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When it comes to creating custom, eye poppingly powerful graphics cards not many companies can compete with ASUS. They will be remembered for the ARES and MARS video cards, as they outperformed anything on the market at the time while costing as much as an inexpensive car. They also granted wealthy enthusiast users plenty of bragging rights on the forums.
Today we are looking at the Republic Of Gamers Mars II video card, which is a custom design comprising two powerful GTX580's onto a single PCB. Asus are only making 999 of these cards, and we received number 518 for review. Our time with the sample hasn't been as long as we would have liked, but we will try and ensure you have enough information to help with a potential buying decision.
Oh yes, just in case you were already wondering, ensure you have a healthy bank balance before even contemplating a purchase as they are expected to retail for £1,149.99 each. No, seriously, that isn't a typo. Rest assured, if you are the kind of person who shops around for bargain basement deals, you are on the wrong page.
The Republic Of Gamers Mars II continues the legacy of insanely powerful graphics cards for the hardcore audience with insanely deep pockets. This limited edition card is a custom GTX580 design with dual GPU onboard paired up with a whopping 3GB of GDDR5 memory.
I have always had a soft spot for the GTX580. I feel it has been one of Nvidia's highest points in a long and successful history of creating class leading video cards. A single GTX580 isn't easy to cool however, so trying to design a card with two of these GPU's on board was clearly going to be a challenge for Asus.
We have looked at several Asus cards in recent months which have came equipped with the new Direct CU II cooler. The specific cooler included on the Mars II is a metal design which is claimed to offer 600% greater airflow than the reference design, while running 20% cooler. Not only is the cooler a custom design, but ASUS aren't taking any chances, as they have installed dual 120mm fans to cover the width of the PCB. Underneath are all copper pipes with separate heatsinks for each core.
| ASUS MARS II | |
| GPU | Nvidia GTX 580 x2 |
| System Bus | PCIE 2.0 x 16 |
| Video Memory | 3GB GDDR5 |
| Engine Clock | 782mhz |
| Memory Clock | 4008 mhz (1002mhz GDDR5) |
| Memory Interface | 384bit x2 |
| Maximum Digital Resolution | 2560×1600 |
| Maximum VGA Resolution | 2048×1536 |
| Output I/O | 2x Dual Link DVI / 1x HDMI / 1x Display Port/ 1x D-sub |
| Microsoft Direct X | 11 |
| Adaptor/Cable Bundled | 2x 8 pin Power Cable/ 1x DVI to DSub Adapter / 1x Extended SLI bridge |
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 !!!