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ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£110
  • Avg. price in US: ~$160
  • VRAM: 1 GB
  • Memory bus width: 128 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 80 W

ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

3.3

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the graphics card's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best graphics cards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

2.8

Technical Score

10.0%

7.0

User score

Poor
2.8

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

1.3

Performance

24.0%

1.2

Memory

12.0%

7.6

Power & Cooling

11.0%

4.5

Platform & Features

5.0%

6.7

Design

4.0%

5.7

Connectivity & Media

Very poor
7.0

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

8.0

User reviews

30.0%

4.6

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
(56)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Very good
  • 7.1
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    10

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 5.9
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    10

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 7.3
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    10

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    10.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 6.9
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    10

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    15.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 6.3
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    10

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

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Best rankings

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Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU is a budget-friendly graphics card built on AMD's 28nm GCN architecture, featuring a Cape Verde XT GPU with 640 stream processors and 1GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus. It distinguishes itself with the proprietary DirectCU cooling system, which uses flattened copper heat pipes in direct contact with the GPU to deliver 20% cooler and significantly quieter performance than reference designs. Key specifications include a factory-overclocked core speed of 1020 MHz, a 4.6 Gbps effective memory clock, and a low 80W TDP requiring only a single 6-pin power connector. Major pros include its exceptional energy efficiency, support for PCI Express 3.0, and a comprehensive output array including HDMI 1.4a and DisplayPort 1.2. However, main cons involve its limited 1GB VRAM capacity which struggles with modern high-resolution textures, and its lack of high-end performance for demanding contemporary gaming titles.

Technical Specifications of ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

1.3

Performance

24.0%

1.2

Memory

12.0%

7.6

Power & Cooling

11.0%

4.5

Platform & Features

5.0%

6.7

Design

4.0%

5.7

Connectivity & Media

2.8
ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a technical score of 2.84 points, which is lower than that of 98.5% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

8.0

User reviews

30.0%

4.6

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
(56)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

7.0
ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a user score of 6.99 points, which is lower than that of 91.6% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you prefer a graphics card that has already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
4.6
ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a popularity of 4.6 points, which is higher than 60.1% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the graphics card's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a graphics card that offers a strong balance of performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

3.3

Overall score

40.0%

9.9

Price

5.3
ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a quality-to-price ratio of 5.3 points, which is lower than 93.8% of products in this category.
3DMark Time Spy benchmark score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Time Spy, a synthetic DirectX 12 test often used as a quick gaming-performance reference.
When it matters: When you need a fast rough performance sort before digging into game-specific reviews and frame-rate data.

Importance: LOW

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3DMark Port Royal score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Port Royal, a synthetic test focused on ray tracing performance.
When it matters: When ray tracing matters in the games you actually play and you want one quick way to separate stronger and weaker RT cards.

Importance: LOW

N/A
PassMark (G3D) result
What it is: Overall GPU performance score in PassMark G3D benchmark
When it matters: When you need one broad score to sort cards into rough performance tiers.

Importance: LOW

?
PassMark (DirectCompute) result
What it is: PassMark score for DirectCompute performance tests
When it matters: When compute workloads matter alongside gaming performance.

Importance: LOW

?
Floating-point performance
What it is: Theoretical floating-point compute performance of the GPU.
When it matters: When rendering, AI, or heavy compute work needs strong single-precision throughput.

Importance: LOW

1,305.6 TFLOPS
ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU delivers 1305.6 TFLOPS floating-point performance, which is higher than that of 100% of graphics cards.
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VRAM
What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

Importance: HIGH

1 GB
ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has 1 GB of VRAM, which is less than 98.5% of graphics cards and equal to 1.5% of graphics cards.
Memory type
What it is: Type of graphics memory used (GDDR6, HBM2e, etc.)
When it matters: When memory technology is part of the buying decision because it affects bandwidth class, power use, and product positioning.

Importance: LOW

GDDR5
GDDR version
What it is: Generation of GDDR memory used by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you want to separate older memory generations from newer ones before comparing bandwidth, power behavior, and market tier.

