ASUS launches Radeon R9 280X, R9 270X ad R7 260X graphics cards, all boasting ASUS's signature DirectCU II cooling solution with different variations. DirectCU coolers have direct contact heat pipes, which increases thermal performance.
R9 280X DirectCU II TOP (R9 280X-DC2T-3GD5) features largest cooler with aluminum fin heatsink and 5 heat pipes, one of which is of 10 mm diameter. Card is cooled by two different fans. One fan is standard, while other is Cooltech fan - a mix of standard and blower fans. The same cooler is used on GTX 780 DC II. Card has a two slot rear panel with two DVI, one HDMI and DisplayPort outputs. R9 280X DirectCU II TOP runs at 1070 MHz core clock. ASUS is also preparing a couple of more R9 280X DirectCU II models, with product codes R9280X-DC2-3GD5-V2 and R9280X-DC2T-3GD5-V2, both of which have a three slot cooler. And, of course, the R9 280X Matrix (MATRIX-R9280X-3GD5)and Matrix Platinum (MATRIX-R9280X-P-3GD5) for extreme enthusiasts and overclockers.
R9 270X DirectCU II TOP comes with a much smaller heatsink with two standard fans. This cooler is also used on GeForce GTX 760 DirectCU II. R9 270X DCII TOP runs at 1120 MHz core clock, 70 MHz over reference clock of 1050 MHz. R9 260X DirectCU II TOP is cooled by even more compact cooler with two exposed heat pipes and two fans. Card has an overclock of 88 MHz over reference clock of 1100 MHz, making it run at 1188 MHz core clock.
