ASUS GTX670 Mini

Asus just release their “Mini-Size GPU”, a GTX 670 sized (17cm) PCB, featuring a new version of DirectCU with copper base vapor-chamber inside the in the main heatsink. It appears to be a combination of an aluminum base plate covering the memory chip and VRM. The Mini DirectCU used CoolTech fan blowing wider angle airflow in multi-direction also improving more airflow and cooler than traditional fan.

This particular model suits users that requires a smaller card that fits into their Small form factor PCs.

Our reader did a quick review with lots of pictures of the product with benchmarks over at this link.

Specifications:
Model: Asus GTX670-DCMOC-2GD5
Graphics Engine: NVIDIA GeForce GTX670
Bus Standard: PCI-Express 3.0
Video Memory: 2GB GDDR5
GPU boost clock: 1006mhz
GPU base clock: 928mhz
CUDA cores: 1344
Memory clock: 6008mhz [1502 mhz GDDR5]
Memory interface: 256 bits
Dimension: 6.7″ x 4.8″ x 1.6″

Gigabyte GV-R7790OC-1GB AMD Radeon HD 7790 Graphics card review
Bt 3 Apr 2013

Last week, AMD launched it’s latest 7000 series graphics card with it’s partners. The latest model is the Radeon HD 7790. It is a PCIe 3.0 card The Radeon HD 7790 features complete DX11.1 support featuring the Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture. It supports the AMD CrossFire, Eyefinity, PowerTune and ZeroCore power. In terms of cost/performance, the Radeon HD 7790 beats the competitors at every price point such that the competitor has to release a newer version just days after it’s announcement. Below is a break down of the Radeon HD 7790. While the default GPU clk is 1GHz , the Gigabyte version is clocked at 1075MHz and the 1GB GDDR5 clocks at 1.5GHz. It has 896 stream processors and a 128bit memory interface. On the second page, we will take a look at the Gigabyte’s graphics card.

ASUS Launches the GeForce® GTX 670 DirectCU Mini Graphics Card

First and only small form factor GTX 670 offers strong gaming and multimedia performance for home theater and space-saving mini ITX/micro ATX PCs

Singapore (3 April, 2013) — ASUS today announced the GeForce® GTX 670 DirectCU Mini, a compact high-performance graphics card designed primarily for small form factor PCs with mini ITX motherboards. The dual-slot card measures just 17cm and features the NVIDIA® GTX 670 GPU for DirectX®  11.1-compatible gaming. The reference GTX 670 measures 24.13cm, for comparison.

Small form factor PCs based on mini ITX motherboards are a popular choice for gamers and home users. Their compact cases are much easier to transport to LAN parties than a standard desktop PC, and stylish designs with comparatively low power requirements make them a natural choice for home theater PCs. The ASUS GeForce® GTX 670 DirectCU Mini is designed to maximize the potential offered by mini ITX motherboards by delivering high performance graphics. It uses an exclusive DirectCU thermal design that combines a heat-spreading vapor chamber and the CoolTech Fan, which provides wide-angle airflow and venting to cool critical graphics card components.

New DirectCU Mini with vapor chamber and CoolTech Fan

ASUS has re-engineered the DirectCU cooler to fit small form factor cases. While shorter, it introduces a  copper vapor chamber placed directly on top of the GPU for faster heat spreading and dispersal with 20%  (or 7.5∘C) lower temperatures than reference GTX 670. Also new is the CoolTech Fan, a blower/axial crossover. Its inclusion translates into wide-angle and powerful airflow that keeps vital card components cool, with heat vented through the back and top of the card. It also provides three times quieter operation, all within a limited space.

Direct Power and Super Alloy Power for stable and durable performance

Taking advantage of its smaller form factor, the ASUS GeForce® GTX 670 DirectCU Mini uses Direct Power technology, which bridges power delivery components and the GPU for clean and efficient power supply, delivering 56% lower impedance and a 15% cooler PCB. Super Alloy Power capacitors, chokes, and MOSFETs are hardened against heat and stress, averaging 2.5 times the lifespan of generic parts.

