For our temperature testing, we measure the peak GPU core temperature under load, as well as the GPU temperature with the card idling on the desktop. A reading under load comes from running the 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra stress test for 30 minutes. An idle reading comes after leaving the system on the Windows desktop for 30 minutes.
As for the Challenger's thermal performance, it's a very impressive performer. Edge temperature peaked at just 64C, with junction temperature hitting 82C. Lastly, a memory temperature result of 70C is 2C cooler than the Sapphire Pulse model.
This thermal performance is reflected when looking at our thermal imaging camera, with hot spots in the card barely reaching 50C.