- Dec 4, 2009
- 173
- 0
- 18,690
Hey guys, I previously had purchased a pair of Zotac GTX 460 video cards (1 GB edition) and they ran SUPER hot in my PC - pretty much I'd equate them to miniature GTX 480s without the power of two 480s...Ran Furmark in the low 90*C, ran most games at 80-85*C - so I RMA'ed those cards and am now considering an alternative. I want the cool quiet GTX 460 everyone has been talking about - but considering the cost I think I will just buy one GTX 460 for now and maybe pick another up later. I have narrowed it down to two versions with aftermarket cooler designs, but I'm uncertain which to pick.
Both have similar designs, the MSI Hawk has silver pipes whereas the Gigabyte SOC has copper pipes - for what difference that really makes. The Gigabyte SOC has a pretty decent overclock built in (815 MHz core, 1630 MHz shader) but is claimed to easily overclock stable and remain cool and is still claimed to run a basically silent 37 DBa under load with Furmark temps at about 65* C. The price for the Gigabyte SOC is $200 flat, which is a-okay by me. I bring the Hawk up because Newegg has lowered the price for awhile and combined with the rebate the Hawk is only $160 after rebates. Both are 1 GB editions, but the one review site didn't like the Hawk as much whereas they loved the Gigabyte SOC (Wasn't real clear on the reasoning - it just seemed that way from reading the conclusion). The MSI Hawk is slightly slower (780 MHz core, 1560 MHz shader) but I imagine would overclock decently as well. I do plan to overclock a bit to compensate a bit since I did have two 460's in SLI for awhile and want to at least outperfrom a stock GTX 470 (From what I've seen this is not too hard to do with OC)
Seriously though, I do NOT want heat or noise. If that means the extra $40 the Gigabyte SOC costs will make it quieter and cooler, it's worth all the difference in the world. I had two GTX 260 video cards in this same computer that regularly ran about 70-74*C when I would play games - reference design EVGA cards, they peaked at 82*C under Furmark I think. I am slightly curious - given the fan design of these two cards is it possible they would run hot and that I would be better off with a reference design? I do have a little sound card directly beneath the video card (And I can't relocate it - stupid capacitors on my motherboard block the other PCI slot for my sound card). My GTX 260 cards looked like this:
My Zotac seemed similar, but did have an idiot DVI plug blocking part of the exhaust (Stupid design choice IMO)
What do you guys think - will both of the above work and if so which would you go with given what I've mentioned? If not, should I just buy a reference design? I want the quietest and the coolest card. Appreciate the input, you guys helped me determine those Zotac cards I had were just rubbish design!
Both have similar designs, the MSI Hawk has silver pipes whereas the Gigabyte SOC has copper pipes - for what difference that really makes. The Gigabyte SOC has a pretty decent overclock built in (815 MHz core, 1630 MHz shader) but is claimed to easily overclock stable and remain cool and is still claimed to run a basically silent 37 DBa under load with Furmark temps at about 65* C. The price for the Gigabyte SOC is $200 flat, which is a-okay by me. I bring the Hawk up because Newegg has lowered the price for awhile and combined with the rebate the Hawk is only $160 after rebates. Both are 1 GB editions, but the one review site didn't like the Hawk as much whereas they loved the Gigabyte SOC (Wasn't real clear on the reasoning - it just seemed that way from reading the conclusion). The MSI Hawk is slightly slower (780 MHz core, 1560 MHz shader) but I imagine would overclock decently as well. I do plan to overclock a bit to compensate a bit since I did have two 460's in SLI for awhile and want to at least outperfrom a stock GTX 470 (From what I've seen this is not too hard to do with OC)
Seriously though, I do NOT want heat or noise. If that means the extra $40 the Gigabyte SOC costs will make it quieter and cooler, it's worth all the difference in the world. I had two GTX 260 video cards in this same computer that regularly ran about 70-74*C when I would play games - reference design EVGA cards, they peaked at 82*C under Furmark I think. I am slightly curious - given the fan design of these two cards is it possible they would run hot and that I would be better off with a reference design? I do have a little sound card directly beneath the video card (And I can't relocate it - stupid capacitors on my motherboard block the other PCI slot for my sound card). My GTX 260 cards looked like this:
My Zotac seemed similar, but did have an idiot DVI plug blocking part of the exhaust (Stupid design choice IMO)
What do you guys think - will both of the above work and if so which would you go with given what I've mentioned? If not, should I just buy a reference design? I want the quietest and the coolest card. Appreciate the input, you guys helped me determine those Zotac cards I had were just rubbish design!
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram