Review

ZOTAC GTX 1080 AMP! Edition Review

At last, after so much waiting we have our first GTX 1080 graphics card. Based on Nvidia's newest architecture Pascal. The key feature of Pascal architecture is that it uses a smaller manufacturing process 16 nm versus 28nm for older Maxwell architecture, resulting a greater number of transistors in GPU and improving power and thermal performance.

We like to thanks ZOTAC India for providing us the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1080 AMP! Edition 8GB graphics card for review. The new ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1080 AMP! Edition features 1683MHz of Base Clock and 1822MHz at Boost with 8 GB GDDR5X memory, along with three DisplayPort 1.2 with 4K support @ 60Hz, a HDMI 2.0 port with 4K @60 Hz and DL-DVI port with 2560x1600 max resolution, giving full advantage of Direct X 12 with lower power consumption, higher performance and low fan noise at extreme gaming experience.

Now let's see what this ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1080 AMP! Edition has for us.

Features

VR Ready
Get ready to change the playing field with ZOTAC GeForce® GTX 10 series AMP Edition. Powered by the new NVIDIA Pascal™ architecture and fitted with ZOTAC technologies, this GPU is the most advanced gaming GPU ever created. With industry leading performance, immersive VR and innovative gaming technologies, the ZOTAC GeForce® GTX 10 series AMP Edition provide a whole new way to game.

ICE STORM
Enhancing thermal regulation with a slimmer profile. Utilizing five variably configured sized heatpipes to maximize heat extraction from the core, while the wide aluminum fin array disperses heat. Mounted with dual super-wide 100mm fans to push more air with less rotations for a noticeable reduction in noise, it's the perfect storm for any system.

CARBON EXOARMOR
Carbon ExoArmor adds a functional aesthetic to the IceStorm cooling system to provide protection and durability. The redesigned wraparound backplate and metal fan shroud with carbon detailing complete the appeal with the look and feel of one.

SPECTRA
Spectra is an all new advanced lighting system that makes the card shine. Lighting in colors of your choice, utilize the redesigned FireStorm application to easily customize and set up your own color and lighting to suit your style. Whether it is a breathing fire red or a solid icy cold blue, make it “your card" with Spectra..

FREEZE
Every AMPed ZOTAC GeForce® GTX 10 series card comes embedded with FREEZE. An inspired innovation that enables powerful graphics cards to become silent and reduce the wear on the fan system. When the user is not in action, the fans idle for complete silence.

POWER BOOST
Because power without control is nothing, POWER BOOST reduces ripple noise and minimizes power fluctuation resulting in a long lasting AMPed graphics card that handles itself smoothly and stably, even when pushed to the limit.

FIRESTORM
Redesigned from the ground up, extract every ounce of performance from your ZOTAC graphics card with FireStorm. Tweaking and tuning is quick and easy with an optimized user interface that presents users with clock speed adjustments, fan control, GPU monitoring functions, and much more.

Specifications

Package

The ZOTAC GTX 1080 comes in a black/yellow coloured box with securely packaged in. A ZOTAC and AMP! Edition graphics and features highlights on front and the back of the box.

Inside the box

Along with the GFX card box also includes driver installation CD, quick start guide and two Dual 6-pin to 8-pin PCIe Adapters.

Looks

Card looks great with dual fan IceStrom cooling technology giving great performance and thermal regulation while still occupying only two slots in your PC.

Inside

Removing the cooler reveals a big copper plate with a center copper block which makes a direct contact with the GPU core and memory chips, soldered with five copper heat-pipes and connected with an array of aluminum fin stack and two 100mm super wide fans for cooling. Fan cover also have two small PCBs for SPECTRA lighting system.

Component Layout

Detailed PCB layout of ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1080 shows that, this card draws up to 230W power from two 8-pin PCI-e connector to drive eight phase digital power controlled by an uP95iiP controller.

Testing

Test system configuration -

Bundled Software

Benchmarks

Temperatures

Room Temperature: 33C

In idle, the temperature is real good and at full load, temperature was ok and fans were slight loud with case side panel off but with full closed case we won't able to hear any fan noise .

Power Consumption

Wattage reading as per displayed by APC Pro 1000VA (Model no. BR1000G-IN) UPS.

Pros

• Great looks with Sturdy Back-plate
• Fan turns OFF at idle or low load
• Nice Factory OC
• 8GB of GDDR5X memory
• Low temperatures

Cons

• NIL

Conclusion

Nvidia Pascal GP104 architecture is very appealing, from inside beside few changes it is similar to Maxwell but the biggest benefit for Nvidia was 16 nm, as it allows them to drive GP104 products to incredible clock frequencies with low in temperature and power foot print. ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1080 AMP! Edition boosts GP104 architecture furthers by providing a decent factory overclock out of the box along with their great ICESTROME cooling solution, offering a very good gaming experience with very low noise.

As per power consumption ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1080 is a efficient card with very low power consumption at idle.

At the conclusion ZOTAC GTX 1080 AMP! Edition is a fantastic non-reference GTX 1080 graphics card with great temperature, power efficiency, fan noise control and LED lighting offering great 4K and VR experience with superb esthetics.

Manufacturers Info

Thanks.

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