– Asus is launching the GeForce RTX 2060 Strix OC as a premium model of Nvidia's new mid-range graphics card. The test shows that the design has many advantages. With a surcharge of probably 100 euros, the entry-level models of the GeForce RTX 2070 are then hardly more expensive.
With the GeForce RTX 2060 (test), Nvidia's new Turing generation is slowly penetrating into the middle class. In many games, the youngest graphics card shows hardly any worse performance than the GeForce RTX 2070 thanks to the scarcely trimmed TU106 GPU, good energy efficiency and the same new features as the more expensive models. As a big counter-argument, however, it only offers 6 instead of 8 GB of GDDR6. This can cause problems today and will continue to do so more than 8 GB in the future.
Only the Founders Edition, which will be available from January 15th, has been officially launched so far. For the 370 euros demanded by Nvidia, the buyer receives an overall coherent model, which, however, only uses the basic clock rates, could be a bit quieter and does without RGB LEDs. But on January 15th, custom designs will also be released into the market.
One of them is the Asus GeForce RTX 2060 Strix OC, which apart from the base has little in common with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Founders Edition. It will be one of the "premium models". The graphics card is overclocked, has a significantly larger cooler, a different PCB, more power connections, two different BIOS versions, a full-blown RGB lighting and three software modes with which different clock rates can be loaded with a click of the mouse. However, there is no more than 6 GB RAM here.
Asus RTX 2060 Strix OC vs. Nvidia Founders Edition in the test
However, the numerous changes have their price: According to retailers, the graphic card's RRP should be just under 470 euros, which is 100 euros more than that of the Founders Edition. The GeForce RTX 2070, which costs around 500 euros, is already in sight. The prices will not be official until Tuesday.
The following test clarifies whether the Asus graphics card is worth this surcharge compared to a simple model.
The Asus GeForce RTX 2060 Strix OC in detail
The GeForce RTX 2060 Strix OC is Asus' flagship with the highest clock rates ex works. In addition to the Strix for the expected MSRP of just under 470 euros, Asus will also offer cheaper models (Dual, Turbo, Phoenix) with lower clock rates and a different cooler. They will be priced between 369 euros (Founders Edition RRP) and just under 440 euros.
There are no surprises of any kind with the Asus GeForce RTX 2060 Strix OC, because the graphics card uses the same cooler and the same PCB as Asus GeForce RTX 2070 Strix OC (test). This 30.5 cm long graphics card also uses a 2.5-slot cooler with two separate aluminum heat sinks that are connected to each other by means of six heat pipes. Three axial fans with a diameter of 90 mm ensure convection.
The graphics card clocks significantly higher than the reference
The clock rates are higher than the reference specifications from Nvidia. The base clock is still at the normal 1,365 MHz, but the average turbo is given as 1,830 MHz, which is 150 MHz above the standard. The graphics card can hold 190 watts (FE: 160 watts), the power target can be manually increased by 25 percent to 238 watts. That is why the graphics card is also equipped with an eight-pin and a six-pin power connector. The 6,144 MB GDDR6 memory, on the other hand, works with the normal 7,000 MHz. The "OC mode" can be activated in the Asus tool GPU Tweak II, which increases the GPU clock by another 31 MHz and also increases the power target to 110 percent (209 watts).
Like all Asus graphics cards in the GeForce RTX 2000 Strix series, the GeForce RTX 2060 Strix OC comes with two different BIOS versions. However, these have no influence on the clock rate, but only change the fan control. For example, the performance BIOS focuses on a low GPU temperature. The fans on the Windows desktop also rotate at almost 900 revolutions per minute. Only with the Quiet BIOS, which can be activated by a switch on the graphics card itself, do the fans switch off at a GPU temperature of less than 55 degrees Celsius. Interestingly, the Quiet BIOS is activated on the GeForce RTX 2060 Strix OC ex works. In the factory setting, however, the performance BIOS is active for the larger offshoots.
GPU Tweak II and Aura Sync on the GeForce RTX 2060 Strix OC
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As a premium model, the Asus GeForce RTX 2060 Strix OC is also equipped with RGB lighting. The play of colors can be adjusted as usual using Aura-Sync software or switched off. The latter is possible like reactivation at the push of a button on the card itself. The RGB lighting is the same as for the other Strix offshoots. Some new competitive models, such as the Gaming Z series from MSI, meanwhile offer more in this regard.
Two DisplayPort and two HDMI outputs are available for connecting monitors. Unlike the larger GeForce RTX 2000 models, VirtualLink is not installed.
Asus GeForce RTX 2060 Strix OC in the test
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On the next page: test system and test results
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