What's the Asus ROG Strix RTX 2070ϑ

The ROG Strix RTX 2070 visuals card is an Asus alternative to the Founders Edition furnished by Nvidia. While Asus’s GPU and design tweaks will somewhat affect overall performance, the card however shares equivalent structure as Nvidia’s initial.

Sandwiched amongst the recently introduced RTX 2060 and also the ultra-powerful RTX 2080 Ti, the RTX 2070 is one of two mid-range options in Turing family members. This produces a bit of a problem. It’s no more the lowest priced RTX card available, nor does it provide the smoothest frame rates.

The triple-fan design ensures excellent airflow the ROG Strix RTX 2070

So what’s the ROG Strix RTX 2070 good forϑ Well it’s among best-value images cards for Quad HD I’ve seen yet, offering a smooth 60fps performance for many of the most intensive brands. It provides the absolute best options that come with the RTX lineup, including real time ray tracing and DLSS – each of that have been earmarked as revolutionary rendering practices.

When you’ve got a Quad HD setup and fancy being one of the primary to witness the future of gaming visuals, but can’t quite stretch their spending plan to an RTX 2080 or RTX 2080 Ti card, this Asus alternative may just provide most readily useful stability between performance and cost.

Asus ROG Strix RTX 2070 – Specs and technology

Below you can view a directory of the way the Asus ROG Strix RTX 2070’s specs compare to your Founders Edition associated with GTX 1070 and all sorts of associated with the present RTX lineup.

Because the ROG Strix RTX 2070 shares the exact same design since the creators Edition equivalent, there’s no surprise this has identical numbers for CUDA Cores, Giga Rays/s, VRAM and base clock rate.

Uncertain just what all this computer system jargon meansϑ CUDA Cores are the hefty lifters, in charge of the primary almost all a graphic card’s overall performance. The RTX 2080 Ti has practically twice as much CUDA Core count, which explains why it could attain such large frame prices in contrast. Giga Rays, at the same time, is a phrase designed by Nvidia to measure ray tracing performance.

The ROG Strix RTX 2070 is equally as easy to install as a Founders Edition photos card

Exactly what separates the Asus RTX 2080 from Nvidia’s though, is the boosted time clock speed. Asus has been able to eke completely another 135 MHz of boosted time clock speeds. That’s perhaps not an enormous difference in all honesty, therefore you shouldn’t see a big rise in overall performance, nonetheless it is a boost.

Much more considerable is the new triple-fan design which helps to help keep the GPU cool adequate to (theoretically) overclock it even further than just about any Founders Edition card is capable. This is where you ought to begin to see the biggest advantage in choosing the third-party Asus design as opposed to Nvidia’s very own.

Additionally some aesthetic improvements spread on the top such as for instance customisable RGB illumination. Not only are you able to choose a colour, you could additionally select from many different lighting including fixed and strobing. With Asus’s Aura Sync computer software, you can also configure the RGB lighting effects to pulse to your beat of music or indicate the GPU heat. The lighting is a neat inclusion, it is almost pointless if you don’t have a transparent tower situation.

The ROG Strix RTX 2070 has actually all the same slot choices as a Founders Edition card

The Nvidia and Asus RTX 2070 images cards also have equivalent harbors. Including HDMI Output, Show Port and USB Type-C. The latter two are specially ideal for virtual truth. The Display Port can be used using the HTC Vive Pro, while USB Type-C makes it possible for usage with VirtualLink, which is probably one of the most streamlined cable solutions available.

ROG Strix RTX 2070 – Ray Tracing

The biggest reason to update to an RTX images card is unquestionably real-time ray tracing. This brand-new technology helps simulate more practical reflections and lights.

Which means you’ll see have the ability to begin to see the reflection of a mountain range when looking down at a frozen lake in Battlefield 5, or enhanced vibrancy of a firecracker illuminating a dark cave in Shadow regarding the Tomb Raider.

With ray tracing activated, you can observe the representation associated with the red building on top regarding the frozen lake

Will you observe these brand new visual improvements instantlyϑ not likely. These innovative results tend to be discreet, but positively assist in improving detail and immersion. Particular in-game environments benefit more from technology than the others, particularly the snow-covered alps in Battlefield 5’s solitary player degree Nordlys.

Ray tracing does include a caveat however, because it sets extra stress on the GPU and consequently hampers frame rate overall performance. Playing Battlefield 5, I saw to a 30fps drop as soon as activating DXR allow ray tracing.

Despite these types of a fall in frame prices, the ROG Strix RTX 2070 remains effective at offering a 60fps Quad HD performance when playing Battlefield 5 with ray tracing triggered. 4K fans are disappointed to learn they’ll must be satisfied with a shaky 35fps performance to be able to witness the newest technology though.

ROG Strix RTX 2070 – verified games to feature ray tracing

Battlefield 5 happens to be the only real online game to definitely support ray tracing. This alone is sufficient to dissuade individuals from jumping aboard the RTX bandwagon right away.

