Revolution or Evolution? ASUS GTX 670 DirectCU Mini On Show
by Ian Cutress on March 7, 2013 4:33 AM EST
A noticeable trend in the current desktop ecosystem is towards the small, as evidenced by the Intel NUC and successes of mini-ITX products like the BitFenix Prodigy. Users, gamers and enthusiasts all want something powerful in a physically small envelope, and while we have cases and motherboards that match this sort of size, the GPU ecosystem has been slow to accommodate. Sure, larger mITX cases like the Prodigy exist, and users can select between a beefy GPU or hard drive bays, but what if you want both? Insert the ASUS GTX 670 DirectCU Mini, debuted on the ROG Forums.
With the Mini, we have a GTX 670 on a mini-ITX sized (17cm) PCB, featuring a stunted version of the DirectCU cooler. Instead of two 6-pin connectors we get a single 8-pin, but still get five outputs covering the range of analog and digital options (except mDP).
Apparently ASUS only has one of these back at HQ as they are testing the idea, and these pictures may not represent the final product. But it does come under the heading of ‘things to look forward to’ and may generate a trend towards more products of a similar line from other manufacturers.
No word on release or pricing (or how much noise it may produce), but I would not be surprised if it comes out at just above the reference models in order to recoup some R&D.
Source: ROG Forums
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marc1000 - Thursday, March 7, 2013 - link
there is also the Zotac GTX660 that is a nice GPU under 17cm. it is not as powerfull as a gtx670, but is available outside of asia. but anyway, the smaller form-factors are a great trend.I like it a lot, and would have a Tiki myself if money (and living in other country) weren't a limiting factor.
aguilpa1 - Thursday, March 7, 2013 - link
I don't see why this wouldn't work great. I got a GTX660 for work to run 4 monitors and I was surprised at how much of the card was wasted space and plastic shroud just jutting out to the side. It looks like they just consolidated the design and moved the cooler over. It shouldn't be much different than the regular one.DanNeely - Thursday, March 7, 2013 - link
Good catch; the gallery picture only shows 4 (2xDVI, 1xHDMI, 1xDP) so I assume it's a typo.IanCutress - Thursday, March 7, 2013 - link
One of the DVI is DVI-I, so with an adapter can do VGA as well. Do we count that as 5 outputs but only 4 connectors?DanNeely - Thursday, March 7, 2013 - link
Only if you can us a Y adapter to actually get DVI and VGA out at the same time.Death666Angel - Friday, March 8, 2013 - link
It has 5 outputs though. That doesn't mean you can use all 5 all the time. But that's always been the case. Just because you had 5 connectors on the back of your card or 4 on the motherboard does not mean you can use 4/5 monitors at the same time.extide - Saturday, March 9, 2013 - link
No... it only has 4.... look at the pics lol.vicbdn - Thursday, March 7, 2013 - link
That cooler doesn't seem particularly suited for m-itx enclosures. Would be better if it was a blower and vented out the back...SithSolo1 - Thursday, March 7, 2013 - link
Blower coolers by design are longer than the pcb so they can blow across the entire card. You cant have it both ways. Short card overall or blower style cooler, choose one.praeses - Friday, March 8, 2013 - link
If they ditched the second DVI port and replaced it with more venting to allow it to breathe better I would be more interested. If it's designed to live in a cramped area, it needs decent airflow without getting to noisy. I believe most people are interested in 2 or 3 displays anyways.