Makes a GTX 295 look puny
1,000 ROG MARS will be produced but we'd be surprised if ASUS sold the entire batch if the £1,000 price-tag is maintained. Indeed, it's now a product with the 'call-for-pricing' description attached to it.
The monster card - looking like a god of war - measures 269mm (w) by 114mm (h) by 50mm (d) and tips the scales at 1,510g. That's right, 1.5kg. The PCIe connector looks pathetically inept at holding the card in place and we're a little surprised that no further support bracket is included, other than the usual screw-in plate.
Makes a regular GTX 295 look positively puny.
Our calculations show that adding a second MARS card pushes system-wide power-draw up by a further 385W. Taking out the inefficiencies of the PSU - an Akasa PowerMAX 1,200W - that leaves a card-load figure of over 335W. Big, hot beastie.
The card's quiet when running basic 2D apps but is significantly louder than a GTX 295 when under 3D stress.
All that power means that two 8-pin power connectors are needed to provide the juice.
Notice the SLI finger? Add another for bank-busting fun.
The wraparound enclosure hides all the gubbins.
The rear is standard enough on this shot. A stream of hot air is pushed out through the vent. We'd have liked four DVI outputs, if for nothing more than increased display flexibility.
If the cards were any manlier, they'd be hirsute.
