Tuesday, July 19th 2016
ASUS Announces Radeon RX 480 STRIX Graphics Card
ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced Strix RX 480, an all-new VR-ready gaming graphics card with ultra-fast gaming performance, advanced cooling and reliability, and personalized styling. Powered by the latest AMD Radeon RX 480 graphics processing unit (GPU), clocked at 1330MHz in OC mode, ROG Strix RX 480 delivers up to 15%-faster performance in 3DMark Fire Strike Extreme and 19%-faster gaming performance in Hitman and Doom.
ROG Strix RX 480 is packed with exclusive ASUS technologies, including DirectCU III with a patented triple wing-blade 0dB fan designed to deliver maximum airflow for 30%-cooler and three-times (3X) quieter performance, and ASUS FanConnect, which features GPU-controlled fan headers to connect to system fans for targeted supplemental cooling. Industry-exclusive Auto-Extreme technology with Super Alloy Power II components ensures premium quality and reliability.
ROG Strix RX 480 enables complete gaming system personalization with Aura RGB Lighting. A VR-friendly design with two HDMI ports lets gamers always keep a virtual reality (VR) device and a monitor connected to their system for immersive gaming anytime. It also includes GPU Tweak II with XSplit Gamecaster for intuitive performance tweaking and instant gameplay streaming.
Ultimate cooling: DirectCU III technology with patented wing-blade fans and ASUS FanConnect
ROG Strix RX 480 is equipped with ASUS DirectCU III cooling technology, which features direct-GPU-contact heatpipes that transport more heat away from the GPU, outperforming reference designs and achieving up to 30% cooler gaming performance. DirectCU III technology includes triple 0dB fans, engineered with a patented wing-blade design that delivers maximum airflow and improves static pressure over the heatsink by 105%, while operating at three-times (3X) quieter volume than reference cards.
ROG Strix RX 480 also comes with ASUS FanConnect technology. When gaming, the GPU often runs hotter than the CPU, but chassis fans usually only reference CPU temperatures, resulting in inefficient system cooling. ASUS FanConnect solves this issue with two 4-pin GPU-controlled headers that can be connected to system fans to provide targeted supplemental cooling for optimal thermal performance.
Premium quality and reliability: Auto-Extreme technology with Super Alloy Power II components
All ASUS graphics cards are now produced using Auto-Extreme technology, an industry-exclusive, 100%-automated production process that incorporates premium materials to set a new standard of quality. Auto-Extreme technology ensures consistent graphics card quality as well as improved performance and longevity. This new manufacturing process is also environmentally friendly, eliminating harsh chemicals and reducing power consumption by 50%.
Super Alloy Power II components enhance efficiency, reduce power loss, reduce component buzzing by 50% while under full load, and achieve thermal levels that are approximately 50% cooler than previous designs for enhanced quality and reliability.
Game your way: Aura RGB Lighting and VR-friendly HDMI ports
ROG Strix RX 480 includes ASUS Aura RGB Lighting on both the shroud and the backplate. This stunning illumination technology is capable of displaying millions of colors and six different effects for a totally personalized gaming system. ROG Strix RX 480 also has a VR-friendly design with two HDMI ports that let gamers connect a VR device and display at the same time, so they can enjoy immersive virtual reality experiences anytime without having to swap cables.
Tweakable and intuitive: GPU Tweak II with XSplit Gamecaster
Redesigned with an intuitive user interface, GPU Tweak II makes gaming and overclocking easier than ever, while retaining advanced options for seasoned overclockers. With one click, the Gaming Booster function maximizes system performance by removing redundant processes and allocating all available resources automatically. An included one-year XSplit Gamecaster premium license - a $99 value - lets gamers easily stream or record gameplay via a convenient, in-game overlay. The overlay also displays GPU clock speed, temperature, and VRM usage, and has GPU Tweak II controls, so gamers can choose a gaming profile and boost performance with just one click.
ROG Strix RX 480 is packed with exclusive ASUS technologies, including DirectCU III with a patented triple wing-blade 0dB fan designed to deliver maximum airflow for 30%-cooler and three-times (3X) quieter performance, and ASUS FanConnect, which features GPU-controlled fan headers to connect to system fans for targeted supplemental cooling. Industry-exclusive Auto-Extreme technology with Super Alloy Power II components ensures premium quality and reliability.
Ultimate cooling: DirectCU III technology with patented wing-blade fans and ASUS FanConnect
ROG Strix RX 480 is equipped with ASUS DirectCU III cooling technology, which features direct-GPU-contact heatpipes that transport more heat away from the GPU, outperforming reference designs and achieving up to 30% cooler gaming performance. DirectCU III technology includes triple 0dB fans, engineered with a patented wing-blade design that delivers maximum airflow and improves static pressure over the heatsink by 105%, while operating at three-times (3X) quieter volume than reference cards.
