A Closer Look at the XFX 8800GTS 512MB


The first thing that will jump out at you when you first see the new 8800GTS 512MB is the fact that it is equipped with a dual slot cooler. Frankly, I think that Nvidia realized that their stock cooler on the original 8800GT would not put up with the extra heat generated by this card and designed a new heatsink. XFX has kept the stock Nvidia heatsink but has done away with the standard Nvidia stickers and has applied their own Alpha Dog themed motif.

The total length of the card stands at 9” from tip to toe which should not pose a problem with the majority of ATX cases on the market today.


The fan assembly on these new 800GTS 512MB cards definitely bucks some longstanding traditions with its overall design. While the fan itself looks like it would be right at home on an older 8800GTS or GTX, on these cards it is much thinner and it is angled downwards towards the main heatsink fins. This definitely makes for an interesting and unique profile to the dual slot heatsink. Personally, I think the whole thing looks a bit awkward but if it works, who am I to complain?


One side of the heatsink holds a small GeForce logo which was first seen on the 8800GT cards but it is now slightly larger. If you have a standard ATX case layout, this little touch looks great but if you have an “inverted” layout like that seen on many Lian Li cases, it will unfortunately be upside down. Also, as you can see the SLI connector is hidden by the large heatsink but it is still easily accessible.


In order to get the fan at its odd angle, the back of the heatsink is jacked up on what looks to be plastic stilts. While it definitely does not look too attractive, I am guessing Nvidia had a good reason for angling their fan downwards. This vaulting of the fan also makes it possible for the back of the heatsink to clear the capacitors which are located at the rear of the PCB.

The backplate of the 8800GTS 512MB has an exhaust grille for the hot air as well as a pair of DVI connectors and a single HDTV Out jack. You can also see a pair of screws which are used to hold the backplate flush with the heatsink.


There really isn’t much to see on the back of the PCB but what I would like to bring to your attention is the mind-boggling number of screws which hold down the heatsink. All told, there are seventeen (including the two already mentioned on the backplate) which makes removing the stock heatsink a bit tedious. One way or another, lets get to stripping that thing off.