GeForce GTS 450 review roundup - ASUS GeForce GTS 450 DirectCu TOP (ENGTS450)

ASUS GeForce GTS 450 DirectCu TOP (ENGTS450)

The chaps from ASUS are putting out GeForce GTS 450 cards as well, and we're going first base with them. The top of the line GTS 450 will be the ENGTS450, which you guys will know as GeForce GTS 450 DirectCu TOP edition, have a peek first.

As you can see, ASUS opted to go for a custom PCB design with that monster cooler, the DirectCu and the TOP designates a factory overclocked product. A very standard bundle here but with budget products that is to be expected.

ASUS does one thing particularly well, the card comes factory clocked at a blistering 925 MHz, and that's 1850 MHz on the shader processors, and they top it off with a memory clock of 4000 MHz (effective). That makes it the second fastest card tested today. Yes yes... there is another card actually faster. Being the ENGTS450 DirectCU Series graphics card ASUS also applies better quality components, longer durability and that also equals better overclockability and stability.

The DirectCU cooler implies 100% heatpipe contact with the GPU, which helps dissipate heat quite a bit better. ASUS makes use of nice thick 8mm heatpipes (two).

Next to MSI, ASUS also delivered the card with voltage tweak options. Now make no mistake, these voltage tweaks can be applied to all GTS 450 cards as they all use the same VRM IC, but to get the software along with it only guarantees better support.

The card is equipped with one SLI connector for a maximum of 2-way SLI with this card, and we spot one 6-pin PEG power connector. Monitor connectivity wise you'll receive three connectors in the form of analog D-SUB (VGA), HDMI and DVI.