Photos show custom GeForce GTX 1080 video cards from various brands – update
Photos have surfaced showing Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 graphics cards with custom coolers from Zotac, Gigabyte, and Gainward. Other brands such as Asus are releasing teasers themselves. Asus appears to be announcing its card on Friday.
The photos have appeared on VideoCardz and some are from Chiphell. It is not yet clear what adjustments the manufacturers have made to the pcb and at what speeds the GTX 1080s of the different brands run. The photos do offer a look at the cooling solutions that the GPU makers use.
The GeForce GTX 1080 will be available for purchase starting Friday, May 27, but initially only the Reference Design Founders Edition from Nvidia will be available. Manufacturers then come up with modified versions, which are equipped with a custom pcb and custom coolers. Such cards can also contain more phases and power connections, for better overclocking capabilities. The reference design is limited in that regard, as there is only one 8-pin connector.
Zotac comes with two versions, with two and three fans. The model with two fans is called Zotac GTX 1080 AMP! and the variant with three fans is the AMP! extreme. The video cards are equipped with LEDs that are adjustable with software. Several manufacturers seem to provide their GTX 1080 cards with lighting. The fans do not spin when the card is idle. This probably also applies to cooling solutions from many manufacturers. According to VideoCardz, there are two 8-pin connectors.
A sharp photo of the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1080 Xtreme Gaming is not yet available, but the grainy plate also shows that the middle fan is placed under the two outer fans. Gigabyte therefore seems to provide the GTX 1080 with a completely new WindForce cooler.
Furthermore, a Gainward map can be seen with two relatively large fans. There are also photos of an EVGA GeForce GTX 1080, built into a casing. It only shows that this card has a backplate. A product photo of a Galax video card with blower cooler has already appeared online. This is probably a budget model. Asus itself is teasing the arrival of the ROG Strix GTX 1080. The teaser shows that the card will have LED lighting and three fans. The date May 27 can also be read; the manufacturer may announce the video card on that date. The Computex will start in Taiwan on May 31. Many manufacturers will probably show their new video cards at the fair.
Update 17.47: Hot hardware has got their hands on a copy of the EVGA GTX 1080 SuperClocked ACX 3.0 and published photos. As with the Founders Edition cards, there seems to be one 8-pin connection.
Update 2, 18.28: A photo of the Asus ROG Strix Gaming GeForce GTX 1080 has also surfaced.