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ASUS’ new lineup of ROG Strix and TUF Gaming AMD Radeon 6000 Series graphics cards are here.
Integrating a Radeon RX 6800 XT, this is one of the most powerful GPUs built by AMD.
So what interesting features are under the hood? A large cold plate firstly, that cools both the GPU die and the GDDR6 memory modules that ring the chip. The heat from those components is transferred directly into the liquid cooling loop rather than into the case’s internal environment. At the other end of the loop, a 240mm radiator strikes the right balance between high cooling potential and broad compatibility with the mounting points available in today’s PC cases. A low-noise blower fan and low-profile heat sink within the shroud of the graphics card ensures the power-delivery circuitry stays cool.
However it is mounted in a PC, the ROG Strix LC Radeon RX 6800 XT seamlessly integrates with the build. The card is equipped with especially long 600mm coolant hoses to allow for more mounting options in a case, even in EATX enclosures with cavernous interiors. The hoses are sleeved in textile webbing to protect against abrasion and to add an extra touch of class to the system.
To move heat out of the loop, a pair of custom-designed 120mm radiator fans that are optimised for both high CFMs and static pressure keep air moving through the closely packed fins of the heat exchanger. As with other ROG Strix cards, the ROG Strix LC Radeon RX 6800 XT’s onboard FanConnect II headers can be connected to a pair of system fans. These headers let connected case fans respond directly to changes in GPU or CPU temperatures, increasing airflow right when it’s needed.
AMD is also announcing the AMD Radeon RX 6800 to bring ‘Big Navi’ performance to more midrange systems. For Radeon™ fans in the Republic of Gamers, the ROG Strix version of the RX 6800 comes decked out with all the latest ASUS advancements for air-cooled graphics cards.
A massive 2.9-slot heat sink effectively transfers heat away from the GPU silicon itself using multiple heat pipes and a MaxContact base plate, which increases surface area for better heat transfer. A trio of fans with the latest Axial-tech design push plenty of airflow through the heat sink’s dense fin array while minimising noise levels. Notched barrier rings on the outer fans, along with higher blade counts than the previous generation and a counter-rotating central fan, ensure that airflow is directed to the hottest parts of the GPU cooler with minimal interference from unwanted turbulence. The custom short PCB of the ROG Strix Radeon™ RX 6800 facilitates a ventilation cutout in the full-length back plate of the cooler, providing more room for heat to exit the GPU and enter the case’s airflow path.
TUF Gaming pairs sturdy and stealthy designs with the RX 6800 XT and RX 6800
For gamers who want sturdy, stealthy graphics cards, ASUS also created TUF Gaming versions of the Radeon RX 6800 XT and RX 6800. The cooling design of both cards starts with a 2.9-slot heat sink built for plenty of thermal headroom and quiet operation under the demands of today’s highest-wattage GPUs. Air is propelled through that high surface area heat sink using three Axial-tech fans. Just like on the ROG Strix cooler, the central fan rotates clockwise while the two on the flanks spin counterclockwise to reduce turbulence. This proven design allows higher RPMs and more air movement through the heat sink without a corresponding increase in acoustic footprint. An angular aluminium shroud with a rugged new industrial design wraps around the heat sink to suggest a sense of purposeful performance.
A full-length aluminium backplate adds a touch of style to a system with subtle TUF Gaming graphics, and a large ventilation cutout ahead of the short custom PCB provides another route for hot air to enter the case’s airflow path. Auto-Extreme assembly technology, used across the lineup, precisely places and solders components without human intervention to boost reliability and build quality. A 144-hour testing regime and extra-sturdy capacitors ensure out-of-the-box reliability and a long service life. Users can also personalise the card to match the rest of the system using the onboard Aura RGB LEDs.
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