Review: Asus Radeon RX 470 Strix Gaming OC 4GB

Conclusion

The AMD RX 470 GPU is a logical progression in filling the sub-£200 graphics market with the next iteration of Polaris hardware. RX 470 takes a sensible approach in culling performance when compared to RX 480 - there's a drop in CUs from 36 to 32, a snip in the memory speed, and a reduction in the core speed.

What this means is there's a clear performance distinction between the two Polaris GPUs, enough so that partners can construct RX 470 OC parts and run a minimal risk of overlap. The inherent problem is that AMD is charging $179 for the base RX 470, which is too close to the RX 480 4GB's $199.

That takes us on to the Asus RX 470 Strix Gaming OC. It uses the DC2 cooler that's now enhanced by RGB lighting down one side. Cool and quiet, the 1,250MHz core speed looks decent on paper but, given how the card is setup, never manages to achieve that in our benchmarks, thus leaving it trailing 15 per cent or so behind an RX 480 4GB OC.

And while there's nothing intrinsically wrong with the Asus, AMD's pricing means that the RX 470 Gaming OC arrives at retail at £190, or just a tenner less than the manifestly faster Sapphire RX 480 Nitro 4GB.

Should AMD sort out the pricing structure of the RX 470 sensibly, to, say, £165 for a base GPU, then partners can have room to breathe with their aftermarket interpretations. As it is, the RX 470, despite being close to RX 480 in the financial stakes, is still the best GPU under £200 right now.

*Update 15:10: AMD has now reduced the pricing of the entry-level reference-designed RX 470 to £165. Given that move, Asus may need to rethink the Strix's value proposition.

Asus Radeon RX 470 Strix Gaming OC 4GB

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