Unboxing: Strix R9 Fury

The new Strix R9 Fury graphics card is here to kick ass for those who want to go beyond 1080p, but still want change in their pockets.  There are new innovations and significant upgrades all over, including the Fiji GPU, a GPU fortifier, HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) technology, Super Alloy Power II components built using the new ASUS AUTO-EXTREME technology process, DirectCU III air-cooler incorporating triple patented Wing-Blade 0dB fans,  new Strix colors and styling, pulsating Strix logo, and GPU Tweak II software.  There is a lot to be excited about!

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Upon opening the box and taking a whiff of that new card smell, you may be confused for a split second and wonder why there is a red and black card sitting in there, and why there are three fans now.  It's no mistake, this is the new look of Strix.  Included in the box are the installation DVD, a 2 x 6-pin to 8-pin power adapter, a setup guide (not that you need it, but just in case), a Strix sticker to put over anything else you have which isn't Strix, and the Strix R9 Fury graphics card snug in the protective foam, waiting to be ravaged, and then used to unleash fury in games and benchmarks.

The new DirectCU III air-cooler got a complete makeover and now features triple patented Wing-Blade fans for increased air pressure and 30% cooler performance, while being up to three times quieter.    

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Built on AMD’s GCN 1.2 (Graphics Core Next) architecture, the new Fiji series of GPUs based on a 28nm fabrication node have 3,584 shader processors, 224 texture units, 64 ROPs and the core clock factory-overclocked to run at up to 1000MHz (1020MHz in OC mode). Instead of using GDDR video memory, R9 Fury is the first to use 4GB of on-chip HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) operating at 500MHz on a whopping 4,096-bit memory bus ( you can see the four of them right next to the GPU). Having the HBM graphics memory so close to the GPU, the shorter bus means lower latency and up to 60% improved efficiency.   Although HBM operates at lower clock frequencies compared to GDDR5, note that the memory bus is 4,096 bit wide! (384-bit on the GTX 980Ti)  This is a different approach and it makes things very interesting, as this is designed to perform at very high resolutions and benchmarks show that this really shines in WQHD or 4K resolutions, you can expect around 10-15% more performance.  Compared to a reference GTX 980 this is 10% faster for 3DMark: FireStrike running in 4K!  

Running a pair in CrossFire will surely get your blood-pumping, while looking great in your system (bridge not needed).

Strix R9 Fury employs DIGI+ VRM with a 12-phase power design to power the new GPU, using new Super Alloy Power II components consisting of Super Alloy Power II Capacitors for two and a half times the lifespan, Super Alloy Power II MOSFETs for less heat and more power efficiency, and Super Alloy Power II Chokes to reduce buzzing noise.  The result is a card that is three times quieter, 30% more stable, 15% more power efficient and possesses more overclocking headroom.

While the third fan provides even more cooling than before, 0dB technology is back so that you can do casual gaming or work with silent operation from the Strix R9 Fury.

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These 10mm heatpipes are the thickest available today, these transfer heat more efficiently to disperse heat evenly - right to the end of the heatsink!   A new pulsing Strix logo can be seen through transparent side-panels.

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The surface area is 120% larger for heat dissipation.  You can see another design improvement as the Super Alloy Power II MOSFETs are now also cooled by the main air-cooler, which can be actively cooled by fans as opposed to using a separate smaller heatsink.

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The dual-slot card comes with a DVI-D port, an HDMI port and three Displayport 1.2 ports.  It measures 30cm (long) X 13.7cm (tall) X 4cm (thick).

The gorgeous brushed-metal backplate is back but this time it's got a friend, a dedicated GPU Fortifier is now able to help fortify the GPU area since the air-cooler puts considerable pressure on that area to ensure good contact and therefore better heat dissipation.  This configuration also improves air flow to the PCB.

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The manufacturing process has taken a quantum leap with 100% automated ASUS AUTO-EXTREME technology.  If you look closely, you will notice the flux and sharp pins have miraculously vanished, this makes the cards with chunky coolers much easier to handle and the solder joints last long while reducing dust buildup.  Super Alloy Power II components were specifically designed to accommodate the new manufacturing process using ASUS AUTO-EXTREME technology.  When the process is 100% automated, perfect cards are produced every time, making each card consistently better and more overclockable.  50% less power consumption and eliminating the use of harsh chemicals during production is paving the way for truly environmentally-friendly manufacturing.

The power efficiency of this card has been dramatically improved since the previous generations.  The card requires an 8-pin and a 6-pin connector for power.  LED indicators help you to distinguish whether or not the connectors are plugged in properly, red for "Fail, try again" (obviously) and white for "Good work buddy, all systems are go!"  

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Also featured is GPU-Tweak II which now has a new gamer-friendly interface, and of course seasoned overclockers still have access to advanced controls. An exciting new feature is the Gaming Booster feature; with one click you can maximize you gaming frame rates and benchmark scores by freeing up all available resources possible, this is achieved by automatically tweaking visual effects, system services and system memory degragmentation in Windows. The 1-year Free XSplit Premium License worth US$99 is still available.