ASUS Radeon HD 6990 4 GB

[the54thvoid]

how gives a damn about a fucking switch, herp derp CCC set clocks done durr. my god does the switch even matter?

AMD put it on, not me. Also, the switch in default controls voltage according to Anand..

Position 1 is a write-enabled BIOS that runs the 6990 at the same core speeds and voltages as the 6970: 880MHz core clock and 1.175v core voltage; meanwhile memory clocks remain unchanged at sub-6970 speeds of 5GHz. AMD calls it the AUSUM switch (Antilles Unlocking Switch for Uber Mode); ignore the name, focus on the fact that the switch is what controls the core voltage on the 6990.

No need to get tetchy at me, I'm pointing out the pointlessness of a switch that is manufacturer defined as being there for overclocking but if you do use it - your product is voided.

 

[zithe]

I'd buy it. To convince myself to spend 700 dollars on a video card that doesn't scale very well, though... maybe a gtx 570.

 

[crow1001]

AMD use a special thermal change TIM on the cores which they say reduce temps by as much as 10c, Wiz removed the cooler and I assume used a different paste, this would result in higher temps and higher noise. I believe reviews that have removed the cooler and replaced the TIM with a different one are not giving accurate temps and noise levels.

 

[TheMailMan78]

never, i switched to the asus gtx 580 direct cu ii recently and i'm very happy with it because it's quiet. i dont have much time for gaming anyway

Hey cool since your not using that 6990 I would be happy to take it off of your hands. 50 bucks sound fair?

 

[ZeppMan217]

AMD use a special thermal change TIM on the cores which they say reduce temps by as much as 10c, Wiz removed the cooler and I assume used a different paste, this would result in higher temps and higher noise. I believe reviews that have removed the cooler and replaced the TIM with a different one are not giving accurate temps and noise levels.

Now that's a good point. I'm also starting to wonder if the card's cooling sys was modified as that would mean that the review is not quite...well, legitimate.

 

[damric]

Awesome review, as usual. 1 typo:

In comes the Radeon HD 6990, the very peak of AMD's Northern Islands family of GPUs.

 

[stinger608]

Great review W1zz!!!!!!

However, the Asus card you received has got to be one of the ugliest frigging video cards I have seen LOL

Of course others will follow with a much more appealing look to it LOL. Great performer, but for $700? I don't think so.

 

[qubit]

Killer feature voids warranty

Would you buy this? Read the small print in the picture...

If you flip the switch from position 2 where it ships to position 1 and reboot, your card is instantly overclocked. What was an 830MHz, 375W card running at 1.12v is now an 880MHz, 450W card running at 1.175v. Instant speed, just add BIOS and a few electrons. Isn’t that great?

Short story, no it isn’t, not at all. This is where 6990 goes from being the fastest, bestest, happiest-est card on earth to something you shouldn’t buy. No really, you should not buy one of these cards, go get two 6950s or 6970s instead, The 6990 has a fatal flaw, and it is simply due to an AMD decision, not hardware or software. If you flip that switch, you void your warranty. No really, you do. When I said that it wasn’t the case, I was flat out wrong.

Talking to some AIBs before an official briefing, several told SemiAccurate that there was no way that rumor was true, the card is designed to run at 450W, and that there is no problem doing so. At the time, they said that they would abide by any warranty, even if AMD didn’t. The next day, I was officially briefed on the 6990, and the handcuffs went on.

Sadly, during that meeting, I was told that AMD would indeed void the warranty if the card was used as designed, promoted, and expected. Unfortunately, I could not say so until the embargo lifted. Checks with multiple AMDers, and the presentation itself stated as much.

To say that this is stupid is stating the obvious. No, let me take that back, it is flat out irresponsible for AMD to do this. They designed the card for 450W, all the parts are spec’d for 450W, and they promote it as a 450W card in their literature, going so far as to make a marketing acronym, AUSUM, for it. But if you use it, your warranty goes poof.

SA

 

[fullinfusion]

Would you buy this? Read the small print in the picture...

http://img.techpowerup.org/110311/AMD_warning173.png



SA

They can kiss my ass onr buying this gpu. I spent 500 for these two cards and run at par and at times even better then this heavy clunker... I'm glad I did an Erocker move this time around

 

[W1zzard]

AMD use a special thermal change TIM on the cores which they say reduce temps by as much as 10c, Wiz removed the cooler and I assume used a different paste, this would result in higher temps and higher noise. I believe reviews that have removed the cooler and replaced the TIM with a different one are not giving accurate temps and noise levels.

i tested all that before removing the cooler.

and after replacing the TIM i didn't see any significantly different temperatures

 

[eidairaman1]

Nice Review and its amazing that the card is that powerful but seriously i still complain about PCB sizes, they need to be shrunk to the size of the x1950 Pro. Dont Mind me, I probably wont enter the hardware game till the Bulldozer and the Radeon HD 7K series are out.

 

[DriedFrogPills]

just checked the prices here in Aus. $899 for the cheapest 6990 here in Australia on PCcase gear and the cheapest 6970 is $369, so at least here it is dearer than two 6970's

 

[wolf]

Would you buy this? Read the small print in the picture...

http://img.techpowerup.org/110311/AMD_warning173.png

SA

so with say MSI Afterburner, would you be able to set the voltage and clocks as you desire, all whlist leaving the bios switch in the original position (with the sticker over it) and keep your warranty?

 

[Fitseries3]

w1zz... how long is the card in MM exactly? i need to know if its gonna fit in my case.

 

[W1zzard]

w1zz... how long is the card in MM exactly? i need to know if its gonna fit in my case.

hd 6990 is 31 cm long