So It Begins: Asus Strix Radeon R9 Fury Graphics Card Detailed

[Guest]

The embargo has lifted on AMD's highly anticipated R9 Radeon Fury. We have some details about Asus' version of the new GPU.

So It Begins: Asus Strix Radeon R9 Fury Graphics Card Detailed : Read more

 

[sicom]

"We're going to shrink down the PCB so manufacturers can artificially increase it back."

*facepalm*

 

[childofthekorn]

"We're going to shrink down the PCB so manufacturers can artificially increase it back."

*facepalm*

LOL

 

[Daniel Ladishew]

I realize it kills the chance for a Crossfire situation, but why not make the card triple slot thick so you can keep the PCB the same length? Seems like a chance to make a unique product.

 

[RazberyBandit]

I can clearly see more than two heatpipes in the images. So while the card may employ two 10mm pipes, it also has two 8mm or 6mm pipes in addition to them.

Consider the fact that Sapphire's Tri-X version has one 10mm, two 8mm, and two 6mm pipes and it's pretty obvious that only two 10mm pipes couldn't possibly draw enough heat away to effectively cool this GPU and its VRMs.

What we can't see from these images is if ASUS chose to implement any backside cooling for the GPU or VRMs. Sapphire chose to leave those areas exposed on its Fury Tri-X despite implementing a backplate, and IR images showed the VRMs reaching 90- to 100-degrees Centigrade. That's not just hot, it's very, very hot - fry an egg and boil water hot. And those components just sit there, exposed, leaking heat up into the CPU cooler?

 

[RazberyBandit]

I realize it kills the chance for a Crossfire situation, but why not make the card triple slot thick so you can keep the PCB the same length? Seems like a chance to make a unique product.

Based on the images, and those of the Sapphire Tri-X, these cards are already slightly thicker than the standard dual-slot thickness, effectively forcing tri-slot spacing for Crossfire configurations as they stand.

Tri-slot spacing doesn't kill Crossfire at all. What it does is limit it to boards that have three spaces between their PCIe x16 slots, which isn't really uncommon. Four of the five systems in my house have such spacing, and some of those boards are 5-years old.

What it does limit is the opportunity for Triple CF configurations to 7- and 8-slot boards with the proper PCIe x16 slot spacing, and outright denies any potential Quad-CF possibilities (barring the use of yet-to-be-seen 3rd-party waterblocks and liquid-cooling configs).

 

[CelicaGT]

AnandTech has a full breakdown including benches....this one looks like a swing and a hit for AMD. FWIW the Sapphire card looks like a better desigh as far as PCB.

 

[KublaiKhan]

Maybe the operating system shouldn't be changing every three years? Just a thought....

 

[RazberyBandit]

I'm not sure why my comment about the heatpipe count was down-voted by someone. Anand's photos of the card clearly show a minimum of 5 heatpipe ends.

A heatpipe end is visible at the base of the sink's die area behind the pipes bending to the right side: http://images.anandtech.com/doci/9421/ASUSFury.jpg

Note the four caps on the backside shown here: http://images.anandtech.com/doci/9421/ASUS_STRIX-R9FURY-DC3-4G-GAMING_OverviewNA2.jpg

Two pipes would only have four ends, and I can count five, so there is clearly at least a third pipe. With the second image showing only one 180-degree bend on the backside, there's no chance both 10mm pipes pass through the die area of the sink.

Low and behold, Kitguru's got a better pic and review: http://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/anton-shilov/asus-readies-strix-radeon-r9-fury-with-directcu-iii-cooler/

 

[mforce2]

When you see this and the cooling needed for this you start to realize some serious innovation needs to happen or we're screwed.
I'm not sure quantum computers are the answer but it's clear silicon is reaching its limits.

 

[loki1944]

According to reviews for the R9 Fury STRIX; it runs in the 70s C under load which is great. My question is, when the heck are these going to be sold in the United States? I just pre-ordered two 980TI STRIX, but have to wait until 10AUG at the earliest to get them. I'd like to get one or two of the Fury STRIX variant for my X58 system, but my goodness it seems like the time between review and actual sale is ridiculous; let alone the wait time for pre-order.