Thankfully, Nvidia has actually confirmed a considerable directory of games that have currently pledged support when it comes to brand new technology. More noticeable titles consist of Shadow associated with Tomb Raider and Metro Exodus, with several almost certainly going to follow throughout every season. The entire listing of appropriate games is really as follows:

• Assetto Corsa Competizione
• Atomic Heart
• Battlefield 5
• Control
• Enlisted
• MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries
• Metro Exodus
• Shadow associated with Tomb Raider
• Justice
• JX3
• Venture DH

While Shadow of the Tomb Raider can be obtained purchasing today, Square Enix is however to produce an upgrade that'll allow support the technology and there’s no indication to when that update will arrive. I’m hopeful Metro Exodus will support ray tracing at launch, using online game starting on 15 February 2019.

ROG Strix RTX 2070 – Deep understanding super-sampling

Ray tracing isn’t the only real exiting RTX function. Deeply mastering super-sampling (aka DLSS) also appears become hugely considerable for game visuals.

DLSS provides ROG Strix RTX 2070 a good start using the help of artificial cleverness whenever making video. This method won’t develop an excellent image versus more traditional techniques, however it does relieve the workload of the GPU, letting it be much more efficient. This will, the theory is that, bring about greater framework prices which help counteract the ray tracing rate drop handicap.

But since DLSS support is certainly not currently available, I’m struggling to in fact test technology to observe influential it is from the GPU’s performance. Once the desired changes tend to be introduced, I’ll make sure to update this area of the analysis.

What games have actually confirmed support for DLSSϑ this is actually the full listing thus far:

• Anthem
• Ark: Survival Evolved
• Darksiders 3
• Final Fantasy XV
• Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
• Hitman 2
• Mechwarrior 5: Mercenaries
• Islands of Nyne: Battle Royale
• Overkill’s The Walking Dead
• AthleteUnknown’s Battlegrounds
• SCUM
• Shadow regarding the Tomb Raider
• Stormdivers
• We Happy Few

I’ve seen no formal confirmation of DLSS assistance for various other brands as of this time. I’ll upgrade this listing once We hear even more.

ROG Strix RTX 2070 – Benchmarks and performance

Our benchmark tests showed the ROG Strix RTX 2070 is a higher performer both for Quad HD and complete HD games. 4K answers are only shy associated with the standard where you’d see competent frame rates, however the games we useful for benchmarking are really demanding. In the event that you’re happy playing titles that have been introduced many years ago, then Ultra HD at a respected frame price shouldn’t be problematic. Scroll down to see our benchmark causes more detail.

Testing methodology

We benchmarked the Asus ROG Strix RTX 2070 on our office test rig, that has been developed to match the specs of a standard high-end video gaming PC. The presented components are down the page:

• Motherboard: Asus Prime Z370
• Processor: Intel Core i7-8700K (not overclocked)
• RAM: Corsair Vengeance 2666MHz, 16GB DDR4
• Colder: Corsair Hydro Series H150i PRO RGB 360mm liquid cooler
• PSU: Corsair CX750M
• SSD: Samsung 850 EVO
• OS: Microsoft Windows 10 Professional 64-bit

Unfortunately i'ven’t been able to obtain my practical a Founders Edition version of the RTX 2070 thus I won’t have the ability to provide any understanding as to whether you will get less expensive with ROG’s variation.

As an alternative, I’ve included the benchmark outcomes of other Founders Edition Nvidia illustrations cards, to see if it’s worth improving through the GTX 1070 or whether you might be better off with another RTX GPU.

Editor’s note: We haven’t included the AMD Vega cards, the RX590 and RX580, because I don’t have samples to hand. I’ll update this analysis once I have them back in.

Shadow regarding the Tomb Raider

Shadow associated with the Tomb is a superb exemplory instance of a contemporary video game featuring the best visuals around. This, plus its future help for ray tracing and DLSS, causes it to be an amazing name to use for our benchmark tests.

The benchmark results show the ROG Strix RTX 2070 isn’t rather capable of a smooth overall performance in 4K, being 20fps from the highly desired 60fps standard.

Things have more good in Quad HD and Comprehensive HD though. Posting ratings of 71fps and 83fps correspondingly, you’re getting a blistering performance right here. Actually, the overall performance is really great that there’s maybe not a large distinction through the more costly RTX 2080 and RTX 2080 Ti cards at these resolutions.

Perhaps not bothered about ray tracingϑ After that ROG Strix RTX 2070 nevertheless boasts a significant adequate enhancement through the GTX 1070 to justify an upgrade. Actually, the ROG Strix RTX 2070 offers even better benchmark results compared to GTX 1080.

Ghost Recon Wildlands

Ghost Recon Wildlands is one of the most demanding titles for sale because detail by detail and sprawling open world. This is exactly why, we added the overall game to your benchmarking roster to see how the illustrations cards perform whenever forced to your maximum.

