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Which higher end Radeon cards are cooler and quieter?

K

kapalua12

Member
My computer runs off 2 Vertex 3 MAX IOPS 240 Gb drives in raid 0 and I have come to enjoy the quiet. But I want powerful graphics when I need it.

Which model or specific brand Radeon cards are quieter and cooler when not blasting through BF3 or similar games but have the power to do so when needed?
 
Look for a card with aftermarket cooling like Gigabyte, Asus, and MSI. They cost a little more, but the coolers are much more efficient which means the fans spin at a much lower rate and less noise. With a program like Afterburner, you can then create a custom fan curve to suit your personal needs even further.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125371
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127581
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131394
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121430

Most of these should also be available with a 6950 if that's more your style.
 
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Powercolor 6970 pcs+ version is quiet and factory overclocked.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131394

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/06/22/powercolor_pcs_radeon_hd_6970_video_card_review/9

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RavenSEAL said:
36 dBa is still decently loud considering the fact he's using SSDs as a standard.
Click to expand...

he wants to know what idles really quiet ie

Which model or specific brand Radeon cards are quieter and cooler when not blasting through BF3 or similar games but have the power to do so when needed?
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pretty much all the twin and tri fan ones should be whisper quiet at idle.

my sapphire dirt 3 is quieter at idle than my caviar black thats for sure
 
happy medium said:
Powercolor 6970 pcs+ version is quiet and factory overclocked.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131394

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/06/22/powercolor_pcs_radeon_hd_6970_video_card_review/9

fannoise_load.gif
Click to expand...

On that chart the reference card is 2db quieter. :\

If you aren't price sensitive the MSI TFIII/Lightning (depending on model) and the Asus DCII 2 Gb are all quiet and well built. On the cheap the new Sapphire 6950 dual fan HD 6950 is a good deal. Especially since most of the Sapphires come factory unlocked. Missing the 2x mini DP from the reference model though, if that matters to you.
 
happy medium said:
link broke for me
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http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131394

found it.....

kapalua12 said:
Am I making a mistake buying into relatively "old" technology with this card?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131394

I'm surprised the price has not come down since it's introduction a year plus ago.

It does look good in the reviews though for both performance and being quiet.
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no newer cards out, they are still kinda the 'top shit' so prices are stagnant
 
fourdegrees11 said:
If sound is really your priority and you need high end performance, get a pair of these for crossfireX

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131442
Click to expand...

KingFatty said:
You could also pick your favorite video card/GPU without worrying about its cooler, and then spend another $30-50 on an aftermarket super-efficient GPU cooler (e.g., something like the VF3000: http://www.zalman.com/eng/product/Product_Read.asp?idx=390
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You will need 3slot spacing for either of those solutions. Also, not everyone wants to pull their shiny new cards apart and install a new heat sink.
 
My Sapphire 6850 (model# 100315L) is near-silent at idle and non-3D load. The fan gets above 30dbA at heavy gaming, but to me, it doesn't really matter since at that time the game sound effects/music overrides any noise from the computer.
 
What about the ASUS DirectCu II 6950 2GB?
Given it takes 3 slots, but its barely audible at all and doesn´t
get hot even under load.....
 
Before the Sapphire, I had the Asus DirectCU version of 6850, and it was way too loud at idle (I think its build-in BOIS has a high minimum fan speed, so even if the GPU is cool the fan is running too fast). I've paid restocking fee and back shipping, but was still happy to replace it. Don't know about the 6950.
 
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