Asustek Computer has introduced one of the world’s highest-performing graphics card to date, the Limited Edition ROG Ares II. The board features two AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition graphics processing units (GPUs), carries 6GB of GDDR5 memory and features a special sealed liquid-cooling solution. In addition, the graphics card sports special design to ensure further overclockability.

Thanks to two AMD Radeon HD 7970 graphics processing units with 4096 stream processors in total clocked at 1050MHz, 6GB of GDDR5 memory (3GB connected using 384-bit bus to each GPU) and sophisticated design, Asus ROG Ares II is without any doubts one of the highest performing graphics cards on the market today. Moreover, thanks to Asustek’s uniques approach to product design, the board can probably be overclocked further to even higher levels.

Asus ROG Ares II features exclusive Digi+ digital voltage regulation technology that provides precise power delivery to bolster graphics card stability and help increase overclocking flexibility. The 20-phase super alloy power architecture, consisting of heavy duty solid state capacitors, high quality chokes and MOSFETs can withstand higher temperatures and stress loads than typical designs while providing a much longer lifespan. Users can modify card parameters including core and memory speeds, fan performance, and voltages using the bundled ROG edition GPU tweak utility, all via a user-friendly interface. Multiple profiles for individual games and applications can also be set up, and GPU Tweak doubles as a monitoring program for keeping an eye on Ares II temperatures and power consumption levels.

The Ares II also features a custom cooler that utilizes liquid and air cooling to achieve drastically improved heat dissipation over reference design cards. The hybrid design consists of a closed-cycle liquid system with dual 120mm fans and a radiator block that easily fits in most PC cases. The card itself includes an 80mm dust-proof fan to enable additional cooling for critical components such as video memory and power delivery components. The new design assures continuous stability even under full load, and achieves up to 31C cooler operation compared to a reference Nvidia GeForce GTX 690 dual-chip graphics solution. Ares II features a 2-slot height design, making it accessible to most PC cases on the market. Since there is a requirement for three 8-pin PCI Express auxiliary power connectors, the Ares II may not be compatible with all power supply units.

Launched in the summer of 2010, the original ROG Ares provided a new milestone in graphics power that soon became an in-demand commodity among hardware enthusiasts and collectors. Ares II likewise debuts as a limited edition product, with only 1000 units produced. It ships in a special ROG-themed case, with each card featuring a laser-etched serial number on the aluminum backplate to denote its collectible status.

Asus ROG Ares II will be released shortly. Pricing and availability dates will be announced separately.

Tags: ASUS, AMD, ares, ROG, Radeon, Tahiti, Sourthern Islands, GCN, 28nm