GPU Tweak quick and easy graphics tuning

Exclusive graphics card tuning utility GPU Tweak is bundled with the ASUS GeForce® GTX 670 DirectCU Mini. An intuitive interface makes changing core and clock frequencies, fan speeds, voltages, and power consumption targets easy, helping get more performance out of the graphics card. Game-specific profiles can be created, which combined with effortless overclocking help LAN party goers maximize performance for competitive engagements.

NOTES TO EDITORS

30-word summary

The ASUS GeForce® GTX 670 DirectCU Mini graphics card is ideal for small form factor gaming PCs. It uses a vapor chamber and the CoolTech Fan for 20% cooler and 3X quieter operation.

60-word summary

The ASUS GeForce® GTX 670 DirectCU Mini graphics card measures 17cm, making it ideal for small form factor gaming and home theater PCs. For enhanced cooling, it uses an all-new version of the DirectCU cooler, featuring a heat-spreading vapor chamber and wide-angle airflow with the CoolTech Fan. It runs 20% cooler and 3X quieter than reference, ensuring better stability even in compact cases.

100-word summary

The ASUS GeForce® GTX 670 DirectCU Mini graphics card measures 17cm, making it ideal for small form factor gaming and home theater PCs based on mini ITX boards . Entertainment centers to LAN parties, it delivers high-end DirectX® 11.1 gaming and multimedia with its NVIDIA® GTX 670 GPU and 2GB GDDR5 VRAM. For cool and quiet operation, it uses a new version of the innovative DirectCU cooler, featuring a heat-spreading vapor chamber and the CoolTech Fan. With 360-degree venting and faster heat dissipation, the card remains 20% cooler than reference even in very compact cases. Enhanced power delivery and reliable performance are achieved through Direct Power technology.

ASUS Unveils the GeForce® GTX 650 Ti BOOST DirectCU II

Overclocked 1085MHz GPU, cool and stable performance plus GPU Tweak offer gamers a new sweet spot graphics card

Singapore (26 March, 2013) — ASUS today announced the GeForce® GTX 650 Ti  BOOST DirectCU II, which features an overclocked 1085MHz NVIDIA® GTX 650 Ti GPU paired with 2GB GDDR5 on a 192-bit interface. The card offers a combination of DirectX® 11.1-compatible power and  value, expanding the range of ASUS graphics cards that cater to gamers and DIY enthusiasts.

ASUS-exclusive features improve GeForce® GTX 650 Ti BOOST DirectCU II performance. They include the DirectCU II cooler, which maintains 20%* lower temperatures than a reference GTX 650 Ti BOOST, long-lasting Super Alloy Power components, and user-friendly GPU Tweak graphics card tuning.

DirectCU II keeps high speed performance quieter and cooler

ASUS thermal design supports high end gaming with the stability of innovative cooling. Using all-copper heatpipes that directly touch the GTX 650 Ti GPU, DirectCU II expedites heat removal for 20%* lower temperatures than those of a comparable reference graphics card. A specially-selected 80mm fan with blades engineered to minimize drag is precision-fitted to the DirectCU II cooler, resulting in minimal vibration and noise. Compared to reference, the ASUS GeForce® GTX 650 Ti BOOST DirectCU II is up to three times quieter*.

Super Alloy Power components maintain stability and increase overclocking headroom

ASUS uses proprietary power delivery parts that can handle the heat and stress of gaming and overclocking over longer product lifespans. Solid state capacitors, concrete-core chokes, and hardened MOSFETs apply exclusive materials, leading to 1.5 times the longevity of reference cards and an average overclocking range increase of 15%.

GPU Tweak gives gamers easy access to graphics card tuning

Exclusive to ASUS graphics cards, the GPU Tweak utility offers a user-friendly interface that opens up versatile adjustments of graphics properties. Core and clock speeds, voltages, and fan speeds can be changed instantly, and multiple game-specific profiles may be created to make the most of each title.

NOTES TO EDITORS

30-word summary

The ASUS GeForce® GTX 650 Ti BOOST DirectCU II graphics card features an overclocked 1085MHz GPU, offering sweet spot graphics power and value. ASUS-exclusive features include the DirectCU II cooler, Super Alloy Power components, and GPU Tweak.

