Testing (continued):
GPU Temperature:
The range of temperatures that the GPU cores operated in was tested by running CPUID's HWMonitor (64-Bit) within Windows Vista Home Premium (64-Bit). The idle condition was established by recording the temperature after letting the system sit at the Window's desktop for at least 30 minutes with only HWMonitor running. The load condition was established by running 3DMark Vantage two times back-to-back, and then about 20 minutes of ATI Tool for good measure. HWMonitor logs current, minimum, and maximum temperature, so once both rounds of testing were completed, the maximum temperature was recorded. All testing was completed on an open testbed with relatively still air in a room with an ambient temperature of 21C.
The results for the Atomic HD4870 X2 are shown with the CPU cooler mounted to an Intel E8400 processor, and they still look incredible. As an additional test, the CPU cooler was removed from the CPU and the stock Intel cooler was put back on for some more GPU thermal testing. Without the heat of the CPU to deal with, the GPU temperature dropped two degrees at idle, and three degrees under a load.
CPU Temperature:
CPU thermal testing was conducted during GPU thermal testing, and CPUID's HWMonitor (64-Bit) was once again used for recording temperatures. In this set of results we have the stock Intel cooler and the OCZ Technology Vendetta cooler compared to the water cooling provided by Sapphire with the Atomic Radeon HD4870 X2. Here is one department where the Atomic Hd4870 X2 let me down... The CPU temperatures just aren't that impressive, and I almost wish the CPU cooler wasn't included. While I did not have time to do so before publishing the review, I will be revisiting the CPU temperature with some aftermarket thermal paste. Values achieved in this review were with the stock application of thermal paste, and I am hoping for better results!
This thing can generate some heat. Sensor readings on the CPU and GPU are one thing, but checking around the system (with an infrared thermometer) revealed that the heat is everywhere. The exhaust air was around 35C, the backside of the card's PCB was around 55C, and the tubing itself was about 46C.
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