The Basics:
The next few images will take a look at the Sparkle GeForce 9800 GTX+ video card itself. In the below left image we see that it features a centrally located 80mm cooling fan mounted to a rather unique cooling shroud. The fan blows down onto an aluminum finned heatsink, and the white shroud directs air toward the front and rear of the card. All of the air is dumped back into the case, but it should take a good deal of the card's heat with it. The below right image shows the backside of the card. A black plastic brace secures the GPU cooler to the blue PCB, and the most interesting feature found back here may be the pair of SLI tabs to allow for three way SLI.
The next pair of images look at the card from angles that show off the cooler. The cooler extends about from end to end, and the box like shroud wraps around to channel the air. The fan is rather unattractively wired to a header at the end of the card. Other headers in this area include a 2-pin audio connection, and a pair of 6-pin PCI Express power connections.
The below left image shows the video connections on the back of the card, which include HDMI, VGA, and DVI. Having an integrated HDMI port is a nice touch, especially if this card is intended for use in an HTPC. Having both a VGA and DVI connection eliminates the need for adapters when using this card with any one type of common monitor, but having dual DVI connections and perhaps a DVI to VGA adapter would have been nicer.
The above right image takes one more look at the cooler, showing that none of the memory chips make contact with it, but they should be cooled by the fan anyway.
