10-phase power. For the Black Edition, MSI also offers a touch-sensitive overclocking control panel called the AirForce Panel, which can be installed in your case or used as a remote from your desk.
Since our test sample included the Black Edition extras, we got to play with the AirForce Panel. We also got the Premium Black Edition packaging that includes a slick storage case. It won't make any difference to our performance story, of course, but we admit it certainly left a positive impression.
Our pre-release sample didn’t include the final bundle, so it’s difficult to know exactly what will be in the retail boxes. Our sample, however, had a driver CD, a DVI-to-HDMI adapter, a DVI-to-VGA adapter, the AirForce panel, and both internal and external USB cables for the AirForce panel.
As for the card itself, MSI has made significant modifications to the PCB compared to the reference design. As mentioned, MSI employs a 10-phase VRM. The card also sports twice the memory of other GeForce GTX 260 cards, with a full 1,792 MB of memory. It’s built with premium capacitors (according to MSI) and the PCB has voltage check points conveniently located for overclockers.
The cooler is a twin-fan, dual-slot unit called the Twin Frozr, which uses five heatpipes to dissipate heat quickly. It doesn’t have a passive mode, so the fans are always active during operation.
Would you run the first passive card with negative air pressure?
@mi1ez. Not too sure how yours is set up. But for most living rooms I'm sure the average Ikea or Argos T.V. cabinet wouldn't have adequate airflow for that. Getting waffted with heat in the summer wouldn't be my choice.
I don't have a passive card. I was just curious really given what they said about the card drawing cool air from outside the case.
The MSI overclocking panel appears to claim the fan is at 600,000rpm!
I wonder if there's an option on the Asus ENGTS250 Dark Knight card that allows you to run the cooler passive when idle? Seems like the heatsink could pull that off easily, doesn't it? It would be nice to have silent card when in 2D
so the question is can you control RPM of the fan and if so, can you put it to 0% when idle?
Well I just bought the Asus ENGTS250 card based on this review, and not only is the memory clocked slower at 2000Mhz DDR, the card does not slow it's clocks in 2D mode leading to substantially higher power consumption at idle.
I'm not impressed.