Introduction

Zotac is one of the largest NVIDIA board partners. They are well known for their special edition cards called "AMP Edition" which come at higher clock speed and offer additional features.

Zotac's latest enthusiast gadget is their Nitro Overclocking Controller. It is a USB based device that lets you adjust clock speed and fan settings on the fly without having to quit the game you are currently playing.

Package

Zotac ships their Nitro in a blister pack which can be easily opened and reused. You can get a clear look at what you are purchasing which will certainly help with the buying decision.


Inside the package you will find the Nitro, a stand for your desk, a USB cable, an instruction manual and the software CD.

A Closer Look

Zotac has chosen to go with an orange design that reflect the company's corporate colors. All components are of high build quality, it feels very solid when held in your hands. Even though the pictures might suggest that the orange shell is some soft rubber-like plastic, it is hard in reality.


A VFD display is used inside the Nitro which offers a much better contrast ratio than LCD based displays. On the other hand LCDs are more flexible because they offer a dot matrix, just like your screen. A VFD display has preconfigured segments which can be turned on and off.


A small connector on the side is used to connect the Nitro to your computer. The cable is a standard USB cable which is also used with digital cameras for example. This lets you replace the cable easily in case you break it.


When taken apart, the most prominent features you can see are the VFD screen and the buttons on the front. On the back you find a VFD controller IC which also handles all USB communication.