Final graphic card review for 2011 ends with a high-end card review, courtesy of ASUS Malaysia
The Card
The HD 6990 here looks very common. Nothing spectacular about it.
More details at the Official Product page.
Here’s a video of the card, highlighting the 100% fan speed mode and the LED Load Indicator.
Test Setup
The computer setup used for this review.
Processor | Intel Core i5-2500K @ 4.2 Ghz |
RAM | Kingston Value RAM 4GB 1333 |
Motherboard | MSI P67A-GD65 |
Cooler | Intel stock cooler |
Monitor | 46″ LCD TV (until I get a Full HD monitor) |
Power Supply | Xigmatek NRP-PC602 600w |
Operating System | Windows 7 32bit |
Below is the GPU-Z for the card.
I’m comparing the HD 6990 against the GTX 580 (sorry, I don’t have a 590)
The Performance
Crysis
Graphic Detail : Maximum @ 1680×1050
Card | Average |
ASUS HD 6990 | 77.17 |
ASUS GTX 580 | 45.73 |
ASUS HD 6950 | 39.72 |
Leadtek GTX 460 | 24.22 |
Mafia II
Graphic Detail : Maximum @ Full HD
Card | Average |
ASUS HD 6990 | 18 |
ASUS GTX 580 | 41.1 |
ASUS HD 6950 | 18 |
Leadtek GTX 460 | 34 |
*It reaches 84.5 if Physx disabled.
Lost Planet 2
Graphic Detail : Maximum @ Full HD
Card | Average |
ASUS HD 6990 | 55.1 |
ASUS GTX 580 | 55.6 |
Alien Vs Predator
Graphic Detail : Default setting @ Full HD
Card | Average |
ASUS HD 6990 | 122.2 |
ASUS GTX 580 | 73 |
*The Radeon HD 6950 cards fail badly with Physx enabled. When Physx disabled, it goes to 58.4 fps.
Furmark
Graphic Detail : Maximum @ Full HD
Card | Average |
ASUS HD 6990 | 106 |
ASUS GTX 580 | 103 |
ASUS HD 6950 | 54 |
Leadtek GTX 460 | 64 |
Unigine Heaven 2.0
Graphic Detail : Full HD, 4xAA, 16xAF, Tesselation at NORMAL.
Card | Average |
ASUS HD 6990 | 64.7 |
ASUS GTX 580 | 54.6 |
ASUS HD 6950 | 46.3 |
Leadtek GTX 460 | 31.8 |
Operating Temperature
Furmark was used for graphic card stressing.
Card | Idle (°C) | Load (°C) | Stress (°C) |
ASUS GTX 6990 | 56 | 88 | 90 |
Readings were taken when ambient temperature was around 25°C.
– Load, Furmark was run for 1 minute at Full HD with 4xAA.
– Stress, Furmark was run under the Stress Test mode for 5 minutes.
The interesting thing about this card that once the temperature hits 90c, the fan ramps up the speed to keep to lower the temperature. It then slows down once the temperature is lowered. Of course this means that the temperature rises again and the RPM is boost again………… it’s a repeated process.
Conclusion
I find it really hard to recommend such high end card.
It comes at a whopping RM 2,500 but you don’t exactly get 25% more performance as the GTX 580. It’s normal for cards to have less value for money on the higher end, meaning you get less frames per RM but in this case, one could settle for a GTX 580 as a cheaper alternative, a single GPU option that does not face multi-GPU scaling issues.
The HD 6990 is for people with deep pockets, doesn’t mind it being a power hog, doesn’t play games that uses Physx, only play games that works fast on AMD GPU + Scales well with CrossfireX. It’s also a plus point if you’re into multi-monitor (eye-finity) setup.
Lol.
The new model of dual card are just around the corner. And just now you have desire for do the review? Hehe… Anywya, nice review.
I review whatever that’s available. No harm adding another to the Internet. 😀
This is a very good card. It cost more, but for the extra money you can prove to your friends that you have money. For superior gamer experience this is good card for the money.
Running 2x HD 6950 would be a better option. It costs far less (most boards these days come with dual PCI-E for CFX already)
Power consumption would be similar but on the plus side, it should be less noisy as the GPU aren’t sharing the same heatsink.
2xHD 6950 would not be a better option. The point is that by purchasing the HD6990 I can demonstrate my superior financial position to my friends. If friends know my superior financial state I get better respect than just using 2x HD6950 would provide.
Haha k k if you’re talking about that then go ahead. In fact, get dual HD 6990. 🙂 You can boast about your PSU while you’re at it.
Hi, do you encounter micro stuttering for your 6990 during any gameplay?
Haven’t noticed any during my short period of using it.