ASUS Announces R9 280 DirectCU II Graphics Card

Exclusive DirectCU II and CoolTech cooling technologies and DIGI+ voltage-regulator module deliver performance that’s up to 20% cooler and 3X quieter

ASUS today announced R9 280 DirectCU II, a new graphics card powered by the latest AMD Radeon™ R9 280 graphics-processing unit (GPU) and fitted with exclusive DirectCU II technology for cooler, quieter and faster performance.

With ASUS DirectCU II technology on board, R9 280 DirectCU II runs up to 20% cooler and up to three times (3X) quieter than reference designs — and that means faster, quieter and more stable gaming. The new card has a base clock speed of 874MHz, which climbs all the way up to 980MHz when boosted.

The latest addition to the ASUS graphics card line-up also benefits from DIGI+, an exclusive voltage-regulation module (VRM) for incredible stability and reduced noise.

R9 280 DirectCU II also comes with GPU Tweak, an easy-to-use tool that teases maximum performance from the GPU and allows users to broadcast their enhanced gameplay — real-time graphics tuning and live streaming has never been this easy.

With 3GB of super-fast GDDR5 video memory and support for resolutions of up to 2560 x 1600, R9 280 DirectCU II delivers a truly fantastic gaming experience.

Exclusive DirectCU II thermal and CoolTech fan technologies for faster and quieter gaming

DirectCU II is an innovative thermal technology that’s exclusive to ASUS. It puts highly-conductive 10mm copper cooling pipes in direct contact with a card’s GPU so heat is dissipated quickly and with extreme efficiency.

The new card also features a unique CoolTech fan: this consists of a hybrid blade and bearing design, with inner radial blower and outer flower-type blades that provide multi-directional airflow to accelerate heat removal and enable highly stable graphics performance.

These ASUS innovations combine to enable R9 280 DirectCU II to run up to 20% cooler and three times (3X) quieter than reference designs — and that means faster, more stable gaming with very little noise.

Ultra-clean power supply for ultra-efficient, ultra-reliable gaming

R9 280 DirectCU II includes several more exclusive ASUS technologies. DIGI+ VRM reduces power noise by 30% and enhances energy efficiency by 15% compared to reference designs. DIGI+ VRM also widens voltage-modulation tolerance and improves overall stability and longevity — by two-and-a-half times (2.5X) above reference.

ASUS designed DIGI+ VRM with components of exceptional quality. DIGI+ VRM is built with extremely heard-wearing polymerized organic-semiconductor capacitors (POSCAPs), meaning R9 280 DirectCU II is built to last.

Easy advanced tweaking and fun live streaming

R9 280 DirectCU II comes with GPU Tweak, an exclusive tuning tool that allows quick, simple and safe control over video-memory clock speeds, cooling-fan speeds and power-consumption thresholds — allowing the card’s GPU to be pushed to its limits.

As well, the GPU Tweak Streaming tool lets users share on-screen action over the internet in real time, so others can watch live as games are played. It’s even possible to add a title to the streaming window along with scrolling text, pictures and webcam images.