60-word summary

The ASUS GeForce® GTX 650 Ti BOOST DirectCU II graphics card features an overclocked 1085MHz GPU with 2GB GDDR5. It offers a combination of DirectX® 11.1-compatible power and value, expanding the sweet spot range of ASUS graphics cards. ASUS-exclusive features include the DirectCU II cooler for 20%* lower temperatures than reference, long-lasting Super Alloy Power components, and GPU Tweak graphics card tuning.

100-word summary

The ASUS GeForce® GTX 650 Ti BOOST DirectCU II graphics card features an overclocked 1085MHz NVIDIA® GTX 650 Ti GPU, paired with 2GB GDDR5 on a 192-bit interface. It offers a combination of DirectX® 11.1-compatible power and value, expanding the sweet spot range of ASUS graphics cards that cater to gamers and DIY enthusiasts. ASUS-exclusive features that add performance and value to the GeForce® GTX 650 Ti BOOST DirectCU II include the DirectCU II cooler, which maintains 20%* lower temperatures than a reference GTX 650 Ti Boost, long-lasting Super Alloy Power components, and the GPU Tweak graphics card tuning utility.

*Actual cooling and acoustic performance may vary by system configuration, environment, and other factors

NVIDIA Shakes Up Sub-$200 Graphics Market With New GeForce GTX 650 Ti BOOST GPU

Latest Kepler Architecture-Based GPUs Take Commanding Performance Lead at $169 and $149

SANTA CLARA, CA — (MARKETWIRE) — 03/26/13 — Gamers looking to play this year’s hottest PC games at a highly affordable price — with in-game settings cranked up to high — got their wish today with the introduction of the new NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 650 Ti BOOST GPU. Based on the NVIDIA Kepler™ architecture and equipped with 768 NVIDIA CUDA® cores, the GTX 650 Ti BOOST GPU is available in 2GB and 1GB configurations at an estimated $169 and $149, respectively.

With up to 40% more performance over the original GeForce GTX 650 Ti GPU introduced last year, the new GeForce GTX 650 Ti BOOST includes features typically reserved for more expensive, higher-end GPUs, including support for NVIDIA’s innovative GPU Boost technology, which dynamically adjusts GPU performance to meet the real-time graphics processing demands of games, and award-winning NVIDIA SLI® technology, which allows gamers to use multiple GPUs to “double up” on performance.

With a wider 192-bit memory interface and up to 60 percent more memory bandwidth than the original, the GeForce GTX 650 Ti BOOST GPU lets gamers play their favorite games at 1080p at high-quality settings with smooth frame delivery and comfortable frame rates for even the most graphically demanding games on the market today, including Crysis 3.

And with support for NVIDIA PhysX® technology — the world’s most pervasive physics engine for experiencing real-time, real-world effects — games such as Hawken and Planetside 2 come alive to deliver a truly realistic interactive gaming experience.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti BOOST 2GB edition is available now from the world’s leading add-in card suppliers, including ASL, ASUS, Colorful, ECS, EVGA, Gainward, Galaxy, Gigabyte, Innovision 3D, Jetway, Leadtek, MSI, Palit, PNY, Point of View, Sparkle and Zotac. The GTX 650 Ti BOOST 1GB version will be available in early April.

Palit Microsystems Ltd, the leading graphics card manufacturer, is proud to introduce Palit GeForce GTX 650 Ti BOOST series, the latest addition to the award-winning NVIDIA Kepler powered family of gaming GPUs: Including GTX 650 Ti BOOST OC 2GB and GTX 650 Ti BOOST 2GB. Palit GeForce GTX 650 Ti BOOST represents the Kepler “sweet spot” for gamers-the ultimate combination of performance, power efficiency, and affordability.

