ASUS GeForce RTX 3070 ROG STRIX Gaming OC 8GB Semi-Fanless Graphics Card

The ROG STRIX RTX 3070 features the all-new NVIDIA Ampere architecture that delivers the ultimate play. It also features advanced 2nd generation Ray Tracing Cores and 3rd generation Tensor Cores with greater throughput.

From top to bottom, the ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3070 has been radically improved to accommodate the impressive new Ampere chips from NVIDIA and to deliver the next wave of performance innovation to the market. A fresh design and more metal surrounds a grouping of Axial-tech fans. Last gen’s uniform fan layout has been usurped by a new rotation scheme and specialised roles for central and auxiliary fans. Below the blades, a larger, more impressive heatsink is ready for the most demanding thermal loads. The PCB has some new tricks up its sleeves, and even the backplate has received some performance-boosting changes. You’ve been waiting for the latest and greatest in GPU design - and this is it.

AXIAL-TECH UPGRADES

ASUS’ Axial-tech fan design has been optimised for a new, larger heatsink that features more fins and surface area than last gen. The blade count has been increased on all three fans, with 13 on the center fan and 11 on the auxiliary fans. The barrier ring on the side fans has been slimmed down to allow for more lateral intake and to provide better airflow through the cooling array. The center fan’s extra blades and full-height ring provide boosted static pressure to blast air directly onto the GPU heat spreader.

MAXCONTACT

To get heat up off the die and into the heatsink array to benefit from the new fan design requires special attention. ASUS use a manufacturing process that polishes the surface of the heat spreader to improve smoothness at the microscopic level. The extra flatness allows for better contact with the die for improved thermal transfer.

FAN CONNECT II

The rear of the ROG Strix graphics card sports two PWM Fan Connect headers that provide additional DIY flexibility. Chassis fans can be directly attached to the GPU and tuned with a curve that is based on CPU or GPU temperature, providing extra intake or exhaust for demanding 3D tasks.

NEW DIRECTIONS

To bolster the specialised roles of the center and auxiliary fans, the rotational direction of the center fan is reversed. This reduces air turbulence inside the cooling array for another boost to overall thermal performance. The fans also shut off completely when card power consumption is low and the GPU temperature falls beneath 50 Celsius, keeping noise levels down when the system is under a light load.

2.9-SLOT DESIGN

The heat spreader draws heat up into heatpipes that carry it through a fin stack that fills a large 2.9-slot footprint. Increasing the heatsink size compared to the last generation provides more thermal headroom to account for the new high-performance GPU.

FRESH SHROUD

In addition to under-the-hood design changes, the ROG Strix features a new face with metal accents that mirror the design aesthetic of ROG and ROG Strix motherboards. Mixing surface textures and materials make a statement when vertically mounted and lit by chassis LEDs. For those who prefer a sleeker, more subtle look, the greyscale colorway allows it to seamlessly blend into the build.

FUNCTIONAL FRONT

Careful attention has been paid to the front of the GPU, as it’s the most visible part of the card in typical configurations. A new addressable RGB element can be customised with Armoury Crate to create a uniform look along with other ROG components. To fulfil the power demands of the GeForce RTX 3070, two 8-pin power connectors are present, along with an onboard circuit that monitors PSU rail voltage. The circuit is fast enough to catch any transients that result in the rail voltage dropping too low. If that happens, a red LED will light up to indicate a power supply issue. The Strix’s reinforced metal frame is also visible here, adding a literal layer of durability.