After three decades in the industry, MSI is celebrating their 30th anniversary with a new exclusive limited edition graphics card. The new GTX 1080 pairs MSI’s expertise with their GAMING lineup for graphics cards with an unique custom-designed EK water block. This creation is the new MSI GeForce GTX 1080 30th Anniversary Edition.
This time, the card not only comes with the EK water block, but a unique and custom closed loop liquid cooling configuration that is maintenance free. This should provide more than adequate cooling for the card. The full body water block also dispenses with the need for a secondary fan like the MSI GTX 1080 SEA HAWK X has. The loop is connected to the 120mm fan and radiator along with a built in pump. The setup is the new and exclusive EK-XLC Predator 120 All-In-On liquid cooler. As proper for a product of this stature, the plate is made of copper with nickel plating to ensure longevity. The only downside is that the DVI port has been kept, making a single slot solution impossible.
In terms of performance, the 30th Anniversary edition exceeds the limits set by the GAMING X, with 1860 Mhz core clock in OC mode. However, the GAMING Z from MSI still maintains its speed title with its even higher 1911 Mhz core clock. I would expect overclocking to be slightly better though with the 30th Anniversary Edition given the better cooling. The card itself comes in an exquisite and sturdy wooden box and comes with RGB LED lighting for both the card and the backplate. No pricing has yet been announced.
