EVGA GeForce GTX 285 SSC review

[Blkout]

4870x2 stock

285 SSC 756/1764/1323-PhysX OFF

CPU running 4ghz





PhysX On

Just FYI so no one gets confused if you're not paying attention to the details...

As impressive as it seems, you're comparing a highly overclocked 285 to a stock clock 4870x2. Not to mention you used two different processors there, with the slower processor on the 4870x2. You can clearly see the CPU score making up a big part of the difference in the overall score since you scored almost 2K more points using the newer quad CPU with 285.

And while Vantage is nice for bragging rights, it doesn't really represent real world gaming as the 4870x2 is still considerably faster in every game that supports crossfire. Since most games rely more on actual video card speed than CPU speed unlike Vantage scores, the comparisons wouldn't be nearly as close in real world gaming with the 4870x2 walking away from the 285. In the end, it looks closer than it actually is and the test isn't a controlled comparison.

But that being said, great

[davidoff619]

I hope it's not a psu problem I was running setup below with two 260s and had the same problem after overclocking so far on them turned the fans upto 100% and started to see diffrent problems each time I ran the system just sold up on the 260s looking to get two of these beasts and maybe a 1000w + power to rule this out this time around these card retail @ 370 pounds and only get 340 for two gtx 260s so will be looking at a big investment on new i7 sli rig like £1700 which hurts but should see out the next 2 years or so.

[GoldenTiger]

I hope it's not a psu problem I was running setup below with two 260s and had the same problem after overclocking so far on them turned the fans upto 100% and started to see diffrent problems each time I ran the system just sold up on the 260s looking to get two of these beasts and maybe a 1000w + power to rule this out this time around these card retail @ 370 pounds and only get 340 for two gtx 260s so will be looking at a big investment on new i7 sli rig like £1700 which hurts but should see out the next 2 years or so.

What PSU do you have?

[Flinch]

Just FYI so no one gets confused if you're not paying attention to the details...

As impressive as it seems, you're comparing a highly overclocked single gpu to a stock clock dual gpu

Fixed

I'm guessing your an ATI user?

[davidoff619]

I'm using a hiper 880w never let me down so don't think it's that to be honest

Saying it's fixed why worry when the more the compertion heat up the cheaper the pricers will go. Both fanboys win! Ati have done realy well with starting this year on a high but nvidia always come back just as strong there for lower pricers

[Blkout]

Fixed

I'm guessing your an ATI user?

Just stating the facts. And while your edit is a weak attempt to justify your biased post, it doesn't change anything.

And for the record, you would be surprised if I told you what card I'm using at the moment.

[GoldenTiger]

I just tried clocking my CPU back to stock volts/mhz (1.52v/3200mhz vs. 1.35v/2400mhz) as well as the other system voltages to test a theory. With the CPU overclocked, and video card stock clock except shaders @ 1672, it would crash immediately with the video signal going out as described before. With the CPU clocked stock along with volts/etc. to free up some power from my PSU, the shaders can go to 1672 just fine, through multiple bootup tests. Flicking the overclock back on causes 1672 to crash immediately again. (I didn't try higher).

So, I'm confident now that it's the PSU causing my issues and not the card. I'm ordering a Corsair 850w (850TX) PSU to power this beast, and then we'll see just how high it goes .

[davidoff619]

What PSU do you have?

Fixed

I'm guessing your an ATI user?

I just tried clocking my CPU back to stock volts/mhz (1.52v/3200mhz vs. 1.35v/2400mhz) as well as the other system voltages to test a theory. With the CPU overclocked, and video card stock clock except shaders @ 1672, it would crash immediately with the video signal going out as described before. With the CPU clocked stock along with volts/etc. to free up some power from my PSU, the shaders can go to 1672 just fine, through multiple bootup tests. Flicking the overclock back on causes 1672 to crash immediately again. (I didn't try higher).

So, I'm confident now that it's the PSU causing my issues and not the card. I'm ordering a Corsair 850w (850TX) PSU to power this beast, and then we'll see just how high it goes .

I would keeping testing that out and would also go for a 1000w so you have all the head room for future upgrades.

[SKYMTL]

Well, my card won't go past 1740Mhz shaders for folding. Other than that, maybe with some additional cooling some higher clocks are possible. Looks like I will have to hit up Thermalright for a HR03 GTX.

