ASUS Shows Off Radeon R9 290X DirectCU II Graphics Card

[Cristian_25H]

ASUS has today confirmed that it is building a custom-cooled Radeon R9 290X card by showcasing the upcoming R9 290X DirectCU II. Seen below, ASUS' card makes use of Super Alloy Power technology to deliver more stable voltage and overclocking performance, is equipped with a PCB strengthening bracket and is paired up with a beefy cooler boasting two fans (including one CoolTech spinner) and four nickel-plated heatpipes (two are 10 mm pipes).

ASUS is still working on the R9 290X DirectCU II so there may be some changes for the release version. No word yet on a launch plan.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[jigar2speed]

Excellent

 

[buggalugs]

Nice and only 2 slots.

 

[Relayer]

Hopefully it doesn't have a quiet setting so review sites can't turn down the performance and then act like it's something AMD did to be sneaky.

 

[adulaamin]

Can't wait for these custom-cooled 290/290X cards to start showing up on stores. I've got some money saved up waiting to be spent.

 

[NeoXF]

^ Me too.

 

[xenocide]

Good to see these are inbound, I'm actually curious how well these cards will do out of the box with third party coolers...

 

[nemesis.ie]

I wonder what difference will be seen with just the 8+6 power versus e.g. the 2 x 8 + 6 on e.g. the MSI lightning.

2 x 8 might be nice to have.

 

[Kärlekstrollet]

I wonder what difference will be seen with just the 8+6 power versus e.g. the 2 x 8 + 6 on e.g. the MSI lightning.

2 x 8 might be nice to have.

Lightning is a different class made for extreme overclocking, Asus got their version called "Matrix" which I'm sure will have extra power inputs like the MSI Lightning.

Asus DCU2 is a step below that "extreme" class and MSI will surely release their HAWK or Gaming edition with standard 6+8 pci-e.

 

[nemesis.ie]

Lightning is a different class made for extreme overclocking, Asus got their version called "Matrix" which I'm sure will have extra power inputs like the MSI Lightning.

Asus DCU2 is a step below that "extreme" class and MSI will surely release their HAWK or Gaming edition with standard 6+8 pci-e.

Yep, that's why I was suggesting (or intending to) that 2 x 8 for this class might have been a nice addition and assuming the VR circuits used could handle the extra current (or at least some of it over what 8 + 6 can provide) it might not be a lot of extra cost to do that. As ever, it will come down to the pricing.

 

[Kärlekstrollet]

Yep, that's why I was suggesting (or intending to) that 2 x 8 for this class might have been a nice addition and assuming the VR circuits used could handle the extra current (or at least some of it over what 8 + 2 can provide) it might not be a lot of extra cost to do that. As ever, it will come down to the pricing.

People in general are getting frightened by the added TDP value and I think thats what Asus and MSI are trying to avoid... the hate from clueless fanboys. I don't really mind a 8+8 setup but don't feel like upgrading my 2x7870 setup yet.

 

[nemesis.ie]

People in general are getting frightened by the added TDP value and I think thats what Asus and MSI are trying to avoid... the hate from clueless fanboys. I don't really mind a 8+8 setup but don't feel like upgrading my 2x7870 setup yet.

The power shown in reviews will only be what is drawn based on what they have the stock clocks at and one expects more consumption when OCing - so yes, only the clueless should see the extra option as a bad thing - it's also been shown that with better cooling the cards pull less power, so perhaps with the extra current available a more aggressively OCed unit would "only" pull the same (or a reasonable amount more) as the stock reference ones?

I imagine we'll need to await W1zzard's testing on some of these to see, the risk being that assuming there is some supply, by the time enough reviews are out to choose one model over another there might be none left to buy.

I'd wait except someone wants to get my 7970 before the holidays. Maybe I'll just have to suffer with my emergency 6450 or they will have to use their APU for a few weeks.

 

[WhoDecidedThat]

I want to ask Asus' designers . Who do they expect will buy the DC2 290X over the DC2 TOP 290??

 

[The Terrible Puddle]

I want to ask Asus' designers . Who do they expect will buy the DC2 290X over the DC2 TOP 290??

People who want more stream processors and texture units.

 

[human_error]

People who want more stream processors and texture units.

^^ this. I am one of those people.

 

[fullinfusion]

Yes please I'll take two! Also love the back plate, looks soooo much nicer! now hurry up asus and get these to market.

 

[progste]

FUNALLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

 

[manofthem]

Looks nice, let's hope for some awesome temps. I can't wait for W1zz's review! This will make lots of people happy, as there were many waiting for custom cards.

 

[qubit]

At last! I can't wait to see how the 290X performs with a proper cooler on it.

 

[alwayssts]

Hopefully it doesn't have a quiet setting so review sites can't turn down the performance and then act like it's something AMD did to be sneaky.

I spat out my tea upon reading that.

(Poor Ryan...I respect and appreciate his conviction as well as all his hard work. I truly, truly, do...but yeah, I agree often it's a little...um...misguided.)

 

[xBruce88x]

i wonder if i could buy just the fans on that cooler and swap them in place of the ones on my current DirectCU II for my 7850... if that would make any difference

 

[buggalugs]

Looks like Asus will have 2 versions of the same card. (V1 and V2) (not including TOP versions ) A 2 slot card like this with standard port layout,, and a 3 slot version with 2xdvi and 4x displayport. The 2 slot card has the newer cooler and the 3 slot cooler looks the same as on previous models like 7970.

 

[WhoDecidedThat]

People who want more stream processors and texture units.

Well. If you guys love showing off, I can't complain.

I just wish I knew if Gigabyte would make a R9 290 GHz edition.