Gigabyte GV-N26SO-896I

INTRODUCTION

Unlike motherboards, where manufacturers have options to add features and components to differentiate one board from another, graphics cards often are manufactured with the same design specifications. In order to stand out in the sea of vendors, manufacturers often resort to after-market coolers to provide better cooling. In addition, they will sell cards with higher clock-speeds than the reference speeds, or bundle it with different accessories and games. They may also provide different warranty options, such as lifetime warranty or a double lifetime warranty.

Thus, choosing a GeForce GTX 260 card from manufacturer A that sells at $30~$40 more than the same card from manufacturer B often means that you are getting more bundled gear or a longer warranty, but the physical hardware from both companies are virtually identical. To stand out, a company needs to be inventive and willing to take some initiatives. This is where Gigabyte comes in with their latest line of graphics cards.

Taking the same technologies that they have initiated with their motherboards, Gigabyte integrates them into the design of their graphic cards. The latest family of Gigabyte cards, called the Super Overclock Series feature Gigabyte's Ultra Durable VGA technology. The cards all feature a 2oz copper PCB, first tier memory, Japanese solid capacitors, ferrite core chokes, and low RDS on the MOSFET.

If you simply glimpse through any Gigabyte motherboard review Bjorn3D has done recently you should be familiar with the impact these technologies have on a motherboard. It is obvious why Gigabyte would include their motherboard technologies into their graphic cards. Do not forget a graphic card is just like a motherboard where both are made with a PCB board with electronic components like capacitors, voltage regulators, and memory chips. Thus, it is only logical to apply the same technology to a video card if it can bring the same benefits that have been proven on the motherboard.

The same proven technology of the 2oz copper that Gigabyte was spearheading way back when we reviewed their P35 boards has pretty much become a standard in many high-end motherboards, and all of the Gigabyte boards. Why 2 oz of copper? The 2 oz copper provides less impedance, which in term reduces the components temperature and better overclocking. As added benefit, it also means better power efficiency. Also, the extra copper yields lower EMI and has better ESD protection.

The ferrite chokes, low RDS MOSFETs, and solid capacitors are all features that we are quite familiar with and are pretty much taken for granted on high-end motherboards. Essentially all these features are more efficient and prevents energy loss, which lowers the power consumption, lowers the heat outputs, and increases the lifespan of the components. In addition, Gigabyte utilizes the high quality Samsung and Hynix memory on the video cards to provide higher overclobility.

All this technological jargon translates to the consumer by making this card a cooler running, more energy efficient, higher overclocking and better performing video card. Gigabyte has shown that on average the cards will run at 5~10% cooler, overclocks 10~30% higher, and 10~30% lower in power switching loss.