ASUS R9 280X Matrix Platinum - Performance Test



Introduction:

The Matrix is designed to be incredibly overclockable and provide the best graphics performance and gaming experience. The ASUS R9 280X Matrix Platinum is a handpicked and factory-overclocked at a core frequency of 1100MHz and GDDR5 video memory frequency of 1600MHz (6400MHz effective). It is based on the Tahiti XTL chip, being a slightly upgraded, rebranded Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition. Today, we are going to take a look at what is so special about this graphics card.

Product Link: https://www.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/MATRIXR9280XP3GD5/

Suggested Retail Price: RM1499

Specifications:



Full specifications of Matrix Platinum can be found HERE

Overview of Matrix Platinum:



Unboxing:


The graphics card is shipped in a huge red box featuring Republic of Gamers (ROG) design.

Now, let’s have a peek on the graphics card that is really a BEAST...


The graphics card comes in a red/black theme with a unique twin-fan cooler. ASUS cooling thermal design achieves 20% lower temps with all-copper heatpipes so heat is removed efficiently. It also generates six times greater airflow yet performs three times quieter than reference in idle and full load thanks to dual 100 mm sound-dampening fans.


AMD’s award-winning 28-nanometers GCN Architecture known for unrivalled performance and efficiency. The GPU is packed with groundbreaking features like AMD PowerTune and CrossFire (CF) technologies.


Let’s observe on the PCB area of the graphics card. The Matrix Platinum is built with carefully-designed massive 20-phase power delivery to ensure ample room for experimental performance tuning. Its DIGI+ VRM digital voltage regulation design augments precision overclocking capabilities, which are further supported by the use of hardened Super Alloy Power chokes, capacitors and MOSFETs. The RAM uses Hynix H5GQ2H24AFR-R0C IC, which is rated at GDDR5 @ 1600MHz at 1.5v.


The graphics card is equipped with two 8-pin PCIe connectors. Also spotted, VGA Hotwire connectors for voltage modification.


Turbo Fan Activator button instantly trigger the dual 100mm fans to 100% speed regardless of driver settings. TweakIt offers real-time fingertip-easy hardware level voltage adjustment by simply pressing the + and - buttons. The Safe Mode button resets the graphics card back to default frequencies and BIOS settings.


The Crossfire connectors support up to 4-way CF. Yes, the graphics card comes with dual BIOS chips as you could see from the BIOS switch.

This post has been edited by owikh84: Oct 28 2013, 06:15 PM

The I/O panel includes two Dual Link DVI ports and four DisplayPort ports enough to support Ultra HD aka 4K as well as AMD Eyefinity.


The back side of the graphics card is equipped with a metal backplate.


The color-coded LED MATRIX indicator offers an instant and easy-to-understand display of current GPU load levels.


ASUS bundled the card with a Diablo III mouse pad, user manual guide, a driver and software CD, a DVI-HDMI adapter, VGA Hotwire kit, a Crossfire bridge (not ROG’s) and a LN2 Mos Heatsink for extreme overclockers.

Test Setup:



CPU: Intel Core i7 4770K overclocked @ 4.625GHz
MB: ASUS Maximus VI Extreme
DRAM: Apacer ARES 3000MHz C12 2 X 4GB @ 3000MHz 12-14-14-25-1T
GPU:ASUS R9 280X Matrix Platinum, Driver Catalyst 13.11 Beta V1
Storage: 2x Crucial M4 128GB
ODD: LiteON DVD-RW
PSU: Corsair AX1200
Cooling: Custom watercooling - EK Supreme HF plate #6 CPU waterblock, 2x XSPC RX360 radiator, Swiftech MCP655 pump, EK Multioption X2 Advanced reservoir, XSPC 1/2" ID 3/4" OD white tubing, 12x Scythe GT AP-15 1850rpm 120mm fan + Aerocool Shark 120mm fan, Coolaboratory Liquid Pro thermalpaste etc.
Casing: DimasTech Easy Dual V2.5 Bench Table
Monitor: Dell U3011 (2560 x 1600) & Dell U2312HM (1920 x 1080)
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit SP1

Software & Tools:


ASUS GPU Tweak - an overclocking tool with GPU and memory tuning, overvolting, GPU loadline calibration and VRM frequency tuning - allowing for the most extensive control and adjustment parameters for maximum overclocking potential.


ASUS ROG GPU-Z - displays the GPU information.

Stability Tests:

MSI Kombustor 2.5.2:


The graphics card run stable for 16 minutes with the GPU core hit 62C maximum temperature.

Synthetic Benchmarks:

3DMark 13 Fire Strike:


3DMark 13 Fire Strike (Extreme):


3DMark 13 Ice Storm:


3DMark 13 Cloud Gate:


3DMark 11 (Entry):


3DMark 11 (Performance):


3DMark 11 (Extreme):


3DMark Vantage:


3DMark Vantage (Extreme):

3DMark 06:


3DMark 05:


3DMark 03:


Unigine Heaven 4.0 (2560 X 1600):


Unigine Valley 1.0 (2560 X 1600):


Cinebench R15:

Game Benchmarks (2560 x 1600):

Bioshock Infinite:


Metro Last Light:


Tomb Raider:


S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Call of Propyat:


Sniper Elite V2 (1920 X 1080):


Sleeping Dogs:


Street Fighter IV:


Resident Evil 6:


PLA:


Final Fantasy XIV:


This post has been edited by owikh84: Oct 28 2013, 01:15 AM

GRID 2:


Far Cry 3:


Dirt Showdown:


