ASUS ROG Strix RX 480 Features (ROG STRIX-RX480-O8G-GAMING)
The length of the reference Radeon RX 480 is 240 mm. A completely compact solution by today’s standards. Manufacturers use internally designed cooling systems in their products, and marketing contributes to the introduction of large coolers with multiple fans. Video cards are also selected based on external features. More – more respectful. The leader, so to speak, in our review is the PowerColor Red Devil with 300 mm. Next in descending order are ASUS ROG Strix (298 mm), MSI GAMING X 8G (276 mm) and SAPPHIRE NITRO + (240 mm).
All four video cards are overclocked to 1300+MHz on the chip
The power supply is optimized on all video cards. As you know, the use of a 6-pin connector was the reason that the reference consumed (before the software fix) more power than what the manufacturer declared. Excuses in Style We’ve done this so users of older systems don’t have problems when upgrading ‘ It seemed like a pun intended. All four devices use a full 8-pin connector that transmits up to 150 watts of power. So, such an opportunity certainly wouldn’t happen to them .
From left to right: PowerColor, ASUS, MSI, SAPPHIRE, reference
Let’s study the design features of each custom in more detail.
ASUS ROG Strix
Interestingly, the ROG Strix RX 470 (review) graphics card received a modification of the DirectCU III cooler with two fans. But the “four hundred and eighty” is outwardly practically indistinguishable from the Asus GeForce GTX 1060/1070/1080 (review) – a three-fan cooling system is used everywhere. Hence the great length of the video card. But most importantly: the device occupies only two expansion slots. Among the design elements, I would like to note the presence of the backlight on the cold case and the back of the video card. It is configured using special software.
ASUS ROG Strix RX 480 (ROG STRIX-RX480-O8G-GAMING)
The DirectCU III cooler is based on five copper heat pipes of various lengths and diameters. The chip itself touches only 2.5 of them. Today’s direct contact technology is used. In addition, the coolant interacts with the power supply subsystem.
ASUS ROG Strix RX 480 Cooling System (ROG STRIX-RX480-O8G-GAMING)
For greater rigidity, in addition to the back panel, the PCB received an additional L-shaped metal plate. The device’s power supply subsystem consists of eight stages. The reference, as we remember, contains only six.
ASUS custom chip is having pins to connect the case fans directly to the video card
Interesting technical knowledge for custom ASUS cards: next to the power connector, two 4-pin connectors were soldered simultaneously to connect the fans to the chassis. Using GPU Tweak II, the user can adjust the spindle speed. Something very useful in my opinion. To date, it is used exclusively in ASUS video cards.
ASUS ROG Strix RX 480 PCB (ROG STRIX-RX480-O8G-GAMING)
More pictures of ASUS ROG Strix RX 480 (ROG STRIX-RX480-O8G-GAMING) are published in the article.
MSI X . Games
MSI Neref has a similar situation. The company uses the original Twin Frozr VI cooling system where possible. The same coolant is used, for example, in the modification intended for GeForce GTX 1060 (review). It adopts two 14 blade 100mm fans.
The red plastic “feathers” surrounding the right-hand propeller glow during operation. Another distinguishing element is the dragon logo on the end of the video card. The color is configured in the MSI Gaming app. The accelerator occupies exactly two expansion slots. The length is acceptable, but the Radeon RX 480 GAMING X 8G is definitely the longest 3D accelerator reviewed in this review.
MSI Radeon RX 480 GAMING X 8G
The Twin Frozr VI cooling system cooperates only with the GPU through a large nickel-plated copper plate. The memory chips and power subsystem elements are cooled by a separate metal frame. The cooler is based on three heat pipes of different lengths and different diameters.
The color of the feathers does not change
The manufacturer claims that with Twin Frozr VI a special formulation of thermal paste is used.
MSI Radeon RX 480 GAMING X 8G Cooling System
Six stages dedicated to the needs of the processor. Two more throttles for memory and PLL. SFC brand items and Japanese quality components are used. Cooler, more efficient, “better” – all that kind of thing, in general. But the build quality of the GAMING X 8G is no fault. it’s the truth.
