ASUS R9 270X Direct CU II TOP 2GB Review

Introduction We've already seen and reviewed AMD's reference R9 270X, be sure to check that review out here, but today we have a variant from an AMD partner - more specifically the ASUS Radeon R9 270X Direct CU II TOP 2GB graphics card. The Direct CU II TOP version is based on the best speed binned R9 270X GPUs ASUS could get, they are then overclocked a pretty significant amount and given the ASUS Direct CU II cooling treatment. ASUS claim to be 20% cooler and 3X quieter than the reference design with DIGI+ Syper Alloy VRM components that have 30% less power noise and 2.5X longer lifespan than reference components. The cooler itself uses three large 8mm heatpipes and a pair of 80mm fans to dissipate heat over a dense aluminium heatsink. Given the reputation of the ASUS Direct CU II implementation we can expect it to be a pretty cool and quiet running graphics card while the TOP aspect should see it perform much better than a normal R9 270X, and even overclock a bit further than normal GPUs would. Out of the box there is a 70MHz boost to the core clock though the memory clock remains the same as reference . ASUS have also tweaked things we can't see such as adding an additional power phase to the GPU power controls taking it from 5+2 to 6+2. ASUS also use better power componentry that has 80mv less ripple, allowing for more stable overclocks, and higher efficiency, lowering power consumptions and reducing heat wastage. The box points out all the key features of the product including the GPU Tweak software which ASUS is really trying to push with its video cards. The back has a more detailed explanation of the key aspects about the card. Included with card is a software utility and driver CD, a speed setup guide, dual molex to 6 pin adapter and a CrossFire X bridge. A Closer Look The card has a very pleasing overall aesthetic with the AMD red and black theme. The card does use an open PCB style which may not be to everyone's tastes but the overall aesthetic is clean and subtle. Under that outer shroud you can see those chunky heat pipes which make direct contact with the GPU die to move heat away. You can also see ASUS is using Elpida memory chips and has individual VRM heatsinks. The end is an open design and the cooler extends a little further than the PCB but overall it still comes in at around 10 inches. The card uses a black PCB which is always nice to see. At the top is a pair of 6 pins for power and you can see the ASUS and Direct CU II branding. A single CrossFireX connector is provided for up to 2 way CFX. Those two 6 pins have outward facing clips so they are easy to remove without having to shred your hands up on the heatsink. Three 8mm nickel plated copper heatpipes protrude from the GPU die. The rear I/O has dual DVI, DisplayPort and HDMI fo up to Eyefinity 6 with an MST hub (such as this one we recently reviewed) for the DisplayPort connector. Testing Procedure Methods To test the performance of video cards at eTeknix we run a variety of tests at four different resolutions, where supported and appropriate, across a suite of games and benchmarks. We run each of these benchmarks three times to take an average and use the latest WHQL-certified video card drivers from AMD and Nvidia to test with - namely Catalyst 13.4 and Nvidia Forceware 320.49. For newer RX 2XX series graphics cards we have had to test with the 13.11 Beta to avoid compatibility issues. To attain noise levels we hold a decibel meter approximately 3 inches away from the card after running Furmark for five minutes. To achieve idle noise we allow the system to stay idle at the desktop for 5 minutes before taking a noise reading. To achieve temperatures we take the maximum temperature of the GPU core during Furmark load as recorded by CPUID HW Monitor. To achieve idle temperatures we take the minimum recorded GPU core temperature in CPUID HW Monitor after desktop-idling for 5 minutes. To measure power consumption we take the maximum stable power consumption at idle on the desktop over a 5 minute period, and for load we take the maximum stable power consumption during Furmark load. Like with acoustic measurements we do not read off the maximum stable power consumption value until after 5 minutes to give the system enough time to stabilise at its power envelope. Test System: Motherboard - Asus Rampage IV Extreme X79 LGA 2011 (chipset fan disabled) Processor - Intel Core i7 3960X at stock clock speeds of 3.3GHz with Turbo Mode disabled. RAM - 16GB (2 X 8GB) Corsair Vengeance Pro Series 