The NVIDIA based video cards have gone through some revisions as of late. The most basic changes come in the form of a smaller, though more efficient series of graphics processing units using a 55nm fabrication process. This GPU can be found in NVIDIA's second revision of GeForce GTX 200 series graphics boards. Fabricating such smaller GPU die typically improves all around performance and lowers power consumption which equates to lower heat produced by the video card. Ideally, this should result in keeping the price of video cards down or at least offer a more affordable product for the price. And a good example of the new improvements reside in the GeForce GTX 275 graphics accelerator. - Futurelooks

Zotac GeForce GTX 275 896MB Video Design Preview

The GeForce GTX 275 is the base model in the Zotac arsenal. The other is the AMP! edition which is their factory overclocked version. The reason for two is very simple, some users want an overclock with a warranty while others want to earn it themselves and don't care too much about the warranty. Different strokes for different folks. We will be looking at the non AMPed version today. Their standard version is backup up by Zotac's lifetime warranty and should hit the shelves for about $249. Typically, what separates one video card from one manufacturer to another is how they lay out the value added bundle that comes with the card.

The reign of the monstrous video cards continues with the GeForce GTX 275. It is essentially the same exact size as the older GeForce 9800 GTX series. It sports a super shiney black fan shroud over the entire length of the card that takes up two slots. You can't see any of the components on the PCB except for the back side however, the black PCB just continues to be a nice touch and a welcome departure from the old school green. Previously graphics cards used to offer their own heatsink design with a cool theme. Nowadays, they all look quite the same except for the stickers on the fan shroud, and maybe different colored DVI ports.

While comparing results of the GeForce GTX 280 show that the average frame rates of the Zotac GeForce GTX 275 are very close in performance, the GeForce GTX 275 is far from being an underperformer. In many instances, it is just within a few frames even with a slightly lower amount of video memory. This is no doubt a result of the higher frequencies used to access the 896MB of video memory. The fan noise produced is almost non existent and maintains relatively quiet during maximum use. This is partially due to the lower heat produced by the new 55nm core, and as such confirm the main advantage of a die shrink.

The area where this Zotac GeForce GTX 275 video card stands out is the price tag. While their GeForce GTX 280 carries a $330 premium, the Zotac GeForce GTX 275 will only set you back a measly $249. This price difference is a real game changer when searching for a GeForce GTX 200 series accelerator. Couple that with the fact it requires less power than its sibling and it makes it a very tantalizing choice indeed. Clearly, the lower amount of memory doesn't hold it back. With such great performance, we can only recommend it to all of you.