Inno3D GeForce GTX 1080 iChill X3 Graphics Card Review

Introduction

NVIDIA’s latest Pascal architecture is built on the TSMC 16nm FinFET manufacturing process and offers a significant performance per watt gain compared to the previous generation. Impressively, both the GTX 1070 and GTX 1080 can outperform the company’s previous Maxwell flagship while opting for a much cheaper price point. During the initial reveal, members of the press were astounded by Pascal’s ability to reach an unbelievable 1733MHz default boost clock and there was an air of excitement at the revolutionary step NVIDIA was taking. Saying that, the presentation wasn’t perfect and the introduction of “founder’s edition” cards caused a great deal of confusion. Thankfully, NVIDIA has clarified that the founder’s edition models are simply a re-branded version of reference cards featuring the company’s new vapor chamber cooling hardware which results in reduced noise levels.

Unfortunately, the GTX 1080’s RRP hasn’t translated very well in European markets and it’s not uncommon to see wild pricing fluctuations from various vendors. Hopefully, this will subside when stock arrives in greater numbers and consumers finally get their hands on a wide range of custom designs. Sadly, due to a supply issue, we couldn’t acquire a reference unit for review purposes which make it difficult to compare the performance benefits of custom creations. Nevertheless, we’re still working on adding a founder’s edition model to our test bench to help quantify the results in a more effective matter. On a more positive note, there are much more GTX 1080 reviews to come as vendors begin dispatching samples.

Today, we’re taking a look at the Inno3D iChill Air Boss X3 which features a core clock of 1759MHz, quoted boost of 1898MHz and 10,400MHz memory speed thanks to the advent of GDDR5X. Of course, the graphics card supports NVIDIA’s latest Pascal technologies including Ansel and Simultaneous Multi-Projection Pipeline. Priced at £589.99, this GPU is cheaper than a number of rival products from the likes of Gigabyte, ASUS and others. Given the impressive factory overclock and excellent cooling solution, could this be the perfect upgrade for enthusiasts investing in a high-resolution display?

Specifications

Packing and Accessories

The graphics card is packaged in a hefty box sporting Inno3D’s attractive iChill branding. Additionally, the front section contains details about what’s included and outlines basic information of the GTX 1080’s specification.

The opposite side provides a brief outline of the GTX 1080 as the fastest graphics card on the market

In terms of accessories, the graphics card is bundled with a driver’s disk, 3DMark code, VRMark code, power supply recommendation guide and a soft mouse mat.