[DeathTyrant]

Well, my card won't go past 1740Mhz shaders for folding. Other than that, maybe with some additional cooling...

How about the new Artic Cooling Accelero Xtreme for the 260, 280, and 285?

[Nasgul]

Just FYI so no one gets confused if you're not paying attention to the details...

Not to mention you used two different processors there, with the slower processor on the 4870x2. You can clearly see the CPU score making up a big part of the difference in the overall score since you scored almost 2K more points using the newer quad CPU with 285.

But that being said, great

Oh great! Someone who hasn't gotten the message yet.

F.Y.I., when the Q6600 OC'd to or close to the same speeds at the Yorkfield, both are equal in performance, sure at stock speeds, Yorkfield would take the (slightly) advantage, but OC wise? Pretty equal, reason why I didn't get a Yorkfield ($373) but a Kentsfield ($150).

As for a single GPU vs TWO GPUs? Well, it's never good to compared a Dual GPU card with a Single GPU card, but yet, just because the Dual GPU card is on two PCBs AND using dual slot doesn't justify comparing it to a single GPU card on a single PCB AND using dual slot.

BTW, read about it: http://www.hwbox.gr/showthread.php?t=3253&garpg=17

[Biker]

Looks like I will have to hit up Thermalright for a HR03 GTX.

Dont forget to hit up Arctic Cooling for an Accelero Xtreme GTX280 as well! (and get one for me while you're there please)

[Biker]

I'm ordering a Corsair 850w (850TX) PSU to power this beast, and then we'll see just how high it goes .

You'll be pulling over 80amps with that overclock so that is what is making your 520W cry

850W = good move

[Blkout]

Oh great! Someone who hasn't gotten the message yet.

F.Y.I., when the Q6600 OC'd to or close to the same speeds at the Yorkfield, both are equal in performance, sure at stock speeds, Yorkfield would take the (slightly) advantage, but OC wise? Pretty equal, reason why I didn't get a Yorkfield ($373) but a Kentsfield ($150).

As for a single GPU vs TWO GPUs? Well, it's never good to compared a Dual GPU card with a Single GPU card, but yet, just because the Dual GPU card is on two PCBs AND using dual slot doesn't justify comparing it to a single GPU card on a single PCB AND using dual slot.

BTW, read about it: http://www.hwbox.gr/showthread.php?t=3253&garpg=17

Your wrong of course, as evident by the CPU score in the benchmark comparison. Both CPU's running about the same same speed yet the Yorkfield scores 2K points more. That's what is making up the difference in those two system comparisons, not the video card, which is what I was pointing out.

Not even sure how you got involved in discussion unless you're just trying to defend your Q6600. And your argument about the single GPU vs. dual GPU is pretty weak, but you've got a long post history of thinking it's somehow unfair to compare those two cards which is ridiculous.

[Nasgul]

Not even sure how you got involved in discussion

That's why I posted the link, so you can educate yourself and learn that a Q6600 at the same speeds as a Q9650 will yield the same performance/score. 4.01ghz vs 4.03ghz

Just because your eyes see Q6600 and Q9650 doesn't mean the Q9650 is faster, don't let the big model number fool you, look at the "clock speeds" in which both are running, so, don't let the "model" number fool you. For once.

And also, "newer" doesn't mean "faster", and again, look at the link which you obviously have not seen and see that OC'd speed will give you the same performance when all are running at the same core clock speed as the rest.

Pay attention to the clock speed, NOT the "newer" model number, as you have not understood yet.

You can clearly see the CPU score making up a big part of the difference in the overall score since you scored almost 2K more points using the newer quad CPU with 285.

Newer is NOT faster. It's the clock speed that counts, F.Y.I., ONE more time: http://www.hwbox.gr/showthread.php?t=3253&garpg=17

All CPUs running at 3.70ghz. Read and look at the charts just in case you can't read (Greek), at least the numbers speak for themselves.

[Blkout]

That's why I posted the link, so you can educate yourself and learn that a Q6600 at the same speeds as a Q9650 will yield the same performance/score. 4.01ghz vs 4.03ghz

Just because your eyes see Q6600 and Q9650 doesn't mean the Q9650 is faster, don't let the big model number fool you, look at the "clock speeds" in which both are running, so, don't let the "model" number fool you. For once.