1866MHz at 9-10-9-27 CPU Cooler - Corsair H100i with Quiet Fan Profile Power Supply - Corsair HX1050W Main Storage Drive - Kingston HyperX 240GB SSD over SATA III interface Chassis - Lian Li T60 Test Bench Displays - Dell U2711 Ultra Sharp for 2560 by 1440 and we use the LG IPS 234 & LG IPS 224 with the Dell U2711 Ultra Sharp to run 5760 by 1080. Operating System - Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit We would like to thank Asus, Corsair, Kingston, Lian Li and all our other partners who supplied us with test equipment and hardware. Their generosity makes our testing possible and without them we wouldn't be able to produce the reviews we do, so thank you! Games Used Aliens Vs Predator Dirt Showdown Hitman: Absolution Metro Last Light Sleeping Dogs Bioshock Infinite Tomb Raider Resolutions Used (where possible) 1680 x 1050 1920 x 1080 2560 x 1440 5760 x 1080 Hardware Used Plug "killawatt" style electricty usage meter Benetech GM1351 decibel meter Software Used 3DMark 11 3DMark 2013 CPUID HWMonitor Unigine Heaven Benchmark 4.0 Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Furmark 1.10.5 3DMark 11 "3DMark 11 is the latest version of the world’s most popular benchmark. Designed to measure your PC’s gaming performance 3DMark 11 makes extensive use of all the new features in DirectX 11 including tessellation, compute shaders and multi-threading. Trusted by gamers worldwide to give accurate and unbiased results, 3DMark 11 is the best way to consistently and reliably test DirectX 11 under game-like loads." From 3DMark.com 3DMark 2013 "The new 3DMark includes everything you need to benchmark your hardware. With three all new tests you can bench everything from smartphones and tablets, to notebooks and home PCs, to the latest high-end, multi-GPU gaming desktops. And it's not just for Windows. With 3DMark you can compare your scores with Android and iOS devices too. It's the most powerful and flexible 3DMark we've ever created." From Futuremark.com Unigine Heaven 4.0 "Heaven Benchmark with its current version 4.0 is a GPU-intensive benchmark that hammers graphics cards to the limits. This powerful tool can be effectively used to determine the stability of a GPU under extremely stressful conditions, as well as check the cooling system's potential under maximum heat output. It provides completely unbiased results and generates true in-game rendering workloads across all platforms, such as Windows, Linux and Mac OS X." From Unigine.com. Aliens Vs. Predator "Aliens vs. Predator, also known by fans as Aliens vs. Predator 3 or AVP3 to distinguish it from earlier titles, is a 2010 video game developed by Rebellion Developments and published by Sega for the PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It is a sequel to Aliens versus Predator 2, although it does not have any connection with that game's plot. Instead it charts events on the planet BG-386, where a Weyland-Yutaniresearch team led by Karl Bishop Weyland has discovered aYautja Pyramid, and is simultaneously studying the Xenomorphs found there and hoping to unlock the advanced technology contained within. The Aliens soon escape, prompting a response from the United States Colonial Marine Corps, while the Predators also send three of their member to investigate." From Avp.wikia.com Bioshock Infinite "BioShock Infinite is a first-person shooter like you’ve never seen. Just ask the judges from E3 2011, where the Irrational Games title won over 85 editorial awards, including the Game Critics Awards’ Best of Show. Set in 1912, players assume the role of former Pinkerton agent Booker DeWitt, sent to the flying city of Columbia on a rescue mission. His target? Elizabeth, imprisoned since childhood. During their daring escape, Booker and Elizabeth form a powerful bond -- one that lets Booker augment his own abilities with her world-altering control over the environment. Together, they fight from high-speed Sky-Lines, in the streets and houses of Columbia, on giant zeppelins, and in the clouds, all while learning to harness an expanding arsenal of weapons and abilities, and immersing players in a story that is not only steeped in profound thrills and surprises, but also invests its characters with what Game Informer called “An amazing experience from beginning to end." From Bioshockinfinite.com Dirt Showdown "DiRT Showdown is the new arcade racing game from the team that brought you the award-winning DiRT series, uncaged in 2012. Pick up and play controls combine with electrifying events, frenzied crowds and stunning graphics to deliver