Crysis 3:


Battlefield 3:


Batman Arkham City:


Aliens Versus Predators:


Lost Planet (Test A): 1920 x 1080


Lost Planet (Test B): 1920 x 1080


Overclocking:

Default GPU frequency is 1100MHz and 1600MHz for the video memory. With a supply voltage of 1.3v for the GPU I managed to get a frequency of 1290MHz for the GPU and video memory frequency of 7250 MHz:



This post has been edited by owikh84: Oct 22 2013, 11:40 PM

Thoughts & Verdicts:

ASUS R9 280X Matrix Platinum has fulfilled overclockers and gamers’ dream to become the perfect graphics card for their needs. It is packed with state-of-the-art components, outstanding overclocking potential, impressive design and remarkable cooling technology. So if you want the best graphics card for gaming and overclocking, this is the best R9 280X to grab.

Lastly, I would like to thank ASUS Malaysia for sending this graphics card for review.

Performance: 5/5
Materials: 5/5
Specifications: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Performance/Price Value: 5/5

Pros:
+ Impressive performance
+ Innovative overclocking features and components
+ Excellent build with 6 connectivity ports
+ Twin-fan cooler is silent when not in Turbo Fan is not activated
+ State-of-the-art GPU Tweak
+ Great accessories package

Cons:
- Heavy
- Takes up 2.5 slots so beware of that if you are going to CF them on your motherboard, they are huge!
- No game bundle
- CrossFire bridge is not of ROG’s design

Wow... what is the price?

He did state that the card worth 1.5k

Still waiting on my toxic 280x though

Memory Bus : 38 bit(s) =D

I need to fix my eyes vision...

Thanks TS for the review. That was a detailed review.

That OC clock is juz damn nice. Great in-depth review on the GC. when will you post a review on 290X/290?

Thanks for answering. To be honest, the price is way below my expectation. I predicted it would be priced at RM1.7k like Maximus 6 Formula lol. Thanks God that I was wrong.

I will get it fixed tonight. Thanks bro.


My pleasure.


yeah 1290MHz at 1.256v VDDC is very rare to see. Too bad I didn't take a snapshot of monitoring app during the benchmark. I believe that it could go higher with better cooling ie water/LN2. I have no idea when will get the 290X sample for my next review yet.

This post has been edited by owikh84: Oct 23 2013, 05:33 PM

please predict price for 290x and be wrong.. so far only bundle price is known.. great review btw.. kudos..

SRP at US is $549 = RM1740.
http://www.ocaholic.ch/modules/news/article.php?storyid=8184

yummy price i say.. hope maintain price over here

good detailed review TS! poihsoonn 99....

Hmm.. such a beast.. alas for 2560 res most results are in the low FPS 10-30FPS

anything beyond 1080 i would go for CF..

what does cf means?

it would be CrossFire

great review bro...
after this hope can see u post review that R9 cf with 7970

Why no game bundle for this?

+1. interested to know this as well. would a 7970 pull back r-280x performance if CF?
a few games bench will be sufficient - especially those heavy game like crysis n etc. can this be done bro owikh84?

coz AMD has yet to announce bundle for the new series. so play the waiting game

This post has been edited by sai86: Oct 24 2013, 09:11 AM

To cut the cost? With game bundled the price won't be the same already.

Alright, I would Crossfire this 280X with my reference 7970 by tonight. But I will still use the Catalyst 13.11 Beta V1 for comparison. Stay tuned for the update.

This post has been edited by owikh84: Oct 25 2013, 01:50 AM

This is a bargain! I dont care for free game(s)... 1.5 is reasonable
if can drives 4x4K monitors

Here you go... Some in-game benchmarks of Crossfire between 280X + 7970 OC at 2560 x 1600

Bioshock Infinite: +99%


Aliens Versus Predators: +90%


Crysis 3: +80%


Far Cry 3: +72%


Battlefield 3: + 101%


The results suggested that CF scaling is awesome.

This post has been edited by owikh84: Oct 25 2013, 09:16 AM

^Many thanks for the CF results.
the scaling is superb for BF 3 and BI and others is great too. this should be an incentive to CF with 7970.

You are welcome mate.
It is my pleasure.
So, gogo buy the 280X!

hoho
thanks for the cf results
no need to upgrade card
juz need to buy a new one la if like this

No problemo bro

good review

Very Nice Card ^^

nice CF review bro, thanks..will get another one then instead of single 290x

2x 280 or 7990 sure > 290X haha
just that the power consumption on the latter is less
TQ bro

Bro any issues with microstutters? with cf i meant.

Thanks.

This post has been edited by oldKyoo: Oct 26 2013, 04:08 PM

it was a short test but I didn't see the microstuttering issue

Great card own x2 [CF] no problem gaming on Ultra

GRID and DIRT 2560x1600 benchmark, Max details setting?

The preset is ULTRA.
I will include the game setting details in my coming reviews.

Where do you buy this from?

You may get it from our reputable sellers ie.
lingloong
yoongkeen / idealtech
hikari85

when review r9 290x ?

I don't have the review sample, unfortunately.

is it worth to get this or get r9 290(non X)

Seriously, I'd take the R9 290 rather than this
Faster, newer features, more VRAM and more worth the money.

wow..this monster is huge
btw good review !

Haha. This is 4 people who want 2 stretch their e peen further.

I reckon only your cherry picked card capable to hit 1290 core.

Seriously I am not sure whether it is cherry picked or not but that 1290core OC for some reason couldn't be repeated for the second time.
I think I am just lucky only lol