Watercooled GeForce GTX 280 Showdown

Barbs Not Included

Flipping the card over reveals a completely naked PCB – MSI has dispensed with the GTX 280 stock rear plate completely, leaving the eight memory modules on this side of the board with no cooling whatsoever. As with the BFG, it’s these modules and their lack of cooling that will limit the MSI GTX 280 HydroGen’s eventual memory overclock, and it’s certainly disappointing to see absolutely no attempt made to cool them.

Elsewhere there are a few more disappointments, especially with the connectivity options of the waterblock. Unlike the Danger Den where the dual direction mountings are incorporated right onto the block, the Heatkiller uses a removable connection housing fitted to the top of the card using a pair of Allen key screws, but there’s no support for SLI without the waterblock’s replacement SLI compatible barb mounting, which is only sold in continental Europe – time to get that German pocket dictionary out!.

MSI also doesn't include any connecting barbs either – you'll need to order these separately, although any standard 1/4" fittings will fit. While we can appreciate MSI's thinking in allowing users to pick their own fittings, it would certainly have been nice to get even basic fittings with the card rather than being forced to buy them separately.


The waterblock's 1/4" barb mounts themselves are also a problem, as they are placed very closely together, making fitting 1/2” internal diameter tubing a real trial, especially when you try and get a pair of jubilee clips into the mix as well. Thankfully though the mounting is reversible dependant on which direction you need the connecting tubing to run from, although unlike the Danger Den you can't have one barb pointing in each direction – you're stuck with both pointing the same way.

The rest of the bundle is also a bit of a disappointment with no included clips to secure hoses to the barbs, and the BFG’s gold plated HDMI cable replaced with an S-Video cable. There are also no included power connectors whatsoever, meaning you’ll need to make sure you’ve got a modern power supply fitted with both six and eight pin PCI-E connectors.

Despite these omissions, MSI has included both DVI to VGA and DVI to HDMI adapters, an HDTV component breakout cable and the usual driver disc and quick install guide – vital for these cards considering the face palm worthy tales board partners tell us of users buying these cards and then fitting them without any watercooling!


While the MSI GeForce GTX 280 HydroGen OC's bundle is admittedly very minimal, the important thing to remember here is that the card retails for a good £50 less than the competing BFG GTX 280 H₂OC. With such a stark price difference between the two, there were always going to be some casualties, and it seems that MSI's bundle is one of them. On the bright side though, it means that if you're planning on using custom fittings such as 90° connectors, you won't be paying for what you'll never use.

Warranty:

MSI offers a two-year limited warranty in Europe. Both years are covered with a parts and labour service. The point of contact during the first year of ownership is the retailer, while the second year is covered by MSI itself. However, if for some reason you are unable to get support from the retailer, MSI will pick up the slack in the first year too.