high octane, dive in and drive thrills from event one." From Codemasters.com Hitman Absolution "Hitman: Absolution is the fifth title in the Hitman series by producer, IO Interactive, published by Square Enix and co-published by Eidos. The game was released for thePlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows on November 20, 2012. Hitman: Absolution runs on IO Interactive's proprietary Glacier 2 game engine, combining classic Hitman game mechanics with new mechanics." From hitman.wikia.com Metro Last Light "Metro: Last Light (formerly Metro 2034) is a first-person shooter and horror video game developed by Ukrainian studio 4A Games and published by Deep Silver for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It was released in May 2013. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic world and features a mixture of action-oriented and stealth gameplay. The game exists in the universe of the novel, Metro 2033, and its sequels, written by Russian author, Dmitry Glukhovsky, but does not follow any direct storylines from the books. Metro:Last Light takes place one year after the events of Metro 2033, proceeding from the canonical ending from the novel, ending where Artyom chose to call down the missile strike on the Dark Ones.Metro: Last Light features technology which boasts of lighting effects and improved physics claimed to set a new graphical benchmark on the PC and consoles." From Wikipedia.org Sleeping Dogs "Welcome to Hong Kong, a vibrant neon city teeming with life, whose exotic locations and busy streets hide one of the most powerful and dangerous criminal organizations in the world: the Triads. In this open world game, you play the role of Wei Shen, an undercover cop trying to take down the Triads from the inside out. You'll have to prove yourself worthy as you fight your way up the organization, taking part in brutal criminal activities without blowing your cover. Torn between your loyalty to the badge and a criminal code of honor, you will risk everything as the lines between truth, loyalty and justice become permanently blurred." From Sleepingdogs.net Tomb Raider "On 5 March 2013, Square Enix released Tomb Raider, billed as a reboot of the franchise. In Tomb Raider, the player is confronted with a much younger Lara Croft who is shipwrecked and finds herself stranded on a mysterious island rife with danger, both natural and human. In contrast to the earlier games Croft is portrayed as vulnerable, acting out of necessity, desperation and sheer survival rather than for a greater cause or personal gain." From Wikipedia.org Acoustics The acoustic performance of a graphics card is an increasingly important consideration for PC users and Gamers these days. While fan noise is unlikely to ruin the gaming experience, no one likes a noisy graphics card and no one will argue with the fact that quieter is better. Many users are willing to sacrifice temperatures to gain a noise advantage, but with better cooling solutions being developed it is increasingly common to be able to get both better cooling and better acoustic performance than a reference solution on most custom cooled graphics cards from Nvidia and AMD partners. That said both AMD and Nvidia have stepped up their game too with regards to acoustics on their reference coolers. Ultimately, acoustics will always be a big deciding factor when there is often very little differentiation between graphics cards using the same GPUs. Find details of our acoustic methodology on page 3. Power Consumption With electricity becoming increasingly expensive across most parts of the world the need for computer components to become power efficient has never been more relevant. Graphics cards are often the most power hungry components inside a system so having an efficient graphics card is very important to keeping power bills under control. Power is often correlated to heat and so lower power consumption means a graphics card is likely to run slightly cooler and put out less heat into your system meaning your other components will run cooler with improved longevity. AMD and Nvidia have also both made power consumption an integral part of the way graphics cards dynamically overclock so the need for graphics card vendors to use efficient VRM and PCB designs is becoming important to maximise performance. Find details of our power consumption methodology on page 3. Temperatures The cooling solution which graphics card vendors use is one of the main differences that consumers have to contend with. Apart from their acoustic properties, the thermal