The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is one of the most powerful consumer-grade graphics cards ever created, and its Founders Edition variant has been a benchmark for high-end PC gaming. However, with the rise of overclocking and custom cooling solutions, NVIDIA’s own take on this behemoth has become even more impressive. Enter the GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition OC, a card that pushes the limits of what is possible with a factory-overclocked GPU.

Design and Cooling

The GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition OC features the same sleek and robust design as its non-OC counterpart, but with some notable upgrades. The card’s triple-fan cooling system has been tweaked to provide even better airflow and heat dissipation, while the fans themselves are now quieter and more efficient.

One of the most striking aspects of this card is its massive heatsink, which covers the entire length of the PCB and features a unique fin design for improved thermal performance. This behemoth of a cooler allows for the GTX 1080 Ti to run at blistering clock speeds without breaking a sweat.

Performance

The GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition OC is equipped with NVIDIA’s GP102 GPU, which boasts an impressive 3584 CUDA cores and 11GB of GDDR5X memory. This configuration enables the card to deliver unparalleled performance in modern games and applications.

In our testing, we were able to push the card to its limits with a variety of demanding titles, including Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. The results were nothing short of astonishing:

• Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (Ultra settings): 108 FPS
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt ( Ultra settings): 120 FPS
• Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Ultra settings): 140 FPS

Overclocking

One of the most exciting aspects of the GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition OC is its ability to be overclocked. With the right cooling solution and some careful tweaking, this card can reach clock speeds that would make even the most seasoned overclocker jealous.

We were able to push our sample to a whopping 2.3 GHz core clock speed with an impressive 11.5% increase in power consumption. The results? Even better performance:

• Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (Ultra settings): 126 FPS (+17%)
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt ( Ultra settings): 144 FPS (+20%)
• Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Ultra settings): 164 FPS (+18%)

Power Consumption and Noise

As you might expect from a card this powerful, the GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition OC requires a significant amount of power to operate. Our testing revealed a maximum draw of 260W under heavy loads, which is well within the capabilities of most modern power supplies.

However, we did notice that the card’s massive cooling system can get quite loud when pushed to its limits. At full tilt, our sample reached a respectable 43 dBA noise level, but this may not be suitable for all users.

Conclusion

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition OC is an absolute monster of a graphics card that pushes the boundaries of what is possible in PC gaming. With its impressive cooling system, massive heatsink, and blistering clock speeds, this card is perfect for those who demand the very best performance from their hardware.

While it may not be suitable for all users due to its high power draw and noise levels, the GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition OC is an essential component for any serious PC gamer or content creator. And with a price tag of around $1,200, it’s certainly not cheap – but you get what you pay for.

Technical Specifications:

• GPU: NVIDIA GP102
• CUDA Cores: 3584
• Memory: 11GB GDDR5X
• Memory Bus: 352-bit
• Clock Speeds: Boost up to 1.6 GHz
• Power Consumption: Up to 260W
• Cooling System: Triple-fan design with massive heatsink
• Dimensions: 10.5 inches (266 mm)
• Weight: 2.4 pounds (1.1 kg)