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XFX HD6950 XXX Edition Review – dual fan overclocked

The tests were performed in a controlled air conditioned room with temperatures maintained at a constant 25c – a comfortable environment for the majority of people reading this.

Idle temperatures were measured after sitting at the desktop for 30 minutes. Load measurements were acquired by playing Crysis Warhead for 30 minutes and measuring the peak temperature. We also have included Furmark results, recording maximum temperatures throughout a 30 minute stress test. All fan settings were left on automatic.

The dual fan configuration really helps with the cooling performance, when gaming, the temperatures never rise above 76c. Furmark pushes this a little further, to 83c under full load. The fan never exceeds 55 percent, although we have no way to measure the rpm as the card doesn't support a reading from both fans.

At idle, the fan rests around 24 percent. We will measure the noise on the next page.

Return to ambient is a feature we have recently added to our reviews … we measure the time it takes for a solution to return to idle temperatures, immediately after full load. The faster the time, the better the cooler – for example a Noctua NH D14 cooler will return an Intel processor to idle temperatures much faster than a reference cooler. This is a good indication of how quickly a heatsink can dissipate heat.

The dual fan cooler is significantly better than the reference AMD design, returning the card to idle resting temperatures within 25 seconds. The fans do spin down quickly after Furmark load, with the focus on acoustic performance, as well as cooling proficiency. Great results.

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14 comments

  1. This is more like it. good overclocks too. I need an upgrade in the next few months, but I might opt for the GTX560

  2. Seems like a good card, depending on the price point they achieve. they seem to have another XXX out with a single fan design.
    http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-194-XF&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1752

  3. Dual fans are always the way to go. anyone ever released a card with three fans ?

  4. mmm so it will be over £200 then? its right into the 560 price zone, tough call

  5. DOnt think any company has released a mainstream card with a three fan design, although I know arctic cooling had the exteme cooler on sale, was reviewed here. it had three fans.

  6. I really like that return to idle bit in the cooling section. sometimes the crap coolers ive noticed can take well over a minute to sort the temps out.

  7. I thought XFX had lost the plot after reading that Black Edition review at the weekend. no more like a black edition that my kettle. this is a lot better.

  8. Its either this or the 560……. ill probably opt for nvidia. prefer the drivers

  9. Im still getting over that 6970 card from Asus, everything pales in comparison. 🙂

  10. my mate garry pointed me to this today, if they can get it under £200 quid id jump all over it, but I cant see that happening

  11. Well I just bought the hD6870 flex, and have two screens coming soon, all for £600 🙂 really excited, but this card looks good too.

  12. great looking card, love the dual fan setup. wish AMD would adopt that idea, we have to wait months after the release to see them. sucks for early adopters

  13. This range doesnt impress me to be perfectly honest. they are good cards but I expected so much more from AMD when they were released. prefer nvidia all round.

  14. Very nice, but ive entered the 460 competition, would prefer it !