As expected ASUS is also amongst NVIDIA's launch partners for their new Maxwell based graphics cards. In this review we're having a close look at the GTX 980 STRIX, which is ASUS's flagship model for now. Therefore it features a custom PCB as well as ASUS's semi-passive STRIX cooler. This should be a rather punch combination and we're curious to learn more about this card.
ASUS is amongst the first Nvidia add-in-card (AIC) partners that have
decided to introduce a new custom GTX 980 graphics card which is using NVIDIAs
latest and greatest GM204 Maxwell chip. For this graphics card, ASUS makes use of a custom PCB
paired with its own custom STRIX cooler and on the flip-side of
the card, there is a good looking backplate. A quick glance at the specs
also reveals that this card ships factory overclocked.
Browsing the specifications of this card we find 2048 CUDA
cores, 128 TMUs and 64 ROPs. For comparison reasons, the GTX 780 features 2304
CUDA cores, 192 TMUs and 48 ROPs. This means that NVIDIA cut down the CUDA core
count as well as TMU count, but at the same time increased the number of ROPs.
Looking for reference clocks we find 1'126 MHz base clock and 1'216 MHz boost
clock.
As you can see from the GPU-Z screenshot below, ASUS decided to use a
factory-overclock on their new GTX 980 STRIX. While the reference GTX
980 with GM204 GPU is set to work at 1'126 MHz for the base clock and 1'216 MHz
for the GPU boost clock, the GTX 980 STRIX runs at
1'178 MHz base clock and 1'279 MHz boost clock.
When it comes to memory clock speeds we see a tiny, 12 MHz frequency boost,
which makes the chips run at 7'012 MHz. Combine this with a 256 Bit memory
interface and you end up with a total of 224 Gigabyte of memory bandwidth.
The typical boost clock is set at 1'279 MHz, the maximum boost of 1'305 MHz
was achieved quite easily and the GTX 980 STRIX held that clock most of
the load time due to the capable STRIX cooler as well as good TDP target
(nVidia's Boost technology being power-based and not temperature-based on this
card). At this point we also run Furmark to see how high the card overclocks,
when the GPU is under full load. This way we can determine a worst case scenario
regarding maximum boost clock. With the card we see clocks speeds of 1'178 MHz
at 1.07v.
ASUS decided to equip the GeForce GTX 980 STRIX with a new version
of their famous DirectCU II cooler. In case of this card you get no less than
five heatpipes, two six millimeter, two eight millimeter and one massive ten
millimeter. Soldered to the heatpipes you find the fin stack which is being
provided with fresh air via two fans. The fans on the new STRIX series are
designed to spin only when GPU temeprature reaches 65 degrees, which means that in
2D
mode they are completeley off. Also, under low loads the fans don't start to
spin. Under high-load the noise level is still silent, subjectively
speaking.
The ASUS GTX 980 STRIX OC
Edition graphics card, or to be precise our sample of
it, allowed a maximum stable overclock of 1'505 MHz
for the GPU and 2'075 MHz on the memory side. We used Furemark V1.11.0 Geeks3D
benchmark with 15 minutes duration. With these clocks we had to feed the GPU
with 1.25 Volts and the memory ran at stock voltages.
A closer look at the PCB shows that ASUS equipped this card with a
ten phase digital power design. The GPU gets its current from eight phases and
the two phases left, take good care of the 4GB of GDDR5 memory. Once more, ASUS is using high
quality super alloy chokes. On the backside of the GPU you can find dedicated SAP
CAPs to maximize overclocking headroom.
Checking the voltage regulation chip, we find a digital multi-phase buck
controller ASP1212 from IR (International Rectifier).
The memory chips used are made by Samsung and carry the model number
K4G41325FC-HC28. They are specified to run at 1'750 MHz (7'000 MHz
effective).
The graphics card ships well bolstered in a foam made mold. Bundled with it there is a user guide, a driver CD that includes the GPU Tweak overclocking tool and a power converter (2x6-Pin
to 1x8-Pin-PCIe).
If you are looking for game vouchers or something like that you will be
disappointed, since there is absolutely nothing like this in the
box. In order to customize the card to a certain extent there are small, black
and red metal plates.
For the noise level results, we measured the noise
level using a decibel meter (Voltcraft SL-200) located at 1 meter away from the
graphics card.
