ASUS RTX 3000 - ROG, TUF & DUAL!

As builds are being planned up and down New Zealand tough choices are having to be made, it’s more than just a 3070/80/90 call, the new aftermarket cooler designs are unique and we can get a little more specific with those specifications now too, so get that 3x 8pin power ready for that ROG Strix 3090!

Looking at Nvidia RTX 30 series from Asus, we can see ROG, TUF and DUAL in the new range, and all have had major updates to the aesthetics.

ASUS Dual RTX 3070: 2X Fans. 2X Fun.

The ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 3070 design is pretty clean! Performance on point with dual fan loadout that looks mostly brushed metallic black, with a little silver finish to make the Asus logo plate pop, which is also edged with a subtle RGB lighting.

An X is created with an intersecting pattern that adds a little texture, making the GPU appear less boxey, sort of smart simplicity. On the other side we have a durable aluminium backplate and stainless steel I/O bracket, protecting the PCB from unwanted flex, while possibly aiding in the cooling performance.

It utilises the same advanced cooling technologies derived from flagship graphics cards, making it the understated choice for a high-performance build.

DUAL-RTX3070-8G

• 2x 8pin Power Input
• 2.7 Slot Form Factor
• 2x HDMI 2.1b
• 3x DisplayPort 1.4a

Quality is priority for Asus with each card undergoing a gauntlet of rigorous performance and reliability standards before it ships. Performance and stress tests are run with the latest chart-topping titles like Fortnite, League of Legends, Overwatch, and PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. Asus also carry out reliability trials that include a 144-hour stability test and a series of 3DMark benchmarking runs to ensure the card performs well when pushed to the limits.

The fan design used for the RTX 3070 Dual is great too, with a smaller hub to facilitate longer blades

Plenty of outputs and 2x 8-Pin power inputs

The textured X pattern can be seen from the top

A similar X pattern can also be seen on backplate

Clean lines with an embossed DUAL on the back

Right now we only have details for the RTX 3070 version being available with the DUAL coolers design, but previous gens have enjoyed this series over a range of GPU types, so we’re hopeful to see more in the coming days.

TUF Gaming Armour for the RTX 3080 & RTX 3090

The TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 30 series has been stripped down and built back up to provide more robust power and cooling.

A new all-metal shroud houses three powerful Axial-tech fans that utilize durable dual ball fan bearings. Fan rotation has been optimized for reduced turbulence, and a stop mode brings all three fans to a halt at low temps. Beneath, independent heatsinks for the GPU and memory keep thermals under tight control.

In-line with the TUF Gaming legacy, components are selected based on their durability and performance. In addition to top-shelf chokes and MOSFETs, capacitors that meet military-grade certification make the TUF stand tall amongst the competition.

TUF-RTX3080-10G-GAMING

• 2x 8pin Power Input
• 2.7 Slot Form Factor
• 2x HDMI 2.1b
• 3x DisplayPort 1.4a

TUF Gaming cards use axial-tech fan design, with three fans that all work together to to satisfy the thermal demands in a new high-octane design. The fans rely on dual ball fan bearings to ensure consistent performance and increased longevity compared to sleeve bearings and other bearing types.

The heat spreader draws heat up into heatpipes that carry it through a fin stack that fills most of the card's large, 2.7-slot footprint. This generation of TUF Gaming graphics cards also feature a dedicated heatsink for VRAM to keep temperatures well under maximum operating specs.

Most of the rear is swathed in a protective metal backplate that prominently features a wide vent. The vent allows hot air to escape towards chassis exhaust fans instead of being recycled back into the GPU cooler. Beneath the GPU, a bracket provides consistent mounting pressure between the die and heat spreader.

You have to admit, it does look tough

Logo placement is ideal for horizontal builds

A rugged backplate sports a tank tread like pattern

The new TUF is a very impressive design

Stainless steel is used for the I/O bracket to protect ports and provide a more secure mount. A conveniently placed Dual Bios switch allows customization of the card’s default performance profile without software.

