MSI Gaming Z RTX 2070 Graphics Card Review

A Closer Look

Just like many other MSI graphics cards, the RTX 2070 is a bit of a beast. It features their massive dual-fan cooler design and a rather wide design. Big means heavy, and to support that weight, you’ll also find a full-length GPU brace. Not only does this help keep your card from flexing and sagging, but it also looks pretty cool too.

The Twin Froze 7 design is the latest revision/evolution of their award-winning cooling system. MSI has often favoured dual fan over triple fans, and it’s worked very well for them. Larger fans can move more air at lower RPM, which can mean much lower noise levels too. The top section of the card is sealed in tight too, meaning air is going to be forced right over those two radiators, and out the sides of the card.

Dark and Light

The card is pretty monotone, with blacks and greys making up the bulk of the design. However, there are RGB LED lights tucked into the sides of the fan housing, which will give you some customisation. It’s good they went with such a dark card design though, as the lighting will be easier to match up with other components this way.

So things aren’t just all flat grey and black, MSI has mixed up a fair few textures here. There’s an almost metallic sparkle to the fan surrounds, then both matte and rough textured blacks on the main shroud.

POWER!

The power delivery comes from both an 8-pin and 6-pin header. Nothing too crazy, but what we would expect from a 2070-class card.

Backplate

On the reverse of the card, things look even better! There’s a gorgeous custom cut backplate that just oozes style; well, it does to me anyway. There are a few ventilation holes cut into it, but it’s also provide passive cooling to the PCB. Of course, it also adds a lot of strength to the card overall too.

Around the back, everything is pretty much as you would expect for an RTX card. There’s are three DP, one HDMI, and that neat little USB Type-C display output. The most noticeable thing here is just how damn wide the card is; extending way beyond the rear bracket.