Since Nvidia unleashed the GTX 1080Ti on the world, two things have come to be clear. First, the cardboard is just surprisingly effective; it is arguably the first patron grade images platform able to reliably pump out 60 frames a 2d at 4K resolutions. Second, it’s that the chip is hot. Open-air cards are pushing into two and a half and three slot widths extra than ever earlier than. Enter MSI’s 1080 Ti DUKE OC. It’s a graceful, three-fan answer that now not simplest runs cool and quiet, but does so in only two well-known slots.
Like each 1080 Ti, the DUKE OC packs an expansive 11GB of 352-bit GDDR5X VRAM, which is presently more than enough for any sport in the marketplace. The RAM is a twin channel, permitting it to hit an excellent 11016MHz frequency. 3584 CUDA underlie the card, and MSI ships the DUKE OC with an assured center clock of 1531MHz, boosting to 1645MHz (and past). On the rear are two DisplayPort, HDMI, and a single Dual Layer DVI connection, ideal for multi-show setups or virtual fact headsets.
Before we get into overall performance, I have to say that I love the classy turn of this card after MSI’s ARMOR and Gaming X. Both playing cards looked awesome. Still, the glossy, darkish, and angular aesthetic allows it to be healthy inside any case or color scheme. With RGB permeating the PC hardware landscape, I look to long-term peripherals to mixture in with anything huge I’m in the mood for. The DUKE accomplishes that, and for a reason, that emblem is likewise RGB enabled; it not most effective fits in; however, it will complement my machine’s general appearance.
My check device features an i7-7700k strolling at four.5GHz in an MSI Z270 Gaming M7 motherboard, 16GB of DDR4 3200MHz G.Skill RAM, a 500GB Samsung 960 EVO M.2 SSD, 2TB of internal storage, and a 1050-watt Corsair HX1050. And, of course, the DUKE OC.
The thrilling element approximately Pascal is that taking into account some very modest differences, overall performance is essentially identical from Ti to Ti. We’re truly looking for thermal and noise management in our performance analysis and how well every card can keep its clock fees.
To do this, we run performance assessments throughout a variety of MMOs, RPGs, and out of genre titles. Our purpose is to look at how games carry out at their maximum level – we’re PC game enthusiasts in any case – so we chose the highest possible preset and manually changed every placing to its maximum feasible choice; cutting side visuals for a cutting face card. At 4K resolutions, we disabled anti-aliasing as it is largely unnecessary at this type of high decision. Turning down several letters outcomes in fantastically better body fees, bear in mind our outcomes in the range of “highest viable” for visual constancy.
Let’s take a glance.
As we predicted, the DUKE performed very further to other 1080 Ti cards we’ve looked at at the same time as maintaining considerable upgrades over the Founder’s Edition variation. Compared to ZOTAC’s 1080 Ti AMP Edition, overall performance outcomes in large part fall within numerous frames – almost all indistinguishable to the bare eye. The improvements over the Founder’s Edition but are amazing.
In our testing, the DUKE became capable of maintaining a reasonably steady clock pace of around 1900MHz with none overclocking because of GPU Boost 3.Zero. The reference card, effective in its personal right, tended to top round 1800MHz and mechanically thermally throttle right down to 1500-1600MHz. Since the DUKE doesn’t as many thermal demanding situations, its overall performance became greater consistent in prolonged play sessions.
Our card became easily overclocked to 2GHz and a 150MHz memory offset and not using a voltage bump. Impressive!
The card runs a bit at the hotter aspect, averaging proper around 75C as soon as it’s warmed up. It’s now not the best card we realize, but it’s clearly an improvement over the Founder’s Edition and infrequently ever throttles due to temperatures. MSI’s DUKE is likewise fairly quiet. Due to Zero Frozr generation, the fans received spin in any respect unless it holds a temperature above 60C. That seems a bit heat, and I became concerned that the 3 enthusiasts might go from 0 to blaring on a dime. When they do kick on, it’s audible but no longer unreasonably so, and, in our revel in, the game audio had already begun via that factor, which enables to mask the decibels produced via the cardboard.
Like all 1080 Tim, that is a card focused on at 1440p and 4K resolutions. The DUKE effortlessly sped through maximum video games. We threw it in 4K and each recreation in 1440p. Priced at $749.Ninety-nine, it faces a few steep competition, and I’d like to see that drop through ten or twenty bucks. In a way, the extra price is virtually a reply of purchasing modesty – it has a modest two slots, a modest, understated aesthetic to fit any case, and chews through excessive-resolution video games with modest temperatures and noise. That out of the field enhance to 1900Mhz really makes a distinction. The shortage of thermal throttling manner custom fan curves, and even additional overclocking is actually come down to choice. MSI has been on a roll with its 1080 Ti collection, and that is no exception. When it comes to electricity and overall performance, the DUKE OC can provide.
