AMD R9 295X2 TRULY Enthusiast Grade Graphics Card

The video opens by introducing the Corsair Obsidian 250D build as a compact, high-end gaming PC chassis and then pivots to the star of the show, AMDs R9 295X2 dual-GPU graphics card. The host notes the card’s extraordinary power and describes its physical design as a large aluminum package with two Hawaii-based GPUs, each with 2816 stream processors and 4 GB of memory on a very wide non-nerfed 512-bit memory bus. A key highlight is the innovative cooling solution: an all-in-one liquid cooler from Asetek that sits outside the card with a dedicated radiator and tubing, enabling the card to run at elevated boost clocks while maintaining manageably low temperatures. The discussion covers both advantages and challenges of this design, including the cooling efficacy that keeps temperatures around 70-75 degrees under load and the benefits of exhausting heat out of the case, as well as the logistical drawbacks such as power requirements, length, and the need for careful PSU rail considerations. The host emphasizes that the R9 295X2 represents an enthusiast-grade product that pushes engineering boundaries, contrasting it with typical consumer GPUs and praising AMDs willingness to take risk in pursuit of extreme performance. The segment then transitions to overclocking, with Luke detailing the overclocking results for the AMD card and Nvidia comparison cards, and the team discussing how bottlenecks in other parts of the system can influence observed performance in games like BioShock Infinite, Thief, and Assassin’s Creed 4. Finally, the hosts reflect on real-world impressions, noting that despite high power consumption and a hefty price tag, the card stays reasonably quiet and cool thanks to its external radiator, while promising further insights and community discussion on the accompanying forum and social channels.

Topics · hardware · graphics · performance · review · enthusiast-computing