To test power consumption today we are using a Keithley Integra unit and we measure power consumption from the VGA card inputs, not the system wide drain. We measure results while gaming in Crysis Warhead and record the results.
The HD5850 is an efficient card, demanding 17 watts when idle and just over 100 watts when gaming. A Crossfire X configuration is still quite cost effective considering the power on hand.
I admire powercolor for all the cool designs recently. I think they are on the rise as more people are buying their hardware (but maybe im wrong?)
I bought one of these last month and have been very happy with it. I did notice that the thermal paste application was poor , and that by applying my own temperatures dropped a good 5 c
I like their hardware, ive owned a few cards and they have been fine. I know sapphier get all the applause, but nothing wrong with PC.
Id prefer two of these to a GTX580, Direct X performance is clearly much better
You guys forget about the driver reliance. AMD are still slow updating drivers to support games. id have most of the games beaten by the time id have the profile for it.
ill pass
Nice cards, but no need for single slot for my system, ive been looking to upgrade, but I might wait on 7 series, cant be that far ahead now. maybe end of year.
Whats their warranty in the UK?
THe power consumption is excellent. AMD really have that sorted with the latest cards.
I dont think a single card card lasts as long as a dual slot, they tend to run hotter all over and things ‘burn out’ over time. its a risk with this design, especially in a media center.
I admire powercolor for making so many cool designs, outside the reference AMD plans.
These particular cards arent for me, but I dig their overall progress in this market recently.
Yeah thats good value for money, but with the yoyotech GTX580 being sold for £330 (asus direct CU II!) it knocks this off the ‘great deal’ imo.