NVIDIA may have regained the performance crown for single-GPU graphics when it unleashed the GeForce GTX 480, but the real top position was kept by AMD's ATI Radeon HD 5970 dual-GPU model. As such, in order to push performance to even more ridiculous heights, some of AMD's partners thought they would make an even more outrageous beast out of that device. ASUS was one of the first to announce such a product, and its ARES has finally been
reviewed.
The ARES, essentially, is a limited edition card that has the two Cypress GPUs running at 850MHz and no less than 4GB of GDDR5, distributed on two interfaces of 256 bits and with a memory clock of 4.8GHz. Furthermore, it can output a maximum resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels and has native compliance with HDCP and HDMI specifications.
Physically, it measures 11 x 5 inches and takes up three PCI slots because it has a massive cooling mechanism with a great many copper heatpipes and a suitably-sized fan on top. Ares also has no issues with weight, considering that it almost reaches five pounds.
Needless to say, this monster won't go easy on any PC. The main reason for this is that it needs a power supply of at least 750W and three PCI Express power connectors, two 8-pin and one 6-pin, just to stay operational.
Reviewers were, predictably, quite eager to test the mettle of the God of War, but the result they got, regrettably, fell somewhat short of meeting their wildest dreams.
Overclock 3D testers paired Ares with an Intel Core i7-930 (3.8GHz) CPU. In 3DMark vantage, this setup smashed through the 15,000 barrier. Also, when coupled with the six-core Core i7-980X, 25,000 was readily surpassed. On the other hand, the actual gaming performance proved to be only mildly superior to what the 'regular' HD 5970 and even NVIDIA's GTX 480 cat do. Still, it definitely got the title of strongest, at least for now. The ASUS Ares has a massive price of $1,200.
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