Other than the cooler which we will look at in closer detail overleaf, the first thing that struck us was the diminutive size. Measuring just 238mm it is almost 3cm shorter than a reference design! This is a great achievement from MSI and is sure to appeal to those who are short in space. At first glance the graphics card looks strikingly similar to any other card which uses the Twin Frozr design. We would have preferred to have seen a different colour scheme used on the latest design which would help differentiate the Twin Frozr III from the earlier version but that aside, we have no complaints on the cards aesthetic appeal.



Being a 1280MB model, there are no memory modules found on the rear of the card. Like most GTX570 models there is also no protective backplate so extra care should be taken when installing the graphics card, especially metal clips from your CPU cooler which may catch one of the components on the rear of the card if you are careless.



Here we can see a close up of four of the Hi-c CAP Tantalum core capacitors on the rear of the GPU which offer upto 2,000,000 hours lifespan based upon an operating temperature of 65c. This is just one of the features MSI like to class as Military Grade II components. Although I cannot refute their claims of Military Grade II, they are certainly more robust (and more expensive) than the normal capacitors found on lower specification models.



Although this is not the first time we have seen protective blocks for a graphics card it is still worthy of note as MSI have provided a full complement ensuring that all of the connection tabs are protected from damage due to mishandling. There are also two dust protectors for the twin DVI ports and a further protective stub from the mini HDMI port.



Hidden beneath the main cooler frame we see that this card has a brace that keeps the card rigid and straight rather than bowing. We'll take a closer look at this during the dismantling procedure.



Rather than make use of multiple BIOS' the MSI GTX570 Power Edition has a switch on the side of the card that alters the fan profile to either Performance mode which gives the best cooling performance or Silent mode, balancing GPU temperature with noise. I'm not sure of the usefulness of this switch as most people who use the great MSI Afterburner tool will use the fan profiles within there so the card can be effectively placed in silence or performance mode without having to take the side panel from the case. What would have been better would have been a multi BIOS switch allowing users to switch between two different BIOS profiles say for benching or 24/7 use.



As with most NVIDIA graphics cards, and certainly the GTX570 family, the MSI GTX570 Twin Frozr III Power Edition has dual SLI tabs. Despite this card being 'custom' it can still be paired up with any other NVIDIA GTX570, be it from another GTX570 from MSI or indeed another manufacturer either in SLI or Tri/Quad-SLI configurations (motherboard permitting).



Unlike the GIGABYTE GTX570 SOC we reviewed previously, the MSI variant only requires 2x 6pin PCIe power ports. If your PSU does not have two PCIe power cables, MSI have thoughtfully included 2x twin Molex to 6pin PCIe power cables. A 550w PSU capable of delivering 38A on the 12V rail is however required.



As the card is a custom affair, a none-reference backplate is in place with an MSI cut-out to aid ventilation. As we will see overleaf though, the amount of ventilation required here is minimal due to the cards cooler design. Twin DVI-I ports are available along with a single mini-HDMI port. A nice little touch was including blue DVI-I ports that match the blue of MSI, not that you will even see these of course after installing the card but it again lets you know that you have invested your hard earned cash into a custom, non-reference product.



Although I was impressed overall with the MSI GTX570 Power Editions aesthetic value, I was disappointed to see that the cards frame had been folded after it had been painted rather than before. This has resulted in small fractures in the paint as the cooler was moulded into shape. While this may seem pedantic as it is in all honesty, barely noticeable, it does spoil what is overall a very attractive product.

Let's take a closer look at the card and its revised cooler...