MSI Sea Hawk: Dropsy is our everything

The idea to stick "dropsy" on the graphics card was born on the same day when this trick rolled with processors. Since then, every self-respecting graphics card manufacturer has launched a similar line. MSI has this Sea Hawk. The latest models of the line are GeForce RTX 2080 and RTX 2080 SUPER, named Sea Hawk EK X and Sea Hawk X. The first has a full-coverage water block from the Slovenes EKWB, the second has a hybrid system consisting of a water block and a cooler. Interestingly, in some stores they are even cheaper than simple three-cooler versions of the 2080 SUPER. There is no official information about the RTX 3090 caliber novelties performed by Sea Hawk, but there are rumors that this will be a collaboration with Corsair, and all new video cards will change their name from Sea Hawk to MSI Corsair.

MSI Sea Hawk series video cards (water cooling)

MSI Gaming: the best value for money

In the boot of almost every vendor there is a series of video cards called Gaming. And go understand what this means, because 99% of video cards are created for games. Usually, these are mid-level models with good, but not extreme acceleration, high-quality cooling and a small number of bells and whistles. It is these video cards that ordinary gamers most often buy. MSI has tried to develop this concept a little, so its variants of Gaming cards offer overclocking a little higher than usual, cooling a little better, and a more interesting design (for example, here), so that it would not be a shame to install it in a case with an observation window. The recent GTX 16XX performed by MSI Gaming was called "top for your money" from every corner.

MSI Gaming Series graphics cards

Gaming Trio: More powerful versions of triple-cooled Gaming cards

As you might guess, the Gaming Trio line is an offshoot of the usual Gaming with several key differences. At the heart of any card is a monstrous cooler with three fans, and instead of mid- and upper-mid-level models, it mainly includes older card models from Radeon and NVIDIA. Take, for example, the Gaming Trio version of RTX 2080, which has been hanging in the top sales for a long time. At a very reasonable price, it offers a complete hardware in the form of an enhanced power subsystem, an improved element base, RGB backlight with synchronization, impressive factory overclocking and a proprietary cooling system with asymmetric TORX 3.0 coolers. This is really one of the quietest and coldest RTX 2080 variants that we had on tests last year.

MSI Gaming Trio Series Video cards (gaming)

MSI Ventus: optimal gaming and nothing extra

Ventus cards are the ideological inspirers of MSI Gaming models. At least they have a similar concept: a custom printed circuit board, noticeable overclocking, an emphasis on cooling quality and a disdainful attitude to everything that does not make the card faster and quieter. It's about lighting, designer casings and that's all. At the same time, Ventus is one step higher in the hierarchy of the company. Representatives of this series are ready to offer a small overclocking of the core, a fairly powerful power subsystem and a low noise level in 3D mode, which other inexpensive video cards from conventional Palit or Power Colour cannot boast of. It is worth thanking for this a high-quality, never-low-cost thermal paste and a well-tested TORX cooling system with branded asymmetric impellers and a straight-contact base on more expensive cards.

MSI Ventus series graphics cards (many blades)

MSI Mech: twin brother of the Ventus series based on Radeon chips

At first glance, the Mech line is very similar to the Ventus series: the same moderate acceleration and lack of illumination, the same massive aluminium radiator, which is blown by a pair of durable TORX coolers with an optimized impeller shape, the same casing and backplate. The only difference is that NVIDIA cards come out in the Ventus series, and AMD/Radeon dominates in the Mech series.

MSI Mech series graphics cards (steel shade)

MSI Aero ITX: compact entry-mid-level cards with a single turntable

The Aero line includes simple, inexpensive and extremely compact models with low power consumption and a single cooler. Accordingly, they do not accelerate very willingly. Overclocking the core of the average Aero model will work at best by 5-6%. The flip side of the coin is a quiet and surprisingly efficient cooling system. For example, the old MSI RX 560 AERO ITX, which we compared with newer models of the middle class, remained virtually silent in heavy projects like Metro Exodus. Given the availability, Aero cards are an excellent option for simple game builds that do not require feats.

MSI Aero ITX series graphics cards (compact)

MSI SUPRIM: the new flagship series from MSI

The new flagship series from MSI, which, according to the company, incorporates all its rich experience in the development of printed circuit boards and cooling systems. The coolness of the SUPRIM models is manifested in literally everything from high-quality materials and pieces like a dedicated memory chip radiator to a dual BIOS profile and a stylish casing made of polished aluminium. Naturally, there was a serious factory overclocking, so the cooling system Tri Frozr 2S with new TORX 4.0 coolers, an optimized, powerful radiator and a highly efficient contact plate are responsible for cooling the card. All this stuff keeps a moderate temperature even for monsters like the RTX 3090, while making a minimum of noise.

MSI SUPRIM series graphics cards (design)

MSI Evoke: Gold

Immediately after the presentation of the AMD Navi 10 architecture, MSI rolled out a new line of Evoke video cards. These models received a unique printed circuit board and a massive cooling system with two fans, the casing of which is made of golden metal. The back side is covered by the same golden backing plate, the radiator penetrates several heat pipes, and the whole body looks like one. The GPU is overclocked in factory conditions to 1945 MHz. If you have a thought in your head "yes, it's the Sapphire Radeon RX 580 Nitro Plus" then you are not alone, both series are really similar. So far, only one model of this family and announcements of new ones can be found on saleWe have not seen Radeon RX 6800 XT and RX 6900 XT performed by Evoke.

Evoke series MSI graphics cards (minimalist style)

MSI Twin series: middle class with a democratic price tag and a double cooler

The Twin series was presented just yesterday along with the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, while there were no official announcements or reviews on the web, and MSI itself does not really help with explanations of what the concept of this line is and how it differs. Judging by the name, these will be upper-middle-level cards, for cooling which a pair of coolers with a radiator and heat pipes will be enough. In general, like a Gaming Trio, just the opposite. If you look in more detail at the MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Ti TWIN FAN, then we will see a very unassuming model with an unremarkable plastic casing, double Cooling system, small acceleration and a complete absence of any additional buns. That is, it's kind of like a low-cost graphics card, but have you seen the prices for the new generation of NVIDIA Ampere?

MSI Twin Series Graphics cards

MSI Armor: cheap and high quality

Another line of video cards that echoes the Gaming and Ventus models, making it somewhat difficult to choose. The same pricing, the same TORX 2.0 fans, the same mid-range graphics chips. In fact, there is a difference. Armor cards are somewhat simplified compared to Gaming models and are slightly cheaper. Simplifications mainly affect the cooling system, and not only the GPU cooler, but also auxiliary radiators (amplifier plates). In some cases, printed circuit boards are used using the element base of the increased reliability of the MIL-STD-810G standard (Military Class 4 concept). Thanks to this combination, many gamers choose cheap, but high-quality and powerful Armor, without overpaying for design or illumination. Rather, they chose. Since 2017, the series has not been updated and the most powerful thing that can be found in the Armor section is the GTX 1080 TI.

MSI Armor series graphics cards (reliable)

MSI Low Profile Series: Low-profile entry-level cards without additional power

Judging by the stasis of requests, many gamers are willing to sacrifice extreme graphics performance in order to assemble a quiet and compact system in a beautiful and miniature ala AZZA PYRAMID 804 or Fractal Design NODE 304. At the same time, on the contrary, it can be an inexpensive graphics card-a plug for those cases when the processor does not have a built-in video core. Therefore, in the assortment of almost every major manufacturer there is a similar line of not too powerful low-profile models with passive or semi-passive cooling and without the need to connect additional power. At MSI, these similar wishes satisfy the Low Profile model.

MSI series Low Profile graphics cards