Idle Temperature
Temperature
Auto
50%
70%
100%
ASUS
GeForce GTX 980 STRIX OC Edition
33
28
28
27
ASUS GeForce GTX 750 Ti STRIX OC Edition
38
33
30
28
ASUS GeForce
GTX 760 DirectCU Mini OC
33
32
32
31
ASUS
GeForce GTX 760 Striker Platinum
34
34
33
29
ASUS GeForce
GTX 770 DirectCU II OC
29
29
28
27
ASUS GeForce
GTX 780
32
30
29
28
ASUS
GeForce GTX 780 DirectCU II OC
30
29
28
28
ASUS
GeForce GTX 780 Poseidon Platinum
32
31
30
29
ASUS
GeForce GTX 780 STRIX OC Edition
53
40
38
32
ASUS GeForce GTX 780 Ti DirectCU II OC
32
31
30
29
ASUS
GeForce GTX 780 Ti Matrix Platinum
37
37
36
34
ASUS
GeForce GTX 970 STRIX
52
38
35
32
ASUS
Radeon HD 7970 Platinum
28
28
28
27
ASUS Radeon R9 270 DirectCU II OC
33
31
31
30
ASUS Radeon R9 270X DirectCU II TOP
28
27
26
26
ASUS Radeon R9 290X DirectCU II TOP
30
30
29
29
ASUS
Radeon R9 280X Matrix Platinum
30
30
29
29
ASUS Radeon R9 290 DirectCU II OC
38
36
35
34
ASUS
Radeon R9 290X DirectCU II OC
36
35
34
34
ASUS
Radeon R9 290X Platinum
37
36
35
34
ASUS ROG MARS 760
30
29
29
28
Club3D Radeon
HD 7850 royalQueen
37
36
36
35
Club3D Radeon R9 270 royalQueen
32
31
30
28
EVGA GeForce
GTX 760 SuperClocked ACX
32
32
32
31
Gigabyte
GeForce GTX 750 Ti Black Edition
25
25
24
24
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 760 OC 4GB
30
28
28
27
Gigabyte
GeForce GTX 780 GHz Edition
29
27
26
26
Gigabyte
GeForce GTX 780 OC V2
30
29
28
28
Gigabyte
GeForce GTX 980 G1 Gaming
34
31
30
28
MSI GeForce GTX 760 HAWK
25
25
26
26
MSI GeForce
GTX 770 Lightning
27
26
26
25
MSI Twin Frozr Gaming GTX 780
30
29
29
27
MSI Radeon R9 270X HAWK
29
28
27
27
MSI Twin Frozr Gaming R9 280X OC Edition
32
31
30
29
PowerColor Radeon R9 280X TurboDuo OC
32
32
31
30
PowerColor Radeon R9 290X LCS
29
Sapphire Vapor-X Radeon R9 280X TRI-X OC Boost
36
32
33
31
Sapphire Radeon R9 290
44
40
38
35
NVIDIA Reference
32
30
29
29
Less is better
Idle, temperature is
taken after 15 minutes @ lowest, 40 %, 50 %, 70 % and 100 % fan speed.
Room Temperature: 25°C
Temperature under Furmark
Temperature
Auto
50%
70%
100%
ASUS GeForce GTX 750 Ti STRIX OC Edition
58
49
48
47
ASUS GeForce
GTX 760 DirectCU Mini OC
81
80
68
59
ASUS
GeForce GTX 760 Striker Platinum
73
73
73
72
ASUS GeForce
GTX 770 DirectCU II OC
80
74
62
57
ASUS GeForce
GTX 780
n/A
81
75
66
ASUS
GeForce GTX 780 DirectCU II OC
83
71
63
56
ASUS
GeForce GTX 970 STRIX
69
61
56
49
ASUS
GeForce GTX 780 Ti Matrix Platinum
77
77
72
68
ASUS
GeForce GTX 780 Poseidon Platinum
90
81
72
62
ASUS GeForce GTX 780 Ti DirectCU II OC
90
85
73
65
ASUS
GeForce GTX 780 STRIX OC Edition
70
66
59
54
ASUS
GeForce GTX 980 STRIX OC Edition
67
58
54
52
ASUS ROG MARS 760
90
84
78
67
ASUS
Radeon HD 7970 Platinum
76
70
69
69
ASUS Radeon R9 270 DirectCU II OC
87
69
64
62
ASUS Radeon R9 270X DirectCU II TOP
90
70
64
63
ASUS
Radeon R9 280X DirectCU II Top
90
71
64
63
ASUS Radeon R9 280X Matrix Platinum
77
73
71
70
ASUS Radeon R9 290 DirectCU II OC
90
87
81
77
ASUS
Radeon R9 290X DirectCU II OC
