Related Articles

Right off the bat we can see that the GeForce 7900 GTX features a dual-slot exhaust-style cooler, identical in design to the rare GeForce 7800 GTX 512. In fact, upon closer inspection of the PCB, it becomes apparent that not only is EVGA using NVIDIA's reference design for their board, but that the reference design has remained pretty much identical between the 7800 GTX 512 and 7900 GTX.

I have to say that I'm a fan (no pun intended) of this cooling solution. With its slow-spinning 85-millimeter fan and heat sinks that extend to both ends of the board, it is a very efficient yet almost inaudible way to cool these powerhouse GPUs. The fact that it is a dual-slot design doesn't bother me at all. Gone are the days of the GeForce FX series and the outcry from ATI fanboys about dual-slot cooling -- it is simply a reality of flagship video cards now. Perhaps I'll be irked by dual-slot once PCI-Express x1/x2/x4 peripherals start showing up, but until then -- bring on the quiet cooling.

The EVGA GeForce 7900 GTX features the usual dual dual-link DVI connectors, along with the very standard HDTV/TV output, SLI MIO connector, and PCI-Express power connector. As I mentioned in the introduction, however, EVGA has seen NVIDIA's stock 7900 GTX clocks of 650/880, and they're raising them a 690/880 -- the more the merrier, and all at the same MSRP. The package we received from EVGA appears to be a fully-ready retail package, so I feel it's fair to mention the included bundle as well.

Included in EVGA's box are the following:

• The card itself, Sherlock
• Driver CD with trial software (Beyond Media and Ulead DVD MovieFactory 3 Disc Creator)
• Two DVI-to-VGA adapters
• HDTV break-out cable
• 6-pin PCI-E power cable
• S-Video cable
• User's guide
• EVGA sticker pack

Overall, a thorough though standard video card bundle. The addition of two DVI adapters is nice, as is the sticker pack for those of us who like to deck their cases out. EVGA also advertises the opportunity to "win this card" on the front of the box -- a promotion that will provide a full monetary refund for the price you paid. I wouldn't mind winning this card, though I might have to use a hammer to cram it into my Mac Mini.

Size and weight-wise, the GeForce 7900 GTX is identical to the 7800 GTX 512 (no surprise there). Both the former cards weigh approximately 1.5x that of a single 7800 GTX, though only about 80% as much as the Radeon X1900 XT. In the comparison shot above, the order of cards pictured is as follows: ATI Radeon X1900 XT, NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GTX, NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GTX 512, and finally the EVGA GeForce 7900 GTX. As you can see, we have entered the era of enormous video cards -- they are all of the same considerable length.

To summarize, the GeForce 7900 GTX physically appears to be a reincarnation of the GeForce 7800 GTX 512 with a newer GPU at the heart of things. Let's move on.