Review of the XFX GTX 285 XXX - PAGE 1

2009 so far hasn't brought any Earth-shattering surprises in the world of video cards, but it has brought some small, noteworthy maneuvers. ATI is steadily building HD 4000 cards, in many different flavors and configurations. Rumors swirl around their next project. Intel is still secretly working away on Larrabee, while publicly planning to build CPU's with a GPU in them. Assorted other companies are continuing to explore 3D realms. But what hands-on action that has so far been introduced since January 1st, has been from Nvida.

They've introduced three new products: 3D glasses, which have been receiving great reviews (but require an expensive 120Hz capable monitor to use); the GTX 295, which is this generation's dual-GPU equivalent of lasts' 9800 GX2; and finally, the GTX 285 -- one of which we are looking at today. 

The XFX GTX 285 XXX is the revised and GPU-shrunken reincarnation of the GTX 280. As our previous reviews have shown, the GT200 (powering the GTX 280) is the fastest gamer GPU available to the mass market. The GT200b (powering the GT200b) continues this legacy, beating out ATI's RV770, the HD 4870 GPU. Going from a 65nm manufacturing process to a 55nm manufacturing has expanded Nvidia's options when it comes to the high-end, enthusiast market for video cards, and prices are set to steadily drop as production ramps up.

Although ATI hasn't released any new big guns so far in '09, when it comes to price and performance, the battle is going as strong as ever. Today we are going to look at the two high-end champions available: the stalwart HD 4870 X2, and today's challenger, the overclocked 'XXX' version of the GTX 285, courtesy of the fine people at XFX.