AMD’s RX 480 is out, and it’s an exciting card. It may not be as revolutionary or as powerful as many had hoped, but it does what it says on the tin: offer VR-capable performance on a budget.
AMD’s dimpled reference design is understated and classic. Simple, and a case of function over form. But what of AIB partner boards? What sorts of graphics cards will other vendors be making. What will they look like, and importantly, how will they be boosted over the regular card?
Well MSI’s got a card coming based on the reference design, but according to a press release, there’s also a Gaming X version of the RX 480 on the way, and it takes its cues from the company’s 1080 and 1070 GTX cards. Like those cards, it’ll have cooling supplied by the company’s TWIN FROZR VI solution.
ASUS, too, has a 480 coming based off its current Strix lines of cards. Asus fans know that means you can expect a card utilising the company’s DirectCU III cooling system, which means 3 fans and a semi-passive cooling solution; the fans won’t spin unless it’s necessary.
Reviews of the reference RX 480 hit yesterday, all based on the standard reference design. It’ll be interesting to see what sort of boosted clocks and cooling solutions AIB vendors are able to achieve with AMD’s more power and heat efficient Polaris chipsets.
And while the RX 480 is currently the king of the price to performance, Nvidia’s 1060 may throw a spanner in AMDs works – especially if its own Pascal chips can reach or exceed GTX 970 performance for a similar price.
Last Updated: June 30, 2016
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
June 30, 2016 at 12:40
I wonder if the RX480 will drop in pricing when the 1060 launches?
Pariah
June 30, 2016 at 12:44
Doubtful.
Especially since early reports show the price on the 1060 is aimed around $250-$300 for the 3GB & 6GB versions
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
June 30, 2016 at 12:44
One can wish hehe
Kromas GG
June 30, 2016 at 12:44
We can only hope …. or just buy from england since looking at the charts they should hit R10 to the pound by that time 😛
Spy Master Tokashi
June 30, 2016 at 12:44
“…which means 3 fans and a semi-passive cooling solution; the fans won’t spin unless it’s necessary.”
Basically they will constantly spin and this technology will be useless because the card is running very hot 😉
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
June 30, 2016 at 12:44
I feel semi-passive about this cooling solution
Pariah
June 30, 2016 at 12:45
Don’t you always have a semi?
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 30, 2016 at 12:45
a semi interest in new games 😛
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
June 30, 2016 at 12:46
Full interest if the budget allows
Pariah
June 30, 2016 at 12:47
I read that last word as “blows”. I need coffee. Or glasses.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 30, 2016 at 12:48
lol
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
June 30, 2016 at 12:48
Budget blows, five dorrar
Kromas GG
June 30, 2016 at 12:48
He also needs to be carefull of the heavy load. 😛
Kromas GG
June 30, 2016 at 12:45
Yeah most gfx cards are built in fairly cooler weather conditions than ZA. We will walways have cards running much higher than what they should be running at.
Ottokie
June 30, 2016 at 12:48
I always bypass this feature and set my own fan speed %.
I find at stock it runs way to hot.
Kromas GG
June 30, 2016 at 12:49
I remove the fans and add watercooling. Always seems to do the trick.
Pariah
June 30, 2016 at 12:50
Cooking oil.
Ottokie
June 30, 2016 at 12:50
I buy for the aesthetics of my case 😛
Kromas GG
June 30, 2016 at 12:51
My case looks pretty crap with all the pipes and stuff but my pc runs like a mofo on russian goverment approved olimpic grade performance drugs.
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
June 30, 2016 at 12:51
Lol @ government approved
Kromas GG
June 30, 2016 at 12:52
John Oliver FTW!
Ottokie
June 30, 2016 at 12:52
xD
Sleek lines and pretty colours that go together for me thanks.
HvR
June 30, 2016 at 12:57
And comment of the week goes to …
Pariah
June 30, 2016 at 12:59
Eish, I hope they correct his spelling at least then.
Ottokie
June 30, 2016 at 13:02
Trevor! for a puntastic comment!
Pariah
June 30, 2016 at 13:03
Oh right, the usual. Damn. Was hoping for some more spelling rebuttals. Sigh.
Ottokie
June 30, 2016 at 13:04
I can’t correct people on spelling…for reasons xD
Pariah
June 30, 2016 at 13:05
In an unrelated matter – how many times did you read your comment before posting, just to be sure there were no spelling errors?
Ottokie
June 30, 2016 at 13:05
A lot
Ottokie
June 30, 2016 at 13:06
That’s how I now know there is a space between the A and L for “a lot”
Pariah
June 30, 2016 at 13:07
You never knew that? O_O
Ottokie
June 30, 2016 at 13:07
I did, just never really cared for it until meeting you lot xD
Pariah
June 30, 2016 at 13:09
*a lot
*runs
XD
Ottokie
June 30, 2016 at 13:13
A bit of British for you 😛
Pariah
June 30, 2016 at 13:17
On that note. Imma make like a Brit an Exit this conversation.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 30, 2016 at 12:51
I bought Mario stickers for my PS4 at Rage, turned out quite nicely
Ottokie
June 30, 2016 at 12:52
I need some for my 3ds
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 30, 2016 at 12:51
If I tried that I wouldn’t be able to put Humpty together again
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
June 30, 2016 at 12:51
I input a Otto-sex-life-simulator in my case, keeps things icy cold
Kromas GG
June 30, 2016 at 12:51
Shots fired.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 30, 2016 at 12:52
Oooooooooooooohhhhhhh
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
June 30, 2016 at 12:52
The Hammer-sex-life-simulator crashed
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 30, 2016 at 12:55
Through the first three floors of the building, they call me ole bunker buster
Kromas GG
June 30, 2016 at 12:56
Hulk Smash?
Ottokie
June 30, 2016 at 12:52
Just like your heart!
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
June 30, 2016 at 13:55
Haai sies, dis nie waar nie