When Gigabyte launched its Xtreme Status lineup a couple of weeks in the past, we weren’t solely certain what to make of the extravagantly embellished graphics card and motherboard. However, having obtained fingers and eyes on with the actual deal, we are able to’t assist however be impressed, even when we’re nonetheless undecided why you’d put cast titanium on a pc element.
The specs and designs of those merchandise are such that Gigabyte would definitely hope they earn locations on their respective best-of lists. The Aorus GeForce RTX 4080 Tremendous Xtreme Ice 16G particularly stands out as its the quickest clocked card in its class and so a pure candidate to be top-of-the-line graphics card you should buy.
Gigabyte Aorus GeForce RTX 4080 Tremendous Xtreme Ice 16G
Wanting somewhat nearer on the Aorus GeForce RTX 4080 Tremendous Xtreme Ice 16G, then, and the very first thing that hits you about it’s how massive it’s. Despite the fact that we’re principally used to how huge high-end graphics playing cards could be lately, it could actually nonetheless be somewhat stunning simply how hefty they are often, and this Xtreme mannequin is even massive than most different RTX 4080 Tremendous playing cards.
Measuring 357mm lengthy, 166mm tall and 75mm thick – that’s totally three PCIe slots broad – it’s a behemoth in each method. Nvidia SFF-Prepared this factor isn’t.
The second factor that struck us about this specific card is that’s was facet by the large man himself, Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia – written in gold, after all. We hate to think about how a lot that little gold scrawl may have added to the worth of this card.
Now we get onto the actual defining options of this card, with its gold and titanium. The gold is most distinguished with the serial quantity plate that sits completely place on the rear nook of the cardboard the place it needs to be seen no matter graphics card configuration your case has.
As for the solid titanium, that is an fascinating addition. The usage of titanium in any respect simply provides luxurious, after all, because it’s such an costly materials that’s tough to work with. However, whereas the hammered completed right here appears to be like and feels fairly cool, there’s a slight dullness and subtleness to the end which means it doesn’t truly standout that a lot from a variety of angles.
Had the entire card’s fan shroud been completed on this materials, it might’ve been a distinct matter. Think about a complete cast titanium model of the slick-looking AI TOP GPU that Gigabyte was additionally displaying off and is proven beneath. Now that will be cool.
So would we would like or advocate this card? Nicely, we’re nonetheless but to check it although are fairly certain its efficiency is within the prime bracket for an RTX 4080 Tremendous, and that card is already out prime choose by way of bang for buck for a high-end card. We’re additionally certain that the huge cooler retains the GPU cool and quiet. However, with an asking value of $1,800 you’re paying a giant premium over regular 4080 Tremendous playing cards.
Now, possibly if all of them got here with Jensen’s signature…
Gigabyte Aorus Z790 Xtreme X Ice
Transferring on to the motherboard, the Z790 Xtreme Ice has a designed that’s extra dominated by three parts: the frosted plastic cowl, the solid titanium, and the huge display screen over the IO. The graphics card additionally had a display screen on its prime edge nevertheless it’s a a lot smaller one.
With the board not plugged in, the potential dazzling delights of the display screen weren’t on present, with it as an alternative simply being an apparent clean house on the board. Likewise, we’re certain there’s loads of LEDs shining forth from below all that frosted plastic when the board’s on.
Nonetheless, even unplugged, the titanium cowl that blocks off the complete decrease part of the board, aside from the GPU slot, is tremendous distinguished right here. Once more, like with the graphics playing cards, it might’ve be actually cool to see a full cowl made of these items, however at the least right here you get a decent-sized plater of it. Although there’s nonetheless an opportunity it might sink into the background somewhat as soon as put in in a case.
Even up shut, it wasn’t clear how the frosted plastic cowl for the CPU part doesn’t simply get in the best way for the overwhelming majority of CPU cooler installations. Clearly this can be a board geared toward high-end water-cooled setups however that’s nonetheless a really restricted quantity of house for a water block.
It’s a disgrace, because it’s a neat impact, and one which a number of motherboard producers might strive. Overlook having intelligent BTF hidden cable motherboard and case designs, you possibly can simply conceal all of the unpleasant bits with a frosted cowl. Finished.
Talking of hidden cables, the primary cable IO on this board all sits on its edge, which ought to make for simple set up in most typical, non-BTF, instances. In actual fact, I don’t assume I’ve ever seen such a neat line of energy, SATA, USB, and extra headers on a motherboard.
As you would possibly anticipate with all of the coverings for the board, the graphics card slot makes use of an offset launch mechanism with a button in direction of the again of the board unhooking the GPU retainer. That’s not a novel characteristic nevertheless it’s completely the type of premium however helpful characteristic we’d hope to see on a board of this value.
As for whether or not this board is value you spending your hard-earned money on, it’s clearly a pure match for in case you just like the graphics card, however in any other case it’s somewhat trickier to justify. The GPU has a roughly 30% markup over typical RTX 4080 Tremendous playing cards however this board is as a lot as 10x the value of some Z790 boards.
Nonetheless, that’s the character of some flagship merchandise. They’re there to be a enjoyable outlandish possibility for people who fancy it. And if we had the money we’d actually be tempted to pop this Xtreme Ice setup in an incredible white fish tank case just like the Hyte Y70.
For extra of what we’ve seen on the present ground at Computex 2024, together with Corsair’s new Customized Lab peripherals and AMD’s new Zen 5 CPUs, take a look at our Computex information hub.
