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To review the Asus ROG Mars II we have built a system around an overclocked 6 core Intel processor – liquid cooled to 4.33ghz. We only had a very limited time with the ASUS ROG MARS II, so we didn't get time to perform all the testing we wanted. We had to omit multiple screen testing due to time constraints.
We will be splitting the review up into several sections, first showing the Mars against leading solutions available on the market, then later focusing on the Mars II with ultra high image quality settings.
Processor: Core i7 970 @ 4.33ghz
Graphics: Asus ROG Mars II
Cooling: Coolit Vantage
Motherboard: MSI X58A-GD65
Chassis: Thermaltake Level 10
Power Supply: Corsair Ax1200
Memory: 6GB GSkill Performance Gaming ram @ 902.9 MHz (2:10) @ 7-8-7-24
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V+ 512GB Gen 2 SSD (Storage) / Crucial RealSSD C300 256GB (OS boot)
Monitors: Dell U2410 UltraSharp, LaCie 730.
Validation is available over here
Other graphics cards for comparisons:
Nvidia GTX590
Nvidia GTX580
AMD HD6990
Software:
Windows 7 Enterprise 64 bit
Unigine Heaven Benchmark
3DMark Vantage
3DMark 11
Fraps Professional
Steam Client
FurMark
HQV 2.0 Software
Nvidia Driver: 280.26
AMD Driver: 11.8
Technical Monitoring and Test Equipment:
Keithley Integra unit
Thermal Diodes
Raytek Laser Temp Gun 3i LSRC/MT4 Mini Temp
Extech digital sound level meter & SkyTronic DSL 2 Digital Sound Level Meter
Games:
Resident Evil 5
Far Cry 2
Alien V Predator
Lost Planet 2
Dirt 3
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Total War: Shogun 2
Tom Clancy HAWX 2
All the latest BIOS updates and drivers are used during testing. We perform under real world conditions, meaning KitGuru tests all games across five closely matched runs and average out the results to get an accurate median figure.
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 !!!