MSI GeForce GTX 1080 GAMING Z 8G review

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Introduction

MSI GeForce GTX 1080 GAMING Z 8G
From X to da Z we bring it to ya!

We move from the X to the Z as we test and review the all custom, cooled and tweaked higher GAMING Z edition GeForce GTX 1080 from MSI. Let's check out the new 8 GB beast with the all new TwinFrozr revision VI cooler, extra RGB LED functionality and very hip'n trendy clock frequencies. The GPU industry has been on hold, waiting for a smaller GPU fabrication process to become viable. Last generation GPUs were based on a 28 nm fabrication, an intermediate move to 20 nm was supposed to be the answer for today’s GPUs, but it was a problematic technology. Aside from some smaller ASICs the 20 nm node has been a fail. Therefore the industry had to wait until an ever newer and smaller fabrication process was available in order to shrink the die which allows for less voltage usage in the chips, less transistor gate leakage and, obviously, more transistors in a GPU. The answer was to be found in the recent 14/15/16 nm fabrication processors and processes with the now all too familiar FinFET + VLSI technology (basically wings on a transistor). Intel has been using it for a while, and now both Nvidia and AMD are moving towards such nodes as well. Nvidia is the first to announce their new products based on a TSMC 16 nm process fab by introducing Pascal GPU architecture, named after the mathematician much like Kepler, Maxwell and Fermi. That stage has now passed, the GeForce GTX 1070 and 1080 have been announced with the 1070 and 1080 cards slowly becoming available in stores as we speak. Both models are equally impressive in its product positioning, though I do feel the 1070 will be the more attractive product due to its price level, the 1080 cards really is what everybody want (but perhaps can't afford). The good news though is that the board partner cards will offer SKUs for less opposed to the Nvidia reference / Founder edition cards. Obviously the higher-end all customized SKUs will likely level with that founders edition card price level again, but I am pretty certain you'd rather spend your money on a fully customized AIB card that is already factory tweaked a bit opposed the the reference one. So merely a few weeks after launch, I think this is our 6th Geforce GTX 1080 review already ? 

The X or the Z ?

You will have noticed that MSI has released a regular Gaming and then an X and a Gaming Z model. The regular Gaming model (no X or Z) will not have the backplate and configurable RGB LED light system and basic clock frequencies. Then there are the X models, these are released in the initial launch and come with a backplate and RGB system and are clocked a notch higher. Then the Z models will be the most high-end SKU, even more overclocked with all the benefits the X model has as well. Also it has a LED activated Gaming logo extra on the backplate. Today we test the Z model. So the Gaming Z gives you all the features of the Gaming X, but with higher clock speeds and a backplate with gaming LED lit logo. Right with that explained, the cooling perf with the new TwinFrozr VI cooler has been improved and combined with a new generation fans, the airflow is improved whilst remaining silent. Up-to 60 Degrees C the card will even stay in passive mode, e.g. the fans will not spin. The TWIN FROZR cooler is now intensified by a red GAMING glow piercing through the cover, while the MSI GAMING dragon RGB LED on the side can be set to any of 16.8 million colors to match the LED lights in the color-tone of your PC. The GTX 1080 GAMING z 8G comes with MSI's traditional Military Class 4 components and holds both an 8- and 6-pin power connector. At the backside you'll spot a nice matte black backplate WITH DRAGON gaming LOGO . The TwinFrozer VI cooled card also has a memory cooling plate and a PWM heatsink. MSI GeForce GTX 1080 GAMING Z 8G has default clock frequencies of 1873 MHz (boost) / 1733 (base) MHz. MSI offers several clock stages with their graphics card controlled by their updated MSI Gaming APP. We received the card setup in OC Modus that will set the clock frequency towards 1911 MHz / 1771 MHz. We are not a fan of the Gaming APP and would like to see MSI move away to just one default mode, which should be OC mode. The MSI GeForce GTX 1080 GAMING Z 8G is all custom with 10 power phases, has a nice dark aesthetic feel and comes with the all new TwinFrozr VI model cooler. Right, we have enough to talk about and to show, let's head on-wards in the review.But first let me allow you a sneek peek at da Z.


 

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