ASUS ROG MARS 2 Review
Introduction and Technical Specifications
Published: 16th September 2011 | Source: ASUS | Price: £1100 |
Introduction
The successor to the original mental card, the MARS, has been a long time coming.
Back when we first previewed it over a year ago it was a twin GTX480. Since then not only have we seen a twin HD5870 nutter called the ASUS ARES, but equally the GTX480 didn't exactly endear itself to either the public, or those who have to keep the things cool. ASUS, never one to rest upon their laurels took the brave, but wise, step of going right back to the drawing board and designing a card that took advantage of nVidias rapid update.
So now, after much gestation, the MARS 2 is here and in its final form it comes bearing two GTX580s, the far cooler/quicker evolution of the Fermi GF100.
Of course a card with this much power has to be released under the Republic of Gamers branding and with a suitable £1000+ price-tag. The question is, how good is it?
Technical Specifications
As befits a card with eye-opening capabilities, the twin GF110 GPUs are backed up by 3GB of GDDR5. Otherwise it's fairly standard stuff, if the combination of two GTX580s on a single board can ever be considered standard.
| Graphics Engine | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580x2 |
| Bus Standard | PCI Express 2.0 |
| Video Memory | GDDR5 3GB |
| Engine Clock | 782 MHz |
| CUDA Core | 1024 |
| Memory Clock | 4008 MHz ( 1002 MHz GDDR5 ) |
| RAMDAC | 400 MHz |
| Memory Interface | 384-bit x2 |
| Resolution | D-Sub Max Resolution : 2048x1536 DVI Max Resolution : 2560x1600 |
| Interface | D-Sub Output : Yes x 1 (via DVI to D-Sub adaptor x 1) DVI Output : Yes x 2 (DVI-I) HDMI Output : Yes x 1 Display Port : Yes x 1 (Regular DP) HDCP Support : Yes |
| Accessories | 1 x Extended SLI cable 2 x Power cable 1 x DVI to D-Sub adaptor |
| Software | ASUS Driver and Utility |
| ASUS Features | DirectCU Series Super Alloy Power |
| Dimensions | 13 " x 6.2 " x 2.5 " Inch |
Let's get a good look at her shall we.
Most Recent Comments
Had a quick read, oh my the price >.<. lol @ 1 for price haha, I would prefer 3x580'S, DEFO not for me lol. I'll wait until it's in the acceptable price range.
Watched the full vid today GREAT review as always nice card if you got money burning a hole in your pocket.
Thanks for a good and thorough review.
Agreed preformance is disappointing but I think the damn thing looks like it's been in a fender bender with that 3 slot grill and the sloping fan cover. It just looks wrong.
Agreed preformance is disappointing but I think the damn thing looks like it's been in a fender bender with that 3 slot grill and the sloping fan cover. It just looks wrong.
I have not watched the videos yet, but I did skim read the written review. Saw the price, and realised this card is more expensive than my entire rig. If I was the type of person who had enough money to just throw around, I still wouldn't get this card.
Brilliant review of an overpriced card. I've seen these cards going for upto £1500 on Ebay.
i'm gonna have to start donating blood, if i am going to be able to afford GPUs like this one. BUT, it is a shame i am only a stone!!!
am i the only one who thinks $1500 USD is reasonable??? the construction of this thing as well as all of the R&D behind it more than justifies its price.....an extra $500 for that.......if i didnt have 2 rigs @ the moment and HD7XXX wasn't right around the corner,,, id seriously be considering this!!!
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Originally Posted by badtaylorx
am i the only one who thinks $1500 USD is reasonable??? the construction of this thing as well as all of the R&D behind it more than justifies its price.....an extra $500 for that.......if i didnt have 2 rigs @ the moment and HD7XXX wasn't right around the corner,,, id seriously be considering this!!! |
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Originally Posted by yassarikhan786
It would be more like $1,700 for us british guys and girlies and no one can justify that much money for the performance you get. |
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Originally Posted by SPS
It's £1100 |
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Originally Posted by yassarikhan786
I know it's £1100. I was simply expressing the amount in dollars to get my point across. |
Nevermind anyways lol
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Originally Posted by SPS
It confused me because you said it was $1700 for us british, which sounded like you thought it cost £1700 but accidentally put the dollar sign after reading the above post. Nevermind anyways lol |
To fit all that on a single PCB, nerd porn.
But no; it makes two, even three-way SLI 580 Lightning look like a bargain with just as much power delivery porn. But the MARS II is a technical achievement worth a hat tip to ASUS
But no; it makes two, even three-way SLI 580 Lightning look like a bargain with just as much power delivery porn. But the MARS II is a technical achievement worth a hat tip to ASUS
[/size][size="3"]not happy with the noise of the 120'' fans much to loud for 1200 £ card
Rather have 2x580s than this, and even then only if I had 3 monitors or something.
As Tom said, you could get all the watercooling stuff you need that would keep the cards cool, you could OC the cards as well, and the performance is higher still, but maybe this is for those who want ease of mind and have a stack lying around somewhere.
As Tom said, you could get all the watercooling stuff you need that would keep the cards cool, you could OC the cards as well, and the performance is higher still, but maybe this is for those who want ease of mind and have a stack lying around somewhere.
good review thanks was tempted until i saw the price
was tempted until i saw the priceQuote:
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Originally Posted by tinytomlogan
Recently won the lottery and aren't sure what to buy? Perhaps the MARS 2 from the Republic of Gamers branch of ASUS is just the ticket... |
M&P
Great review ! And yes, I skipped through the gaming parts. 
Did someone say nerd porn !? Bring it on ! haha.. Hearing that made me want to join this forum lol..
pEACe
Did someone say nerd porn !? Bring it on ! haha.. Hearing that made me want to join this forum lol..
pEACe
Nice one Tom.
No chance of me ever buying one of these or even being interested in doing so.
No chance of me ever buying one of these or even being interested in doing so.
Overpriced no doubt. I'll stick with my 570.
judging by Toms review, it doesnt seem to become greater than the sum of its parts. yeah it looks the business, but how can you justify something thats doesnt put much more on the screen than 2 SLI'd 580s and is 400 sheets more?
dunno if its my sense talking, but if someone gave me a blank Scan/Aria voucher to build a rig i still dont think i would drop one of these in it
dunno if its my sense talking, but if someone gave me a blank Scan/Aria voucher to build a rig i still dont think i would drop one of these in it
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Originally Posted by SkinToxicated
judging by Toms review, it doesnt seem to become greater than the sum of its parts. yeah it looks the business, but how can you justify something thats doesnt put much more on the screen than 2 SLI'd 580s and is 400 sheets more? dunno if its my sense talking, but if someone gave me a blank Scan/Aria voucher to build a rig i still dont think i would drop one of these in it |
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Originally Posted by SkinToxicated
judging by Toms review, it doesnt seem to become greater than the sum of its parts. yeah it looks the business, but how can you justify something thats doesnt put much more on the screen than 2 SLI'd 580s and is 400 sheets more? dunno if its my sense talking, but if someone gave me a blank Scan/Aria voucher to build a rig i still dont think i would drop one of these in it |
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Originally Posted by jonowee
If you have to think about price to performance with this card, you most likely shouldn't buy it. |
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