Palit GeForce GTX 650 Ti BOOST is with factory overclocked at boost clock 1072 MHz that is +39 MHz than the standard speed and 2GB GDDR5 memory clock is set at 6108 MHz (+100 MHz higher).- that presents with 30% better performance at DX11 benchmark and average 40% better performance at gaming compared with GTX650Ti. Palit GTX650Ti Boost OC is equipped with the Dual Turbofan Blades, it offers the optimized airflow to efficiently cool down the heat generated from GPU and also can provide a noiseless environment when under gaming mode by using Boost technology.

Palit GeForce GTX 650 Ti BOOST series give you 66% more memory bandwidth, NVIDIA SLI, and NVIDIA GPU Boost technology that dynamically maximizes clock speeds, delivering class-leading performance to the GTX 650 family. Plus, this newly designed GPU offers an impressive 30% performance improvement, so you can play all your favorite games at full-HD resolutions and high quality settings.

Discover the ideal fusion of power, performance, and affordability game-changing Palit GeForce GTX 650 Ti BOOST; it can turbocharge your game in first-person shooters like Call of Duty, massively multiplayer online adventures like World of WarCraft, and real-time strategy titles like StarCraft II.

The recently announced Radeon HD 7790 is now the mid range card that will get the utmost attention. Other than it’s pricing, it is able to overclock pretty well. It’s default GPU CLK on most manufacturer’s card is rated at 1075MHz, and memory clock is rated at 1500MHz.

The GPU and MEM Clock can be adjusted easily using the AMD Overdrive feature included in the Radeon drivers. The GPU clock has a bit more room and can move up to 1200MHz giving it a 11% gain in clock speed. As for the memory, it can be pushed up to 1600MHz easily.

So, how far did you push your card? Post your results in the comments or in our forum.

ASUS HD7790 Direct CU II – Overclock Edition
ASUS HD 7790 DirectCU II delivers good gaming and multimedia performance with its 1075MHz AMD Radeon™ HD 7790 GPU and 1GB GDDR5 video memory. Thanks to its proprietary thermal design, the HD 7790 DirectCU II offers considerable overclocking overhead that can be exploited with the exclusive ASUS GPU Tweak utility. GPU Tweak makes it easy to increase core and memory speeds, change voltages, regulate fan speeds, and create individual profiles for different games.

SPECIFICATIONS
Model name HD7790-DC2OC-1GD5
Graphics engine AMD Radeon™ HD 7790
Open GL Open GL 4.2
Video memory 1GB GDDR5, 6400MHz (1600MHz GDDR5)
Memory interface 128-bit
Engine clock 1075MHz
Outputs DVI-I x 1, DVI-D x 1
Dimensions 8.5-inch x 5.1-inch x 1.5-inch

SRP: $239

Testing System:
Intel Core i7 3770k
Gigabyte Z77X-UD3H
Samsung 1600mhz Low Profile
Hynix 128SSD Raid 0
Steventeam 1400W Gold

Benchmark

More Benchmarks and discussion here.

ASUS Launches the HD 7790 DirectCU II Graphics Card

Dual-fan DirectCU II thermal design ensures 20% cooler and greatly quieter performance than reference cards as GPU Tweak makes graphics tuning accessible

Singapore (22 March, 2013) — ASUS today announced the HD 7790 DirectCU II graphics card, which uses an overclocked AMD Radeon™ HD 7790 GPU and dual-fan cooling for high performance quiet operation. The HD 7790 DirectCU II offers DirectX® 11.1 gaming and multimedia performance with power-efficient 28nm GPU technology, and supports the newest PC games in mid to high detail settings at full HD.

Exclusive DirectCU II: 20% cooler and significantly quieter

An upper mid-range graphics card, the ASUS HD 7790 DirectCU II delivers good gaming and multimedia performance with its 1075MHz AMD Radeon™ HD 7790 GPU and 1GB GDDR5 video memory. Thanks to its proprietary thermal design, the HD 7790 DirectCU II offers considerable overclocking overhead that can be exploited with the exclusive ASUS GPU Tweak utility. GPU Tweak makes it easy to increase core and memory speeds, change voltages, regulate fan speeds, and create individual profiles for different games.

