Performance Analysis

A performance update to Battlefield 1 that improved performance significantly on all cards has meant we had to refresh our results, rendering previous GTX 1080 Ti results unusable. Fortunately, we happened to have the Aorus GTX 1080 Ti Xtreme Edition to hand, and this actually runs out of the box with the same base and boost clocks as this card, although the memory is a tad slower at 11.2Gbps compared to 11.4Gbps.

The Inno3D card ends up being about 3.5 percent quicker on average across our games, and this is most likely mainly due to it boosting a bit higher thanks to the lower temperatures afforded by its more extravagant cooling system. We observed speeds of between 1,911MHz and 1,949MHz during periods of sustained loads, so this is evidently a very fast card from the get-go.

AMD still has no answer to the GTX 1080 Ti; this card is a whopping 40 percent faster on average when compared to the recently released Radeon RX Vega 64. Let’s hope this is a gap the red team can keep closing. Either way, for now this GPU remains the only real choice for true 4K gaming with all the settings turned up.

A delta T value of 40°C is very good for a card this powerful, and fan speeds remained at rather quiet levels throughout testing. That said, the same is also true of the air-cooled Aorus GTX 1080 Ti Xtreme Edition, and that wasn’t far behind on temperatures, managing a delta of 45°C. We also observed higher power consumption with the Inno3D card (just over 30W), but that perhaps isn’t surprising given that it has a pump and a full-size fan to deal with; if you recall, the pump even has its own Molex connector.

We weren’t able to hit clock speeds that we haven’t seen with other air-cooled cards, but that’s not to say the GTX 1080 Ti iChill Black is a poor overclocker, as it doesn’t appear to be. With the core running easily over 2GHz and the memory near 12Gbps, we saw performance improve by between three and five percent.

Conclusion

It seems odd to talk about good value in the same sentence as a £750 graphics card, but relative to other GTX 1080 Ti cards on the market, this entry from Inno3D can be viewed as such. You’re getting one of the fastest overclocks available (for both core and memory) and effective hybrid cooling that undercuts other similar coolers on price rather well. The 3DMark and VRMark software bundle and mousepad won’t appeal to everyone, but they do add a little extra value too.

We do have a few qualms regarding aesthetics, but our main criticisms are the use of a Molex connector and failing to keep the card itself within dual-slot dimensions, as we feel both could have been avoided with better design. Even so, many systems including small form factor ones will be able to house it regardless, and the GTX 1080 Ti iChill Black represents some of the best value you’ll get from a GTX 1080 Ti, with excellent results across the board. We’re advised that stock levels in the UK will return soon, although pricing may fluctuate from the listed price of £750. If it doesn’t deviate too much, the Recommended badge below applies, but if it creeps close to £800, we’d advise looking into other hybrid-cooled cards if that’s what’s taken your fancy here.