ROG Strix RX 480 also comes with ASUS FanConnect technology. When gaming, the GPU often runs hotter than the CPU, but chassis fans usually only reference CPU temperatures, resulting in inefficient system cooling. ASUS FanConnect solves this issue with two 4-pin GPU-controlled headers that can be connected to system fans to provide targeted supplemental cooling for optimal thermal performance.
Premium quality and reliability: Auto-Extreme technology with Super Alloy Power II components
All ASUS graphics cards are now produced using Auto-Extreme technology, an industry-exclusive, 100%-automated production process that incorporates premium materials to set a new standard of quality. Auto-Extreme technology ensures consistent graphics card quality as well as improved performance and longevity. This new manufacturing process is also environmentally friendly, eliminating harsh chemicals and reducing power consumption by 50%.
Super Alloy Power II components enhance efficiency, reduce power loss, reduce component buzzing by 50% while under full load, and achieve thermal levels that are approximately 50% cooler than previous designs for enhanced quality and reliability.
Game your way: Aura RGB Lighting and VR-friendly HDMI ports
ROG Strix RX 480 includes ASUS Aura RGB Lighting on both the shroud and the backplate. This stunning illumination technology is capable of displaying millions of colors and six different effects for a totally personalized gaming system. ROG Strix RX 480 also has a VR-friendly design with two HDMI ports that let gamers connect a VR device and display at the same time, so they can enjoy immersive virtual reality experiences anytime without having to swap cables.
Tweakable and intuitive: GPU Tweak II with XSplit Gamecaster
Redesigned with an intuitive user interface, GPU Tweak II makes gaming and overclocking easier than ever, while retaining advanced options for seasoned overclockers. With one click, the Gaming Booster function maximizes system performance by removing redundant processes and allocating all available resources automatically. An included one-year XSplit Gamecaster premium license - a $99 value - lets gamers easily stream or record gameplay via a convenient, in-game overlay. The overlay also displays GPU clock speed, temperature, and VRM usage, and has GPU Tweak II controls, so gamers can choose a gaming profile and boost performance with just one click.
23 Comments on ASUS Announces Radeon RX 480 STRIX Graphics Card
so just wait until "sapphire" blow it away
Currently I only trust Strix, MSI Gaming and WindForce3X coolers. Maybe Sapphire's 3x fan Nitro. But the rest, nope.
Looks seriously overkill though. Two fans would have sufficed, but then maybe somehow it's even quieter, maybe it absorbs noise from your case with all them fans! o_O
And that is before the 480 is further overclocked...
Also, ASUS showed (only) two games in which AMD has the upper hand. So take it with a grain of salt.
For one thing, the 4850 was only a 110 watt TDP card. Top end cards now are 250+ watt. Back then, making a bigger GPU that pulled more power was economically a terrible idea, because the dies were very difficult to make. Not so much the problem today.
For another, most PC cases and motherboards are built around dual slot cards, and dual slot coolers are dramatically better then single sots are.
That being said, we do occasionally get single slot cards. the 7750 from xfx had a single slot version, and there was a rumored galax 680 single slot.
I personally am waiting for the Sapphire Nitro for several reasons, and not the least of which is the neutral black color scheme. Also, the Quick Connect/Remove Fans with their new way of shipping replacement fans under warranty.
The biggest reason though is dual purpose function of the card:
Technological process also means we can do more with less, why would we not see 110 watt GTX1160/HD590 in the future? or do companies not care enough anymore?
The dual slot coolers are indeed obviously better at cooling, going for a single slot cooler would mean that that better cooling is not needed.
It saves a single expansion slot.
What disadvantages does it have?
It's louder, since it uses a smaller fan that has to spin faster, and its hotter, since the GPU has a much smaller heatsink and cant vert outside of the chassis.
Now consider that computer cases and motherboards are all built around dual slot GPUs, even mini itx cases that are built for dGPU use have two slots now. So the market for a single slot 1060 is people that want a hotter, louder GPU and have some ancient case that cant take a dual slot GPU for whatever reason. That is a remarkable tiny niche.
Bottom line, it isnt a matter of companies not caring, it a matter of the market moving on. There is no demand for a single slot GPU in today's world. Even the low wattage 7750 was most popular in it's dual slot forms.
the market wants quiet, reliable GPUs, and has the cases for dual slot cards. In this market, the single slot GPU really has no place.
Funny that.