Asus HD6850 v1 and v2?!!

[Guest]

Hey guys!
Ok so just when I thought that I found the GPU that I want and just as I was heading out to the store to buy it, it turns out that it has 2 versions! The card I'm referring to is the Asus HD 6850 DirectCU and the 2 versions are listed here:

http://www.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/AMD_Series/Radeon_HD_6850

Apparently the V2 (which is the only one available in the store) uses 2 pci-e power connectors instead of only 1 in the other version. So my question is, does that mean the V2 will consume a lot more power? I really care about power consumption so now I'm not sure if I still want this card. I might just go with one of the 2 other available HD 6850's : Club 3D or Shappire (both reference).

Also, I read somewhere that people run their V2 cards with only 1 of the 2 connectors? is that possible?

Btw, this is my PSU: the OCZ ModXStream 500w 80+ : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341016&Tpk=ocz%20500w

Thanks!!

 

[inzone]

I think that the extra power connector is to aid in overclocking the card and it will then consume more power. Since both cards come from ther factory with the same core clock speed they will both comsume the same power. The v/2 is probably designed to get a higher overclock so they added an additional power connector for that. So if you are concerned about power consumption then you shoud refrain from overclocking the card and you will be fine.

 

[Guest]

I think that the extra power connector is to aid in overclocking the card and it will then consume more power. Since both cards come from ther factory with the same core clock speed they will both comsume the same power. The v/2 is probably designed to get a higher overclock so they added an additional power connector for that. So if you are concerned about power consumption then you shoud refrain from overclocking the card and you will be fine.

How about the ability of running it with just 1 connector? any thoughts on that? And thanks a lot for the quick response.

 

[refillable]

Like inzone says, it will be probably for more overclocking headroom and will consume the same power assuming that these are based in the same GPU. If you don't overclock or just overclock a little I guess you should take a look at these cards I linked rather than running it in one PCI-E Cable, because I can't guaranteed that to work :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161363
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150515

 

[Guest]

Like inzone says, it will be probably for more overclocking headroom and will consume the same power assuming that these are based in the same GPU. If you don't overclock or just overclock a little I guess you should take a look at these cards I linked rather than running it in one PCI-E Cable, because I can't guaranteed that to work :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161363
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150515

Out of those three only the Sapphire is available for me and it's only 3 euros cheaper than the Asus, basically the same price! doesn't that make the Asus card the better buy since it offers the DirectCU cooler? Thanks.

 

[refillable]

Well, Get the ASUS one then. But don't run it in one PCI-E connector mode just to be safe. Your PSU has that.

 

[Guest]

Well, Get the ASUS one then. But don't run it in one PCI-E connector mode just to be safe. Your PSU has that.

Got it! Thanks a lot =)

 

[Guest]

Best answer selected by wanarchy.