PNY GeForce GTX 960 XLR8 OC Gaming Graphics Card Review

A Closer Look

As mentioned earlier, PNY has opted for the same cooling solution seen in the GTX 950 XLR8 OC Gaming. This is a great decision because the black shroud with red highlights looks superb and should compliment a wide range of components which target the gaming demographic. Putting the visual element aside, the cooler features two copper heat pipes and a dense aluminium fin array. On another note, the GPU is extremely light and measures 212mm x 112mm. Personally, I’d prefer a heftier feel because it evokes a sense of confidence in the product’s build quality. Saying that, the light construction doesn’t translate to poor materials because the GTX 960 is incredibly efficient and doesn’t require a hefty heatsink or large assortment of heat pipes.

Here we can see a custom PCB designed with overclocking in mind and there’s evidence of excellent trace work. Given the GTX 960’s higher standing in NVIDIA’s graphics range, I would have liked to see PNY incorporate a premium backplate. On the other hand, the GPU’s modest size and lightweight feel mean there’s no droop whatsoever. This is probably why PNY decided to keep the exposed PCB.

During idle scenarios, the GPU runs in a 0dB passive mode which creates a marvellous user-experience. Additionally, the high angled fan blades and quality motors ensure the RPM values increase at a gradual pace. There’s even some sophisticated illumination which surrounds the bearing and adds to the unit’s aesthetic appeal.

In my opinion, the GPU’s two-tone colour scheme looks fantastic and I’m really fond of the transparent fan blades.

The graphics card’s 120-watt TDP only requires a single 6-pin PCI-E connector even when running the factory overclocked core to its absolute limit.

Connectivity wise, the graphics card houses an HDMI 2.0 port, DisplayPort 1.2 and two Dual-link DVI.