And also, "newer" doesn't mean "faster", and again, look at the link which you obviously have not seen and see that OC'd speed will give you the same performance when all are running at the same core clock speed as the rest.

Pay attention to the clock speed, NOT the "newer" model number, as you have not understood yet.



Newer is NOT faster. It's the clock speed that counts, F.Y.I., ONE more time: http://www.hwbox.gr/showthread.php?t=3253&garpg=17

All CPUs running at 3.70ghz. Read and look at the charts just in case you can't read (Greek), at least the numbers speak for themselves.

Dude, give it a rest. I didn't say anything about bigger CPU number naming or newer CPU's being faster, but regardless of what you think the Q9650 is faster than the Q6600. The numbers are RIGHT here showing a 2K point increase with the Q9650 compared to the Q6600 and actually the Q6600 has a 18MHz speed advantage and still places behind the Q9650 in CPU score.




Defend your Q6600 all you want, but I'm talking about Vantage scores here and it's right there posted for your viewing pleasure. I've read many of your posts in the past and you're always wrong, yet you seem to argue until someone gives up and gets tired of arguing with you. Guess what, I'm not playing that game with you as I have better things to do with my time. I've already proven my point. I can only speculate that you jumped into this conversation to defend your CPU because otherwise your argument isn't relative to this thread as the evidence is already posted showing that you're wrong.

[GoldenTiger]

What I decided to try was adding a 9800GT card to the other PCI-E slot, and then load the rig up as much as I could with Prime/ATItool. It ran without issue and did not crash or shut off. The moment I upped the shader to 1620 again, BAMF! it crashed with the system hang/video loss, then blue-screen. I'm pretty sure now that it's not the PSU, as if it were already borderline I'm skeptical it would run fine with an added video card to feed.

Do you think I'm on the right track here? I just set up a cross-ship to get a new BFG GTX 285 in my hands on Tuesday early afternoon...

[Blkout]

What I decided to try was adding a 9800GT card to the other PCI-E slot, and then load the rig up as much as I could with Prime/ATItool. It ran without issue and did not crash or shut off. The moment I upped the shader to 1620 again, BAMF! it crashed with the system hang/video loss, then blue-screen. I'm pretty sure now that it's not the PSU, as if it were already borderline I'm skeptical it would run fine with an added video card to feed.

Do you think I'm on the right track here? I just set up a cross-ship to get a new BFG GTX 285 in my hands on Tuesday early afternoon...

I think you've just reached the limit of your card on the shader clocks.

[clo007]

Jakup = eVGA product manager someone said? Is that correct I assume?

(Not that I expect an answer on this one hehe but...) is the SC the same as the SSC hardware-wise but for the testing and binning?

Yes, he works for eVGA

[SKYMTL]

Dont forget to hit up Arctic Cooling for an Accelero Xtreme GTX280 as well! (and get one for me while you're there please)

I have a feeling that by the time that thing makes its way to broad retail availability, the next gen cards will be out...

[wilson]

Hi guys whats the most any of you have got from your gtx285 cos most of the stock clocks are pretty good but there is always room for a bit more.

[NapalmV5]

well after a simple mod.. ive reached 800 core without any vmods/cooling mods

50mhz gain



gtx285: pleasant card to mod.. and lots of mods

no worry guys.. there will be a slew of mods posted by pros

[dengyong]

well after a simple mod.. ive reached 800 core without any vmods/cooling mods

gtx285: pleasant card to mod.. and lots of mods

no worry guys.. there will be a slew of mods posted by pros

What mod did you do ? Link ?

[Orangeblast]

well after a simple mod.. ive reached 800 core without any vmods/cooling mods

50mhz gain



gtx285: pleasant card to mod.. and lots of mods

no worry guys.. there will be a slew of mods posted by pros

Yes, can you please be a bit more specific...I have 2 GTX 285 SSCs in my shopping cart now...waiting to push the button. Need just a bit more convincing.

[NapalmV5]

What mod did you do ? Link ?

no link.. im the link

hard mod on the back of the card

soldering required

Yes, can you please be a bit more specific...I have 2 GTX 285 SSCs in my shopping cart now...waiting to push the button. Need just a bit more convincing.

wait a second.. dont make me your dealing beeache.. if you wanna buy.. buy! if you dont.. dont! lol

this mod + more other mods will work on all gtx285s

look.. the mod its not proven.. yet

wait for the pros.. if they dont post anything on it.. i will