ASUS Ares Review
Conclusion
Published: 7th July 2010 | Source: ASUS | Price: £1199 |
Conclusion
At the risk of stating the obvious, because we're pretty sure the name gives it away, but we're overclockers here at Overclock3D. We like nothing more than extracting the most possible performance out of something that is great value for money.
After all, we're only enthusiasts like you. We're not bankrolled by an enormous publisher or similar. Contrary to popular opinion we aren't up to our knees in free hardware either. Or even up to our ankles. We buy it just like you do, via saving hard and sweet-talking our better halves.
So naturally our first reaction to the Ares is exactly the same as yours. Oh my God I want one so much. How much?! But you can buy two 5870s for much less. However let's stop right there.
The Ares is most certainly NOT something for your average user. It isn't something for those who seek the best value for money or the most bang for buck. What it is, and to the highest degree, is engineering excellence. It's an ultra high-end product for those who demand the absolute best.
Let's leap into simile mode for a moment. The UK speed limit is 70 MPH. Absolutely every car you can buy will easily hit 70 MPH. But if that is the sole criteria then why aren't we all driving Fiat 500s? It's because it's not all about the absolute performance, it's also about style, and engineering, and how you get there. Yes a Porsche might be more expensive than a Mini, and both have as much top end, but it's the manner of the drive, how you get to that top end and the sheer class that make it something we all lust after owning.
The Ares is just like that. Let us all be in no doubt, this is fearsomely pricey. Most of our entire computers cost less than this card. It's also insanely fast. Comfortably spanking the other twin-GPU on the market (the 5970) and even a 5870 Crossfire setup. So if you're in the market for absolute performance without any other consideration then of course it's tough not to look at the 4 or 500 hundred pound price difference between a Crossfire setup and an Ares and not think your money is better spent on that. And well it might be. But you're missing the point.
This isn't about value. This isn't about the "sensible" choice. This is about demanding the absolute best that money can buy and not settling for less. It's uncompromising. It's a Bugatti Veyron, a Rolls Royce, Concorde. It's better engineered than you'll ever need, faster than you could ever use and eye-wateringly pricey.
But it's also a work of art. Stunning to look at. Beautifully engineered. It comes in the finest packaging you're ever likely to see.
If you absolutely must have the ultimate, this is it. Cool. Quiet. Faster than the England team exiting a tournament. We love it. It's what dreams are made of. And now sadly they must go back...
Thanks to Asus for supplying our Ares for review. Discuss in our forums.
Most Recent Comments
Great review Tom, I thoroughly enjoyed reading through that.
It performs even better than I expected. There's even more headroom for OCing, impressive. Your conclusion hits the nail on the head though, fantastic product, but the price. It's not for everyone, in fact, it's only for a few.
Is this the future of the high end GPU market?
It performs even better than I expected. There's even more headroom for OCing, impressive. Your conclusion hits the nail on the head though, fantastic product, but the price. It's not for everyone, in fact, it's only for a few.
Is this the future of the high end GPU market?
Id say this is Asus own arena atm tbh, the other manu's making Extreme 5970's are weak as its just a stock card with more memory. The original 5970s biggest problem was power delivery and heat, this solves both. How XFX can charge a grand for their card amazes me as its nothing compaired to this.
Ill get off my soap box quick as Im in the mood for bashing!
Ill get off my soap box quick as Im in the mood for bashing!
I have but one thing to say. LOL.
Excellent review, really hope I can get one when I get back from Miami. Please may the GPU Gods keep one on the side for me lol
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Originally Posted by name='tinytomlogan'
Id say this is Asus own arena atm tbh, the other manu's making Extreme 5970's are weak as its just a stock card with more memory. The original 5970s biggest problem was power delivery and heat, this solves both. How XFX can charge a grand for their card amazes me as its nothing compaired to this.
