The MSI N275GTX Twin Frozr OC
Modern graphics card are plain hot because even mid-range models can consume around 200W when running at full tilt. Most of that heat is produced by the GPU, and keeping it cool - and quiet - is an engineering feat in itself.
MSI's answer to the escalating TDPs found on mid-to-high-end NVIDIA cards is the Frozr concept. It's based on a five-heatpipe design that, MSI says, keeps the GTX 275 GPU 8°C cooler than the decent-performing reference heatsink.
The heatpipes all make contact with the nickel-plated copper base and then ferry away the absorbed heat to an array of aluminium fins that are, in turn, cooled by twin fans that blow air over the majority of the card, including MOSFETs, capacitors, and memory.
As you would expect, MSI increases the stock GTX 275 frequencies from 633/1,404/2,268MHz to 666/1,476/2,322MHz for the core, 240 shaders, and 896MB memory, respectively. It's a decent increase, but isn't the highest we've seen. There's also a non-overclocked Frozr, too.
No different from the reference design insofar as the form factor, the Frozr take up the adjacent slot next to the primary x16 PCIe's.
One aspect of the design that we don't like is that a fair proportion of the warmer air is recirculated in the chassis; the backplate doesn't make contact with the heatsink.
Ports-wise, it's a standard card, sporting dual DVI and mini-DIN for TV-out.
You could be forgiven for thinking it's an ATI card, judging by the PCB. The two SLI fingers permit three-way usage, if you have the necessary wonga and inclination.