89
90
85
81
ASUS
Radeon R9 290X Platinum
88
85
82
78
Club3D Radeon
HD 7850 royalQueen
75
63
59
53
Club3D Radeon R9 270 royalQueen
69
63
64
57
EVGA GeForce
GTX 760 SuperClocked ACX
77
70
66
59
Gigabyte
GeForce GTX 750 Ti Black Edition
52
49
47
44
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 760 OC 4GB
81
65
58
55
Gigabyte
GeForce GTX 780 GHz Edition
90
80
73
58
Gigabyte
GeForce GTX 780 OC V2
90
83
75
63
Gigabyte
GeForce GTX 980 G1 Gaming
72
79
75
68
MSI GeForce GTX 760 HAWK
69
59
53
49
MSI GeForce
GTX 770 Lightning
63
55
50
46
MSI Twin Frozr Gaming GTX 780
73
71
63
56
MSI Radeon R9 270X HAWK
90
79
70
64
MSI Twin Frozr Gaming R9 280X OC Edition
80
77
72
69
PowerColor R9 290X LCS
46
PowerColor R9 280X TurboDuo OC
n/A
n/A
74
68
Sapphire Vapor-X Radeon R9 280X TRI-X OC Boost
76
75
69
66
Sapphire Radeon R9 290
94
85
74
67
NVIDIA Reference
90
83
76
68
Less is better
For FurMark, temperature is taken
after 15 minutes of GPU Burn test at lowest, 40 %, 50 %, 70 % and 100 % fan speed.
We stopped the test when the GPU temperature hit 90°C.
Room Temperature: 25°C
Temperature and
fan speed under BattleField 3
Auto
Temperature
PowerColor R9 290X LCS (watercooled)
39
Gigabyte
GeForce GTX 750Ti Black Edition
40
ASUS GeForce GTX 750 Ti STRIX OC Edition
55
Gigabyte GeForce
GTX 980 G1 Gaming
58
MSI Twin Frozr Gaming R9 280X OC Edition
60
ASUS GeForce
GTX 780 DirectCU II OC
61
Club3D Radeon
HD 7850 royalQueen
63
MSI GeForce
GTX 770 Lightning
61
ASUS
GeForce GTX 760 Striker Platinum
62
ASUS
GeForce GTX 780 STRIX OC Edition
62
EVGA GeForce
GTX 760 SuperClocked ACX
62
Sapphire Vapor-X Radeon R9 280X TRI-X OC Boost
62
ASUS Radeon R9 270 DirectCU II OC
63
MSI GeForce GTX 760 HAWK
64
ASUS Radeon R9 270X DirectCU II TOP
64
ASUS GeForce
GTX 770 DirectCU II OC
64
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 760 OC 4GB
65
ASUS
GeForce GTX 780 Ti Matrix Platinum
66
ASUS
GeForce GTX 980 STRIX OC Edition
66
ASUS Radeon HD 7970 Platinum
66
MSI Twin Frozr Gaming GTX 780
66
Club3D Radeon R9 270 royalQueen
66
Gigabyte
GeForce GTX 780 GHz Edition
67
ASUS GeForce
GTX 760 DirectCU Mini OC
68
ASUS Radeon R9 290 DirectCU II OC
68
ASUS Radeon R9 280X Matrix Platinum
68
ASUS
GeForceGTX 780 DirectCU II OC
69
ASUS GeForce
GTX 970 STRIX
69
ASUS
Radeon R9 280X DirectCU II Top
69
ASUS GeForce GTX 780 Ti DirectCU II OC
70
MSI Radeon R9 270X HAWK
70
Gigabyte
GeForce GTX 780 OC V2
70
ASUS
GeForce GTX 780 Poseidon Platinum
71
ASUS
Radeon R9 290X Platinum
72
PowerColor R9 280X TurboDuo OC
73
ASUS ROG MARS 760
77
ASUS GeForce
GTX 780
79
ASUS
Radeon R9 290X DirectCU II OC
79
NVIDIA Reference
79
Sapphire Radeon R9 290
80
Less is better
For BattleField 3, temperature and fan speed
values taken are the highest achieved after 1 hour gaming @ auto fan
speed.
The "Performance Index" value is calculated as the sum of all
benchmarks results divided by the amount of games (3DMark and Unigine are not
included into the calculation).
