Thread: Zotac GeForce GTX 280 AMP

The Geforce 9 had a really short stay and NVIDIA has released the GTX 280, around the same time that ATI launched their first card. Zotac was the first to send us their over-clocked version of the GTX 280 that -hey proudly call the GTX 280 AMP! These new cards are crossing uncharted terri¬tt1ries. The Zotac GTX 280 A.MP! runs at a core speed of "00 MHz instead of the default 602 MHz. Most num¬bers on the new card have been doubled from what was on the last 9800GTX. TIle memory bandwidth has been increased to 512 bit and there is 1 GB of memory on the card. An 8¬!Jill and 6-pin power connector is required to power the GTX 280 AMP'
It's just not all about the numbers.

The CTX 280 absolutely destroy: all pre¬VIUUS records held bv singh¬Lards. To give you an idea. the Zotac GTX 280 AMpl about 50 to 75 per cent faster than the colossal 8800 Ultra in most benchmarks. For example, in one of our tests the 8800 Ultra scores around 100 fps in Prel' at 1920 x 120& with maximum detail and 4x anti-aliasmg and 8x anti¬strophic filtering turned on The GTX 28(\ AMP! beat it with a score of 173 fps. Even Unreal Tournament 3 with all the settings turned up gave scores of 11 fps on the Shangrila map at 1920 x 1200. 3DMw'k 2005 and 2006 scores increased as well, but not to the extent of the real¬world gaming. benchmarks.

The card 111 comparison runs co0lel than the 8800 GTXs, mol' so when corn pared to the 8800 Ultras. The cooling solutIOn on the Zotae card is stock 1VIDIA design The card i~ a little less corn pact than the 9800GX2. It Ie lighter. bUl Ctll1sumes over 300 W wher on load. In idk it drops [( a" little or lowe] than a 9aOOeT}; card. A power supply of at least 600 W is highly recommended to any future owners.



The Zotac GTX 280 AMP! is a great card and we're sure some of the non over docked versions are really good as well. It would be terribly wrong to say that the GTX 280 is not a good card. There's siglllDcant improve¬ment in performance. TIlere's one maior problem right now. other than the hlgh powel demands-the price. TIle current price for Zatac GeForce GTX 280 AMP! the Zotar GTX 280 AMP' is a whoppmg Rs 44.444. which makes it way over the top in terms of pricing.

As things stand today, the prices are exorbitant and with ATI releasing cards of their own priced at much lower pnces offering better value tell money. It s only a matter of time before the prices for the GTX 280 drop. GTX 260s are expected to hit the markets soon. so a little caution at the moment is recllml1lenaed to look out to! some extreme price drops.

Specifications

GeForce GTX 28e @ 70C MHz.
24C core processors I GE:
GDDR3. D,rectX Ie support Unifieo ShacJel ooel 4.0