Ill get off my soap box quick as Im in the mood for bashing! |
• Graphics processor 2 x ATI Radeon HD 5970, 900MHz
• Pipeline 2 x 1,600 stream processors (900MHz), 2 x 32 ROPs
• Memory 2 x 2GB GDDR5, 4.8GHz effective
• Bandwidth 2 x 153.6GB/sec, 256-bit interface
and runs cooler too and has more headroom for overclocking because of its three fan setup and retails in the UK for 969 £ but the positives for the ARES are:
it looks better
great package (suitcase+mouse+card)
its more quiet than the Toxic which is very important to some people
and the most important thing to me personally is that my two GTS 480 in sli scored 30990 in 3D Mark Vantage GPU benchmark compared to ARES (overclocked) which was 30301 and my GTX 480's were running at stock and physx was turned off and bear in mind I only paid 736 £ (2X368)for them but as you know tom I have to put up with the GTX 480 noise and ridicules temperatures.
l have read several reviews today about the ARES from different websites and I think you are the best overclock3d and most honest keep on the good work guys and best of luck to you tom.
Cheers dude, I dont rate the Saphire or the XFX cards, they were rushed through when they found out Asus had a non reference no holds barred card coming. The other brands are just rebadged reference cards tbh.
The ARES review was completed by both me and Bryan aka VonBlade, we both lost alot of sleep over the weekend while testing the cards, its been a big task to get it all ready including all the vids ect in under a week!
The ARES review was completed by both me and Bryan aka VonBlade, we both lost alot of sleep over the weekend while testing the cards, its been a big task to get it all ready including all the vids ect in under a week!
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Originally Posted by name='tinytomlogan'
Cheers dude, I dont rate the Saphire or the XFX cards, they were rushed through when they found out Asus had a non reference no holds barred card coming. The other brands are just rebadged reference cards tbh.
The ARES review was completed by both me and Bryan aka VonBlade, we both lost alot of sleep over the weekend while testing the cards, its been a big task to get it all ready including all the vids ect in under a week! |
looking forward to the next 'FIRST' video lol
I think when it comes to 4way crossfire the bottleneck is the CPU the same problem happened when the GTX 480 was tested in 4way SLI it’s just too much cores for the CPU to send data to.
another amazing view mate this thing is totally prolific in price and performance!
You should have really OCd the 5970 to 5870 speeds :-o. And at least got the 900Mhz thats easy for them
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Originally Posted by name='douglatins'
You should have really OCd the 5970 to 5870 speeds :-o. And at least got the 900Mhz thats easy for them
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Is it less ownage? At least close to the stock ares?
Completely destroyed everything in its path.
That card is beast in all departments!
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='tinytomlogan'
The ARES review was completed by both me and Bryan aka VonBlade, we both lost alot of sleep over the weekend while testing the cards, its been a big task to get it all ready including all the vids ect in under a week! |
Kids in a sweetshop I’ve just read a review on a website that I don’t want to name because I don’t trust them which claims this:
The noise levels coming from the card are very high and loud, in idle the card will remain nicely quiet at 36 DBa, barely even hearable really.But once the two GPUs start to really heat up, the fan RPM will rise upwards fast. The card then reaches roughly 52 DBa measured at that 75cm distance. This is a big negative alright as a product of this caliber with this price tag should not require that much brute force fan activity at all. Loud, really loud.
Is this true tom?
The noise levels coming from the card are very high and loud, in idle the card will remain nicely quiet at 36 DBa, barely even hearable really.But once the two GPUs start to really heat up, the fan RPM will rise upwards fast. The card then reaches roughly 52 DBa measured at that 75cm distance. This is a big negative alright as a product of this caliber with this price tag should not require that much brute force fan activity at all. Loud, really loud.
Is this true tom?
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='silenthill'
I’ve just read a review on a website that I don’t want to name because I don’t trust them which claims this:
The noise levels coming from the card are very high and loud, in idle the card will remain nicely quiet at 36 DBa, barely even hearable really.But once the two GPUs start to really heat up, the fan RPM will rise upwards fast. The card then reaches roughly 52 DBa measured at that 75cm distance. This is a big negative alright as a product of this caliber with this price tag should not require that much brute force fan activity at all. Loud, really loud. Is this true tom? |
WTF that is discustingly powerfull,and with Xfire WOW just WOW ;-);-);-);-);-)
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Originally Posted by name='tinytomlogan'
Watch the video mate...........
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Can someone tell me where i can pick one these up in the USA?
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Originally Posted by name='unknownuser200'
Can someone tell me where i can pick one these up in the USA?
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Wow we actually get something before the USA. I shall rub my eyes in disbelief.
10/10 Asus, love ya
10/10 Asus, love ya
thanks ill look into it
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Originally Posted by name='AlienALX'
Wow we actually get something before the USA. I shall rub my eyes in disbelief.
