ZOTAC GTX580 1.5GB Review
Packaging and Content
The front of the box
The packaging ZOTAC uses is a standard cardboard box with a plasticised cut out at the front. The yellow and black theme is in trend with ZOTAC's other products and their own company logo. The colour also fits with the honeycombed livery but the relevance of bees to ZOTAC is a mystery. The front of the box has been made to look very vibrant to appeal to buyers and the various information displayed have been nicely laid out to lessen the clutter that often plagues product packaging. Below the ZOTAC logo is the ubiquitous Pulse logo that ZOTAC use to symbolise the best engineering and innovation available. It remains to be seen if the logo translates to real world benefits. At the bottom, the product name is clearly labelled in bold with a few of the features the graphics card boasts and users can easily identify it as the GTX580.
The window and ZOTAC features
The transparent window presents us with a view of the actual graphics card inside. This sneak preview is an excellent way to draw people who would rather see the card itself than a graphics art depicting it.
On the side of the box, ZOTAC have listed the card's specifications and features which we have already covered in depth over the last two pages. We can expect to see the card supporting all the latest Nvidia technology such as PhysX, SLI, 3D Vision and 3D Vision Surround. Also in small print, they specify that the right drivers, 3D Vision glasses and compatible monitors are required for the features to function. Next to the cut out on the front of the box, a list of additional bundled software is shown under the ZOTAC Boost Premium heading. These programs aim to enhance the user experience and although they are provided on the driver disc, they can also be downloaded from ZOTAC's site. It's also important to note that ZOTAC have one of the longest warranties of any graphics card manufacturer. Their "Extended Warranty" scheme lasts 5 years as opposed to the regular 2-3 years provided by other companies.
The back of the box
Turning to the back of the box, ZOTAC have used the space to showcase how their graphics card can enhance gaming experience through stunning gaming effects thanks to 3D and DX11 support. At the bottom, the list of included extras is given in 8 different languages.
The features
At the top, the small blurb and images illustrate the advantages of the Nvidia graphics card and its features.
Inside of the box
Inside, the GTX580 is housed in a foam cut-out which is protected by a plastic cover. The ZOTAC GTX460 we reviewed also uses the same packaging suggesting that it is universal across their entire range of cards. On the side is a small compartment for the bundled accessories. The manual and discs are located below the foam enclosure.
The bundle
The bundle that comes with the ZOTAC card is quite standard with the added benefit of a free Prince Of Persia game. The whole package contains:
The package includes:
- 1 x DVI-to-VGA adaptor
- 1 x Mini HDMI to HDMI adapter
- 1 x Dual MOLEX-to-6-pin PCIe power cable
- 1 x Dual 6-pin PCIe to 8-pin PCIe power cable
- User manual
- Quick installation guide
- Zotac Boost Premium
- Prince Of Persia: The Forgotten Sands
- 1 x Nvidia GeForce GTX580
The front of the box
The packaging ZOTAC uses is a standard cardboard box with a plasticised cut out at the front. The yellow and black theme is in trend with ZOTAC's other products and their own company logo. The colour also fits with the honeycombed livery but the relevance of bees to ZOTAC is a mystery. The front of the box has been made to look very vibrant to appeal to buyers and the various information displayed have been nicely laid out to lessen the clutter that often plagues product packaging. Below the ZOTAC logo is the ubiquitous Pulse logo that ZOTAC use to symbolise the best engineering and innovation available. It remains to be seen if the logo translates to real world benefits. At the bottom, the product name is clearly labelled in bold with a few of the features the graphics card boasts and users can easily identify it as the GTX580.
The window and ZOTAC features
The transparent window presents us with a view of the actual graphics card inside. This sneak preview is an excellent way to draw people who would rather see the card itself than a graphics art depicting it.
On the side of the box, ZOTAC have listed the card's specifications and features which we have already covered in depth over the last two pages. We can expect to see the card supporting all the latest Nvidia technology such as PhysX, SLI, 3D Vision and 3D Vision Surround. Also in small print, they specify that the right drivers, 3D Vision glasses and compatible monitors are required for the features to function. Next to the cut out on the front of the box, a list of additional bundled software is shown under the ZOTAC Boost Premium heading. These programs aim to enhance the user experience and although they are provided on the driver disc, they can also be downloaded from ZOTAC's site. It's also important to note that ZOTAC have one of the longest warranties of any graphics card manufacturer. Their "Extended Warranty" scheme lasts 5 years as opposed to the regular 2-3 years provided by other companies.
The back of the box
Turning to the back of the box, ZOTAC have used the space to showcase how their graphics card can enhance gaming experience through stunning gaming effects thanks to 3D and DX11 support. At the bottom, the list of included extras is given in 8 different languages.
The features
At the top, the small blurb and images illustrate the advantages of the Nvidia graphics card and its features.
Inside of the box
Inside, the GTX580 is housed in a foam cut-out which is protected by a plastic cover. The ZOTAC GTX460 we reviewed also uses the same packaging suggesting that it is universal across their entire range of cards. On the side is a small compartment for the bundled accessories. The manual and discs are located below the foam enclosure.
The bundle
The bundle that comes with the ZOTAC card is quite standard with the added benefit of a free Prince Of Persia game. The whole package contains:
The package includes:
- 1 x DVI-to-VGA adaptor
- 1 x Mini HDMI to HDMI adapter
- 1 x Dual MOLEX-to-6-pin PCIe power cable
- 1 x Dual 6-pin PCIe to 8-pin PCIe power cable
- User manual
- Quick installation guide
- Zotac Boost Premium
- Prince Of Persia: The Forgotten Sands
- 1 x Nvidia GeForce GTX580