It’s in addition an unsatisfactory reading when it comes to Quad HD and Full HD outcomes, with even the latter resolution falling lacking the 60fps target – even RTX 2070 executes better here. If you’re looking to upgrade from a GTX 1070, then these benchmark scores may cause you to hesitate with just slim margins isolating the card.The ROG Strix RTX 2070 once more does not provide a decent 4K benchmark outcome. This demonstrates that if you do not’re happy to stick to older games, this visuals card is not really up to the Ultra HD task.

It’s difficult to be too crucial however, as Ghost Recon Wildlands is a notoriously GPU-intensive online game. The Quad HD and HD answers are nevertheless decent adequate to be playable and you may decrease the movie options in the event that you actually want to improve framework prices.

Ashes of this Singularity Escalation

We included Ashes of Singularity: Escalation for benchmark tests too, because’s outstanding exemplory instance of a technique game in which on-screen activity really can supply the GPU a beating.

Ashes is so intensive that there surely isn’t a big margin between all of the benchmark scores here. Nonetheless, the ROG Strix RTX 2070 showcases impressive scores. Results hovered all over 60fps target for almost any quality, also demonstrating able in 4K.

Impressively, the ROG Strix RTX 2070’s overall performance isn’t far behind the RTX 2080 Ti. Considering there’s over a £400 price distinction between the two cards, the previous signifies great price for Ashes – and potentially other method games too.

3D Mark

3DMark has actually a collection of pc software that draws fully out ratings for assorted areas of an images card including overall performance, energy consumption and average temperature while running a video clip online game.

The Firestrike Extreme program is benchmark software which simulates a video clip online game being determine the performance of a visuals card. The ROG Strix RTX 2070 achieved a score of 5649, which predictably sits involving the RTX 2080 and RTX 2060.

It’s the 3DMark Heat result that left me personally most impressed. At 50ºC, the ROG Strix RTX 2070 is very easily the coolest photos card when you look at the team test. This can be definitely as a result of the triple-fan setup, guaranteeing the illustrations card doesn’t get also toasty regardless of how hard you push it.

Power usage can also be sensibly reasonable at 274.8W, which means you probably won’t need down rush out and purchase an innovative new PSU to obtain this card installed and operating.

ROG Strix RTX 2070 – Overclocking

Using the triple-fan setup leading to low temperature, you’d expect the ROG Strix RTX 2070 become highly overclockable. Sadly this will ben’t the actual situation.

I was just able to attain a meagre 120MHz overclock, that will be really disappointing. That equated to simply a 2fps enhancement regarding benchmark computer software Unigine Heaven. This might be such an unhealthy result that there’s little point in bothering overclocking the GPU.

Asus clearly attempted its better to draw the optimum overall performance regarding Nvidia’s RTX card by implementing the triple-fan setup. But even though the the GPU did stay cool throughout the standard tests, seldom surpassing 57°C, it simply ended up beingn’t effective at achieving a clock speed over 2055 MHz. Nvidia’s other RTX images cards revealed comparable overclocking results, recommending the Turing architecture is limited to those clock speeds.

Fortunately i discovered even more fortune aided by the 8GB GDDR6 VRAM, where I happened to be able to attain an astonishing 1025 MHz overclock.

Why buy the ROG Strix RTX 2070ϑ

The ROG Strix RTX 2070 locates it self in a challenging place stuck involving the bargain-tastic RTX 2060 and 4K-ready RTX 2080 Ti. That’s not to imply there is certainlyn’t somewhere because of this illustrations card however.

While 4K might be an excessive amount of a stretch whenever playing modern-day titles, the ROG Strix RTX 2070 showcases a high-value overall performance for Quad HD video gaming. Not only does it surpass the overall performance of a GTX 1080, but inaddition it offers the exciting ray tracing and DLSS features, ensuring that this card is future-proofed towards the hilt.

The ROG Strix RTX 2070’s RGB illumination can be customised with various tints and impacts

Even though ray tracing has an adverse affect frame rates, like with any RTX card, I became still in a position to achieve a 60fps overall performance with DXR turned on, additional establishing it is a great GPU for a Quad HD setup.

Really the only question mark holding on the ROG Strix RTX 2070 is whether or not you’re better off going for the Founder’s Edition. Since the ROG’s triple-fan setup doesn’t offer the desired boost for overclocking, the sole performance-based motivation you’re getting here is the increased boosted time clock speeds. Just how much does this influence frame ratesϑ I’m incapable of state for the present time, as I’m however getting my practical the Founders Edition RTX 2070. I can’t start to see the boost being considerable however.

Verdict

For people who wish a ray tracing-capable GPU which provides a smooth Quad HD overall performance, then RTX 2070 is without question the best-value photos card available.

The only significant downside let me reveal the ROG triple-fan design feels as though an unnecessary spending since the GPU’s architecture isn’t ready to accept a substantial overclock. Sure, conditions tend to be pleasingly reasonable, but I’ve never ever experienced thermal difficulties with dual-fan RTX photos cards to create an upgrade beneficial.