Power Draw
As we mentioned early in this article, we tested the power draw from the outlet for this setup. We took three recordings, one at idle, another while playing Far Cry 4 and the last while running FurMark. Just like all the other tests, we did this for stock, GPU overclocked, as well as GPU and Memory overclocked.
As expected, overclocking the card increased the power draw. What was surprising however is how much the idle draw jumped up with the GPU overclocked. Over 12 extra watts are used with card running this way. Definitely worth considering if you value power savings.
Final Thoughts
Much like any GTX 970, the Asus Geforce GTX 970 Strix OC is a very strong performer. The settings in the games we tested speak for themselves. What sets this card apart from the others is the fantastic cooling solution that Asus provided, and the already very aggressive overclock out of the box.
The Direct CU II cooler performed phenomenally. The card never exceeded 66 degrees, even in the most demanding games and tests. While we were hoping for more out of the overclock, performance beyond stock is never guaranteed. Since it’s not the temperature holding us back, there’s good chance that others will have better luck. Regardless, our results showed that there really isn’t a lot of benefit to overclocking this GPU. At least not with the games we used for testing.
The performance of the Geforce GTX 970 still speaks for itself. Even more than half a year after it’s release, there is still no direct answer from AMD. That may change in the near future however.
The price is still a matter of concern. Early adopters really got a huge benefit by missing the exchange rate changes. At $440, the 970 is a much harder pill to swallow. That being said, it’s still cheaper than a GTX 780 was less than a year ago.
If you are in the market for a GTX 970 based graphics card, this could be an excellent choice for your new upgrade.
Pros: Excellent out of the box overclock, good potential for more. Not to large, should fit anywhere. Included back plate.
Cons: The price tag in Canada has gone up considerably making it harder to justify.
Bottom Line: The value isn’t as good as it was shortly after launch, but even at the higher price, GTX 970 based cards are still worth the cost. Asus’s Geforce GTX 970 STRIX OC is a fantastic performing card and should be considered by anyone in the market for a 970.
