iXBT Labs - Computer Hardware in Detail

Platform

Video

Multimedia

Mobile

Other

i3DSpeed, April 2009

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 295 2x896MB DDR3 (575/1240/2000 MHz)

Andrey Vorobiev; May 7, 2009.

On the example of the reference NVIDIA GeForce GTX 295 2x896MB DDR3 (575/1240/2000 MHz).

Features:

  • GPU: 2 x GeForce GTX 280 (GT200)
  • 2 x 896 MB GDDR3 SDRAM in 14 Hynix chips on both sides; 1250 (2500) MHz peak clock rate
  • Interface: PCI-Express x16
  • GPU (ROPs/Shaders) clock rate: 575/1240 MHz (nominal)
  • Memory clock rate, physical (effective): 1000 (2000) MHz (nominal)
  • Bus width: 2 x 448-bit
  • Vertex processors: -
  • Pixel processors: -
  • Unified processors: 2 x 240
  • Texture processors: 2 x 96 (BLF/TLF)
  • ROPs: 2 x 32
  • Size: 270x100x33 mm (the latter is max. width)
  • PCB color: black
  • RAMDACs/TDMS: on the separate NVIO chip
  • Outputs: 2 x DVI (Dual-Link/HDMI), HDMI
  • VIVO: -
  • Multi-GPU: Hardware SLI, Quad SLI


This card is not just dual-GPU, but dual-PCB as well, according to NVIDIA's tradition. I.e. this is a 'sandwich' of two cards, each of which carries own GPU and memory, connected by a SLI bridge.

At that, while each PCB has 448-bit layout the dimensions are rather small, so we suppose that NVIDIA has tried to compact PCBs and that has increased their cost.

This card features GTX 280 GPUs (though made using the 55nm process technology). But if those are designed for a 512-bit bus, they don't use it fully, as the PCB has 448-bit layout and there's 896MB of memory instead of 1024MB.

Remember that the card is 270 mm long, like 8800 GTX/Ultra, so your enclosure has to have enough space for it. Also note card cover width that remains the same along its length. For this reason, the motherboard should have no ports or high capacitors within 30mm behind the PCI-E x16 slot (and this implies the neighbouring slot as well).

This card can receive an audio stream from a sound card to transmit it via a DVI-to-HDMI adapter. If this feature is important for you, make sure the adapter is bundled.

This card requires two additional power connections: 1 x 6-pin and 1 x 8-pin. This was made possible by the less consuming 55nm GPU core.

This card features an original TV-Out interface, so an adapter is required to output video via S-Video or RCA. Such adapters are usually bundled.

This card requires a DVI-to-D-Sub adapter to be connected to an analog monitor with a D-Sub interface.

Maximum resolutions and frequencies:

  • 240 Hz maximum refresh rate
  • 2048 x 1536 x 32bit @ 85Hz Max - analog interface
  • 2560 x 1600 @ 60Hz Max - digital interface (all Dual-Link DVIs)

The HDTV review is available here.

We thank NVIDIA Russia
for the provided graphics card.

Write a comment below. No registration needed!




blog comments powered by Disqus

  Most Popular Reviews More    RSS  

AMD Phenom II X4 955, Phenom II X4 960T, Phenom II X6 1075T, and Intel Pentium G2120, Core i3-3220, Core i5-3330 Processors

Comparing old, cheap solutions from AMD with new, budget offerings from Intel.
February 1, 2013 · Processor Roundups

Inno3D GeForce GTX 670 iChill, Inno3D GeForce GTX 660 Ti Graphics Cards

A couple of mid-range adapters with original cooling systems.
January 30, 2013 · Video cards: NVIDIA GPUs

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1

An external X-Fi solution in tests.
September 9, 2008 · Sound Cards

AMD FX-8350 Processor

The first worthwhile Piledriver CPU.
September 11, 2012 · Processors: AMD

Consumed Power, Energy Consumption: Ivy Bridge vs. Sandy Bridge

Trying out the new method.
September 18, 2012 · Processors: Intel
  Latest Reviews More    RSS  

i3DSpeed, September 2013

Retested all graphics cards with the new drivers.
Oct 18, 2013 · 3Digests

i3DSpeed, August 2013

Added new benchmarks: BioShock Infinite and Metro: Last Light.
Sep 06, 2013 · 3Digests

i3DSpeed, July 2013

Added the test results of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 and AMD Radeon HD 7730.
Aug 05, 2013 · 3Digests

Gainward GeForce GTX 650 Ti BOOST 2GB Golden Sample Graphics Card

An excellent hybrid of GeForce GTX 650 Ti and GeForce GTX 660.
Jun 24, 2013 · Video cards: NVIDIA GPUs

i3DSpeed, May 2013

Added the test results of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770/780.
Jun 03, 2013 · 3Digests
  Latest News More    RSS  

Platform  ·  Video  ·  Multimedia  ·  Mobile  ·  Other  ||  About us & Privacy policy  ·  Twitter  ·  Facebook


Copyright © Byrds Research & Publishing, Ltd., 1997–2011. All rights reserved.