Published: Thursday 8th January, 2009 | Author: Parm Mann
Products: GeForce GTX 295, BFG GeForce GTX 295 (186.18)
Companies: NVIDIA (All NVIDIA content), BFG Technologies (All BFG Technologies content)
Platforms: PC
External reviews: ZOTAC GeForce GTX 295
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NVIDIA set out to win back the single-card performance crown and has undoubtedly succeeded. Despite openly admitting that "many enthusiasts would appreciate the ability to purchase a powerful single-GPU card", it appears the only way for NVIDIA to topple AMD's 4870 X2 is with a tag-team card of its own.
The cynics - and, admittedly, myself included - will argue that stitching two powerful cards together via internal SLI isn't the most graceful means of achieving performance supremecy. But, who cares? When the goal is framerate domination - and the internal SLI jiggery pokery goes unnoticed - it needn't matter how the huge amount of performace is delivered.
As expected, it's now AMD's turn to attempt to scupper NVIDIA's product launch and it's doing so by conveniantly lowering the asking price of the Radeon HD 4870 X2 - it's now available in Europe at a cost of €369 (approximately £330). At around £70 less than NVIDIA's offering, it's still a very tasty prospect, and for the consumer, a price war at the ultra-high-end can only be a good thing.
Irrespective of AMD pricecuts, and to NVIDIA's credit, the GeForce GTX 295's architectural efficiency manages to beat out the Radeon HD 4870 X2 in two of the other key non-performance areas - the card is significantly cooler, whilst keeping relatively quiet, too.
There's also a small matter of parrel compute power. Armed with a total 480 stream processors, this is a card that's tailored to make the best of PhysX and CUDA technologies. NVIDIA claims "2009 will be a remarkable year for PhysX gaming", and highlighting the fact that pixel rendering isn't the be-all-end-all, it promises to work with major game developers to deliver "great SLI scaling on all major titles before or on the day of launch".
At present, CUDA and PhysX remain nonessential technologies, but considering that the GeForce GTX 295 offers the fastest single-card performance of today and the GPGPU promise of tomorrow, it's quite the prospect for the user who demands the best.
Nonetheless, the GeForce GTX 295's target market is a small one, and the enthusiast looking to pick one up is likely to find £400 a small price to pay for what is the fastest single-card graphics solution available on the market today.
For those who prefer to stick with single-GPU solutions, there's the GeForce GTX 285...
The fastest single graphics card in the world
Architectural efficiency results in decent temperatures and lower-than-expected power draw
Comes complete with framerate bragging rights
Premium price, the world's fastest never comes cheap, this one costs more than a PlayStation 3
Bundle doesn't include any games
HEXUS.net scores products out of 100%, taking into account technology, implementation, stability, performance, value, customer care and desirability. A score for an average-rated product is a meaningful ‘50%’, and not ‘90%’, which is common practice for a great many other publications.
We consider any product score above '50%' as a safe buy. The higher the score, the higher the recommendation from HEXUS to buy. Simple, straightforward buying advice.
NVIDIA set out to win back the crown of "fastest single graphics card in the world", and it has. They don't come any quicker than this.
The BFG GeForce GTX 295 1,792MB can be purchased from Scan.co.uk at a cost of £435.03.
As always, UK-based HEXUS.community discussion forum members will benefit from the SCAN2HEXUS Free Shipping initiative, which will save you a further few pounds plus also top-notch, priority customer service and technical support backed up by the SCANcare@HEXUS forum.
At HEXUS, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any company representatives for the products reviewed choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.
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All prices are updated by the retailer. E&OE
Company   | Price (exc. VAT)  | Price (inc. VAT) | Price Date | Price History |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCAN |
£329.29 ( £-32.00)
|
£378.68 | 18:00 on Sat 30th May 2009 | history |
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Only can be used in sli or "quad sli" as it only has one connector on the card :)
Its really dual sli (only 2 cards!), but the marketers call it quad :mrgreen:
oh well, fail at me for not doing my research, I guess I will spend the £1200 on something else thenQuote
Its really dual sli (only 2 cards!), but the marketers call it quad :mrgreen:
oh well, fail at me for not doing my research, I guess I will spend the £1200 on something else then
Yeah, not worth spending money on this. It's a cut down 280 with the 260's ram.Quote
I would really love to see a comparison of my GeForce 8800 GT to the GTX 295.Quote
Man that card is ugly!
Not bad results though.
Doesn't matter what it looks like, at all. Well, basically it doesn't. Results rool, k? Pretty obvious. ATI fans, I sometimes wonder why you bother, or why I bothered when I bought one and the driver support was awful...Quote
Results rool, k? Pretty obvious.
Not for me. I prefer single pcb dual slot cooler with the full size vent on the rear. Could have the best results on the planet but if things like that and power and temperatures aren't good I wouldn't get one.Quote
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