GTX 260 SOC: death-distributing small GTX from GIGABYTE

Although the Radeon HD 5800 series has already been released and we’ve also learned a lot of information about the next-generation NVIDIA graphics core in recent days, we’re going to spend a bit more time with the GT200 until they arrive, maybe for the last time.

Our protagonist will be a special GTX 260 built and delivered to us by GIGABYTE. The GTX 260 has also undergone several changes since its release, NVIDIA began manufacturing 65nm GT200 GPUs with 55nm technology as a GT200b variant, and due to the HD 4870 proving to be too fast, the GTX 260 was slightly turbocharged with 192 shades limited. core, which worked with 216 stream processors after the modification, which was quite good for its performance. Today, these cards have dropped to a gross price of around HUF 40, which - and in terms of their performance - can be said to be a good buy. Definitely if we don’t consider ATI capabilities and we definitely want GeForce. Nowadays, all manufacturers make cards that are individually cooled or just pulled up, different from NVIDIA's factory solutions and recommendations, and GIGABYTE is no exception, but perhaps a little more than the average. Why?

GPU Gauntlet Sorting

The GPU Gauntlet is a GPU inspection and sorting process of GIGABYTE, where each core is examined from several perspectives. To get a GPU on a card in the SuperOverClock (SOC) family, you must go through the GPU Gauntlet selection. The result of the process is that only the most successful, strongest and most stable seeds are added to SOC products.

GPU Gauntlet phases:

• My own analysis database is the core for examining shaders and memories
• Thorough testing process to find the highest clocks with graphical measurement programs (FurMark, 3DMark Vantage)
• Factory overdrive to the optimum stability point (Super OC point), creating an ideal balance between high performance and optimum consumption

Members of the SuperOverClock family (currently a GTX 260 and a GTX 275) not only provide increased performance but also much quieter operation. Cards marked with this type designate guarantee a speed of 1500 rpm for games that require high 3D performance and use PhysX, resulting in almost no noise production comparable to average-edition GeForces.

In addition to increased power (25% on average) and significantly less noise, SOC controllers also have better fuel economy, with the GTX 260 SOC having about 4% more than the factory GTX 260.

How are the positive changes just discussed possible?

Ultra Durable VGA (UDV)

For some time now, GIGABYTE has been using Ultra Durable technology, which has been used for several generations on motherboards. Graphics controllers also use 2 ounces of copper in the inner layers of the PCB, resulting in a more even and better heat distribution. In addition, the printed circuit board will feature the highest quality Japanese solid electrolytic capacitors, quality iron core coils, and lower RDS (on) MOSFETs. On UDV cards, we can only find first-class Hynix and Samsung memory chips that pass the most rigorous tests.

Japanese Solid Capacitors:

Solid capacitors made by leading Japanese manufacturers with an average lifespan of 50 hours. These components are essential for stability and longevity. Complemented with the latest components, they meet the expectations of even the most demanding users.

Ferrite Core (Metal) Chokes:

A choke is a coil that regulates the power supply by storing energy. GIGABYTE uses ferrite core coils that are much more expensive than iron cores. Ferrite is made from an alloy of iron oxide and other metals that store energy much longer than conventional iron core coils. This means reduced core energy loss, resulting in lower EMI interference and a more reliable system. Furthermore, the ferrite coil is much more resistant to oxidation than iron. Although most have not yet seen a rusty motherboard, this is actually an important consideration in humid climates or coastal areas where the concentration of salt in the air is higher.

Lower RDS (on) MOSFET:

A MOSFET is a switch that allows or even prevents the circuit to be energized from being energized. For MOSFETs, GIGABYTE has chosen to use the Low RDS (on) MOSFET. The advantages of these MOSFETs are optimized charging, minimized switching loss, lower temperature, and smaller size.

Source: GIGABYTE