ASUS 7970 Matrix Platinum
Up Close
Published: 22nd October 2012 | Source: ASUS | Price: £400 |
Up Close
As is always the case with ROG branded products the Matrix comes in the readily identifiable red box. It's strange to see the card placed at an angle below the Velcro flap, but at least it's something different.
The Matrix Platinum itself is gargantuan. With a triple slot cooler and a sturdy backplate it's one of the heaviest cards we've yet tested. Clearly this is a card designed to remain frosty under even the most extreme overclocking scenarios. As well as the side-on logo you can see at the top of our review and we'll look at on the next page, the backplate has a large Matrix logo. Nobody will be left in any doubt as to whose graphics card you have in your system.
As well as the standard Crossfire fingers and two 8pin PCIe power inputs we have the first clues that this is a major departure from the standard PCB. Two inputs for the VGA overvolting if you're running on a ROG Motherboard allow for tweaking without soldering.
At the other end we have the monitoring points to make sure you're not frying your card under extreme conditions. Just below them we have the TweakIt buttons which allow for on the fly voltage adjustment. The 100% button refers to the fan speeds. Press this button and the fans instantly run at their maximum which helps keep temperatures down as well as make you go deaf.
As a large part of this cards purpose is to be easy for the LN2 brigade to use, ASUS have included a heatsink to keep the Nichicon GT capacitors cool. Finally we have the two DVI outputs and the four DisplayPorts. For the more common HDMI connection you'll need an adaptor, which is provided.
Most Recent Comments
(Except for NZXT, that was pretty funny!)ASUS could have at least sent a cherry picked review sample, so they wouldn't look as bad.
By the way, Tom, is it planned for the future to get the graphs in HTML5 instead of Flash (or some sort of compromise). I went on this on a mobile device and none of the numbers would show.
tom was swearing and that doesnt happen often
I really get the sense that they are using the Republic of Gamers branding on products that aren't really that premium. If they continue to dilute the brand it will become worthless. I also don't think the lights on the side of the card are a good idea, makes it look like a cheap afterthought to distract from the cards main fault: Performance.
the platinums ARE cherry picked...hence the "Platinum"
different version becasue they are all upside-down giddy with the results.
comparo to GTX and gains over the reference cards, you'd thought the 2nd
coming was in this card. dribble... just dribble.. cost to performance ratio is
so lope-sided.
"....11% performance improvement over the regular HD 7970 and a 3% boost
over the HD 7970 GHz and MSI HD 7970 Lightning." for 35-40% more cost to
the Lightning?
but nobody else is barking about the low frequency clocking ability. edged by the
PowerColor at more cost?
should have been stomped a mud-hole in the competitions butt on this purchase.
but instead "edged-out" by its competitor..
ASUS good for you, but i think this is not a great card from the stables of ROG
performance line..
another spot-on point was the RBG lighting and the control. Corsair Link was
getting similar flack on the "effect" and gave "ownership" to the end-user instead
of locking them out. same aurguement, "oohh it changes under load.." obvious
reply, "MEH".
just my opinion...
airdeano
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Originally Posted by 233Kosta
I always hate to see good manufacturers righteously get their bollocks handed to them
(Except for NZXT, that was pretty funny!): |
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Originally Posted by Lollipop
Contradiction.
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if my money tree didnt die, id buy another and send it to tom to see if the results be similar
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Originally Posted by badtaylorx
thats why i think this one was a dud....it happens.....
if my money tree didnt die, id buy another and send it to tom to see if the results be similar |
I hope they send him one that performs to rectify the situation, otherwise they will suffer imho.
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Originally Posted by 233Kosta
I agree. I seriously doubt ASUS are stupid enough to brand a card for overclocking and then not cherry pick the chip that goes on it, especially when they'd be sending samples to reviewers such as TTL.
I hope they send him one that performs to rectify the situation, otherwise they will suffer imho. |
puzzled looks. but reading other reviews, it sounds pretty on par with
what Tom's already said as far as performance. they just "gussied" the print
up for specatular effects. not saying speaks as loud..
airdeano
My trust in Tom's reviews surpasses anything else on youtube. They're just the most detailed and honest videos I've seen on youtube. (to me if Tom says it's bad - it's bad, end of)
Off to google now to see what people write about this card.
Obviously this card isn't all they say it is
Regards.
C.
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Originally Posted by DB006
tl;dr, Tom, have you re tested using 12.11beta 4's?
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Originally Posted by tinytomlogan
Theres only 24 hours in a single day so sadly not. If I retest this why shouldnt I retest all the other 7970's or even 680's because they have new drivers out too!
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Originally Posted by tinytomlogan
Theres only 24 hours in a single day so sadly not. If I retest this why shouldnt I retest all the other 7970's or even 680's because they have new drivers out too!
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Or
Mars, as one Marian day = 58 days and 15 hrs Sol days
Or do what said
Regards.
C.
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We finally get our hands on the top-line HD7970 from ASUS, the Matrix Platinum. Has it been worth the lengthy wait?
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