Matchless Muscle: Overclocked 8800s

EVGA 8800GTX KO 768 MB

The EVGA 8800GTX KO we received is pushing each of these higher. The processing core operates 51 MHz faster than a stock GeForce 8800GTX (626 MHz versus 575 MHz). The streaming processors in the unified shader core run at 1.45 GHz or 100 MHz above the Nvidia launch specification. The memory modules are also being pushed 100 MHz higher at 1,000 MHz for an effective 2 GHz DDR frequency.

Beyond raw clock frequency tuning, EVGA modified the cooling solution. The standard cooler has a copper block for the processor and a steel block for the memory modules. The difference lies in the shroud and backing plate. The standard cooler uses a plastic shroud to channel the air induced via an active fan over the heat pipe and fins and out of the card. EVGA added a steel shroud and backing plate. The shroud has a thermal pad to transfer heat from the cooling fins to the shroud for greater surface area. The backing plate on the reverse side of the card operates on the same premise. A thermal pad between the backing plate and the reverse side of the card aids the flow of heat to the backing plate. In addition to holding the heatsink tightly to the processor and memory, the screws can act as a conduit to the backing plate and eventually off the card.

Inside the packaging, the card comes with two video cables. One is strictly S-Video out while the other is for HD (Y, Pb and Pr) and composite video. Two DVI to D-Sub adapters are supplied for analog monitors as well as two four-pin to six-pin power adapters to make sure the card can be powered by an older power supply. We would like to point out that two six-pin connections plus the 75 W coming through the PCIe bus mean that the card could technically draw up to 225 W by itself, so a newer PSU is recommended.

EVGA is bundling its graphics cards with the video game Dark Messiah: Might and Magic. This software bundle is offered for a limited time and purchases after March may come with a different title included. Personally, I like having a new game inside a new graphics card as I can test out the performance of the card and see all of the eye candy I just bought.