When on thinks of graphics cards, the mind
immediately leaps to rather large devices that need to be fitted into your PC
case, resplendent with fans and heat sinks. But not all PC cases are the same,
and not all PCs are used for the same purposes. Last month we looked at an Asus
motherboard for discreet multimedia machines (built into smaller cases, of
course) and now we have the perfect graphics card to go along with it.
Asus
CrectCU Mini GeForce GTX 670
Also from Asus, the DirectCU Mini GeForce
GTX 670 packs a reasonable punch. But what’s more impressive about this
particular card is that it is built to be used with ITX cases. It’s just 17mm
in length, which is a lot shorter than the majority of graphics cards out
there. And it opens up a whole new avenue for smaller PCs – gaming. Not that
they can’t do it with on-board solutions provided by ITX motherboards, but with
this device plugged in, the prospect is much more enticing and do-able.
In addition to the GTX 670 chipset, this
diminutive graphics card sports 2GB of GDDR5 video memory. That is impressive
when you consider that ‘full size’ graphics cards don’t always offer that much.
In
addition to the GTX 670 chipset, this diminutive graphics card sports 2GB of
GDDR5 video memory
With less space for fans and heat sinks,
cooling is obviously an issue when it comes to this card. However, thanks to a
unique fan design, a surprisingly generous heat sink and the DirectCU
technology that Asus uses (now including a custom vapor chamber) the device
manages to run a lot cooler than reference models.
The specially designed PCB means that the
unit is also cooler from the get-go, and is more power efficient than some
other cards available on the market. In addition, it is quieter, which once
again ties into the idea of a ‘discreet’ computer box.
Another surprise lies in the number of
ports that the card sports. It has a DisplayPort, as well as an HDMI output and
two DVI ports. But that’s because, while the card is shorter in length, it
still has the expected height of a graphics card.
The
specially designed PCB means that the unit is also cooler from the get-go, and
is more power efficient than some other cards available on the market
An issue that this particular card faces is
that it is built to be used with a form factor that isn’t very common. It is
designed for ITX, and that is where it’ll work. You won’t fit this properly
into a more common ATX tower, so it is something of a niche device. That said,
it is an important device to have around; there are people out there who are
becoming more and more space conscious, and while that move may be a little
slower in the South African market, the power and convenience of this card in a
global sense are very welcome indeed.
At a glance
Summary: This card is designed to be used
with an ITX case and, as such, offers an excellent, discreet graphics solution.
Pros: Small, Quiet, Runs cool
Cons: ITX only, Score: 86
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Specifications
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Manufacturer: Asus
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Distributer: Asus
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Website: www.asus.com
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GTX 670 chipset
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2GB GDDRS VRAM
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DisplayPort
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HDMI port
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DirectCU technology
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Graphics processor: GK104
·
Transistors: 350M
·
Memory size: 2048 MB
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Memory bus width: 256 bit
·
Core clock: 915 MHz+
·
Memory clock: 1502 MHz
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