We tested Gainward's GTX 285 2GB card, which is special for being one of few cards with such large frame buffer. Gainward has a reputation of pleasing even the most demanding users, and we must admit that the announcement of a 2GB GTX 285 card didn't come as a surprise. Gainward's efforts on the graphics market are perhaps best portrayed by the fact that Gainward's offer includes as much as 6 different GTX 285 cards. A common feature shared by all the cards is nonreference cooling, whereas clocks, memory size and video out configurations mostly vary depending on the card.

Gainward's version of the GTX 285 with 2048MB sure sounds promising, but if you're planning to use this card solely for gaming, you should know that only a small fraction of games can put such a large buffer to use. Of course, the card also supports PhysX and CUDA apps, and since gamers aren't the only ones in need of quality graphics, you can use the card to process data (video and images for instance. In such scenarios, you'll certainly be glad you've got such a hefty frame buffer, as memory often plays a key role in data processing.

Gaming with Gainward's GTX 285 2GB card is a treat, even when considering that most games can't use the provided memory to its full capacity. Still, no matter which game and resolution you choose, this card will enable for smooth gaming and maximum special effects. To prove this, take a look at Far Cry 2 results where the card scored 50fps at 2560x1600, which is an admirable feat and something not a lot of cards are capable of.

The only downside to this card is the pricing, as additional memory resulted in the price being higher than any other GTX 285 card in Gainward's arsenal. In fact, our today's test sample is as much as €50 pricier than the most affordable Gainward's GTX 285.

GTX 285 is a great card, but bear in mind that it's almost a year old and only supports DirectX 10. If you're aiming to treat yourself to Nvidia's DirectX 11 card, you'll have to wait on Fermi, otherwise you'll have to resort to buying the opposing camp's Radeon HD 5870.

If, on the other hand, you don't care about DirectX 11 support and wish to buy a CUDA and PhysX-supporting card with a hefty, 2GB of memory and enviable gaming performance, then there's no excuse not to consider Gainward's GTX 285 2GB. 

You can find the card listed here.