Msi gtx 950 gaming 2g review

Before us, the new Msi graphics, the Gaming 2G based on the latest Nvidia Gpu, the GTX 950. This card despite being mid-range, inherits all the powers of its older sisters such as its Led lighting, Twin Frozr heatsink and standard overclock. Let's take a look at the excellent qualities of the new Msi GTX 950 Gaming 2G.

We thank MSI Spain for trusting the product for its analysis:

Technical characteristics MSI GTX 950 Gaming

TECHNICAL FEATURES GTX 950 Gaming
GPU	Nvidia GTX 950
Connectors	1 x PCIE 6-pin.
Core frequency	1317 MHz / 1127 MHz (OC Mode) 1279 MHz / 1102 MHz (Gaming Mode) 1190 MHz / 1026 MHz (Silent Mode)
Memory type	GDDR5.
Memory size	2 GB.
Memory speed (mhz)	6650 MHz (OC), 6610Mhz (Gaming), 6610Mhz (Silent)
DirectX	Version 12.
BUS memory	128 bits.
BUS card	PCI-E 3.0 x16.
OpenGL	OpenGL®4.4
I / O	2 x DVI-D 1 x HDMI Output 1 x Display Port (Regular DP) Supports HDCP.
Dimensions	70 x 137 x 37
Price	€ 179 approx.

Unboxing and images in detail

Nvidia with the new GPU GTX 950, closes the cycle of the GTX series to date, leaving a mid-range chip, slightly below the current and well-known GTX 960. The GPU 950, is equipped with 768 Shaders / Cuda cores, accompanied by 48 texture units (TMUs) and 32 Rops that together with a simple 128Bit bus and 2 or 4Gb variants, complete this series. It is the same GPU as the 960 but a little more trimmed.

Despite the fact that it seems "little", it is a truly competent card for the sector that is accompanied, leaving behind in every way the GTX 750 Ti not only because it is Maxwell of the second generation but because in performance it stands out completely.

The card's default frequencies are 1279 MHz / 1102 MHz / 6610 MHz in its Gaming mode, needing to download the Gaming APP software to leave it in Silento or Oc mode, which with a single click, we increase or decrease its frequencies. The card is also compatible with the Msi Afterburner software and, despite everything, its voltage is blocked.

Msi has not hesitated for a moment to endow this card with high-end features. Equipped with a Twin Frozr V heatsink, which is a little smaller to fit the card, it not only works well but also gives it the high-end appearance and Gaming feel. With the Led illuminated emblem (which we can control via software) and its aluminum and copper-based heatpipes, they guarantee extreme ventilation that, as a preview, we told you that it never exceeded 55ºc in tests or with overclock, being almost stopped all the time by having 0Db (Zero Frozer) technology, making the fans stop if a certain temperature is not exceeded or they do not need it.

Beyond that, the PCB has a nice finish, with 4 + 1 phases, Military Class components and the Vrm dissipated with a small aluminum block. As for the power we will need only a 6pin power connector. The card has an approximate consumption of 90W and we will need a power supply of at least 350W.

Test bench and performance tests

TESTING BENCH
Processor:	i5-4690k @ 4400 Mhz..
Base plate:	Asus Z97M-Plus.
Memory:	Geil Evo Potenza @ 2666Mhz.
Heatsink	Be Quiet Dark Rock 3.
HDD	Transcend M.2 MT800 256Gb. Sata interface.
Graphics Card	Msi GTX 950 Gaming @ 1317 MHz / 1127 MHz. OC @ 1243/1433/7288 Mhz. Powercolor R9 390 Pcs + 1010/1500. Asus 970 Mini. 1280 / 1753Mhz
Power supply	Corsair CS550M 550W.

For benchmarks we will use the following titles:

• 3DMark - Gpu ScoreF1 2015Hitman AbsolutionLotR - Shadow of MordorThiefTomb RaiderBioshock InfiniteMetro Last Light

All tests will be passed in their maximum configuration unless it is stated differently in the graph. 1080P (1920 × 1080). The operating system used will be the new Windows 10 Pro 64 bit and the latest drivers, the 358.50 WHQL.

What are we looking for in the tests?

First the best possible image quality. The most important value for us is the average FPS (Frames per second), the higher the number of FPS, the more fluid the game will be. To differentiate the quality a bit, we leave you a table to assess the quality in FPS, but we will also have the minimum Fps in the tests that were thus possible:

FRAMES BY SECONDS
Frames for Seconds. (FPS)	Gameplay
Less than 30 FPS	Limited
30 - 40 FPS	Playable
40 - 60 FPS	Good
Greater than 60 FPS	Fairly Good or Excellent

1080P test results

Overclock, temperature and consumption.

* Remember that overclock or manipulation, carry a risk, we and Msi are not responsible for improper use, use your head and always do so at your own risk.

For the overclock tests, without having touched the voltage since it has it blocked despite being a Gaming series, it has behaved very well, being able to raise its serial frequencies, to figures with an overclock of 1243Mhz of base , 1433 of Boost and 7288 Mhz for memory, simply raising the Powerl Limit to 120% and its frequencies. The effective speed was more than 1500Mhz, since as you know, the Nvidia slightly raise their Boost more than what we see marked in the GpuZ. For this we have used the Msi Afterburner of the house.

Despite the oveclock gains, the temperature was exactly the same as that offered without it, something excellent since neither the noise nor the overall heat within our system has risen.

The consumption and temperature of this card, amaze for its low levels. The temperature of this card at rest has been maintained at around 27ºC, even when browsing and doing desk work, leaving the fans totally “dead”. With the Metro Last Light, which is the game that has been the most demanding of those used in our battery, it has not exceeded 55ºC on any occasion, its average being 50ºC, incredible figures for lovers of absolute silence. And as for consumption, at rest it has been practically the same as its competitors, figures close to 60 w, except under load, which has naturally been much lower as it has less power, leaving the figures at 218W total.

Final words and conclusion

We come to the end of this review with a great taste in your mouth. The MSI GTX 950 Gaming 2GB is an excellent card for most games today in the resolution most used today, Full HD (1080P). Perhaps in some titles, having put everything to its maximum expression, has somewhat reduced its performance, but adjusting certain values ​​such as lowering a more than possible excess of Antialiasing or SuperSample, considerably increases the fluidity of the games. Although it is suitable for this resolution, it is insufficient for higher resolutions such as 1440P , where this Gpu has not matched, limited by its bandwidth and low amount of Shaders.

As for the Msi Gaming series, both its finish and its overclock obtained despite being blocked and no noise added to low consumption, is what we liked the most, being a perfect card for occasional players, less demanding or less budget, having a balanced product between power and performance.

Despite all this, for our taste the GTX 960 comes closer dangerously in price to its older sister, which for just € 20 more we can find even from the same house, so it is today its least attractive point, the price.

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
+ Low consumption, low temperatures	- High price compared to 960
+ Semi passive	- Poor performance over 1080P
+ Excellent heatsink	- 2Gb may seem scarce
+ Performance
+ OVerclock

And after carefully evaluating all the tests as the product, Professional Review awards him the silver medal:

Msi Gtx 950 Gaming 2G

Components quality

Dissipation

Gaming experience

Sonority

Price

Additional features

8.5 / 10

Low power and noise, high-end finish, good 1080P performance in all games.

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