ASUS Ares ATI Radeon 5870 X2 Limited Edition Graphics Card Unboxing & First Look Linus Tech Tips

The video opens with Linus and the team presenting the ASUS Aries Limited Edition graphics card, a rare dual-GPU card that uses two full ATI Radeon 5870 cores instead of a cut-down variant. They highlight the packaging which comes in a lockable briefcase-like container, noting the two combination locks and the included booklet explaining the packaging and the legend behind the Aries branding. The host details what’s inside the box: a crossfire bridge, PCIe power adapters, a DVI to HDMI adapter, a Republic of Gamers badge, and a laser mouse with its own quick-start materials. They then examine the card itself, describing its massive dimensions, triple-slot cooling, and the heavy copper heat sink assembly designed to dissipate heat from four 8 mm heat pipes per GPU. The unboxing moves into technical specifics such as the output configuration (two DVI, one display port), the single 6-pin plus two 8-pin power connectors, and the need for a robust power supply (Asus recommends 750W with 40 amps on the 12V rail) to handle the Aries. The discussion continues with the cooling system, emphasizing the 100 mm central fan and dense copper fin arrays, which are built around per-GPU heat pipes and a thick aluminum backplate that also cools the memory. The host compares Aries with a reference GTX 480 to illustrate size and clearance considerations, noting that Aries is longer, taller, and wider, and may require careful case compatibility. They also point out the software voltage tweaking features provided by Asus, designed to push the GPUs for maximum overclocking potential, and mention the practical aspects of installing the card in a PCIe 2.0 x16 slot, including the potential conflict with PCIe power limits. In closing, Linus emphasizes the card’s extreme build quality, its weight, and its status as a flagship solution that aims to deliver top-tier gaming performance, while also listing the physical footprint and three-slot footprint as factors for buyers to consider. The video ends with a quick weight comparison showing the Aries at about 4.8 pounds versus a GTX 480, underscoring the card’s heft and premium hardware design.

Topics · hardware · graphics-cards · unboxing · pc-gaming