Scan 3XS system review: Twin GeForce GTX 480s in SLI

Final thoughts and rating

Scan's3XS SLI 480 OC PC has been built to with the primary aim of showcasing the gaming power of two GeForce GTX 480 GPUs running in tandem. Costing some £2,749 as a base unit, purchasers will need to provide input devices and monitor(s) of choice, and such is the power of the system, especially with respect to gaming, that it's best supplemented with a 30in panel or, perhaps more economically, a trio of 24in monitors.

With nearly £1,000 of the total budget allocated to just two graphics cards, costs are kept somewhat in check with a well-overclocked Core i7 920, decent X58 board, and associated premium, but not exorbitant, components.

The very components that make the PC stand out from the norm - two GeForce GTX 480s - are also the system's biggest weakness when evaluated from a wider perspective. Considerable graphical grunt - and they really are wicked-fast - is gained at the expense of power-draw and noise. Scan has done a decent job in trying to keep the GPUs quiet under load - including spacing between cards and directed airflow - but there's simply no getting around the din produced when GTX 480s are running at full chat: GeForce GTX 480s in particular, are crying out for some watercooling love, we reckon.

Scan's comprehensive configurator means that almost any combination of components can be chosen, and we'd recommend swapping out the two GTX 480 cards and replacing them with twin pre-overclocked Radeon HD 5870s or GeForce GTX 470s, saving over £200 in the process. Sure, you'll sacrifice absolute gaming performance, yet the trade-off makes sense in a number of ways.

We come away from the evaluation of the Scan's 3XS SLI 480 OC PC both impressed and a little bemused. A quality system is in most ways, Scan hasn't been able to fully solve the problem of integrating two beastly GeForce GTX 480s into a system without making significant compromises with respect to noise and, to a lesser extent, heat.

The Good

Silky-smooth performance in all tests
Extreme gaming potential
Well-chosen components mesh together seamlessly

The Bad

Twin GeForce GTX 480s are still noisome on the ears
Associated heat and power-draw means that all fans need to be running

HEXUS Rating

Scan 3XS SLI 480 OC PC

HEXUS Awards

Scan 3XS SLI 480 OC PC

HEXUS Where2Buy

The Scan 3XS SLI 480 OC PC can be purchased from Scan and configured in a number of ways:

	As always, UK-based HEXUS.community discussion forum members will benefit from the SCAN2HEXUS Free Shipping initiative, which will save you a further few pounds plus also top-notch, priority customer service and technical support backed up by the SCANcare@HEXUS forum.
SCAN.co.uk	£2,749.00

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No big surprises there really. It makes sense to offer that kind of configuration as an option for buyers, but you've got to appreciate that it's going to be loud… there's no avoiding that.

The only thing I would say is that the lack of an H50 seems odd… when you're spending that much money, it's 1% extra on the build and would surely keep it a little bit cooler internally? Or maybe it's a case of 1 degree at best… hard to tell.

I think at the end of the day, if you're going to shell out that kind of money on a desktop, with that kind of graphics power, it would be a bit daft not to go watercooled. Not really a comment on the build - it makes sense to offer both options - I just think when you're spending that much why not go the extra mile.

snootyjim
The only thing I would say is that the lack of an H50 seems odd… when you're spending that much money, it's 1% extra on the build and would surely keep it a little bit cooler internally? Or maybe it's a case of 1 degree at best… hard to tell.

I don't think it would make much difference - the CPU isn't the main heat generator in that system - and it's pretty much exhausting straight out the case anyway.

Watercooling those 480s though.. that would make a difference as they do radiate into the case.

kalniel
Watercooling those 480s though.. that would make a difference as they do radiate into the case.

We have options for watercooling the 480GTX cards in other 3XS extreme builds.

The systems online configurator has an option which allows you to keep them babies nice and quiet under water should you choose to do so :)

Jesus. Those idle/load power draw figures are why I'm steering well clear of nVidia hardware this time around. Absolutely ridiculous considering the tiny (if existent at all) performance improvement.