Here’s a detailed overview of the GIGABYTE R9 280 WindForce OC 3GB graphics card:
🔷 GIGABYTE R9 280 WindForce 3X OC 3GB Overview
The Gigabyte R9 280 WindForce 3X OC 3GB is a factory-overclocked variant of the AMD Radeon R9 280, featuring Gigabyte’s custom WINDFORCE 3X cooling system with patented “Triangle Cool” technology for better heat dissipation and lower noise compared with reference designs.
🧠 Key Specifications
GPU: AMD Radeon R9 280 (Tahiti PRO3)
Stream Processors: 1792
Base / Boost Clock: 950 MHz / 1072 MHz (factory OC)
Memory: 3 GB GDDR5
Memory Clock: 5000 MHz effective
Memory Bus: 384-bit
Memory Bandwidth: ~240 GB/s
PCIe Interface: PCI-Express 3.0 x16
DirectX: 12 (feature level 11_1)
OpenGL: 4.6
Display Outputs:
1 × DVI-I
1 × HDMI
2 × mini-DisplayPort
Recommended PSU: 600 W (requires 1 × 6-pin + 1 × 8-pin)
Cooling: WINDFORCE 3X with triple fans and enhanced heatpipe design
Card Dimensions: ~296 mm × 134 mm × 43 mm
🎮 Performance & Use Cases
The R9 280 sits in the mid-range performance class for its generation (launched in 2014), roughly between an R9 270X and an R9 280X in raw performance. It’s capable of delivering decent framerates at 1080p in many older or less demanding games, especially with settings adjusted down slightly.
🎮 1080p Gaming: Playable in many titles from its era at medium to high settings.
📺 High Resolution: Supports up to 4K output (4096×2160) via HDMI or DisplayPort, but gaming at 4K is limited.
🧩 DirectX & Feature Support: Good for older DirectX 11 titles; limited newer DX12 feature support.
🧰 Features & Technology
WINDFORCE 3X Cooling: Triple fan setup with “Triangle Cool” tech for improved airflow and heat dissipation.
Factory OC: Slightly higher clocks than reference to boost performance out of the box.
Robust Build: Ultra Durable VGA components for increased stability and longevity.
Multi-Monitor Support: Up to 3 displays supported via combination of available ports.
🔍 What It’s Good For
✔️ Older / Classic Games: Can run popular titles from its era smoothly at reasonable settings.
✔️ Everyday PC Gaming: Good for casual 1080p gaming if graphic demands aren’t extreme.
✔️ Multi-Display setups: Useful with multiple display outputs.
