When we first found out about AMD’s limitations for the R9 Nano, one of the biggest questions was how were the various AIB partners going to differentiate their cards. While restrictions were nothing new, AMD has traditionally been more lax. Today, we getting our first glimpse on the ASUS “custom” R9 Nano White Edition.
With major PCB and heatsink changes barred, ASUS has contented themselves with what appears to be a mere color scheme change. With a white colored stock heatsink shroud, we are given the “White Edition” of the R9 Nano. Unfortunately, the PCB is not white though that may change in future models. There are some hints that the PCB is custom but we have no confirmation of that yet. Any changes likely will be targeted towards the coil whine faced by the Nano but the layout of components should still be reference.
Even with the restrictions, the stock R9 Nano PCB and cooler are pretty good. With the addition of the White Edition, it looks like ASUS is trying to appeal for those looking for a white and black theme without having to void their warranties by modding. It will be interesting to see if there is a market for these kinds of models with minor aesthetics changes. In the end, we may be better off served by true custom Nano and Fury X cards.
