EVGA 9800 GTX+ 512MB Video Card Review

A Closer Look at the EVGA 9800 GTX+

It looks like a regular 9800 GTX, it even smells like one too but as you will see in a bit, lurking under that heatsink is something a bit different. All in all though, which you are looking at is a carbon copy of a stock 9800 GTX with a funky new sticker on it.

When we first reviewed the 9800 GTX, we mentioned that its heatsink shroud looked a good deal more feminine than previous cards and even compared with the GT-200 series, this observation still stands for the GTX+. This shroud completes a dual-slot cooler setup which runs the entire length of this 10.5” card.


EVGA has used every possible area on this card for brand recognition and the fan hub doesn’t escape the treatment. Meanwhile, the side of the card holds the S/PDIF connector as well as the two PCI-E 6-pin power connectors. As already mentioned, with the switch to 55nm, the core will consume a bit less power than its 65nm brother but due to the clock speed increase, this power savings is completely negated. Thus, a pair of power connectors is still needed.


The backplate of the 9800 GTX+ holds nothing out of the ordinary; just a pair of DVI connectors and a signle TV-Out connector. Meanwhile, this card is equipped with Nvidia’s double SLI connector so if you have the proper motherboard and enough money, up to three of these cards can be linked together in SLI.


Even when taking a fine toothed comb to the 9800 GTX+ in order to find the differences between it and the standard 9800 GTX, it is next to impossible to tell the two apart. There is a single capacitor with a slightly higher uF rating but that is about it.

The real change is apparent which you take a look at the actual core used on this card. Whereas the GTX used the G92-420-A2 core, the GTX+ uses the 55nm G92-420-B2 core which has a visibly smaller footprint.