Thursday, September 27th 2012

ASUS Announces the Matrix HD 7970/Platinum Graphics Card

ASUS finally announced its flagship AMD Radeon graphics card, the Matrix HD 7970 Platinum. The card basked in camera flashlight at this years biggest tech tradeshows, and is released to the market with the new Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition ASIC, that includes PowerTune with Boost technology. Available in two variants, the base model (1000/1050/6600 MHz core/boost/memory), and Platinum (1050/1100/6600 MHz), the card uses a strong 20-phase VRM that draws power from two 8-pin PCIe power connectors. The VRM features sophisticated load-line calibration features with manual LLC factor control (fine-tune protection against V-droop during voltage-sensitive overclocking sessions).

Apart from manual LLC factor tuning, the card features VGA Hotwire, clearly labeled points on its PCB that let you outfit it with manual voltage tuning circuitry. The card provides software voltage control via GPU Tweak, too, but is restricted to ~1.3V. The PCB features an LN2 mode switch, which loads an extreme cooling-optimized BIOS. A fan-override button shoots fan speed to 100% without software interference. Lastly, the card is cooled by a triple-slot ROG-styled DirectCU II cooler that covers most hot components, including the GPU, memory, and VRM. An additional LN2-optimized VRM heatsink is included in the package. Prices start at US $490.
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21 Comments on ASUS Announces the Matrix HD 7970/Platinum Graphics Card

#1
SIGSEGV
btarunrThe card provides software voltage control via GPU Tweak, too, but is restricted to ~1.3V
it's better than their voltage locked HD7970 DCU II/TOP edition :)
Posted on Reply
#2
crazyeyesreaper
Not a Moderator
i have a HD7970 DCU II/ TOP and i can assure you its unlocked lol
Posted on Reply
#3
radrok
Man this is so late to the game...
Posted on Reply
#4
SIGSEGV
crazyeyesreaperi have a HD7970 DCU II/ TOP and i can assure you its unlocked lol
unlucky me, then i suspect there was 2 variant HD7970 DCU II/TOP products released by Asus :banghead:
radrokMan this is so late to the game...
i don't think so, i believe this card (rog brand products) will still attract enthusiast user to get it :laugh:, especially if this card labeled as limited edition, frankly i don't know whether this card is limited or not :confused:.
Posted on Reply
#5
m1dg3t
So GPUTweak works now?

What a silly name lol
Posted on Reply
#6
radrok
SIGSEGVunlucky me, then i suspect there was 2 variant HD7970 DCU II/TOP products released by Asus :banghead:




i don't think so, i believe this card (rog brand products) will still attract enthusiast user to get it :laugh:, especially if this card labeled as limited edition, frankly i don't know whether this card is limited or not :confused:.
Who wanted a custom 7970 with beefed up VRMs already bought the R7970 Lightning...
This card is late to the game ;)
Posted on Reply
#7
mediasorcerer
Better late than never, because its late, that may mean they have put a lot of time/effort/thought into it, so it could be very good as a guess.
Posted on Reply
#8
Frizz
Great game... but I find it kind of odd to bundle this card with a game that will not utilize its full performance.
Posted on Reply
#9
NeoXF
"Lastly, the card is cooled by a triple-slot ROG-styled DirectCU II cooler"... lame...
Posted on Reply
#10
mediasorcerer
Yeh, your right, asus should never have made it lol, who wants more choices anyways?
Posted on Reply
#11
Casecutter
It might be a 7970, but it could be an 8970 ready, if they have been holding out to have it compatiable to drop in a Venus XT with a few tweaks?
Posted on Reply
#12
karlotta
radrokWho wanted a custom 7970 with beefed up VRMs already bought the R7970 Lightning...
This card is late to the game ;)
Well this has a dual link... our Lightnings do not. So i would say this is the best card out right now for 7970s.
Posted on Reply
#13
radrok
karlottaWell this has a dual link... our Lightnings do not. So i would say this is the best card out right now for 7970s.
Then use Displayport, I don't see a problem about the lack of DL-DVI.
Posted on Reply
#14
tyn1
Does anyone have a clue when we can expect this card to arrive at Newegg? Or about how long it usually takes a card to be available after being announced?
Posted on Reply
#15
buggalugs
tyn1Does anyone have a clue when we can expect this card to arrive at Newegg? Or about how long it usually takes a card to be available after being announced?
With Asus its usually quick. Stores should have them in the next week or two...
Posted on Reply
#16
jihadjoe
SIGSEGVunlucky me, then i suspect there was 2 variant HD7970 DCU II/TOP products released by Asus :banghead:
AFAIK its the same card, but AMD got strict with implementing their voltage limits on the later cards so you need to get a copy of the older BIOS.
www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=168143
Posted on Reply
#17
NeoXF
karlottaWell this has a dual link... our Lightnings do not. So i would say this is the best card out right now for 7970s.
LMAO... reviews to prove that? OC records broken with it? etc...
Since when was a piece of hardware "the best" simply because it has some "better looking" spec chart...

Other than that, Hell, it might be, I just want some hard facts first. Still haven't bought any GPU yet, the Lightning was high on my list as it's really cheap in my country, cheaper than some old release-spec stock R7970s... if this comes close in price and performance, and no concrete news on the R8000s series is out during the following week, i might just go for it.
Posted on Reply
#18
tyn1
buggalugsWith Asus its usually quick. Stores should have them in the next week or two...
Thanks buggalugs, I was a bit worried since with the 680s and even the 7990 from Powercolor, the actual card was released months after the announced release...

Does anyone know if the non-Platinum version of the cards are binned? I've heard the Platinum cards are binned so that there would be headroom for overclocks.

Also, does anyone know if ASUS has solved their issues from the DCUII Top cards?
Posted on Reply
#19
NeoXF
tyn1Does anyone know if the non-Platinum version of the cards are binned? I've heard the Platinum cards are binned so that there would be headroom for overclocks.
When the reviews arrive... I do hope they review both at the same time or something...
Posted on Reply
#20
de.das.dude
Pro Indian Modder
m1dg3tSo GPUTweak works now?

What a silly name lol
almost sounds like GPU twa... you know :pimp:
Posted on Reply
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