EVGA GTX 980 Ti Classified Video Card Review
Author: Dennis Garcia
Card Layout and Features
The EVGA GTX 980 Ti Classified comes equipped with the EVGA ACX 2.0 Cooling solution that not only is 40% larger than the reference cooler but can deliver 26% lower GPU temperatures and is 36% quieter. ACX 2.0 features double ball bearing fans with a low power motor and special swept fan blades that look like they are upside down. The fans also don’t activate unless they are needed.
Flipping the card over normally gives you a chance to check out the circuitry but, instead you’ll find a custom EVGA back plate with Classified graphics in the corner. Most of the card features can still be seen including the larger VRM and large surface capacitors scattered around the card.
The backplate is a new addition to the retail EVGA 980 Ti graphics cards and is now available on the Classified and other select cards like the 980 Ti SSC (Super SuperClocked).
Video output is comprised of a single dual link DVI video output combined with a single HDMI and three Display Port connections. four of these can be used at the same time allowing you to run 3-way surround and still have a spare monitor for use outside of the game.
3-way and 4-way SLI are possible using the GTX 980 Ti given the dual SLI bridge connections found at the top of the card. Unlike some of the competitor cards the EVGA 980 Ti Classified is configured to position the SLI fingers at the top of the extended PCB allowing you to use solid SLI bridges when two or more Classified cards are installed.
While you cannot use the solid connectors when using the Classified with a reference design card the ribbon style connectors will work just fine.
Included with each card you will get a single 6-pin PCI Express to 8-pin PCI Express power converters DVI to VGA adaptor, Case Badge, Thermal strip, Driver disk and two EVGA Mod Rigs stickers.
You also get a large "Stand By For Ownage" poster which is actually quite cool. Posters like this have come with other EVGA graphics cards before and while folding makes them easy to put in the box the creases are difficult to remove if in event you wish to frame them.