Importance: LOW

GDDR5
ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU uses GDDR5 memory, which is older than on 85% of graphics cards and equal to 13.2% of graphics cards.
Memory bus width
What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

Importance: HIGH

128 bit
ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU uses a 128 bit memory bus, which is narrower than that of 69.8% of graphics cards and equal to that of 26.1% of graphics cards.
Maximum memory bandwidth
What it is: Maximum data transfer rate between GPU and its memory
When it matters: When 4K gaming, ray tracing, or creator work can choke a slower memory subsystem.

Importance: HIGH

73.6 GB/s
ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU reaches 73.6 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 97.6% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.1% of graphics cards.
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PCI Express (PCIe) version
What it is: Version of PCI Express interface supported
When it matters: When you are pairing the card with an older motherboard and want to avoid leaving bandwidth or future compatibility on the table.

Importance: LOW

3.0
ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU supports PCIe 3.0, which is older than on 77.6% of graphics cards and equal to 20.3% of graphics cards.
PCIe lanes
What it is: Number of PCI Express lanes used for communication
When it matters: When limited lane width could bottleneck the card in some systems.

Importance: LOW

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DirectX version
What it is: Highest supported DirectX API version
When it matters: When you play newer Windows games that depend on the latest graphics features.

Importance: LOW

12
ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU supports DirectX 12, which is older than on 92.7% of graphics cards and equal to 7.1% of graphics cards.
Vulkan version
What it is: Highest supported Vulkan API version
When it matters: When modern games, emulators, or creative apps lean on Vulkan support.

Importance: LOW

1.2
ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU supports Vulkan 1.2, which is older than on 96% of graphics cards and equal to 2.5% of graphics cards.
OpenGL version
What it is: Highest supported OpenGL API version
When it matters: When older games or pro apps still depend on OpenGL compatibility.

Importance: LOW

4.6
ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU supports OpenGL 4.6, which is more advanced than on 4.8% of graphics cards and equal to 95.2% of graphics cards.
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Max displays supported
What it is: Total number of external displays supported simultaneously
When it matters: When you run a multi-monitor desk for sim racing, trading, or editing.

Importance: LOW

?
Max digital resolution
What it is: Maximum supported digital display resolution
When it matters: When you plan to drive 4K or 8K panels at their native resolution.

Importance: LOW

?
DisplayPort outputs
What it is: Number of DisplayPort video outputs
When it matters: When your setup needs several high-refresh monitors without adapters.

Importance: LOW

2
ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU offers 2 DisplayPort outputs, which is fewer than 79.2% of graphics cards and equal to 10.2% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort version
What it is: Version of DisplayPort standard supported
When it matters: When your monitor setup depends on newer DisplayPort features for higher refresh rates, higher resolution, or better cable flexibility.

Importance: LOW

1.2
ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU supports DisplayPort 1.2, which is older than on 93.6% of graphics cards and equal to 4.8% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort link rates
What it is: Supported data link rates for DisplayPort connections
When it matters: When you are pushing high resolution and refresh rate over DisplayPort.

Importance: LOW

5.4 Gbps
ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU supports DisplayPort link rates up to 5.4 Gbps, which is slower than on 90.9% of graphics cards and equal to 8% of graphics cards.
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Thermal Design Power (TDP)
What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

Importance: MEDIUM

80 W
ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a TDP of 80 W, which is lower than that of 90.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.3% of graphics cards.
Power consumption while under peak load
What it is: Peak power draw of the graphics card under maximum load.
When it matters: When transient-heavy gaming loads could stress your power supply.

Importance: LOW

80 W
ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU draws 80 W under peak load, which is lower than 90.7% of graphics cards and equal to 0.3% of graphics cards.
Recommended PSU wattage
What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

Importance: LOW

500 W
ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU recommends a 500 W PSU, which is lower than that of 76.2% of graphics cards and equal to that of 9.6% of graphics cards.
Board power limit
What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board
When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

Importance: LOW

80 W
ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a board power limit of 80 W, which is lower than that of 91.1% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.3% of graphics cards.
PCIe power spec
What it is: PCIe power delivery specification followed
When it matters: When you are checking whether the slot and external cables match the card's intended power-delivery standard.

