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EVGA GeForce GTX 285 SSC Edition

NVIDIA is launching the GeForce GTX 285 which is a refreshed GTX 280. We take a look at EVGA’s GeForce GTX 285 SSC Edition with some insanely high clock speeds. Higher clocks hopefully mean better performance, and we see what kind of gameplay experience is delivered compared to the older GeForce GTX 280.

Introduction

The GeForce GTX 200 series, specifically the GeForce GTX 280, was launched on June 16th of 2008. Here we sit now seven months later and the GeForce GTX 280 is getting a refreshing refresh. Typically we see refreshes from new product generations every six months, so NVIDIA is just about keeping on schedule with that by releasing this refresh now. If things keep on this track we might be seeing the next generation hit by summertime, as we did with the GTX 200 series.

A refresh isn’t going to be anything typically that exciting for gamers on the high-end from NVIDIA. The refresh builds upon the current generation by taking what they have learned with the hardware and making optimizations. These optimizations typically yield lower power utilization, lower heat production, and higher performance. These are exactly the benefits to be had with the new GeForce GTX 285.

The big change with the GeForce GTX 285 that makes these things possible is the use of a 55nm manufacturing process. This same 55nm process is what was also used in the recently launched GeForce GTX 295. The original GeForce GTX 280 uses a 65nm manufacturing process. Other than that, internally to the GPU remains basically the same. You will find 240 streaming processors, 32 ROPs and 80 texture filtering units. You will find SLI and 3-way SLI supported as well.

The use of a 55nm process means that NVIDIA can run this GPU at higher stable clock speeds while still maintaining lower power utilization compared to GTX 280. NVIDIA has bumped the default core clock speed to 648MHz and the stream processor clock speed to 1.476GHz. The memory configuration remains the same using 1GB of GDDR3 on a 512-bit memory bus. The default frequency though has been bumped up to 2.484GHz.

The PCB has also been re-designed for better efficiency. Instead of needing one 8-pin and one 6-pin power connectors now you only need two 6-pin connectors, no more 8-pin connector. The total max board power is rated at 183 watts. If you recall the GTX 280 max power rating is 236 watts. The GeForce GTX 285 certainly sounds much more efficient on paper. This table below gives you a quick view of how the GTX 285 and GTX 280 compare as well as the EVGA GeForce GTX 285 SSC we are evaluating today.

EVGA GeForce GTX 285 SSC Edition

From EVGA today we are evaluating the full retail boxed GeForce GTX 285 SSC Edition. As you have guessed, the “SSC Edition” means this video card is clocked higher than NVIDIA’s reference clock speeds by EVGA. The clock speeds are set quite high, the core runs at 702MHz, the shaders at 1.584GHz and the memory at 2.646GHz. These are some very high clock speeds out of the box and should provide this video card a lot of performance. These clock speeds will cost you a pretty penny though; EVGA’s MSRP for the GTX 285 SSC Edition is $439.99.

The box, along with the video card, is literally very shinny. On the front in big bold letters you cannot miss the EVGA logo. The box design itself is quite simple and easy to read, with a very distinct orange band at the top with the model of the video card inside. Displayed quite prominently is EVGA’s famous 90 Day step-up program that they offer. They even promote the inclusion of PhysX support with this video card by NVIDIA. On the back of the box there is a printed label that you can match with a see-through window of the video card inside to make sure the right card is in the box.

The EVGA GeForce GTX 285 SSC looks exactly like a GeForce GTX 280 from the front. You would not be able to tell them apart just by looking. They are the same size and length. The only difference comes from the backside where the GTX 280 video cards typically have a metal casing over the back the new GTX 285 is bare.

Here you can see the EVGA GTX 285 SSC (top) in comparison to a GTX 280 (bottom.) Note that on the back the GTX 285 has no covering. When comparing weight, the GTX 285 is much lighter than the GTX 280; it is very noticeable.

The fan pulls in air and blows it out the back just as the GTX 280 does. Uniquely, the new GTX 285 now only needs two 6-pin power connectors; no more 8-pin is required. The EVGA GeForce GTX 285 SSC Edition comes with driver CD, installation menu, DVI adapter, HDMI adapter, and Molex to PCIe adapter. The only thing that would have made this deal sweeter for the price would have been the inclusion of a game.