options for gamers with deep
pockets, which made selecting the graphics
cards for our rig a difficult task. Although
the GeForce GTX 580 is unequivocally
the fastest single-GPU graphics card on
the planet, AMD’s dual-GPU Radeon HD
6990 is the fastest card overall.
Ultimately, Nvidia gets our nod because
the SLI rig can deliver triple-monitor
gaming like AMD’s 6990 CrossFireXon-
a-card, but also with the added
bonus of 3D Vision Surround. Yeah, we
know AMD has 3D, too, but Nvidia’s
scheme is the more fleshed out of the
two. From a gaming standpoint, PhysX
is also compelling for supported games.
CUDA also offers a few gaming-themed
enhancements that stand out, for instance,
Just Cause 2’s impressive water effects.
The GTX 480 based on the original Fermi
architecture had a problem with leaky
transistors, but the GF110 GPU inside the
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| Gigabyte GeForce GTX 580 GV-N580UD-15I Add to cart |
GTX 580 is a significantly refined Fermi
that solves that problem and subsequently
is cooler, quieter under load, and capable
of running DirectX 11 games with settings
maxed out on even the highest resolutions.
The GPU inside the GeForce GTX 580
features 16 SMs for a total of 512 CUDA
cores, 64 texture units, and 48 ROPs. The
memory subsystem consists of 1,536MB
dedicated GDDR5 memory, clocked at
1,002MHz and running on a 384-bit bus.
The reference GTX 580 has a core clock of
772MHz, but Gigabyte upped the ante by
overclocking the graphics card to 795MHz.
Additional features previously touched
upon include support for PhysX, SLI, and
CUDA-based GPGPU computing.
Running a pair of GTX 580s in SLI
will generate a lot of heat, so our goal
in selecting the graphics cards was to try
to minimize the thermal impact on the
overall system as much as possible by
selecting a GTX 580 with a better-thanstock
cooler. Gigabyte’s GV-N580UD-15I
is a GTX 580 with an aftermarket cooler
we had to see to believe.
The overclocked Ultra Durable VGA
Series GeForce GTX 580 straps Nvidia’s
current flagship powerhouse to a large
copper vapor chamber and aluminum
fin heatsink that spans the length of the
board. The Windforce 3X cooler utilizes
a trio of ultra-quiet PWM fans with
specially inclined fins designed to create
less turbulence at higher rpms, which
results in a card capable of running at
higher rpms without producing as
much noise as a stock GTX 580 with
fans running at similar speeds. A pair
of copper heatpipes helps evacuate heat,
and, according to Gigabyte, this card runs
22% cooler than the reference design.
Other Gigabyte staples, such as 2-ounce
copper PCB, Japanese solid caps,
ferrite core chokes, and tier 1 Samsung
and Hynix memory also make this an
attractive option. Gigabyte also bundles
in an HDMI cable, which is a nice bonus.
Our goal here is to get any game on
the market running blisteringly fast, at
high resolutions, with every killer effect
enabled, and all settings maxed out.
We don’t like to brag, but we think our
pair of Gigabyte GTX 580s in SLI can
handle that.
Feed Back
Great Graphics Card, If You Can Afford It!!!
By Robert Gadziemski
Being and advanced computer user I found it really easy to install without any instructions (although I imagine you could easily do this with the included instructions). I put it in place of my 285GTX. Installed the 8-pin and 6-pin Cables from by power supply. Connected my computer monitor to it, powered up my computer, installed the lasted drivers off NVidia's website, and was on my way without any problems at all. I even have this hooked up to my computer monitor with an HDMI 1.4a cable (not that I need it since my monitor doesn't do 3D, but I got it on sale for [...] bucks.)
One of the things that I have noticed is that it runs cooler and quieter in my computer case than my old 285GTX. I have a thermometer on my case so I can monitor the temperature at any time. My case is now 5-7 degrees (F) cooler. This is a nice improvement if heat is a problem for you.
I don't have any games on my computer that use a lot of direct X 11 features. I was however able to run "Lord of the Rings Online" at my computer's max resolution (1920x1200@60hz) using direct X 11 mode with everything turned on without any noticeable slowdown other than lag caused by my connection (cable Modem service where I am is iffy sometimes.) It also plays every modern game I have such as Call of Duty Black OPS and Medal of Honor with everything turned on, without any slow down at all. Even while playing multiplayer in both games. While performance will probably vary from system to system, this is the fastest graphics card I have used so far. I will post an update how it plays with other new games I just happen to buy. If you want benchmark testing results you can just Google "580 GTX reviews". There are a ton of them and since I only own one card I cannot tell you how it is using SLI.
While this graphics card is expensive, it is currently the fastest single graphics card you can buy without an SLI/Crossfire solution and if the price is not a killer for you, then I highly recommend this card. It is a quieter and cooler running graphics card than previous generations of cards (by NVidia) and handles just about anything you can throw at it. Hope this helps.
Best Card I've Ever Owned
By Christopher Deweese
The EVGA GTX 580 is by far the best single gpu on the market. I recently upgraded from a Diamond HD 5870, and I can honestly say that Nvidia is back on top. Installation is so easy. It fit nicely in my Antec 900 case. Plus, temps and power draw are much improved when compared to the 480. All the benchmarks I've seen put this card on top of all others. It even outperforms some dual gpu cards. My temps at idle are around 40c with full load temps in the 80's. All of my games run flawlessly with this card. Most games run at a full 60 fps with all settings maxed out (e.g. Black Ops, Starcraft 2, Modern Warfare 2, Fallout 3, Bad Company 2). Crysis runs around 40-50 fps. Half Life 2 runs incredibly smoothly, especially when compared to my old 5870. The image tended to stutter with the 5870. I haven't seen any glitches with the 580. I'm very happy with my purchase and intend to go SLI eventually.
Specs: Intel core I7 950 @ 3.8ghz, 12gb Adata 1333mhz ddr3, 850wt psu, Gigabyte GA-x58-ud3r, Corsair A70 cpu cooler, 1 TB WD Caviar Black HDD.
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Article From : Computer Power User Magazine
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