Importance: LOW

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Size
What it is: Physical size of the GPU card
When it matters: When you need the card to fit a compact case without blocking nearby hardware.

Importance: LOW

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Length
What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

Importance: LOW

226 mm
ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU is 226 mm long, which is shorter than 83.6% of graphics cards and equal in length to 0.2% of graphics cards.
Height
What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

Importance: LOW

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Slot width
What it is: Number of PCIe slots occupied by the card
When it matters: When you need room for another PCIe card or better airflow under the GPU.

Importance: LOW

2 slot/s
ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU occupies 2 slot/s, which is slimmer than 49.2% of graphics cards and equal in width to 47.3% of graphics cards.
Weight
What it is: Total weight of the graphics card
When it matters: When sag, bracket support, or shipping stress matters in your build.

Importance: LOW

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ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU vs the average graphics card

  • 62.8% lower TDP
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (80 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
    What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
    When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (80 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.80 W vs 215 W
  • 23.1% lower PSU requirement
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
    What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
    When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.500 W vs 650 W
  • 59.37 mm shorter card length
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU is shorter than the average graphics card (226 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.
    What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
    When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU is shorter than the average graphics card (226 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.226 mm vs 285.37 mm
  • 63.6% lower board power limit
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (80 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 220 W.
    What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board
    When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (80 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 220 W.80 W vs 220 W
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
    What it is: Number of DVI display outputs available
    When it matters: When you still use an older monitor that depends on DVI.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.1 vs 0
  • 4.82x cheaper
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU is cheaper than the average graphics card (£110 vs £530).
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU is cheaper than the average graphics card (£110 vs £530).£110 vs £530
  • 56.51x higher compute throughput
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a higher compute throughput than the average graphics card (1,305.6 TFLOPS vs 23.105 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has compute throughput of 23.105 TFLOPS.
    What it is: Theoretical floating-point compute performance of the GPU.
    When it matters: When rendering, AI, or heavy compute work needs strong single-precision throughput.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a higher compute throughput than the average graphics card (1,305.6 TFLOPS vs 23.105 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has compute throughput of 23.105 TFLOPS.1305.6 TFLOPS vs 23.105 TFLOPS
  • Better FP64 ratio
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:16 vs 1:64).
    What it is: Ratio of double-precision (FP64) to single-precision (FP32) performance
    When it matters: When you need to know whether FP64 is merely present or genuinely useful.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:16 vs 1:64).1:16 vs 1:64
  • 56.51x higher compute throughput
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a higher compute throughput than the average graphics card (1,305.6 TFLOPS vs 23.105 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has compute throughput of 23.105 TFLOPS.
  • Better FP64 ratio
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:16 vs 1:64).
  • 59.6% smaller GPU die
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a lower GPU die size than the average graphics card (123 mm² vs 304.25 mm²). The average graphics card has a GPU die size of 304.25 mm².
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
  • 62.8% lower TDP
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (80 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
  • 23.1% lower PSU requirement
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
  • 63.6% lower board power limit
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (80 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 220 W.
  • 63.6% lower peak power draw
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a lower peak power draw than the average graphics card (80 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a peak power draw of 220 W.
  • 59.37 mm shorter card length
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU is shorter than the average graphics card (226 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.

