Published in Graphics

EVGA shows off Geforce GTX 1080 Classified and Hybrid cards

by on02 June 2016

On Wednesday, our editor-in-chief got a briefing with EVGA at the company’s showroom in Taipei for Computex 2016, where a few new custom Geforce Pascal products were introduced for the first time. This week, EVGA is now unveiling the Geforce GTX 1080 Classified, the Geforce GTX 1080 Hybrid and the Geforce GTX 1080 SC to show that they are actual products and not just fast-looking designs printed on paper.

Last week we wrote about EVGA’s entire lineup of GTX 1080 graphics cards – the EVGA-branded GTX 1080, the GTX 1080 Founders Edition, the GTX 1080 ACX 3.0, the GTX 1080 SC ACX 3.0, the GTX 1080 FTW ACX 3.0 and the GTX 1080 Classified. Now, the company is ready to show off at least one more product in the series before these cards are sent off into retail store chains for the masses.

Geforce GTX 1080 Hybrid

evga gtx 1080 hybrid

Image credit: EVGA (via Twitter)

EVGA’s Geforce GTX 1080 Hybrid is the new announcement this week and features dual 8-pin PCI-E power connectors, each delivering 150W of power to the card. Due to the nature of its hybrid air cooling and closed-loop cooling design combined with dual BIOS chips and a 10 + 2 phase PWM, this is likely to be another impressive design win just like the GTX 980 Hybrid that came before it. The company also sells its Hybrid water cooler unit separately as an accessory for a few of its cards, and we can hope they will expand compatibility to include more SKUs in the near future.

Given that EVGA’s Hybrid models are usually priced above air-cooled parts but below Hydro Copper ones, we can expect a price above the Founders Edition when it launches shortly.

Geforce GTX 1080 Classified ACX 3.0

evga gtx 1080 classified

Image credit: EVGA

The EVGA Geforce GTX 1080 Classified is the company’s successor to the Geforce GTX 980 Classified (04G-P4-3988-KR), which was introduced in September 2014. The former card was the first Maxwell GPU to ship with a 1400+MHz Boost clock, and now the company is getting ready to release specs above the 1850+MHz Boost threshold, although it has yet to announce frequencies for its new top-tier Classified product.

As of now, the ASUS ROG Strix Geforce GTX 1080 claims the highest non-reference frequencies with a 1784MHz base clock and 1.94GHz Boost clock in OC Mode. Meanwhile, the MSI Geforce GTX 1080 Gaming X 8G ties with EVGA’s Geforce GTX 1080 SC for second place with a 1708MHz base clock and 1847MHz Turbo clock in OC Mode. EVGA will need to top ASUS if it wants to maintain the performance lead, and if this doesn't happen with the Classified then it will probably happen with a Kingpin edition around a few months from now.

evga gtx 1080 classified power link cap

The GTX 1080 Classified also features two 8-pin PCI-E power connectors each delivering 150W of power to the card, and now power cables can be connected to an add-on accessory called the EVGA Power Link. This is a very simple, L-shaped power bracket that safely routes PCI-Express power in a right-angle and gives system builders more flexibility in cable management at any given time.

evga power adapter

Image credit: EVGA

evga gpu power link off

EVGA Power Link On

evga gpu power link on

EVGA Power Link Off

evga gtx 1080 classified vs founders edition

EVGA Geforce GTX 1080 Founders Edition (front) vs. GTX 1080 Classified (back)

Given that the GTX 1080 FTW is priced at $679, we can expect the Classified to be at least $699 if not higher when it becomes available shortly.

Geforce GTX 1080 SC ACX 3.0

evga gtx 1080 sc

EVGA also took some time to display its GTX 1080 SuperClocked ACX 3.0 card, featuring a redesigned cooling solution with increased heatpipe and copper contact area. The new design delivers up to 15 percent cooler memory, 13 percent cooler MOSFETs, 10 percent cooler heatpipes and a 13 percent quieter fin design compared to the previous ACX 2.0 cooler. The card runs at a 1708MHz base frequency with a 1847MHz Boost clock and will be priced at $649.99. For reference, Nvidia’s Geforce GTX 1080 Founders Edition frequencies are a 1607MHz base clock and 1733MHz Turbo clock.

EVGA will release one more GPU right above the GTX 1080 SC and right below the GTX 1080 Classified called the GTX 1080 FTW. This card will feature 10 + 2 phase power, dual BIOS chips, the ACX 3.0 cooler and a TDP of 215W. Just like its higher-clocked Classified counterpart, clockspeeds have yet to be announced, but it will be priced at $679.99 when it becomes available shortly.

Last modified on 04 June 2016
Rate this item
(26 votes)

Read more about: