nxcess
2[H]4U
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2004
- Messages
- 2,706
Asus released this beast for review. Bout time. Hit the link if you're interested.
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I'm really liking the way this site benchmarks their games. They're actually going into gameplay to do it.
The one thing that really bothers me about that site's benchmarks is that the max fps is too prominent. In my view, max FPS is completely irrelevant, yet this site makes it one of the most conspicuous items in their graphs.
Just buy a normal 6970 that is dual-slot. Three slots was excusable for the enormous Palit HD4870X2, as it was meant to be quieter than the default card, which put out a lot of heat. The 6970 does not put out a lot of heat, so it's a completely pointless endeavour on Asus' part.
The 6970 puts out a ton of heat and also gets incredibly loud in games. I don't know how you stand crossfired 6970s. I'm actually looking at an aftermarket cooler that is quieter just for one. If noise weren't a concern I'd jump on crossfire but can barely stand it when the fan ramps up to 50% in dragon age (haven't tried many games so many dragon age pushes the card harder than most would).
http://www.hardwareheaven.com/revie...-directcu-2-graphics-card-review-mafia-2.html
I'd like to hear a reasonable explanation for comparing the 6970 to the 570 with physx enabled. The least damaging would be incompetence.
The 6970 puts out a ton of heat and also gets incredibly loud in games. I don't know how you stand crossfired 6970s. I'm actually looking at an aftermarket cooler that is quieter just for one. If noise weren't a concern I'd jump on crossfire but can barely stand it when the fan ramps up to 50% in dragon age (haven't tried many games so many dragon age pushes the card harder than most would).
I find this hard to believe. Even furmark won't break 43% on my 6970, and that's with the power slider @ +20% (90-92c). Compared to my 4870's, these cards are downright quiet...
They do put out LOTS of heat though, but the vapor chamber cooler is much more efficient at evacuating it from the card.
Only exception is Crossfire scenarios where the cards aren't spaced properly. Due to the lack of a recess in the cooler, when spaced right next to each other, there isn't much room for airflow.
I find this hard to believe. Even furmark won't break 43% on my 6970, and that's with the power slider @ +20% (90-92c). Compared to my 4870's, these cards are downright quiet...
They do put out LOTS of heat though, but the vapor chamber cooler is much more efficient at evacuating it from the card.
Only exception is Crossfire scenarios where the cards aren't spaced properly. Due to the lack of a recess in the cooler, when spaced right next to each other, there isn't much room for airflow.
I think it's fair game so long as they include results with Physx on and off, which they did.
http://www.hardwareheaven.com/revie...-directcu-2-graphics-card-review-mafia-2.html
I'd like to hear a reasonable explanation for comparing the 6970 to the 570 with physx enabled. The least damaging would be incompetence.
Have you tried running dragon age in eyefinity? I know for normal windows work multimonitor configurations cause the card to run hotter than normal. In dragon age I am sitting at 90C basically all the time. The card doesn't stay at 50% speed but will ramp up to that every 3 minutes or so for a period of 5 seconds or so. I've alt tabbed to see what speed the fan got up to when it was that loud and it has gone over 50%. It's possible that the card I chose doesn't have perfect contact between cooler and gpu or that the maker has a nonreference cooling design but from what I've read all of the original 6970s on the market were reference design.
I'm coming from a nearly silent pc and had a 260 before this (really old for a graphics card I realize) I'm slightly concerned about my power supply since it has started making a lot more noise during/for like 10 minutes after gaming. My power supply is on the bottom of my case so the video card blows air towards it. With the 260 the power supply was NEVER audible. I've also started having more and more random crashes in dragon age. It is possible that some of the sound I attribute to the graphics card is the increased sound of the power supply, however the ramp up in speed for a couple of seconds every now and then I know is coming from the videocard.
My computer is not in a very hot room and has 3 intake fans and 3 exhaust fans so heat should not be much of an issue.
Edit: Under normal windows use my fan stays between 30-33% and is not noticable over my other fans so is definately an acceptable level.
I have 3 24" screens, and run BF:BC2 in eyefinity daily. Still, my card doesn't break 43% fan speed, even overclocked. Its usually 35-38%. I use several profiles, so my desktop profile locks the fan speed to 25%, resulting in a 62c idle with 3 screens (multi-monitor setups prevent the card from downlocking as much in 2d mode).
I have inadvertently started gaming in my desktop profile with the locked fan speed, and it only got to about 100c. Above 100c the fan ramps up well above 50% as a fail safe...and thats the only way I ever know I've started gaming in my desktop profile.
In my gaming profiles the fan speed in auto, and it rarely lets the card get much over 70c. I don't think I've ever broken 80c while gaming with the fan on auto. Only furmark can get the card over 90c.
So ya, there is something wrong with your card. Might be RMA time. Really quick question. Do you have a real 6970, or a flashed 6950? I know flashed 6950's run hotter sometimes.
Looking great, Asus. I picked up their original 6970 because of its alloy cover instead of plastic like every reference design. I'm looking for a card to pair it with in CrossfireX and I'm strongly considering this DirectCU2 model, but I'm still wondering if they will make a RoG version like they did with the 5870 that goes above and beyond even this DirectCU2 variant!
You think that aluminum sticker on top will help you anything?
I'm definitely interested in this card as the cheapest/quickest way to get 3 DP monitors working in portrait mode w/o tearing. If it retails under $400 then returning my 6950 and getting this is a lot cheaper than my current options of waiting for a ~$150 MST hub to go with my 6950 or a waiting for a significantly more expensive 6990. Knowing my luck so far though its prob gonna be ~$450-500.
Its actually an aluminum sticker on the top...roughly 1mm thick. The shroud is plastic. If you remove the sticker, you'll find the same plastic shroud that is on any other reference card.
When will Newegg carry these cards...? I thought they were released February 7th.
Its out on Newegg for $384 + shipping/tax.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121430
Been thinking about getting one for an hour.
Me too...but I'm very intrigued by MSI's Twin Frozr III 6970...but we haven't heard much about them in a long time.
Its out on Newegg for $384 + shipping/tax.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121430
Been thinking about getting one for an hour.
Me too...but I'm very intrigued by MSI's Twin Frozr III 6970...but we haven't heard much about them in a long time.
It would be interesting, but it looks like the 6970 lightning features a pair of DVI-I ports, an HDMI port and two mini DisplayPort like the reference cards. So its gonna tear one one monitor in eyefinity 3x1 portrait mode running a combo of DVI/HDMI. 6970 DirectCU II can connect with 3 DP cables so it should run portrait without tearring. Asus also has a 6950 DirectCU II coming out.
I've been so stuck on getting the DirectCu II 6970 that I overlooked this. If it has the ability to unlock shaders, I might reconsider getting this instead.
According to this review, looks like the Asus DirectCu II 6950 will come with a dual bios switch. Whether it'll unlock is another thing.