Total
Overall
Performance
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design
  • 59.2% lower boost clock speed
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,020 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
  • 30 fewer compute units
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (10 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 46.9% lower base clock speed
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,020 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • 144 fewer TMUs
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (40 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 89.2% lower texture rate
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (40.8 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
  • 90.1% lower pixel rate
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (16.3 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
  • 48 fewer ROPs
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (16 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 94.3% lower FP32 performance
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a lower FP32 performance than the average graphics card (1.3 TFLOPS vs 22.86 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP32 performance of 22.86 TFLOPS.
  • 3,712 fewer FP32 units
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has fewer FP32 units than the average graphics card (640 vs 4,352). The average graphics card has 4,352 FP32 units.
  • 128 bit narrower memory bus
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (128 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
  • 11 GB less VRAM
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (1 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 83.6% lower memory bandwidth
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (73.6 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 75.8% slower memory speed
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (4,600 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
  • 99.2% smaller L2 cache
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has fewer L2 cache than the average graphics card (0.3 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
  • 34.3% slower VRAM clock
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a lower VRAM clock than the average graphics card (1,150 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
  • 87.5% smaller L1 cache
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has fewer L1 cache than the average graphics card (16 vs 128). The average graphics card has 128 L1 cache.
  • 5.6x larger process node
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a higher process node than the average graphics card (28 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
  • 11 older
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,012 vs 2,023).
  • Older PCIe version
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (3 vs 4.0).
  • No XeSS support
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU does not support XeSS, the average graphics card does.
  • No mesh shaders
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU does not support mesh shaders, the average graphics card does.
  • Older Vulkan version
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU supports an older Vulkan version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 1.4).
  • Worse SAM support
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU offers worse SAM support than the average graphics card (no vs yes).
  • Older DirectX version
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU supports an older DirectX version than the average graphics card (12 vs 12 Ultimate).
  • Older OpenCL version
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU supports an older OpenCL version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 3.0).
  • No sampler feedback
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU does not support sampler feedback, the average graphics card does.
  • Older shader model
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU supports an older shader model than the average graphics card (6.5 vs 6.8).
  • 93.2% fewer transistors
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has fewer transistors than the average graphics card (1,500 million vs 21,900 million). The average graphics card has 21,900 million transistors.
  • No AV1 encoding
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 3). The average graphics card has 3 DisplayPort outputs.
  • No AV1 decoding
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No DSC support
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU does not support DSC, the average graphics card does.
  • Older HDMI version
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (1.4a vs 2.1).
  • Older DisplayPort version
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU supports an older DisplayPort version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 1.4a).
  • Older HDCP version
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU supports an older HDCP version than the average graphics card (1.4 vs 2.3).
  • Not VR ready
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU is not VR ready, while the average graphics card is.
  • 2 fewer fans
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
  • No fan stop
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU does not support fan stop, the average graphics card does.
  • 12 °C lower thermal ceiling
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a lower thermal ceiling than the average graphics card (105 °C vs 93 °C). The average graphics card has a thermal ceiling of 93 °C.
  • 59.2% lower boost clock speed
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,020 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
    What it is: Maximum boost frequency the GPU can reach under load
    When it matters: When you want a rough idea of peak advertised frequency, while knowing real sustained clocks still depend on cooling and power limits.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,020 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.1020 MHz vs 2500 MHz
  • 128 bit narrower memory bus
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (128 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
    What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
    When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (128 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.128 bit vs 256 bit
  • 5.6x larger process node
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a higher process node than the average graphics card (28 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
    What it is: Size of the manufacturing process in nanometers
    When it matters: When process node differences may affect power, heat, and overall efficiency.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a higher process node than the average graphics card (28 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.28 nm vs 5 nm
  • 30 fewer compute units
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (10 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
    What it is: Total number of shader multiprocessors or compute units
    When it matters: When you want a better sense of the GPU's overall parallel hardware resources before relying on game benchmarks alone.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (10 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.10 vs 40
  • 11 GB less VRAM
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (1 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
    What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
    When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (1 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.1 GB vs 12 GB
  • 2 fewer fans
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
    What it is: Total number of cooling fans
    When it matters: When you compare cooler designs and want one more clue about thermal potential.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).1 vs 3
  • 46.9% lower base clock speed
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,020 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
    What it is: Base operating frequency of the GPU core under standard conditions
    When it matters: When you want to understand the card's guaranteed starting frequency instead of looking only at optimistic boost figures.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,020 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.1020 MHz vs 1920 MHz
  • 144 fewer TMUs
    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (40 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
    What it is: Total count of texture mapping units on the GPU
    When it matters: When texture-heavy gaming performance matters and you want extra hardware context behind texture-rate claims.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (40 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.40 vs 184
Total
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Platform & Features
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Power & Cooling

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
56 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

What customers like about ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU?