Performance/Price
Graphics Cards
Performance Index
Price (€)*
Performance/€*10
ASUS Radeon R9
290X Platinum
n/A
n/A
n/A
ASUSGeForce GTX
780 Ti Matrix Platinum
n/A
n/A
n/A
AMD Radeon HD 7790
33.44
91
3.67
AMD Radeon HD 7870
50.53
143
3.53
AMD Radeon R9 270
50.00
144
3.47
AMD Radeon HD 7850
42.39
124
3.42
AMD Radeon R9 270X
53.85
159
3.39
nVidia GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost
40.87
121
3.38
nVidia GeForce GTX 660
47.37
144
3.29
ASUS GeForce
GTX 970 STRIX OC
93.36
299
3.12
nVidia GeForce GTX 650 Ti
30.80
100
3.08
AMD Radeon R9 280X
68.85
241
2.86
nVidia GeForce GTX 760
56.63
199
2.85
nVidia GeForce GTX 660 Ti
53.55
193
2.77
AMD Radeon HD 7970
64.27
232
2.77
nVidia GeForce GTX 670
62.00
228
2.72
AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition
70.75
260
2.72
nVidia GeForce GTX 770
70.92
266
2.67
nVidia GeForce GTX 580
50.49
190
2.66
AMD Radeon HD 6870
31.88
126
2.53
nVidia GeForce GTX 680
68.36
291
2.35
ASUS
GeForce GTX 760 Striker Platinum
59.92
288
2.08
nVidia GeForce GTX 780
81.66
415
1.97
Gigabyte
GeForce GTX 980 G1 Gaming
109.01
549
1.82
AMD Radeon HD 6950
36.83
205
1.80
ASUS
GeForce GTX 980 STRIX OC Edition
108.03
629
1.72
PowerColor Radeon
R9 290X LCS
91.19
577
1.58
ASUS
GeForce GTX 780 STRIX OC Edition
84.22
532
1.58
nVidia GeForce GTX 780 Ti
90.53
582
1.56
AMD Radeon HD 6970
41.19
310
1.33
AMD Radeon HD 5850
30.05
260
1.16
AMD Radeon HD 5870
35.98
335
1.07
AMD Radeon HD 6990
73.44
708
1.04
nVidia GeForce GTX TITAN
85.05
832
1.02
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 780 Ti GHz
104.63
613
N/A
* 06/01/2014
More is better
Less is better
More is better
For the price we took the lowest price available on geizhals.eu.
ASUS’ brand new GeForce GTX 980 STRIX OC Edition is a
really nice piece of hardware. This custom card is not only quicker than
a reference Geforce GTX 980 but it also features ASUS' latest version of the STRIX cooler, which makes it silent under load conditions and
inaudible in 2D since the fans don't spin up as long as the GPU runs
cooler than 65°C. Another thing that is just great with the new GM204
based cards is overclockability. This particular card can run at 1450
MHz easily.
The only thing we would like to see improved with this particular card
is the bundle. We'd love to find a few additional goodies, since after
all this is a premium card.
- Performance
- Intelligent fan control
- Cooling
-
Bundle
Cooling / Noise
Level
+
-
The GPU temperatures were good at maximum of
67°C
under heavy FurMark load with the fans locked at 30% fan speed. From a noise level
perspective, the new STRIX series from ASUS provides 0dB while in idle
or under very low-loads, which means the fans
are completely off and they're designed to start spinning when the GPU reaches
65 degress. Furthermore, the cooler is really powerful
and it keeps the card at reasonable temperatures even under heavy load.
When running Furmark
for 15 minutes the GPU temperature never passed 67 degrees, which
is way lower then what you
get with the NVIDIA's reference cooler.
-
Noise level in both
idle and load
- 0dB in idle
Performance
+
-
A closer look at overall performance shows that the
GTX 980 STRIX is, on average, 32 percent faster in games than a
reference GTX 780.
Taking a look at the clock speed shows that this card clocks at 1'305
MHz on average, when applying 3D loads. At this point one can
really see GPU Boost 2.0 doing its job, since it always tries to get
the maximum clock speeds out of the card, without overstepping the
temperature target.
A closer look at power consumption shows, that our test system, equipped
with the GTX 980 STRIX, burns 64 Watts under idle conditions
and 283 Watts under load.
- Performance
- Power consumption under
load
Recommendation /
Price
+
-
Should you be looking for a really fast graphics
card with a good cooler, and you'd love to have a silent gaming
PC, then the GTX 980 STRIX from ASUS can definitely be
considered. Unfortunately, the ASUS GTX
980 STRIX is a whopping 23% (629€ compared to 509€) more
expensive than the lowest priced Geforce GTX 980 graphics card we found at geizhals,
which is frankly speaking: a lot.
-
High-End Gaming
- Enthusiast
- Price
The GTX 980 STRIX
from ASUS receives 4 out of 5 stars.