Another option for you single slot guys, 6850 single slot

[BFG10K]

That's true, but the reference GTX460 has amazingly low idle/load temps, even lower than the HD6850: http://www.anandtech.com/show/4260/amds-radeon-hd-6790-coming-up-short-at-150/14 (scroll down for temps)

The temperature is irrelevant here since that's a function of the cooler. What's relevant is the power usage (TDP) since that's what has to be dissipated.

From your links at idle the power usage is the same while under Crysis the 6850 burns 35W less. Heck, the 6850 only needs one PCIe connector while the GTX460 needs two.

Like I said, if the GTX460 can be a single slot then so can the 6850 because it uses less power.

 

[Idontcare]

Single slot cards look so nice. I just want to hug them.

I agree, they just look sexy for some reason, so slim and sleek.

 

[nanaki333]

i war really digging that single slot 6850 until someone posted the single slot 460... that thing stole the show for me.

 

[Avalon]

I remember when top of the line cards like the X850XT were single slot...lol.

 

[Lonyo]

I remember when top of the line cards like the X850XT were single slot...lol.

The 4850 was single slot.
Kind of (slightly) surprising there's not much by way of single slot 6850s given they have lower power use than 4850s.

 

[Termie]

The 4850 was single slot.
Kind of (slightly) surprising there's not much by way of single slot 6850s given they have lower power use than 4850s.

I think consumers are a lot more concerned nowadays about heat and noise than they are about the number of slots they're using. With so much built into motherboards, the need for add-on cards has diminished. The truth is single-slot cards usually run hot and loud, and the 4850 was no exception. The 6850 is in the same class of power use, so it's still not easy to make it cool and quiet in a single slot.

 

[njdevilsfan87]

It means it only takes up 1 slot on your motherboard. They are usually only about an inch wide or so. There are also a little more exspensive.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814162072

That is a huge premium to pay for a single slot card. If you're running out of space due to SLI/CF you might as well just replace both cards with a single card solution.

 

[dac7nco]

That's the GTX460 I have... I agree, the mark-up was tough, but my other slots were filled with audio/NIC/tuner, and I was a HUGE step up from my GT-240. It's in a HTPC, and surprisingly I never hear it.

Daimon

 

[notty22]

Just like double slot coolers, not all single slot coolers are going to perform the same. To be effective with less space, they have to do what Galaxy did do. Use a big slug of copper. With the dual slot cards, the design benefits from more air flow, surface area.