Friday, December 5th 2008
Zotac GeForce GTX 260² Pictured
NVIDIA will be releasing 55nm versions of the G200 graphics processor, which provides better thermal and power characteristics. What's more, NVIDIA could allow its partners to come up with their own designs or colour themes right away, at least from what can be seen with the Zotac GeForce GTX 260². The card uses a blue PCB, without a cooler shroud at the back of it. In the current iteration of the GeForce 200 series, memory chips are also located at the back of the card, requiring a heatspreader. In the newest iteration of the PCB, several changes are brought about:
The GPU is marked G200-103-B2 indicating it has been manufactured under the 55nm node. The card's cooler has been reportedly designed by Cooler Master, it is a monolithic surface with copper contacts over crucial components, with thermal pads. The GPU uses a fluid thermal compound to make contact with the cooler. Below are pictures showing the differences between the current GeForce GTX 200 PCB and the one that the new GTX 260 will sport, among other details. The card is expected to hit retail channels by January.
Source:
Expreview
- Toned-down power circuitry overall, with 4 phase vGPU and 2 phase vMem
- Aluminum support-brace surrounding the GPU
- Memory chips located only on one side of the PCB, leaving nothing at the back-side of the PCB that requires cooling, hence no heatspreader
28 Comments on Zotac GeForce GTX 260² Pictured
The Zotac GeForce GTX 260² is available in Europe already, and has a 182W power/thermal. This is the same as the older 192 and 216 shader models from them and from other companies.
I think the 2 in " GTX 260² " refers to 216 shader model, not the 55nm edition.
Didnt other info suggest the 55nm's would have a different number? Therefore the Zotac GeForce 55nm would be either GTX 260³ or GTX270.
Nvidia doesn't want partners to give new names to 55nm cards, like what is happening with 9800GT 55nm/65nm stuff.
They want to clear their 65nm inventory
How do they clock.. that's what I wanna to know...
It seems to me that the only thing this new PCB will do is give waterblock manufacturers more business. Also, WTF is up with shaving the thin strip off the top of the PCB? That ensures you won't be able to SLI these new cards with an older 260 if you're using a rigid SLI bridge.
Of course, the proof will be in the clocks, but I really don't see the necessity of this new design.
I was tempted to buy a XFX GTX260 black edition last night for 300 bucks and 40 rebate, but something told me to hold off a bit longer, i'm glad i did.
On the other hand i was thinking about getting one at the bay for $240 BIN with 25% cashback.
Anyway this is good as it drops the GTX260's manufacturing cost down to around 9800GTX level which means lower prices.
Don't think that would do AMD any good however.
55nm come out next January.. and GTX 295 will be first on it.