ASUS GTX 560 TOP
Understanding that there are no specific default speeds for the GTX 560, ASUS has launched a premium version under its 'TOP' branding. The DirectCU II cooler is identical to the GTX 560 Ti. In fact, there is no obvious external difference between the two.
It's simply a case of ASUS being supplied (or qualifying by itself) GPUs with 336 shader units rather than the 384 on the GTX 560 Ti. But while the Ti' TOP's clocked in at 900MHz core, the non-Ti raises this to 925MHz. Both cards share a 1GB frame-buffer with a frequency of 4,200MHz, though.
A pair of sound-dampened, PWM-controlled 80mm fans provides the airflow, and ASUS reckons the complete package will result in operating temperatures of up to 20ºC lower than a regular, single-fan design.
Like the Gigabyte, two dual-link DVI and an HDMI v1.4a are sensible outputs for a card in this class. Being based on a 5-series NVIDIA GPU means that it supports all manner of 3D love - from gaming to photos - assuming you have a 3D monitor or TV.
Nominally rated at 150W TDP, the GTX 560's ripe for overclocking even past ASUS' TOP speeds. This is why the card is outfitted with two six-pin PCIe connectors.
Supporting voltage and frequency adjustment through the bundled SmartDoctor application, the default 1.025V core voltage can be slider-bar reduced to 1.012V and increased to 1.12V.
The ASUS GTX 560 TOP currently retails for £190, making it more expensive than a bone-stock GTX 560 Ti. What will be interesting to see is how it compares to the full Ti card, as this one has comfortably higher clocks but a slightly weaker architecture.
