Cool Gadget: Zotac's Hardware OC Controller

Due to the fact that the vast majority of NVIDIA partners sell graphics cards that are all essentially identical aside from their clock speeds or maybe a custom sticker, they're all looking for creative ways to differentiate their products from the competition. They usually do this by adding a hot new game, a really long warranty, a low price, or maybe some other type of value-added software. But every now and then a company goes one step further and does something more innovative.

Take Zotac for example. Zotac has created a cool little device called the Nitro Hardware OC Controller that gives users the ability to monitor GPU temperatures and overclock or underclock their graphics cards on the fly with a few buttons and a simple menu. The Nitro has not yet been offered with Zotac branded graphics cards, but the company is considering the prospect of integrating it with select AMPs! Edition products at some point in the future. Meanwhile, the Nitro is also offered as a standalone product with an MSRP of $99.

I recently had the chance to play with the Nitro and I have to say it's a pretty cool gadget. Understand that this product is not for everyone. All of you tech-savvy HotHardware readers already know that NVIDIA's nTune application already offers a variety of overclocking tools for GeForce graphics cards—for free. But that doesn't take away from the coolness factor of a desk-tied gadget that lets you run OC on the fly from any game or application without having to access the driver's control panel. Would I buy one for a hundred bucks? Probably not. But we all know a geek or two who would love to have one of these things on their desk.

The Nitro works in conjunction with Zotac's Firestorm utility. Firestorm is a relatively simple, optimized application (<400K download) that includes sliders for GPU engine, shaders and memory frequencies, as well as fan speeds. With the Firestorm application installed and running and the Nitro plugged into an available USB port, the Firestorm utility itself or the buttons on the front of the Nitro can be used to change frequencies or fan speeds on the fly - itself if a The game is already running. Profiles can also be saved, and a graph on the Nitro's VFD provides a real-time temperature reading. I found the temperature display particularly interesting. Watching temperatures rise or fall during gaming was an intriguing way to monitor the stress on the graphics card.

Zotac includes a sturdy stand, driver disk, user guide, and USB cable with the Nitro. And it currently supports all GeForce-based Zotac branded graphics cards. However, if you're the type that likes to tinker, there's a way to get the Nitro working with any GeForce. Just hold Shift when launching the Firestorm app and ignore an error message (while still holding Shift) and it will work with non-Zotac cards. shhh But you didn't hear that from me.

By: Cool Gadget: Zotac's Hardware OC Controller