MSI GTX 580 LIGHTNING – The Epic One
You’re all very familiar with the LIGHTNING range from MSI. Chances are you know someone who is looking, has been looking or you yourself are looking to find the GTX275 version for 3DMark2001se. So there’s no reason to go into the history of the product line. This is the MSI GTX 580 LIGHTNING.
So what we have here is the latest (well at least before the 3GB Extreme model) Lightning card and certainly the most important one where we are concerned. With some stiff competition and seemingly all 1st tier manufactures vying for the prestigious title of the best GTX 580 ever this graphics card has a very steep uphill battle to fight. Determining what exactly constitutes the best GTX 580 is not an easy. Without a consistent and reliable way to test or determine what qualifies a graphics card of wearing the title of best, one is essentially left with “ease of use” as a matrix of sorts. Not ideal, but without taking a sufficiently large sample of overclocking results and extrapolating useful data form that, it’s probably the best we can do.
While the technical wizardry helps a great deal and every low noise ESR/ESL component on the PCB along with lots of power phases helps; the proof is really how far it will allow you to go. More than that maybe is once again how easy it is to take it to those limits. After all, with enough time, dedication and modifications quiet a number of GTX 580 cards can overclock well, especially if you have TiN like skills.
So what we have here with the MSI GTX 580 Lightning is probably the easiest graphics card to overclock and benchmark at sub-zero temperatures at the moment. It actually needs very few mods if any to get going. This is in stark contrast to the special edition cards we have seen on the market up until now. Having said that, this is only the preview so we have not had the opportunity to take it below zero, but we will soon enough for the full review in Issue 16 of TheOverclocker.
Until then our initial observations point to a very well made and purpose built card. One only wishes more manufacturers would design their high end enthusiast grade parts like this. Right now it looks like the only card that may be even easier to work with is the upcoming EVGA GTX 580 Classified. Until then however, the MSI GTX 580 Lightning remains the most interesting GTX 580 on the market. Add to which everything you need to take it to its limits or close enough is on the card already. The regular MSI Afterburner will do the trick as well in as far as allowing voltage control and the like for GPU, Memory and Aux Voltage. Yes initially you’ll only be able to reach 1.24V for the GPU but you can get an unlocked Afterburner virtually anywhere.
In essence al l you need is a capable Pot, some insulation, patience and you’re good to go. Indeed the DUP switches are a small convenience at the back of the card, but they are greatly appreciated. MSI has once again produced a product that is worthy of their Lightning branding and right now we can’t find of anything to fault on the card.
We look forward to giving this a thorough run through, but so far this card looks like a winner.