ASUS ROG STRIX: Ultimate RTX 3070, RTX 3080 & RTX 3090

The ROG STRIX cooler design is crazy different, pulling in design inspiration from latest gen ROG motherboards, and they've been busy adding a lot more colour to the series.

A new shroud with metal accents encompasses a trio of Axial-tech fans that have been tuned to fulfil specialist roles. The central fan leverages a full-height barrier ring and 13 fan blades that provide boosted static pressure to drive air through the heatsink fins and onto the GPU heat spreader. The two fans on the flanks feature 11 blades and half-height barrier rings to allow for more lateral dispersion and to provide better airflow through the cooling array. Turbulence between fans is reduced thanks to a reversal of the centre fan’s rotational direction.

A larger heatsink that fills most of the card’s 2.9-slot footprint was designed to leverage the increased airflow. To get heat up off the die and into the heatsink array, the surface of the heat spreader is polished with MaxContact technology, which improves smoothness at the microscopic level. The extra flatness allows for better contact with the die for enhanced thermal transfer.

ROG-STRIX-RTX3090-24G

• 3x 8pin Power Input
• 2.9 Slot Form Factor
• 2x HDMI 2.1b
• 3x DisplayPort 1.4a

Improvements are not limited to the cooling array — top-shelf capacitors, chokes and power stages effortlessly deliver hundreds of watts at a millisecond’s notice. Dubbed Super Alloy Power II, these components are soldered to the PCB using the exclusive ASUS Auto-Extreme automated manufacturing process, ensuring smooth joints each card meets our rigorous specifications.

Also included are FanConnect II headers that allow PWM fans to be tuned based on CPU and GPU temperatures, providing extra intake or exhaust for demanding 3D tasks and compute workloads. Builders looking for a quick and simple way to adjust the card’s default behaviour can flick an onboard Dual Bios switch to choose between Performance and Quiet profiles without software.

Improvements are not limited to the cooling array — top-shelf capacitors, chokes and power stages effortlessly deliver hundreds of watts at a millisecond’s notice. Dubbed Super Alloy Power II, these components are soldered to the PCB using the exclusive ASUS Auto-Extreme automated manufacturing process, ensuring smooth joints each card meets our rigorous specifications.

Also included are FanConnect II headers that allow PWM fans to be tuned based on CPU and GPU temperatures, providing extra intake or exhaust for demanding 3D tasks and compute workloads. Builders looking for a quick and simple way to adjust the card’s default behaviour can flick an onboard Dual Bios switch to choose between Performance and Quiet profiles without software.

Another ease-of-use feature is an onboard voltage-sensing circuit that monitors PSU rail voltage. The circuit is fast enough to catch any transients that result in the rail voltage dropping too low. If that happens, a red LED will light up to indicate a power supply issue, making it easier to debug the source of crashes during gameplay.

The front side of the GPU has also been buffed up. An addressable RGB element can be customized with Armoury Crate software, and the Strix’s reinforced metal frame adds a literal layer of durability.

Flipping the card around reveals a metal backplate with a wide vent. The vent allows hot air to escape towards chassis exhaust fans instead of being recycled back into the GPU cooler. Beneath the GPU, a bracket provides consistent mounting pressure between die and heat spreader. Stainless steel is used for the I/O bracket to protect ports and provide a more secure mount.

The largest GPU in the range, with 3x 8-Pin power!

New alternating fans blades bring better airflow

The durable black and metallic plates hold firm

The RGB lights span almost the entire graphic card length

The sum of all the design improvements found on the ROG Strix GeForce RTX 30 Series GPUs results in a massive leap forward in thermal design. Paired with the outstanding performance of NVIDIA Ampere architecture, gamers now have access to fresh experiences, from insane frame rates in competitive titles, to smooth high-res gameplay in immersive AAA games.

Amazing stuff from Asus! Tough choices will need to be made… We’ll keep updating with new models as they arrive, keep your eyes on Nvidia RTX for the latest.