10/10 Asus, love ya |
love the review. much drooling.
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Originally Posted by name='silenthill'
ASUS are marketing strong in the EU and that’s because EVGA & BFG have decided to leave EU.
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I'm glad Asus give us priority though. I've always liked their products.
I was wondering whether the Ares has a unique serial number like the ASUS MARS?
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Originally Posted by name='silenthill'
I was wondering whether the Ares has a unique serial number like the ASUS MARS?
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OCUK have 5 in stock now.
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Originally Posted by name='tinytomlogan'
No it doesnt dude, something to do with superstitions in Asia or something
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the number 4 sounds similar to death or in Chinese, Korean and Japanese. Believe it or not, about a lot of buildings skip numbering the floor if it has a 4 in it.
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Originally Posted by name='tinytomlogan'
No it doesnt dude, something to do with superstitions in Asia or something
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='delusion77'
the number 4 sounds similar to death or in Chinese, Korean and Japanese. Believe it or not, about a lot of buildings skip numbering the floor if it has a 4 in it.
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anyone know what interconnect bridge the ares is using?
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Originally Posted by name='silvermane'
anyone know what interconnect bridge the ares is using?
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should of made myself more clear, trying to find out what interconnect chip are they using to bridge the two 5870 chips together
I would imagine that and the schematics are top secret and any one who does know will be under a pretty harsh NDA*
*Non disclosure agreement.. In other words "If I tell you I will have to kill you"
*Non disclosure agreement.. In other words "If I tell you I will have to kill you"
I'd suppose they are using the same one which is used in all the HD 5970 series, I don't think it would make a difference to the performance, the main thing is the enhanced clocks and better power distribution in addition to excellent cooling solution. by the way it's been a few days now since overclockers have had 5 in stock and no one has bought one yet seems that all the rich guys are sticking with NVIDIA,I remember when the ASUS MARS first came to the UK they disappeared immediately and especially when NVIDIA have now allowed in their new driver the uses of physx with the ATI cards so now you can use the ARES as the main display and NVIDIA card for the physx.
Nvid havnt allowed that, it was a one off error that they removed matey.
really, how could NVIDIA make such a error
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='silenthill'
really, how could NVIDIA make such a error
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Sneaky barstools.
Does any one have this fabled driver per chance? The thought of putting that 8800u along side the 3870x2 has definintely aroused me Mind you, the 8800u is quite probably history.
Does any one have this fabled driver per chance? The thought of putting that 8800u along side the 3870x2 has definintely aroused me
Mind you, the 8800u is quite probably history.Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='AlienALX'
Sneaky barstools.
Does any one have this fabled driver per chance? The thought of putting that 8800u along side the 3870x2 has definintely aroused me Mind you, the 8800u is quite probably history. |
In the last page, score table - do you think 'Price' column is actually appropriate at all to this gpu? That you given it a wrong score is not what I think. Scoring it on price is what i think makes the review look not properly done?
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Originally Posted by name='silenthill'
the 257.15 Beta ForceWare driver set from NVIDIA accidently had the ability for ATI users to again use an NVIDIA card as a second to do PhysX. The whole ordeal created a bit of drama around the web; as soon as it was discovered by NVIDIA they yanked the driver and put another one up that disabled the ability.
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Question !
I got two ARES luckly and having problem with Asus ATI driver.
Getting BlueScreen casued by ati driver...
I wonder how did you test with them?
Anyway Great Review. Good job
I got two ARES luckly and having problem with Asus ATI driver.
Getting BlueScreen casued by ati driver...
I wonder how did you test with them?
Anyway Great Review. Good job
i dont know if you've seen the vid for the review. But he actually mentions its a nightmare to run crossfire with them. And mentions the many BsoD he gets.
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Originally Posted by name='UltimateTK'
Question !
I got two ARES luckly and having problem with Asus ATI driver. Getting BlueScreen casued by ati driver... I wonder how did you test with them? Anyway Great Review. Good job |
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Originally Posted by name='delusion77'
Well the 10.7 drivers are comming out soon, so hopefully that will add stability. make sure to get the drivers and the profiles. And also, invite me over to gawk at them!
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Well I hope they update the ares drivers just as often as catalyst. Are they atleast based of the stock ATI 1s?
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