XFX 5850 diffrent model numbers / questions

Right, a reference model of the card is the card exactly as ATI designed it. There are now, as you said, a few models appearing with the same sillicon, but the new egg-shaped cooler. There is little information about the performance of the newer cooler, but I would assume it performs equally or better to the original cooler.

A non reference card is a card which, apart from having the same chip soldered in, doesn't bare much resemblance to the reference model. It might have a better cooling system, will likely have a totally different layout of components on the board and is probably factory overclocked. They advantages over the reference board, such as very quiet running or high clocks from the factory/easier to get to higher clocks.

If you buy a reference card, it'll be the same no matter what company you buy it from (so warranty should be your deciding factor). I noticed all the cards you listed are from XFX - any particular reason why? Regarding non reference cards, just do your research and decide if one is right for you.

It is worth bearing in mind that many non-refence cards do not have the ability to overvolt the card through software, as exhibited in the standard versions. Again, if that matters to you, do your research.

ADDENDUM: Looking at some of your models, cards with the name of a game afterwards are normally the reference card with a free game thrown in.

XFX were always good at this, the different numbers and letters may also correspond to the clock speeds the cards have and have nothing to do with what type of coolers are fitted.

Hey guys/gals

Called XFX and got the straight skinny... Here it is for people in the same "boat" and need help.


HD-585A-ZNFV is ATI Refrence with shroud(enclosed) cooler with fan on the end



The rest of HD-585X ones are XFX version of the card Non-Ref

Ones with ZNF have the shroud(enclosed) cooler with fan in the middle
585X-ZAFC
585X-ZAFV

Ones with ZNF Have the Egg cooler
585X-ZNFC
585X-ZNFV

Dude said that 585X are for basiclly if you want to slap on a block for water cooling, because of the placement of chips and such on the 585A (ATI ref) are really close to the GPU/water block placment.

C comes with just the card

V comes with AvP Game


Hope this helps,
DamianJP

Thank you !!!!

Willakan / mousemonkey / jerreece


I'm going with the Egg cooler for better GPU cooling since my case is a wind tunnel and will spit out warm air this cooler throws in.

I'm going with XFX because of double lifetime warranty. In case of it breaking or if I decide to upgrade the card has a high resale value to others because the lifetime warranty transfers to them aswell.

As Willakan stated I think the 585X (non ref) cards have alittle higher clock speeds. Don't me on it %100 tho.



Thanks again,
DamianJP

Just received the ZNFC model I bought from the 'Egg for $279 + a free 8G OCZ flash drive! Will install tonight and share my results sometime next week as my weekend is just crammed. And yeah, you can't beat the transferrable XFX warranty. Even EVGA's warranty isn't transferrable, and of course, they only deal in nVidia product.

Best answer selected by damianJP.

Currently running 2 of these in crossfire mode with XFX HD 5870 bioses at 850/4800(1200). Added copper heatsinks to memory and reseated GPU's with TX-4. Amazing performance folks, and I'm still running a Q9550 at 3.825 on a P45 platform (ASUS P5Q-Deluxe). Vantage/Unigine temps never even hit above 65C.

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey