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Closer Look: ASUS GTX 560 Ti
As usual, ASUS packages its GPUs in a nice box with a warrior on it. Any technologies, features and bundles are displayed on the frontal and back side of the package. ASUS claims to use Super Alloy Power technology which uses some special alloy formula in critical power delivery components for a 15% performance boost, 35°C cooler operation and 2.5 times longer lifespan. It's hard not to notice the 900MHz GPU Core clock as it's as big as the ASUS logo.
Once we get the box opened we'll quickly notice the accessories set. This consists of a CD with drivers and ASUS utilities, a quickly installation manual, a pair of Molex-PCI-e PSU connectors, DVI-VGA converter and Mini-HDMI to HDMI converter. Of course, the card is included in the package too, and it's got a massive heatpipe-heatsink with two 80mm fans.
With high-end video cards, the cooling system is an integral part of the performance envelope for the product. Make it run cooler, and you can make it run faster, has been the by-word for achieving gaming-class performance with all recent GPUs. Even some midrange models have turned out to be supreme overclockers with enhanced cooling. Based on ASUS DirectCU architecture, which uses copper heat pipes in direct contact with the GPU to speed up heat dissipation for over 20% cooler performance, DirectCU II takes cooling further with twin 80mm fans for doubled airflow. This specific model comes in black color with red stripes, which remembers me a F1 car or something similar. Also, please notice that GPU bar at the top of the PCB to avoid it from warping because of the heatsink weight or while being moved inside any case.
The back side of the PCB is not as crowded as it comes with many other GPUs. It seems ASUS improved their overall design to reduce circuit tracks as I've seen other GTX 560 Ti GPUs with a PCB similar to New York City streets and buildings.
As it's noticeable, both fans push cold air to the heatsink but there's no "especial" technology to make the air flow through the rear of the PC case. Make sure you've got great ventilation and good air-flow inside your case to remove all the heat produced from this GPU.
All the ports including PCI-e are covered with a blue plastic cap. The ENGTX 560 Ti is a dual-slot GPU and the second slot brings hot air out of the case. As usual, Nvidia GPUs have a pair of Dual-Link DVI ports and the mini-HDMI port. This means you can't create a Surround setup with this model.
The GXTX 560 Ti uses 2 x 6-pin PCI-e PSU ports to add power to the GPU; the same number of connectors used with the GTX 460. There is a pair of ASUS logos here which look great, but the connectors position won't help with cable management overall. The good part is that this is OK for people with small PC cases to avoid contact with storage drive bays.
In the next section, let's take a more detailed look at the ENGTX560 Ti DCII TOP video card. I did a full tear-down, so we could see everything there is to see...
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Comments
(be back after I read this)
Shame, I like ASUS normally.
Hope this helps, I have this card and it's plain awesome :D
wtf do you really expect?
a new gpu and mem with the same name on the card?
it is the same card with a new bios and higher clocks no TOP written anywhere but the packaging
hmmm how can we sell the left over stock and still make a prophet
My PC is amazing, bet it is better than yours.
I do have a major headache though. When I run CPU-Z or ASUS smart doctor, it says the GPU clock is only running at 830MHz and the shader at 1660MHz.
Anyone knows if it will underclock itself in idle mode?
I am getting desperate because it IS the ?TOP? version of the card. And I can?t find an answer anywhere.
I haven?t had the time to test if with furmark or anything like that.
I really hope that?s the case with this card as well!
I haven?t been able to find that info anywhere else.......
I was really bumbed out, because it seemed like I payed for the "TOP" version of the card, but only got the stock one.
But I don?t get it, if that?s the case. Why do they even make a "top" version of the card?
If the stock version will overclock itself as well.
So the card I received is the stock version, even though the box says "TOP"
In idle mode it should underclock far more than that.
35% fan speed: inaudible
40%: humming
50%: high pitch humming/whining
65-100%: HIGH PITCHED SCREAMING
Got a Gigabyte OC card instead. 900mhz also. Don't hear it untill 60% and even then it's just an air-noise as opposed to screeching and whining
-low temp in idle and not impressing temp in full or stress i expected lower because of my case antec 900
-with my e8500 proc i'm pleased by her performance
-is relatively easy to clean her of dust
-as usual the case of this vidcard cannot be removed for a better cleanup
-it not inspire me a solid construction because the pipes are not rigidized with card enough at jonction with uppercooler