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Final Analysis
We'd characterize Galax's GeForce GTX 1080 Ti HoF as big, bulky, visually imposing, yet relatively quiet, cool-running, and very fast. Overclocking potential appears to be a forgone conclusion, based on the cooler's heft, but our testing shows there really is plenty of available headroom to harness.
The power supply is well-implemented, though a trio of eight-pin auxiliary power connectors is superfluous. Rather than proving useful, extras like that can cause enthusiasts needless problems. A decent PSU with two 6+2-pin connectors should be fully sufficient for this job. Further, Galax bundles three Molex-to-eight-pin adapters, which are wasteful filler. Two eight-pin connectors would have been fine by us.
The additional display does bring a certain charm with it, and we all know power users who can't resist showy extras like that. Furthermore, there's an extensive range of accessories to consider, include the decorative, illuminated acrylic that shines through your case window. But with all of that said, a proper bracket to support this card's >1.6kg should have been part of Galax's bundle.
While most of that sounds like praise, we also have our share of...shall we say constructive criticism. First, there is the awkwardly-implemented, quasi-absent hysteresis apparent in our noise and fan speed measurements. Second, the memory/VRM temperatures we recorded under full load didn't have to be as high as they were. With both items addressed, it may have been possible for Galax to offer its customers an even faster card. As this Hall of Fame board stands, assume that you're in line for another round of the silicon lottery when it comes to achieving higher-than-factory clock rates.
Conclusion
Despite the handful of issues we brought to light, in the end, we're giving Galax's GeForce GTX 1080 Ti our Editor Recommended award by a narrow margin. After all, its performance, aesthetics, and unique features show a real effort to differentiate at the very highest level. Just be aware that, if you buy this board, it's a real behemoth. Length, height, and weight all need to be taken under serious consideration. Thus, it is not just the relatively high price that is likely to limit the card's audience.
Enthusiasts who are particularly fond of decorative features like LEDs and LCD displays will find Galax's Hall of Fame flagship irresistible to a degree that will be hard to beat by competing manufacturers. The Galax GeForce GTX 1080 Ti HoF is out there to polarize, and we certainly appreciate having one more good-looking option.
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