Whats the difference between reference and non reference cards (5850)

[paradigmGT]

I have a few options at buying a used HD 5850 1gb ddr5 card for $50.

One seller has a reference Sapphire HD 5850 as well as a reference Asus HD 5850 for $50 each.

Another seller has a PowerColor HD5850 also for $50.
Which card would be the better one to go with?

What is the difference between reference and non reference?

 

[KingFatty]

Reference cards are more likely to have unlocked voltage controls. This means that when you overclock, you can easily adjust a slider in the software to increase voltage and increase overclocking. They also have a certain blower style of cooler, that may be a little loud when overclocking but good for crossfire because it exhausts all the hot air out the back of the system.

Non-reference cards can sometimes use a less-expensive voltage controller that is not software-controllable, so you are stuck with that voltage and can't adjust it.

But there is a chance the non-reference card has the good software voltage control, but also has an improved cooler to operate more quietly and enable cooler overclocking. Those coolers may exhaust air inside the case, so if you have crossfire, they crowd each other and expose each other to both of their hot exhaust gases.

You could get a reference card and add your own aftermarket cooler, but you can't take a card with a locked voltage controller and try to use software to control it. However, you may be able to use a pencil to draw a line on the card that increases voltage, but that can be tricky and you should have a multimeter to monitor the voltage.

 

[paradigmGT]

Reference cards are more likely to have unlocked voltage controls. This means that when you overclock, you can easily adjust a slider in the software to increase voltage and increase overclocking. They also have a certain blower style of cooler, that may be a little loud when overclocking but good for crossfire because it exhausts all the hot air out the back of the system.

Non-reference cards can sometimes use a less-expensive voltage controller that is not software-controllable, so you are stuck with that voltage and can't adjust it.

But there is a chance the non-reference card has the good software voltage control, but also has an improved cooler to operate more quietly and enable cooler overclocking. Those coolers may exhaust air inside the case, so if you have crossfire, they crowd each other and expose each other to both of their hot exhaust gases.

You could get a reference card and add your own aftermarket cooler, but you can't take a card with a locked voltage controller and try to use software to control it. However, you may be able to use a pencil to draw a line on the card that increases voltage, but that can be tricky and you should have a multimeter to monitor the voltage.

Thanks. I will buy either the sapphire or asus reference card then.