ASUS Matrix Radeon HD 7970 Platinum Review
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The ASUS ROG Matrix 7970 Platinum put up some interesting power consumption numbers. At idle, the card consumed considerably more power than a reference Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition. Under load though, despite having higher clocks, LED status indicators, dual fans, and a multitude of additional features, the ASUS ROG Matrix 7970 Platinum consumed only slightly more power than the reference card. That’s a testament to the efficiency of the ROG Matrix 7970 Platinum’s 20-phase digital VRM and ASUS’ tuning of the card.
The ASUS ROG Matrix 7970 Platinum’s temperatures were vastly superior to the reference card. Idle temps are comparable, but while under the load the ROG Matrix 7970 Platinum’s cooler is far better at wicking away heat than the reference cooler, as evidenced by the 10 degree delta separating the cards. We should also point out that the ASUS card’s large cooler and 100mm fans are also quieter than reference models. At idle, it’s difficult to pick out any audible differences over the other noise generated by the test system. Under load though, the reference card definitely produced a louder, higher pitched hum.
