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We have to be honest, if we owned this card, we wouldn't even attempt overclocking as the ‘out of the box' performance is more than any user would need. That said, we know the Kitguru readers will be interested so we used the bundled ASUS overclocking software to try and push the card further.
The ASUS branded ‘GPU Tweak' software is actually very good, although we found a little interface quirk which might be missed by some customers.
If the user simply adjusts the sliders, only one of the GPU cores will be overclocked. There is a ‘hidden' menu in the software, right next to the ‘Mars II' text. When this is clicked a popdown menu appears showing GPU 1/2 and ‘sync with all card'. This needs to be highlighted in red for the clock speeds to apply to both GTX580's.
What is even more confusing is that the ASUS customised ‘built in' version of GPUz accessed via the ‘info' button doesn't update the clock speeds automatically, like the stand alone version of GPUz. It has to be closed and reloaded for the updated speeds to show. It also won't show both cores, so I had to confirm speeds with the ordinary version of the software.
We increased the core voltage a little to 1088. This allowed us to achieve a core clock of 820mhz from both GTX580's. Memory speeds could be increased to 1,100mhz which translates to 4,400mhz effective. Healthy increases for a single PCB design.
The overclocked speeds helped to push the Direct X 10 based 3DMark Vantage from 41,482 points to 42,937 points. A noticeable increase.
Another increase, this time around 500 points more than with the default clock speeds. Very impressive results.
I do wonder why it’s called a GTX 580×2, because that’s what a 590 is, looks like a massively overclocked 590 with an advanced cooler, also I’m assuming 3 GB total, not per GPU?
Thats a hell of a design from ASUS. scary prce,but I would assume the design, R&D etc alone means they make a loss on this card. Its just a product to show how awesome they are.
Fascinating design
Wow, £1149. thats more than I paid for my full system. Lucky gits who can afford this.
I take it people are put on a waiting list for one of these if they are only makinmg 999 ?
I love reading about these cards. Its the same reason people like top gear. You get to see things you cwn never afford!
My friend is actually considering buying one!
Anyone who spends over a grand on one of these needs their head checked out. Lovely idea but id take two 6990s any day
Anyone who spends over a grand on one of these needs their head checked out. Lovely idea but id take two 6990s any day
Wow everyone seems jealous they cant afford it!
I love the 580 this is such a cool work of art from asus. Shows why they are no1 in the world.
Whats the fuss over? Its nice, and I love reading about it. but no one will buy these. well I mean 999 people probably will, but thats it.
The price is so high because im sure ASUS are making a huge loss. People forget the team has to be paid to design it. This isn’t an nvidia design, so its built from nothing. costs serious cash
I love these cards. Would never buy one (and I probably could if I didnt spend so much on other things).
Excellent work from ASUS. keep doing em !
Well if that doesnt get you hard, I dont know what will.
Really liked the review. the conclusion summed it all up well. people wont buy it, but those who will wont care if it costs more than anything else. they want it cause its rare, exclusive and a custom design. like some cars. plonk a turbo kit on, it might go a bit faster, but its not really needed. doesnt matter, people will buy them.
Asus has had other mars II graphics, in 2009 was mars II 480. Unlikely any mars II will be sold to public. articles refer people to gfx580 matrix, which is single gpu card. seems 10may’11 announcement of mars II was just more fluff, as recent retail announcement to sell mars or matrix game cards, not mars II.
mars II is fastest in world, yet more likely transition card to pci-e3. more developemental, than actual long term product. with 244 watss, should be water cooled.
drashek md
mars II is AN unique work of art… ????? excuse me!! if i pay 1500 $ for a collectors edition graphics card i don’t want it’s silver plate to have grammar error on it !!!