ASUS goes beyond reference requirements by implementing the innovative DirectCU II thermal design. It consists of dual 80mm fans specially-picked for quiet operation, copper heatpipes that contact the GPU directly, and an aluminum shroud for better heat dissipation. The HD 7790 DirectCU II runs at 20% (7°C) lower operating temperatures than a reference card, and is also significantly quieter than reference while offering better stability and product longevity.

Ready for the biggest games of the year

The PCI Express 3.0-based HD 7790 DirectCU II uses a 28nm GPU with AMD Graphics Core Next architecture, clocked at1075MHz. It supports DirectX® 11.1 and features 1GB of GDDR5 video memory rated at 6400MHz. With its attractive price point, it offers solid performance in all current and upcoming PC games, while maintaining modest power requirements with twin 6-pin power connectors.

NOTES TO EDITORS

30-word summary

The ASUS HD 7790 DirectCU II graphics card runs 20% cooler and significantly quieter than reference HD 7790. GPU Tweak offers a user-friendly graphics card tuning utility, enhancing gaming and multimedia.

60-word summary

The ASUS HD 7790 DirectCU II graphics card uses DirectCU II thermal innovation to run 20% cooler and significantly quieter than reference HD 7790. Its performance can be tapped by exclusive GPU Tweak, a user-friendly graphics card tuning utility. It offers great value DirectX® 11.1 gaming and multimedia performance with power-efficient 28nm GPU technology, supporting the newest PC games and entertainment.

100-word summary

The ASUS HD 7790 DirectCU II graphics card improves performance through the use of a 1075MHz GPU and proprietary DirectCU II thermal innovation. It runs 20% cooler and significantly quieter than reference HD 7790 designs, allowing for better overclocking. The higher performance ceiling can be tapped by exclusive GPU Tweak, a user-friendly graphics card tuning utility. The HD 7790 DirectCU II offers great value DirectX® 11.1 gaming and multimedia performance with power-efficient 28nm GPU technology. It supports the newest PC games in mid to high settings in 1080p, and can easily handle high definition multimedia content acceleration.

Sapphire AMD FirePro R5000 Remote Graphics Card- The Ideal Solution for IT Managers Operating in Data Center Environments

<TAIPEI— FEB 27, 2012>  Sapphire PGS today released the new remote graphics — AMD FirePro™ R5000 card, a flexible, manageable solution designed and engineered to power remote 3D-graphics workflows and full computing experiences over IP networks. The energy-space and cost-efficient AMD FirePro R5000 is the ideal solution for IT managers operating in data center environments where limited space, power budgets and cooling costs pose a constant challenge.

The AMD FirePro R5000 combines AMD’s Graphics Core Next (GCN) Architecture with Teradici’s PCoIP® technology, and delivers a 3D experience with low latency transmission – ideal for mid-range multimonitor endpoints such as those used by CAD, medical imaging and financial services professionals. The AMD FirePro R5000 also complements IT security protocols by safeguarding corporate IP, since critical information never leaves the data center.

“IT professionals are looking for a secure and straight forward cloud-based graphics solution that delivers core functionality capable of adapting to meet each employee’s unique graphics needs,” said David Cummings, senior director and general manager of AMD Professional Graphics. “The AMD FirePro R5000 meets these needs, delivering the flexibility, functionality, security and industry-leading graphics capabilities companies look for when deciding on a remote graphics solution.”

AMD FirePro R5000 Remote Graphics Features and Benefits

• Low      Power Solution: Maximum power consumption      of 150W helps to minimize power costs and enables the use of small      footprint low power client devices that are capable of      supporting up to four displays remotely;
• Effective      Cooling: Minimizes system heat and      fan noise in employee work areas, helps to reduce cooling costs and create      cooler, quieter workspaces while a variable speed fan adjusts to accelerate      the exchange of air heated by server components for cooler ambient air;
• Scale      and Simplicity: Centrally located in the      data center, IT can accommodate flexible seating arrangements or provide      employees with zero clients, ultimately helping IT get employees up and      running more quickly;
• Flexibility      of Deployment: Delivers the deployment      flexibility IT needs, including the option to deploy in desktop      workstations, rack and blade servers, and PCIe® expansion chassis;
• Power      Management: AMD PowerTune and AMD      ZeroCore Power intelligent power management and monitoring tools enable IT      managers to effectively track and contain power usage;
• High      Performance Remote Protocol: The      next generation Teradici TERA2240 host processor is able to transmit up to      300 megapixels per second and drive up to four displays per end user, with      refresh rates up to 60 frames per second giving what Teradici describes as      “the best remote user experience possible.”

