ThePCEnthusiast is supported by its readers. Our articles usually contain affiliate links.
As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases. See our site disclosure here.

Asus STRIX GTX 960 DirectCU II OC 2GB Review – A Maxwell’s Sweet Spot GPU

Packaging and Closer Look

Asus Strix GTX 960 Review-01 Asus Strix GTX 960 Review-02

The Asus STRIX GTX 960 comes in a very familiar “Asus Strix” packaging. The package includes: 1x DVI to VGA adaptor, 1x STRIX Laser Sticker and an ASUS GPU Tweak & Driver CD.

Asus Strix GTX 960 Review-03 Asus Strix GTX 960 Review-04

Above you see the top and back of the STRIX 960. I’m happy to see that despite this GPU isn’t very long, there is an aluminum backplane at the back of the PCB. Primarily, back plates supports long graphics cards. But it also, aesthetically speaking, improves the overall appearance of the graphics card. I think, nowadays, a backplane is a must for all mainstream and high-end GPUs.

Asus Strix GTX 960 Review-06

The STRIX 960 has one DVI-I output, one HDMI 2.0 port, and three DisplayPorts 1.2. You can connect up to four display monitors with this GPU. This GPU also supports 4K display, but it’s not meant for 4K gaming, simply because it doesn’t have enough horse power and memory to drive a game at 4k resolution.

Asus Strix GTX 960 Review-07 Asus Strix GTX 960 Review-05

Near the PCIe finger you see four nickel plated copper heat pipes. The Asus STRIX GTX 960 draws its power from a single 6-pin PCIE power connector. There is a LED indicator that turns white when correct power is supplied and red when no power is supplied. Notice that the aluminum fins are longer compared to the STRIX 960’s PCB. This allows the card to run cooler even without the fans running.

Asus Strix GTX 960 Review-09 Asus Strix GTX 960 Review-08

Above you see both sides of the graphic card’s back plate.

Asus Strix GTX 960 Review-11 Asus Strix GTX 960 Review-10

The Asus STRIX GTX 960’s shroud looks like a smaller version of the STRIX GTX 980’s shroud. However, the shroud is made out of plastic instead of metal. At the back, you see the four heat pipes, where only two heat pipes really touches the surface of the chip.

Asus Strix GTX 960 Review-12 Asus Strix GTX 960 Review-13

Above you see the front and back view of the card’s PCB. You can also see one SLI finger (which is still covered by a protector), indicating that this card is capable of a two-way SLI setup.

Asus Strix GTX 960 Review-14 Asus Strix GTX 960 Review-15

The Asus STRIX GTX 960 uses Samsung K4G41325FC-HC28 memory chips which are rated to run at 7200MHz. There are four memory chips in this card, resulting in a 2GB GDDR5 memory. The next photo shows what is in the heart of this graphics card, the new GM206 Maxwell chip.

Photo of author
Author
Peter Paul
Peter is a PC enthusiast and avid gamer with several years of hands-on experience in testing and reviewing PC components, audio equipment, and various tech devices. He offers a genuine, no-nonsense perspective, helping consumers make informed choices in the ever-changing world of technology.

Leave a Comment