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MSI watercools its GTX 280 with HydroGen

Author: Richard Swinburne
Published: 3rd September 2008

This is one for you watercoolers - MSI has launched its latest GeForce GTX 280 with a funky HydroGen waterblock. The "N200 series" features a 700MHz core clock that MSI claims is one of the highest core clocks out there at a 17 percent improvement over stock.

The HydroGen block also sports a 10°C drop compared to the stock cooler but appears not to include the memory with its water coverage. Instead it relies on just a simple copper plate to conduct the heat to the water channels over the large core - much like the Danger Den block used on BFG Tech's GeForce GTX 280 H2OC.

MSI also states that it fits in a single slot now, but the PCI plate is clearly dual slot, unlike the BFG card, whose backplate has been changed to a single slot one. You lose the LED, but honestly - if you're competent enough to use watercooling you don't need to be told how to plug a graphics card in.

In the past, MSI's HydroGen was simply a concept as part of a potential watercooled X38 motherboard - we were first on the scene last year with that one. However, MSI couldn't make it into mass production back then even despite the superior design to other market leaders - this time though, around it seems to have made the big time.

We will be putting both up against each other in a head-to-head soon! Fancy grabbing yourself a watercooled GeForce GTX 280 without killing your warranty? Let us know your thoughts in the forums.

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