Is it worth using Crystal Orb over stock Radeon 8500 fan?

[Metalloid]

I'm in need of a new video card, and am looking at the 8500 (or the RV250 when it comes out). For overclocking, would it be worth putting a crystal orb and some ramsinks on?

 

[LongCoolMother]

im wondering the same thing about ramsinks and the fan..

 

[Random Variable]

Voodoo PC uses the crystal orb for the Radeon 8500.

 

[HendrixFan]

From what Ive read, the biggest performance increase is from overclocking the memory and no the GPU. I here its common to get a retail (275/275) up to 300/300 with the orb and ramsinks. Whether or not that is worth the effort with the upcoming Radeons clocked at 300/300 will be determined by the price of the new cards.

Personally, Im waiting on the new line of ATI cards (hopefully announced in the coming week during CeBit), to drive the price of the 8500s even lower for me to purchase (and then overclock).

 

[Metalloid]

I am also waiting for the new line of Radeons, only I will be buying them instead of the 8500 if the price isnt ridiculous. I just dont see how they are running DDR memory at 275mhz (550, respectivly) without ramsinks, and people can still o'clock them.

 

[MozartsGhost]

I have the 8500 and I have successfully overclocked it to 300/305. Anything above that begins to throw beams of garbage through my screen. I am going to attempt a crystal orb fan switch and see if that helps as well as heat sinks.

 

[Mavrick007]

<< I am also waiting for the new line of Radeons, only I will be buying them instead of the 8500 if the price isnt ridiculous. I just dont see how they are running DDR memory at 275mhz (550, respectivly) without ramsinks, and people can still o'clock them. >>



It's probably happening the same way that the new GF4's mostly don't use ram sinks too.

 

[Metalloid]

Well if they can run them without ramsinks, then it seems like you could overclock it a lot with ramsinks.