The summary of ‘This GPU looks like a freaking space ship!’

00:00:00

In this part of the video, the presenter discusses the RTX 4080 graphics card from Zotac. The card is noted for its “clean aesthetic” and distinct design. Despite some criticism of the 4080 series, the presenter points out that it remains popular. The segment also includes a brief promotion for the game World of Warships. The video then focuses on the specific features of the Zotac RTX 4080, highlighting its 16GB capacity and various marketing terms used by Zotac, such as “Ice Storm 2.0” and “Firestorm.” The presenter gives an overview of the packaging, remarking on its quality and suitability for display. They also comment on the use of promotional slogans, suggesting that they sometimes appear disconnected from reality.

00:03:00

In this part of the video, the presenter continues with the unboxing of a large graphics card, specifically an RTX 4080 from Nvidia. They discuss the design elements of the card and its name, ‘Arrow,’ which combines airflow and aerodynamic concepts. The video highlights the power adapter differences between RTX 4080 and RTX 490, the former using a three 8-pin connector due to its lower wattage requirement compared to the latter. Additionally, the presenter examines a support bracket for the GPU, noting that it only works with cases that have a mid-plate separating the power supply and graphics card. They express a desire for the camera to capture a pearlescent effect on the card’s surface and mention some cleanup required due to residue from a non-resale sticker. Finally, they critique branding aesthetics on the card and point out that it’s effectively a four-slot card due to its size.

00:06:00

In this part of the video, the presenter discusses the design and features of a graphics card, focusing on its aesthetic and practical aspects. Key points include the importance of not obstructing airflow when using a sound card or capture card, the visual similarity with the 490 model, and specific design details like the bio selector toggle button and the 12 volt high power connection placement. The presenter emphasizes ensuring power connectors are properly seated to avoid issues like melting due to user error. The segment also touches on testing the card’s performance, specifically its boost levels, temperature, and overclocking capabilities. Visual elements such as the tasteful lighting on the card and its futuristic design are highlighted, likening its appearance to a “federation Starship” from Star Citizen. The presenter mentions preparing the card for testing on a test bench setup.

00:09:00

In this segment, the speaker discusses the challenges with reactivating hardware due to changes and the issue with having to purchase new keys. They move on to critique the cable placement in the 40 series graphics cards, noting that the cable comes out at an unattractive spot. The speaker prefers using MSI Afterburner over Zotac’s software for tuning the GPU. They highlight the card’s cooling capabilities, mentioning that it idles at 28°C with an open side panel and has a power limit setting that allows for significant wattage. The segment also covers tests with the card’s fan cooling system, noting that larger fans tend to be less noisy and less intrusive at various speeds. Various BIOS settings are mentioned, identifying overclocking features and fan operation noise levels.

00:12:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the noise levels and thermal performance of a Starship cooler and a 4080 GPU. They describe the ramp-up of the fan speed, noting that it’s not as loud as expected due to its deeper pitch. The GPU’s performance is assessed, showing temperature and fan speed adjustments. The 4080 is observed to have a stable boost at certain temperatures, but increasing the power limit doesn’t significantly impact performance due to voltage limitations. This reveals the 4080’s design constraints compared to the 4090, highlighting the trade-offs between GPU models in terms of stability and frequency capabilities.

00:15:00

In this part of the video, the presenter discusses the power consumption and performance metrics of a graphics card under specific loads. They note that the card’s maximum design power is 450 watts when using a PCIe 5.0 plug, but it typically only consumes up to 320 watts. During a particular test, the card pulled a maximum of 248.4 watts. They highlight how the card competes with the RTX 3080, offering significant performance improvement for a similar power consumption, but question its value due to its higher price. The video segment also covers the card’s performance under the Speedway benchmark, showing it fluctuates around 3,000 megahertz but can crash at that frequency due to the silicon lottery. The card’s rapid cooling efficiency is also discussed, specifically how quickly it reduces temperature after max load.

00:18:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the Zotac AMP Extreme Arrow graphics card, praising its sleek and unique design reminiscent of a McLaren, contrasting it with other gaudy designs. The card is noted for its performance, offering a high power limit of 140 instead of 110, although this higher limit appears more for marketing purposes since it doesn’t impact actual performance without voltage control. Overclocking results vary due to the silicon lottery, with the specific card in question not hitting 3000 MHz at 60°C but maintaining a standard 1200 MHz on the memory. The speaker emphasizes that while the card performs well, the decision on its value is up to the consumer. They also touch on market expectations, noting potential delays in the release of Nvidia’s 70 and 60 series cards, which could push into the next year, and encourage viewers to share their thoughts on the Zotac card and if they are considering alternatives like AMD’s upcoming 7900 XT and XTX.