ASUS has finalized the design for its Kepler-based DirectCU Mini graphics card. The new card combines NVIDIA's GTX 670 GPU and reference PCB with ASUS' own power management technology and a new, much smaller, air cooler. The new ASUS cooler has allowed the company to offer a card that is a mere 17cm long. Compared to traditional GTX 670 graphics cards with coolers at approximately 24cm, the DirectCU Mini is noticeably smaller.
The DirectCU Mini features a GTX 670 GPU clocked at 928MHz base and 1,006MHz boost. It also has 2GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus. The card requires a single 8-pin PCI-E power connector. Video outputs include two DVI, one DisplayPort, and a single HDMI port. The ASUS cooler includes a copper vapor chamber and a single CoolTech fan. According to ASUS, the DirectCU Mini is up to 20% cooler and slightly quieter than previous GTX 670 cards despite the smaller form factor.
This new card will be a great addition to Mini-ITX-based systems where saving space anyway possible is key. It is nice to know that gamers will soon have the option of powering a small form factor LAN box with a GPU as fast as the GTX 670. Even better, water cooling enthusiasts will be happy to know that the card still uses a reference PCB, meaning it is compatible with existing water blocks made for the current crop of GTX 670 cards.
Pricing and availability have not been announced, but the small form factor-friendly GPU is now official and should be coming sometime soon.
Gotta say, thats the cutest
Gotta say, thats the cutest graphics card i have ever seen.
Totally agreed.
Totally agreed.
really nice powerful card for
really nice powerful card for tight fitting oem cases like HP or Dell… most of the time you are forced to install a GTX 650Ti because of space restrictions. This is much better.
How are temps on this
How are temps on this thing?
Is it just same card with everything crammed into a tighter space? Or is there some new optimisations?
Support SLI?
The article states 20%
The article states 20% cooler.
It should support the same
It should support the same SLI modes as the existing GTX 670s :). Apparently, it is up to 20% cooler, though there are no independent reviews out yet.
Why isn’t it pink? It kinda
Why isn’t it pink? It kinda looks like a toy.
That’s not pink. Adjust your
That’s not pink. Adjust your monitor. 😛 It’s red.
Scratch that. Misread on my
Scratch that. Misread on my part. >.<;
I like the fan on that thing.
I like the fan on that thing. Nice aerodynamics, fancy.
How would this compare to a
How would this compare to a 660 Ti ?
Its jsut as fast a a regular
Its jsut as fast a a regular 670, most likely clsoest to the Asus 670 directCU ||
I hope they do one of these
I hope they do one of these for the 770 Ti when it’s released, even better a watercooled model in this size would be fantastic.
Does anyone know what
Does anyone know what heatsink/cooling system the Asus motherboard is using in the reference picture? Im picking one up soon and am looking for a slim cooling setup like that.
just stumbled over this, it’s
just stumbled over this, it’s a Noctua NH-L9i