“With the introduction of the AMD FirePro R5000 with Teradici PCoIP processor, IT departments now have powerful centralized computing solutions that are easy to manage, and deliver the graphics performance required to handle high resolution images, video and 3D models with ease,” said Trent Punnett, vice president of Product Management, System Engineering and Corporate Development at Teradici. “In addition, the AMD FirePro R5000 can be brokered and managed by VMware View giving a common broker and management window across both workstation and VDI desktops, and works with PCoIP zero clients that are offered by an ecosystem of over 30 OEMs.”

The AMD FirePro R5000 is rigorously tested by AMD to ensure readiness for demanding professional use. It is a durable remote graphics solution intended to increase asset utilization density, meet real-world workloads and ultimately help IT minimize operating costs and time spent on servicing individual systems.

The Comparison of the two generation of AMD FirePro Remote Graphics specifications

Virtu MVP isn’t a new player on motherboards. We first witness it’s performance gains on the Intel Z77 platform.

So, how well will it perform under the AMD platform you might ask. Basically virtu mvp works the same way. You can enable Virtu Hyperformance or Hyperformace + Vsync. This will give it a performance boost.

We witness a run of virtual mvp and found the results to be quite decent. In fact, we compared the results the our own Intel Z77 + Core i5 3570K + Radeon HD 7970 results, the AMD platform is just slightly behind it.

In 3DMark11 (X – 1920×1080), the benchmark was boosted by around 35%. In comparison to the Intel platform, it gave a 39% boost. The slightly better result could be due to Intel’s PCIe 3.0 as AMD is still running in PCIe 2.0 mode.

Below are benchmark results on the Intel Z77 platform for reference.

Normal HD 7970
X2760

With HD 7970+VSync+Hyperperfomrance turned on
X3836

Discuss

One of the selling points of Intel Z77 boards was the support of Lucid Virtu MVP. With Lucid Virtu MVP enabled, the scores are not only better. Here is a recap of the 3 major components of Lucid Virtu MVP.

The good news is that the upcoming Socket FM2 platform will join in the Virtu MVP family. With an add on graphics card, you can now tap the power of both GPUs and boost up the performance.

One of the such motherboard is the BIOSTAR Hi-Fi A85X.

Virtu MVP has 3 major components:

Overall Virtu MVP adds value to your platform and gaming experience :

Intel users who buys the Core i5 series usually go for the faster encoding speed and support of new technologies on new boards e.g based on Intel Z77 chipset.

In fact, something that most intend to forget is the raw power of the processors. In fact, when the Socket FM1 processors were introduced, it was not well received.

Picture courtesy of TomsHardware showing the difference of Socket FM1 vs FM2.

Today, we took a look at our old records and did a comparison and found that our Socket FM1 A8-3850 actually outperform our Core i5-3570K processor in terms of graphics capabilities. This is especially in games frame rates and openGL tests. Although it is fast, graphics encoding is behind Intel’s.

So, will the Socket FM2 processors going to change that or will there be any breakthrough ? Discuss.

ECS Delivers Screaming Fast Graphics Performance with the Black Series GTX680

Nonstop Technology Keeps You Playing – Today, Tomorrow, and Far Into the Future

June 4, 2012, Taipei, Taiwan – The new GTX680 Black Series graphics card from Elitegroup (ECS) combines graphics power, rock solid reliability, low noise and tweakability in one unbeatable package. Screaming fast graphics performance and innovative thermal design means it won’t even break a sweat running the lastest games, and it’s ready for the next generation, too. GTX680 harnesses the raw power of the latest NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 680 GPU, backed by the stability of ECS Nonstop Certification. Combine the GTX680 with an ECS Black Series motherboard for the ultimate gaming platform.