  • Excellent power efficiency, particularly at idle with AMD ZeroCore technology
  • DirectCU cooling solution keeps the card very cool and extremely quiet even under load
  • Comes with a factory overclock that improves performance over the reference design
  • Strong GPU overclocking potential beyond the factory settings
  • Native connectivity for full-size HDMI and DisplayPort

What customers dislike about ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU?

  • Poor price-to-performance ratio at launch compared to older or competing cards like the HD 6850 or GTX 460
  • Limited memory overclocking headroom compared to other variants
  • 1GB VRAM version may struggle with modern, memory-intensive games
  • Official driver support from AMD has ended for this older architecture

Expert reviews

G
geeks3d.com
19/03/2012
(Tested) ASUS Radeon HD 7770 DirectCU TOP Review

The ASUS Radeon HD 7770 DirectCU TOP (model HD7770-DC-1GD5) is a customized, factory-overclocked graphics card based on AMD’s 28nm "Cape Verde XT" GPU and GCN architecture. While a reference HD 7770 operates at a 1000MHz GPU clock and 4500MHz effective memory clock, this premium ASUS version elevates performance with a factory overclock of 1120MHz for the core and 4600MHz effective...Read more

E
eteknix.com
20/12/2012
Asus Radeon HD 7770 DirectCU TOP CrossFire Review If you would like to explore this card further, please let me know if you want me to search for gami...

The eTeknix review evaluates the performance of two Asus Radeon HD 7770 DirectCU TOP graphics cards running in a CrossFire multi-GPU configuration. Tested on an Intel Core i7 3960X system, this dual-card setup delivers impressive scaling and benchmark numbers that rival much more expensive, higher-tier hardware. In synthetic tests like 3DMark 11 and Unigine Heaven, the configuration...Read more

T
techpowerup.com
14/02/2012
ASUS Radeon HD 7770 DirectCU 1 GB Review

The ASUS Radeon HD 7770 DirectCU is a highly efficient 28 nm "Cape Verde" graphics card featuring a factory overclock of 1020 MHz core and 1150 MHz memory, utilizing the DirectCU cooler for quiet, low-temperature operation. It offers superior energy efficiency, including the AMD ZeroCore Power feature. However, at its $159 launch price, it lacked competitive value and suffered from...Read more

G
goldfries.com
06/03/2012
Asus HD7770-DC-1GD5 (Radeon HD 7770) Graphic Card Review

The goldfries review evaluates the Asus HD7770-DC-1GD5 (Radeon HD 7770) graphics card, a mid-range contender tested on an AMD A8-3850 system against an older Leadtek GTX 460. Performance benchmarks across various games and utilities yield mixed results: the card struggles to reach fluent framerates at maximum settings, hitting only 22.55 FPS in Crysis at 1680×1050 and 23.9 FPS in...Read more

H
hardwareluxx.de
15/06/2012
Test: 2x Radeon HD 7770 - leise, schnell und OC-freudig These reviews are available on German technology sites.

The review evaluates two customized, factory-overclocked variants of AMD's 28 nm "Cape Verde XT" graphics card: the ASUS Radeon HD 7770 DirectCU II and the Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 Vapor-X. Both entry-level models feature 640 stream processors, a 128-bit memory bus, and 1 GB of GDDR5 memory. However, they surpass the reference specifications through tailored cooling solutions and...Read more

(Translated)Show original
H
hardware.fr
09/10/2012
Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 Ti, Asus DirectCU II TOP et MSI Power Edition en test

Direct Review Summary The Hardware.fr review evaluates the Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 Ti, a mid-range graphics card designed to complete the Kepler-based GeForce 600 family and directly challenge AMD's Radeon HD 7770. Built using a cut-down version of the GK106 GPU architecture found in higher-end models, the card operates with a restricted 128-bit memory bus and has one of its core SMX...Read more

(Translated)Show original

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