Conclusion

The Zotac GeForce GTX 285 Infinity Edition uses a lot of memory and moderate GPU overclocks to achieve notable performance gains compared to reference-spec cards. But the solution is most certain to grab the attention of performance fanatics who would have otherwise considered an overclocked GeForce GTX 285 and separate liquid-cooling water block.

Here's the rub: the card hasn't shown up yet at e-tail. As the availability story changes, we'll update this space to reflect Zotac's value-proposition for the enthusiasts looking to stack two or three of these in a high-performance SLI configuration, where heat is public enemy number one.

Initial estimates from Zotac peg the card around $519. Stock GeForce GTX 285s go for somewhere around $360 online. And the Danger Den water block sells for $145. In other words, buying pre-configured from Zotac will cost close to the sum of its parts, netting you a guaranteed overclock and two-year warranty (that's upgraded to "lifetime" coverage if you register the card immediately after purchasing it).

Our biggest reservation in outright recommending it over the competing model out there with an identical cooler is that the competition provides its card with a single-slot bracket. While we won't directly compare the two, since we don't have that other board on hand to test thermals, power, or performance, its single-slot mounting could open up three additional expansion slots when used in a 3-way SLI configuration. Zotac offers superior clock speeds, but buyers must weigh that advantage against any lost slot access.

Our previous 3-way SLI articles have shown good reasons to choose liquid cooling when multiple cards are installed back-to-front, but it’s up to the buyer to decide which liquid cooled solution is best for his or her needs.