The GTX680′s ECS Nonstop Certification delivers a hassle-free computing experience by solving common PC hardware problems before they can even occur, protecting gamers from crashes, instability and poor performance. This graphics card can be relied on for stability and reliability far into the future, thanks to a military-level assault course of tests that checks and stresses critical components for 72 hours straight and at temperatures up to 50º C (122º F) – far stricter than common industry standards. This is combined with the highest quality components and shielding. Nonstop boards use solid capacitors throughout, and Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Protection circuitry, to ensure long lifetimes with unsurpassed reliability. ECS, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of high-performance PC components, is throwing its full engineering weight and decades of experience behind this much-needed move to greater reliability.

A specifically designed five heatpipe cooler ensures much better heat dissipation than previous generation graphics cards. Dual fans move heat away from the card with maximum efficiency, keeping the GTX680 Black Series running even under the heaviest graphics loads. The gold-plated aluminum upper cover not only looks great, but also provides far more effective heat dissipation than competing graphics cards that use cheap plastic covers, which can actually trap heat inside the card. Gold plated components are the perfect match for ECS Golden motherboards, and contacts with extra-thick gold plating provide even greater resistance to wear and corrosion, prolonging product life still further.

The GTX680 Black Series is already blazing fast, but for true high-end users, the specially-designed ECS tweaking utility allows enthusiasts to squeeze every last drop of performance out of the GTX680 by individually setting and adjusting the GPU clock speed and the memory clock speed. ECS Black Series’ reliability and manufacturing excellence, backed by some of the toughest testing in the industry, ensures there’s plenty of headroom for hard core gamers to unlock extra power from the GTX680.

The ECS GTX680 Black Series holds a massive 2048 MB of screaming fast 6008 MHz DDR 5 memory with an ultra-wide 256-bit memory bus driven by the raw power of the newest NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 680 GPU running at 1040MHz. The super fast PCI-E 3.0 interface keeps the bandwidth high and graphics data flowing without bottlenecks even during intense gaming. Multiple display support for up to 4 displays comes from dual-link DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort output.

The latest technology standards are supported, including Microsoft DirectX 11 with Shader Model 5.0, and OpenGL 4.2. The board is NVIDIA® PhysX® -Ready for true-to-life game physics, with NVIDIA® CUDATM technology to accelerate the most demanding system tasks – such as video encoding – delivering up to 7x performance over traditional CPUs, and there’s also NVIDIA PureVideoTM HD support for astoundingly vivid HD video and movie playback. Standout features in the new GTX 680 GPU include two new Anti-aliasing Modes, FXAA and TXAA, for smoother graphics with a minimal performance impact, SMX Power Efficiency, GPU Boost, up to 3 cards in SLI mode, NVIDIA® 3D VisionTM and 3D VisionTM Surround, and Adaptive VSync.

ASUS Releases the Dual-GPU GeForce® GTX 690

First 28nm graphics card with two GPUs on a single PCB offers dedicated gamers the fastest, smoothest, and most detailed PC entertainment currently available

Singapore (May 3, 2012) ― the ASUS GeForce® GTX 690 graphics card debuts 28nm dual-GPU performance, presenting the most powerful card of the generation thus far. It enables gaming with superior speed, smoothness, and detail. Due to smarter fabrication, its power demands are relatively modest for energy-conservative operation. This promotes easier quad-SLI™ setups with paired ASUS GeForce® GTX 690s. ASUS continues to offer gamers the best overclocking experience with the exclusive GPU Tweak utility, which goes well together with DirectX® 11 and OpenGL® 4.2, plus technologies such as NVIDIA® GPU Boost, advanced anti-aliasing (TXAA/FXAA), and Adaptive Vertical Sync.

Raw 28nm graphics processing power

The ASUS GeForce® GTX 690 has two GeForce® GTX 680 cores mounted on the board, fielding a massive 3072 CUDA cores and representing truly staggering computing power for graphics as well as parallel processing alongside the CPU. The core runs at 1019MHz in boost clock, while the 512-bit memory interface links the system to 4GB of 4096MHz GDDR5 video memory.

