GALAX GeForce RTX 5090 HOF OC LAB: A powerhouse for overclockers

Anyone who thought that GALAX was sitting back with the RTX 5090 generation has now been proven wrong. The first images of the GeForce RTX 5090 HOF OC LAB show a card that was created for extreme situations. With a heavily reworked PCB, a considerable number of power phases and a questionable affinity for nitrogen, the image of a brute overclocking machine is becoming clearer.

Specifications and the usual “China-exclusive” model

The version shown is called 5090D, a special variant for the Chinese market. Nevertheless, the differences to the international RTX 5090 HOF are likely to be limited. As usual, GALAX relies on hand-picked GB202 dies and GDDR7 memory to ensure a certain upward selection. Clock rates? Not yet known, but a “1 Click-OC” switch, which is located directly above the display ports, at least leaves room for BIOS experiments.

Power phases and power connections: More is more

The white PCB comes with 38 power phases, with space for up to 40 on the board. There is a single 16-pin connector, but an additional cut-out for a second one leaves room for speculation – another indication that the model shown is not yet final. Voltage test points on the sides and a total of five fan and RGB headers round off the overall package.

New cooling, old problems

The HOF series has never been known for compatibility with conventional cooling solutions, and the RTX 5090 HOF OC LAB is no exception. According to the leak, there is a new backplate and a modified bracket, which means that previous HOF coolers will no longer fit. The cooler shown comes from Future Mach, a DIY modder, and combines copper and aluminum components. Whether GALAX itself will follow up with an official cooling solution remains to be seen.

Potential for records or hot air?

The RTX 5090 HOF OC LAB is clearly not a mainstream card. It is intended for extreme overclockers and offers enough scope to push the clock rate to unimagined heights. It remains to be seen whether we will finally see values beyond 3.5 GHz. One thing is certain, however: if you’re not afraid of cold fingers, you should get your money’s worth here. GALAX will probably provide more information on this monster piece of hardware in the coming weeks.

Source: Chiphell Forums