MSI Radeon RX 480 GAMING X 8G PCB
More images of the MSI Radeon RX 480 GAMING X 8G have been published in the article.
Powercolor Red Devil
The Red Devil is another Radeon RX 480 with a triple-fan cooler. Defenses have an original shape. The technology was called a double blade. Therefore, according to the developers, the air is better stimulated, and the “Carlsons” themselves work more quietly.
There is no back light. By the way, this is the only map that does not have this mod element. But that’s never a bad thing! But the logo in the end is upside down. primary neglect. As they say, the devil is in the details.
PowerColor Red Devil Radeon RX 480 8GB GDDR5 (AXRX 480 8GBD5-3DH / OC)
The back panel is present. The coolant consists of four heat pipes. They interact with the chip through a large sole. The baseboard also cools the memory chips and power supply elements. All this is located close to each other. Personal experience suggests that the processor, memory and transistor circuit will heat each other, reducing the efficiency of the cooling system.
PowerColor Red Devil Radeon RX 480 8GB GDDR5 (AXRX 480 8GBD5-3DH / OC)
You may have noticed that all video cards use the same memory. GDDR5 chips with an effective frequency of 8000MHz are manufactured by Samsung, marked – K4G80325FB-HC25.
The power subsystem consists of six phases. In general, in terms of circuits, the PowerColor Red Devil PCB is very similar. But it’s only a little longer. Plus an 8-pin power connector is used.
The only card in the test without backlight. Well Well!
At the end of the video card is the BIOS key for the firmware. There is a so-called silent mode. When activated, the processor frequency is reduced from the maximum possible 1330MHz to 1279MHz. Looking ahead, I note that the video card is throttling in all modes.
Sapphire Nitro +
It turned out to be interesting. In our testing, there are only two companies that work with AMD, and two companies that are friendly to two companies simultaneously. Sapphire is the loyal companion of the Reds.
The NITRO + version received two 95-mm propellers. So, the adapter turned out to be quite long, but not like the MSI allocator, for example. The back panel has ventilation holes in the back. According to the idea of \u200b\u200bthe manufacturer, hot air is better passed through. The “technology” was named NITRO Free Flow. It turns out that streams of hot air rush directly towards the processor cooler. However, the manufacturer claims that the new Dual-X cooler is 10% quieter than the previous generation of the cooling system.
Another feature of SAPPHIRE NITRO + is the removable fans. This type of design is used, for example, in the Radeon RX 460 (review). This makes it easier to maintain the video card. In particular, clean it of dust. Dual ball bearings increase fan life by 85%. NITRO FANSAFE somehow monitors the state of the “Carlsons”.
NITRO+ Feature – Removable Fans
There is a back light. The color is selected using the analog switch on the end of the video card, and in TriXX 3.0 software. The BIOS firmware switch lever is also soldered there.
SAPPHIRE NITRO + Radeon RX 480 8 GB (11260-07)
Unfortunately, representatives of the SAPPHIRE company, who released the video card for testing, did not allow the device to be disassembled. The coolant Dual-X received only three heat pipes of different diameters. In my opinion, there are not enough aluminum fins for a video card with 95mm fans. The sole is connected not only to the graphics processor, but also to memory chips with elements of the power subsystem.
Cooling System SAPPHIRE NITRO + Radeon RX 480 8 GB (11260-07)
Power connector rotated 90 degrees. In some cases this arrangement is good, in some it is not. The processor power subsystem received five phases. Black diamond choke is used. It can be seen that there are components that are not soldered on the PCB. The improved PCB was used in version 11260-01. Or it will eventually be used in some other Radeon RX 480 from SAPPHIRE.
SAPPHIRE NITRO + Radeon RX 480 8GB PCB (11260-07)
More pictures of the SAPPHIRE NITRO + Radeon RX 480 8 GB (11260-07) are published in the article.
