Reference design or non reference 7950?

[Crabbadabba]

I have an HP Pavillion case with one exhaust fan (I know it sucks) but I was wondering which of these cards I should go with

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202006

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129205

I know the sapphire card will be a cooler card for most cases but I was under the impression that non ref cards just bounce air around the case and reference cards push air straight out the back. I'd rather keep my phenom as cool as possible and the rest of my case for that matter.

Do you think it is worth the cooling/overclockability/noise sacrifice to get the reference design?

 

[Deemo13]

I would go with the non-reference. Your HP has no airflow, and the reference cards heat up and don't cool well.

Do you have a new power supply in the computer?

 

[austing]

I have an HP Pavillion case with one exhaust fan (I know it sucks) but I was wondering which of these cards I should go with

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202006

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129205

I know the sapphire card will be a cooler card for most cases but I was under the impression that non ref cards just bounce air around the case and reference cards push air straight out the back. I'd rather keep my phenom as cool as possible and the rest of my case for that matter.

Do you think it is worth the cooling/overclockability/noise sacrifice to get the reference design?

I think non-refrence cards are ugly as hell. But they cool A LOT better.

 

[Crabbadabba]

I would go with the non-reference. Your HP has no airflow, and the reference cards heat up and don't cool well.

Do you have a new power supply in the computer?

Yes it's this one here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171031

 

[Deemo13]

Mmm I wouldn't trust a 7950 to a eXtreme Power Plus. Realistically they only put out like 425W.

 

[Crabbadabba]

Mmm I wouldn't trust a 7950 to a eXtreme Power Plus. Realistically they only put out like 425W.

Well I also have a 550w ultra lifetime in another computer that has a 7850 I could probably switch them out but no one else has posted concern about the power output with a 7950.

 

[austing]

Well I also have a 550w ultra lifetime in another computer that has a 7850 I could probably switch them out but no one else has posted concern about the power output with a 7950.

LSP powersupply's are solid as a rock, go ahead and do that.

 

[Crabbadabba]

LSP powersupply's are solid as a rock, go ahead and do that.

Alright good, I'll do that when I get the card in but I'm still kind of on the fence about reference to non reference, I was hoping Deemo could elaborate a little more on why it would be the better option.

 

[austing]

Alright good, I'll do that when I get the card in but I'm still kind of on the fence about reference to non reference, I was hoping Deemo could elaborate a little more on why it would be the better option.

I will elaborate for him:

OEM: 1 small, fast fan. Loud, doesnt push as much air, and blows it horizontally through the cards bracket in the back of the case.

Aftermarket: Large, quiet, powerfull fans, that push air directly at the card instead of from side to side. While hot air just expels around the case instead of out the back, but really doesnt effect the case temp much.

 

[Crabbadabba]

I will elaborate for him:

OEM: 1 small, fast fan. Loud, doesnt push as much air, and blows it horizontally through the cards bracket in the back of the case.

Aftermarket: Large, quiet, powerfull fans, that push air directly at the card instead of from side to side. While hot air just expels around the case instead of out the back, but really doesnt effect the case temp much.

Alright great! Thats what I was hoping to hear and thank you for the reply! I'm going to leave the thread open for a little while longer just in case someone else wants to put their own feedback in.

 

[Deemo13]

austing pretty much covered it. I would have answered, but I'm sorta swamped with work I have to get done lol.

 

[Crabbadabba]

Best answer selected by Crabbadabba.