Benefits of leaner fabrication come into play

Despite all that power, the ASUS GeForce® GTX 690 has a modest 300W TDP. Gamers therefore tap greater processing capacity while conserving energy thanks to efficient 28nm manufacturing, thus lowering electricity bills and contributing to more environmentally-responsible gaming.

Intuitive graphics controls and tuning with GPU Tweak

ASUS once again includes the exclusive GPU Tweak graphics card tuning suite in the box. Overclocking-inclined buyers can easily go into boost clock speeds, set power targets, and configure fan revolution settings to make adjustments and experiment with performance gains. GPU Tweak offers built-in guards to ensure all modifications are safe, maintaining optimal stability and card reliability. The utility also provides a convenient on-screen monitoring widget and live driver/BIOS updates to ensure the ASUS GeForce® GTX 690 remains up to date.

Moving closer to complete gaming immersion

The ASUS GeForce® GTX 690 presents the most graphics power ever available to consumers, and as such makes even better use of recent developments in software engineering. It furnishes unmatched DirectX® 11 and OpenGL® 4.2 performance, by that guaranteeing considerable future-proofing. Users who wish to set up an NVIDIA® SLI™ configuration can pair two ASUS GeForce® GTX 690’s for instant quad-SLI™ and even more massive compute capabilities.

New ultra-fast anti-aliasing technologies TXAA and FXAA help game developers and designers deliver smoother and more visually appealing experiences to rival high end professional graphics rendering. Additional technologies that promote faster and more attractive gaming include NVIDIA® Adaptive Vertical Sync and hardware-based framerate metering, both ensuring games keep moving at an optimized pace with no slowdowns. The ASUS GeForce® GTX 690 supports NVIDIA® GPU Boost for immediate auto clock speed adjustments as needed, and easily powers four-screen displays via NVIDIA® Surround™. Its single-PCB NVIDIA® 3D Vision™ performance sets new milestones, enabling unmitigated full HD 3D gaming.

Specifications

 Right after Intel launches it’s third generation, there are news that AMD will launch their 2nd generation APUs this May 15th 2012. The Piledriver based APUs are divided into 3 categories. It is rumoured to spot the new Socket FM2 and has memory support of DDR3-2133. The integrated graphics is a Radeon HD 7000.  The highest performance APU A10-5800K will clock at 3.8GHz with Turbo at 4.2GHz and will have a TDP of 100W. AMD also adopted the “K” series indicating the multiplier is unlocked (formerly known as Black edition).

“Trinity“, “Weatherford” and “Richland” (all 32 nm)

Piledriver based APUs will be divided into three main versions for specific price-points and markets

• Trinity covers the performance segment of the APU line. It will replace the Llano based A8-series.
• Weatherford covers the upper-mainstream segment. Replacing the Llano based A6-series.
• Richland covers the lower-mainstream segment. It is to replace the Llano based A4-series.

A test of Lucid Virtu MVP on MSI Z77A-GD55

Palit Microsystems Ltd, the leading graphics card manufacturer, releases the powerful new Palit GeForce GTX 680. Armed with 1536-core GPU that clocked at 1006MHz and 2GB of GDDR5 memory at 6GHz, Palit GeForce GTX 680 simply is the world’s fastest Dx11 graphics card. The NVIDIA brand new Kepler architecture which delivers the astonishing DirectX 11 gaming experience that can devastate competing GPUs with ease by offering 40% higher performance than previous generation.

Palit understands gamers’ needs, this original board design will never satisfy gamers appetite. To ensure the extreme performance and stability, the new thermal design of Palit GeForce GTX 680 performs better overclocking ability. With its stunning Diamond check thermal outlook design, Palit GeForce GTX 680 offers gamers more outstanding options to experience groundbreaking gaming performance. Be exciting, this Palit GeForce GTX 680 will be ready very soon in your market.

If you are about to purchase a Radeon HD 7970 Graphics card, you might be better off with this custom cooler and VGA hotwire feature unique to ASUS. Check out the 3D Video for a view of the card.