Closer Examination

The EVGA NU audio card has a predominantly gray color scheme with the metal shield on the front that also acts as the primary aesthetic agent here. There are plastic wraps on two sections that are best peeled off; especially the larger one over the heatsink should be, which would then allow the heatsink access to case airflow for cooling. Noting that EVGA does not necessarily have much of a background in dedicated audio componentry aside from their CEO being a vivid audiophile and their integrated audio in motherboards, the NU audio card is a product of a collaboration involving Audio Note from the UK. Indeed, the PCB has a lot of Audio Note in it, to the point where the "Engineered by Audio Note" tag line on the bottom-right corner of the shroud is more than apt. When installed in a typical ATX motherboard, the side facing the user has a backlit (RGB, of course) EVGA Nu Audio lettering, and next to it is a front audio header for when you want to use the audio connectors on your case instead (please do not do this). The audio card will take up a PCIe x1 Gen2 slot on your motherboard, which is not really an issue for most these days.


The output section here includes line out, headphones out (via 6.3 mm jack), line in, microphone in, and S/PDIF out. This allows for up to 5.1 channel (digital) audio and not true 5.1/7.1 analog output, which is slightly different from the first impression we got from EVGA marketing this at audiophiles and bringing up surround sound, but let's wait for the actual review before making such judgements. As expected, the provided adapters fit in perfectly for when you need to use them. Flipping the card around, we see the PCB with stickers for certification, product info, and registration for warranty (specifics are blacked out here). There is no backplate here, in case you were expecting one, and that is pretty much the norm for add-in audio cards even though a backplate would have been a good distinguishing feature for the EVGA offering. The last remaining side, typically facing the front of the case, has ventilation for airflow inside, an EVGA NU Audio marking, and a full-size SATA power connector directly from the PSU, which, in this location, works well for cable management in general.