ASUS ‘Mars’ Aims to be the Fastest Card on Earth

[WiCKeD]

Beyond your average GTX 295, ASUS introduces a transmogrified GTX 285 beastly, featuring two cores, a proprietary SLI interconnect, 4GB of GDDR3, 512-bit memory interface, 32 ROPs and substantially faster clocks. No word on pricing or availability yet, but expect to take out a fourth mortgage for the honor of owning one.

PROVING THAT it has never been a company to stick to toeing the tedious line of conformity with reference designs, Asus has just shown us a new monster graphics card that it calls the Mars. It features two GeForce GTX 285 GPUs in SLI configuration, and it also looks like it could double-up as a blunt weapon in Cluedo.

In terms of design, it’s not dissimilar to a GeForce GTX 295. There are two PCBs sandwiched together inside one package, although each of these features 16 memory chips making for a total of 4GB of 1.2GHz (2.4GHz effective) GDDR3 memory. In short, this isn’t a card for anyone running a 32-bit operating system. Asus has also designed its own dual-slot cooler for the card, although it works in a similar way to the reference Nvidia GTX 295 cooler, with a single fan cooling both PCBs.

Interestingly, Asus has decided to spurn Nvidia’s own nForce 200 bridge chip to enable the two PCBs to talk to each other in SLI mode, and has instead used an anonymous third-party chip. One of the interesting innovations here is that, despite the new design, the card will still work with standard Nvidia drivers. The card will be recognised as a GeForce GTX 295, but will still be able to access the features of the GTX 285 GPUs.

Full Article @ theInquirer

[Almost Tactf]

http://forums.extremeoverclocking.co...d.php?t=322318

[CaligulaPwns]

I knew I read this somewhere ^^.

Regardless, big HP card. Best of the best!

[Nagoshi]

So far it's the undeniably best looking card/heatsink cover that was ever released for GPU.

I was getting tired of these ugly engine-like that eVGA puts on their GTX260 and other cards... Or some character...

[psykl0n]

broken link

[CaligulaPwns]

Use AT's original link, it works.

[Nagoshi]

Originally Posted by psykl0n

broken link

+1, here's the real link

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/...-graphics-card

[Deluded]

I'm waiting to see if that beast can deflect tank shells. If so, I'm buying at least two.

[Nagoshi]

Originally Posted by Deluded

I'm waiting to see if that beast can deflect tank shells. If so, I'm buying at least two.

If I had the money, I'd grab two for some Quad-SLI action... along with a really custom cosplay based on this They'd be either on the shoulders, or on the forearms LOL

[Deluded]

ROFL!

No, no! Not on the shoulder, you'll probably be more successful if you stick 2x modified 295 to your hands -- then you can call it a +100 str glove with the ability to smash through solid wall!

[Nagoshi]

*GBA Pokemon level*

Trainer: "Nagoshi, use your GTX charge!" *thomps, other pokemon is killed, next pokemon is coming*
Trainer: "Nagoshi, use your GTX windblast!" *fans spins, create a miniature hurricane destroying everything through wind and noise, enemy trainer gets killed*

[Deluded]

Trainer: "Nagoshi, Set your GTX fan at 100%!" other pokemon dies 'cuz of liquified brain.
(if vs. a electricity pokemon) Trainer: "Nagoshi, set yout GTX to suck the electricity from that pokemon!" Bingo, you get 100% immunity to ele attacks!

[AruisDante]

Mmm... Mars... God of War...

[Clone of 501]

Haven't they come out with DDR-5 for GPU's? And how would these compared to 4870x2 in quadfire?

[N2Gaming]

I was told I would be better off using 3xGTX285 vs 2xGTX295 because quad sli does not scale as good as Tri sli atm... Does any one know if there is any truth to that?

[CaligulaPwns]

3 sclaes better than 4, yes. Negligable improvements over 3 cards.

[MisterMagoo]

Originally Posted by Clone of 501

Haven't they come out with DDR-5 for GPU's? And how would these compared to 4870x2 in quadfire?

Lets compare them right next to each other. 2x285 will beat 2x4870 generally speaking. So one of these should beat out an x2.

ATI is using DDR5 right now, pretty sure nvidia is using it on GT300.

[S3CUR3 1]

And ironically, to get hold of this Mars, you'll need to be Mercury.

[N2Gaming]

lol
10char

[Jahova]

This is exactly what we need right now. Push the limits and find the best PCB layout to optimize the GPU. ASUS might overtake EVGA soon.

The big $$ spenders should go buy this so nvidia lowers the price on the GTX 260's D