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Need 5850 recommendations

R

Ranulfo

Supreme [H]ardness
Joined
Feb 9, 2006
Messages
5,608
So I'm looking at 5850s (maybe a 5870 if I see a deal), what are some of the best cards these days? Sound noise is a main concern and size somewhat (needs to fit in a lian li mid tower).

TIA
 
I would get one from XFX mainly for the lifetime/double lifetime warranties. I bought a Sapphire reference 5870 a while ago and I ran pretty silently for my ears.

What Lian-Li case do you have?
 
There have been some quality issues and inability to over-volt with non-reference cards so you should probably get a reference card. Reference cards have the fan at the end of the card instead of the middle. I would assume the noise and size would be similar on all of these. So that really leaves price and add-ons as the determining factor.

I too like my XFX card. OCs really well with the MSI software
 
Iron Eagle said:
I would get one from XFX mainly for the lifetime/double lifetime warranties. I bought a Sapphire reference 5870 a while ago and I ran pretty silently for my ears.

What Lian-Li case do you have?
Click to expand...

Its a mid-tower PC61 (IIRC) aluminum. Thanks for the replies all. I've been leaning towards gigabyte or xfx. I've been fairly happy with my xfx 7950gt fanless model. Tired of worrying about excess heat though.
 
this thread was relevant to my interest. I was looking at saphire and xfx and this has sealed the deal for me. Thanks guys
 
I got the Sapphire 5850, non-reference version, with the fan in the middle. It's too easy to overclock 200 Mhz to 925/1200. Haven't tried further. Not needed.
 
The reference cards are the way to go. I have a reference Sapphire and a reference BBATI 5850. I made the mistake of getting a non-reference Powercolor PCS+ card once and found out it was longer than a normal 5850. No voltage control either.

My first Sapphire 5850 OC'd to 5870 speeds without even a voltage bump..
 
The reference cooler is noisy to my ears though. I do not know if it is the smaller fan's higher pitch that bugs me or what. I run the non-reference 5850's and they are quieter and cool better, at least based on my experience. Both mine overclock to 900mhz on the core easy without any effort or need for voltage tweaks, could go more but do not see the need atm.
 
I've just ordered this non reference 5850:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121375

voltage control and better (or at least quieter I hope) cooling solution. I've posted on the Guru3D forum and Afterburner should work with this non-reference card because it uses the uP6208 voltage controller which is already recognised by AB for a non reference GTX 275. If it doesn't work I've been told by Unwinder to post my result and he may be able to get it woking....should be pretty sweet!
 
Last edited:
ScourggeFX said:
I got the Sapphire 5850, non-reference version, with the fan in the middle. It's too easy to overclock 200 Mhz to 925/1200. Haven't tried further. Not needed.
Click to expand...

how loud does the card get when you overclock it to that?
 
i bought the second card. it has no memory cooling and the VRM runs super hot.

not refundable either. don't recommend buying it, choose a card that you can return.



Ranulfo said:
Thread necro here.

Any reason to go with the XFX ZAFC for cooling/noise over the cheaper ZNFC model? Both have fans in middle but the ZAFC has a shroud and vent on the back panel. I can't seem to find any spec differences beyond the fan setup (or other model that includes a game).

ZNFC:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150477



http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150494

TIA
Click to expand...
 
If a card is going to take 2 slots it should exhaust out the back with stock cooling.
 
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