Gigabyte GV-N480SO-15I Super Overclock Graphics Card in Works

[btarunr]

Quite some time after releasing the GeForce GTX 470 Super Overclock (SOC) graphics card, Gigabyte managed to design a high-performance PCB that facilitates better overclocks for the GeForce GTX 480, under a new SKU, the GV-N480SO-15I. Its most notable features include the WindForce 3X cooler, Ultra Durable VGA+ construction, and GPU Gauntlet (GPU selected out of a performance binning process). The card sports a blue PCB, and makes use of a strong VRM to support out of the box clock speeds of 820 MHz (core, vs. 700 MHz reference), and 950/3800 effective MHz (memory, vs. 924/3696 MHz).

The cooler makes use of three 90 mm fans to circulate air through a large aluminum fin array to which heat is conveyed by heat pipes and a copper plate. The PCB holds a strong 12+2 phase VRM to give the card enough juice for the clock speeds it comes with, plus keep some room for DIY overclocking. The Ultra Durable VGA+ construction gives the card high-grade components such as low-latency memory chips, 2 oz copper PCB, ferrite-core chokes, and low RDS (on) MOSFETs. The card also features two BIOS chips, which are selectable using a switch. Unlike many graphics card vendors that use a similar feature leaving one BIOS holding a high-performance profile and the other holding a failsafe reference clock profile, Gigabyte loaded both BIOS ROMs with high-performance profiles, one holding an SOC profile (with the above mentioned speeds), and another "LN2" profile perhaps holding even racier clocks and/or voltage settings, but requiring liquid-nitrogen cooling to sustain stability. Gigabyte's latest creation will release soon, priced at around 440 EUR.



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[claylomax]

Can you SLI this with a reference based GTX 480 card?

 

[douglatins]

Can you SLI this with a reference based GTX 480 card?

Why not sure you can, i envy good vrm cooling my soon AXP will suck in that

 

[wolf]

at last some slick out of the box overclocks on an air cooled GTX480, this thing looks to really be made of the right stuff to go hard, two in SLi would kick some ass.

 

[mtosev]

why release a GTX 480 if GTX 580 is coming soon?

 

[the54thvoid]

Why would AIB's or AIC's or whatever? release such a thing indeed.

I like the look of it to be honest. But the proper 480 is being released (580) and you'd think the 480's would be EOL'd. Does this hint at the expected real due date of the 580's? You'd certainly be a fool to spend that much on this with the 580 available unless:
A) The 580 isn't going to be available for a while or
B) The 580 isn't going to be that much better than a 480 or
C) The 580 is really quite expensive (which i dont see).
Frankly, I only think (A) above is possible so this release is a bit odd. Would you buy this if a 580 was the same price and more powerful?

 

[araditus]

Why would AIB's or AIC's or whatever? release such a thing indeed.

I like the look of it to be honest. But the proper 480 is being released (580) and you'd think the 480's would be EOL'd. Does this hint at the expected real due date of the 580's? You'd certainly be a fool to spend that much on this with the 580 available unless:
A) The 580 isn't going to be available for a while or
B) The 580 isn't going to be that much better than a 480 or
C) The 580 is really quite expensive (which i dont see).
Frankly, I only think (A) above is possible so this release is a bit odd. Would you buy this if a 580 was the same price and more powerful?

I may be wrong (probably am) but I distincly remembering the 580 will be about 20-25% faster than the 480, and operate much cooler. Lets say the 580 is 20% faster, and lets assume you can get 13 more mhz out of this card bringing it to 833mhz core. Then you would have a 480 that is 20% faster than stock, and well, that means if you buy this card, couldnt you potentially have next gen's performance today? If the reviews are right this card is a great buy. just my 2 cents

 

[the54thvoid]

I may be wrong (probably am) but I distincly remembering the 580 will be about 20-25% faster than the 480, and operate much cooler. Lets say the 580 is 20% faster, and lets assume you can get 13 more mhz out of this card bringing it to 833mhz core. Then you would have a 480 that is 20% faster than stock, and well, that means if you buy this card, couldnt you potentially have next gen's performance today? If the reviews are right this card is a great buy. just my 2 cents

I found this shortly after posting:
http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=27240

This rumour says 10-15% improvement with 10% less power draw. That might make this card reasonable - remember it's for enthusiasts to overclock.

 

[araditus]

I found this shortly after posting:
http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=27240

This rumour says 10-15% improvement with 10% less power draw. That might make this card reasonable - remember it's for enthusiasts to overclock.

True, but even if you keep this card stock its still a 17% overclock out of the box I think we are on to something with this card. I still wont buy one hehe

 

[Hayder_Master]

nice GPU overclocking but i was hope if they go more with memory speed

 

[Mindweaver]

Very nice! This has to be the best 480 i've seen to date. I like having 2 bio's.

 

[GSquadron]

I think this card is going to be GTX580 cuz NVIDIA personally will launch it first
After nvidia does this, than the card will come out...

 

[SteelSix]

Such a shame it arrives late in the game. Damn nice card.

I had 470 SOC's in my basket, but changed to vanilla Gigabyte 470's. Couldn't pass up $229 after rebate w/free Mafia II. I'd gladly have paid $30 extra for the SOC otherwise. Damn nice card. This 480 version is very nice.

I hope these custom cards continue. I plan to keep the 470s, will be very tempted when a good custom 580 comes out. Hope nV gives board partners the nod sooner, and Gigabyte continues this trend.

 

[yogurt_21]

why release a GTX 480 if GTX 580 is coming soon?

580's a paper launch