properties of graphics card coolers are extremely important. Lower temperatures are always better and with AMD and Nvidia opting to use dynamic overclocking algorithms that take temperature into account it is important that graphics card vendors use high performance cooling solutions in order to maximise performance. The era of graphics cards reaching dangerous temperatures are now in the past but the importance of lower temperatures still remains. Lower temperatures mean better stability, longer component longevity and lower fan speeds. That said temperatures are one of the most important non-performance related properties on a graphics card. Find details of our temperature methodology on page 3. Overclocking Overclocking the ASUS Radeon R9 270X Direct CU II TOP gave us the best results of all the three R9 270X graphics cards we have tested so far with 1250MHz on the core and 1575MHz on the memory. Our reference model managed 1150MHz/1625MHz and our Gigabyte WindForce OC model managed 1200MHz/1615MHz. While the memory wasn't as good as the other two we tested, probably due to different memory ICs (Elpida vs Hynix or Samsung) the GPU core was much better and the GPU core makes by far the biggest difference to performance. The results show that the ASUS card was the best performer of the bunch as it managed to get around 250 more 3DMark 11 Performance points than the Gigabyte model overclocked and 350 more points than the reference model overclocked. Interestingly the ASUS R9 270X Direct CU II TOP graphics card is a serious contender to an overclocked GTX 760 because it overclocks so well. The result of 9334 is around 8.5% better than the out-of-the-box performance of the card. Final Thoughts Pricing AMD's R9 270X has an MSRP of $199 which compares favourably against the GTX 660 ($179) and the GTX 760 ($249). ASUS' Direct CU II TOP model is always slightly more expensive and in the UK we are seeing a price of £188 from two of our preferred retailers Scan and Overclockers UK. That makes it about 20% more expensive than AMD reference pricing so in the USA we should see it cost around $245~ when U.S retailers start listing it. In European pricing that means about €225~. Final Thoughts The ASUS R9 270X DC2 TOP has done nothing but impress me. Looking exclusively at what ASUS have done to the card, because we aren't reviewing the AMD R9 270X GPU - we already did that here, we can see ASUS have ticked more or less every box. Firstly, the card runs really cool and you will never find yourself with any thermal problems even in really hot cases. This means no thermal limitations when overclocking because the Direct CU II cooler can handle anything you throw at it. Secondly, it's super quiet even when pushed through Furmark at overclocked settings - if you want a quiet graphics card then the ASUS R9 270X duly delivers. Next it looks great and the red/black theme is going to be warmly embraced by most AMD graphics card buyers. Finally the out of the box overclock is very nice and the TOP speed binned GPUs mean more overclocking headroom than you'd find on most other R9 270X graphics cards. This all results in a graphics card that does come close to the reference GTX 760 models in pricing, but makes up for that because the overclocking allows you to get a lot of extra performance and it runs cooler and quieter than most other cards on the market. It is also worth mentioning power consumption was the same as a stock AMD R9 270X because despite the overclock the more efficient power componentry offsets that increased power demand from the GPU by cutting down on power wastage. Pros Great overclocking headroom High overclock out of the box Effective cooling Low noise output Low power consumption from efficient upgraded ASUS power circuitry 3 year warranty Cons A bit pricey Memory didn't overclock as well as the reference R9 270X Slightly longer than the reference R9 270X (10.85 inches) due to cooler overhang "The ASUS R9 270X Direct CU II TOP is a fantastic graphics card for the money and really showcases what AMD's R9 270X GPU can offer as well as how effective the ASUS Direct CU II cooling solution is. It runs cool & quiet and overclocks like a dream. If the R9 270X is the right GPU for you then the ASUS Direct CU II TOP version is an excellent choice. Of course it is a bit pricier than other solutions so users interested in the cooling and silence on offer but not so much the overclocking can grab the ASUS R9 270X Direct CU II graphics card for a little less." Thank you to ASUS for providing this review sample.