KitGuru KitGuru.net – Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards
If you are in the market for a new, competitively priced gaming system then today's review will be of particular interest.
We are taking a look at the new MSI Z77A-GD80 motherboard due for release in July and the R7770 Power Edition graphics card with a rather unusual, proprietary single/dual fan cooling system.
The MSI Z77A-GD80 board is the first motherboard we have received for review with Thunderbolt support. Unfortunately we have yet to receive our first batch of external Thunderbolt drives, but we aim to get a test system up and running over the next month.
MSI Z77A-GD80 Overview
• Thunderbolt™ Technology : The world’s fastest I/O standard
• Military Class III components: Top quality & stability
• OC Genie II: Auto OC to boost performance in 1 sec
• ClickBIOS II: Easy-to-use UEFI BIOS interface
• Super Charger: fast charge iPad/iPhone/smartphone
• THX TruStudio PRO: deliver the fullest audio experience
• Support USB 3.0 & SATA 6Gb/s
The MSI R7770 Power Edition Transthermal OC graphics card has a triple overvoltage feature, to allow the end user to increase GPU, memory and VDDCI voltage for improved overclocking. The card also ships in a single fan configuration, but MSI include an additional fan which can be used alongside, or on top of the standard fan. We look at this in more detail later in the review.
R7770 Power Edition Transthermal OC Overview
- Power Edition
– Triple Overvoltage: adjust the voltage of GPU, memory and VDDCI to unleash the potential of graphics card.
– Enhanced PWM Design: provide higher overclocking capability and better stability in peak load. - TransThermal with Dust Removal technology
– Dust Removal technology: keep out dust for optimal cooling performance.
– Double Airflow Mode: offer higher air pressure and enhances the heat dissipation capacity.
– Dual Fan Mode: provides a bigger dissipation area and cools the components on the PCB more efficiently. - Military Class III Components
– Meet MIL-STD-810G standard to ensure the best stability and quality.
– Adopt Hi-c CAP, SFC and All Solid CAP - MSI Afterburner overclocking utility
– MSI's exclusive overclocking software.
– Support Kombustor to test user’s graphics cards.
– Support Real-Time Video Capturing function to record in-game scenes and share with friends.
Dont get it… you either want a single fan card, or a dual fan card…so just buy a single fan card, or a dual fan card- there are better dual fan coolers out there, such as XFXs Brushed Aluminium cooler, looks a thousand times better than the neon blue plastic tat on this card… Its not like your going to put this in your system and suddenly wake up one day and say- ‘i know i fancy two fans today’….
I get your point, although I think its cool you can basically change the noise/cooling balance to suit different environments. size too.
If it cost £30 more then its pretty pointless, but it seems closely priced to the other HD7770s.
Still think sapphire HD6850 was the best deal for a while at £90.
Great motherboard but im not sure on the graphics card. its clever, but for the target market im not sure its a buying decision. You either want a smaller card for a media center, or a higher cooled, size card for gaming.
Gamers wont buy the HD7770 I wouldnt think, so why not just put a larger single fan on the HD7770 in the first place and ditch the extra fan completely?
Nice idea to be creative like this, but ultimately I think its a bit pointless.
Ok, first thing first. this motherboard is from what I know the same as the GD65 but now has thunderbolt. its a great board. all we need to say (apart from the added price for thunderbolt).
The graphics card is frigging cool. The shiftable cooler idea is nice. Its maybe only useful for people who change systems regularly. so you could ditch a fan, slot it into a HPTC, then take it out, extend it then add another etc.
How many people would do that though? Might make more sense on a HD7850 or 7870. HD7770 is more suited just for media duties and low powered use.
please put two hd7770 in crossfire the results will show that they can deliver more fps
than the high end gtx 670 and hd 7870
with lots of money left over get that new motherboard
give it try