14 DAY TRIAL // The release of the Radeon HD 5670 graphics card was last week's main piece of news. The card offered mainstream users an affordable graphics solution with DirectX 11 support and was released by multiple hardware makers, each model with its own special perk. This time, however, PowerColor is not introducing another model of the HD 5670, but a factory-overclocked version of the ultra-high-end Radeon HD 5970. Known as the LCS HD5970, the card features a performance boost and a liquid-cooling solution that claims to reduce the temperature by 30°C, compared with the stock model.
“The fastest GPU should pack with the most efficient way to cool down the card so it extend its real potential performance easily,” Ted Chen, CEO of TUL Corporation, said. “LCS HD5970 partnered with EK water cooling solution to deliver an incredible gaming performance in an optimum stable operating environment. This will be the best combo you’ve never seen before.”
The LCS HD5970 is built with no less than 2GB of GDDR5 memory clocked at 4200 MHz (compared with the stock 4000 MHz), a GPU clock set at 750 MHz (stock version runs at 725 MHz) and boasts 3,200 stream processors. Displays may be connected to the card via dual-DVI and Mini DisplayPort outputs.
The card operates on a 2 x 256-bit memory interface and is liquid cooled, with a full water block fully covering the memory and power regulator chip. Water flow is maximized by a high-flow 3/8" and 1/2" fittings (barbs). In addition, captured o-rings prevent leakage and the whole liquid-cooling system can be customized by using the two fittings.
Set to become available on January 21st, the factory-overclocked LCS HD5970 is bundled with a copy of the DirectX 11-capable racing game DiRT 2. Unfortunately, the press release does not mention the card's given price, but Fudzilla reports that it “should be” of US$829.