Inno3D GeForce GTX 1080 iChill X3 Graphics Card Review

A Closer Look

The Inno3D GeForce GTX 1080 iChill X3 features a really sophisticated design and astounding build quality which corresponds with the graphics card’s premium price point. From the moment you take the GPU out from the foam packaging, it’s evidently clear how impressive the cooling hardware is. More specifically, Inno3D have employed a tool-less detachable metal cover which makes it really easy to access the three Scythe blade fans for cleaning purposes. These fans feature high angled blades for optimised airflow while running whisper-quiet. During low idle usage scenarios, the fans stop spinning to maintain silent operation and work towards lower power consumption.

From a more technical perspective, the fans utilise Japanese made bearings which provide smooth operation, reduced fan noise and are three times more durable than standard alternatives. Not only that, they’re engineered to prevent dust build up and have a significantly longer lifespan. On another note, the GPU contains two side air intakes to improve temperatures when opting for a 2-way SLI configuration. Inno3D’s Power Direct Cooling System (P.D.C.S) transfers heat along 5 heatpipes to a 123 piece aluminium fin heatsink to control thermal loads effectively. The company also includes a large memory heatsink which allows for an overclock on the GDDR5X’s base frequency of 10Gbps.

Measuring a mammoth 302mm long and taking up 2.5 slots, this is an extreme product with an imposing presence. Honestly, I was shocked by the hefty weight and believe it’s one of the sturdiest graphics cards I’ve ever encountered. In terms of aesthetics, the silver shroud, distinctive cut-outs and the classic colour scheme is sublime and I instantly fell in love with the GPU’s appearance.

On the opposite side, we can see a high-quality backplate with full PCB shielding. This ensures the GPU’s weight is distributed in a more even manner which prevents unwanted droop.

Another wonderful touch is the 10 Gaming Perfected branding which acts as a reminder of the astonishing technical process throughout the years when it comes to graphics technology.

The iChill logo alternates between three colours based on GPU loads and provides a useful indication of stress levels without relying on software. During a low power state, the logo illuminates blue. Once moderate utilisation begins the logo turns green, and heavy games make the logo shine a red colour.

The graphics card also has integrated red illumination which pierces through an attractive metal cut-out and looks fantastic! Unfortunately, it’s difficult to capture on camera, but rest assured, the subtle lighting is going to impress you.

Towards the PCI-E connectors, we can see the Herculez branding via a plastic tab. Personally, I’m not overly fond of this piece and prefer a more streamlined design which focuses on the high-quality metal cover.

Inno3D have included a 6-pin and 8-pin PCI-E connectors to provide extra stability when attempting large manual overclocks. Whether you need this extra connector will become apparent after testing a number of GTX 1080 samples with different power setups and comparing the results.

From this angle, we can see a glimpse into the 3 x 6mm and 2 x 8mm heatpipes cooling solution.

Connectivity-wise, the graphics card houses three DisplayPort 1.4, an HDMI 2.0 port and Dual-Link DVI-D.