Reviews - Sapphire Radeon HD 5850 TOXIC 1,024MB examined

[HEXUS]

A new cooler and higher clocks. Let's see if it's worth the £45 premium over regular cards.

Read more.

[handscombmp]

Tempted to get one of these as they're much quieter than a stock card.

Although i'll probaly just go for the vapor x one

[Tarinder]

Just to reiterate, after having the stock card and TOXIC in the test system one after the other, the difference in under-load noise is easily discernible.

[handscombmp]

Just to reiterate, after having the stock card and TOXIC in the test system one after the other, the difference in under-load noise is easily discernible.

Thanks mate.

If i read the review correct are the only differences between the Vapor X and the toxic the overclock settings.
Is everything PCB wise pretty much the same so the noise would be the same if not quieter due to the card running at lower clocks so less heat.

Also roughly how quiet would you say. Eg if everything else in my pc was ilent would i stuggle to hear it in a case.

[Tarinder]

Thanks mate.

If i read the review correct are the only differences between the Vapor X and the toxic the overclock settings.
Is everything PCB wise pretty much the same so the noise would be the same if not quieter due to the card running at lower clocks so less heat.

Also roughly how quiet would you say. Eg if everything else in my pc was ilent would i stuggle to hear it in a case.

Yup, the only difference between the two cards is the frequencies. The Vapor-X might run at a slightly lower voltage than the TOXIC, due to its lower clocks, and that would lead to a slightly lower noise profile.

After 10 minutes of FurMark at 2,560x1,600 the TOXIC's fan spins at around 2,000rpm, at a temperature of around 68°C. It's not silent, obviously, but you'd need sensitive ears if the card-produced noise bothered you.

[handscombmp]

Yup, the only difference between the two cards is the frequencies. The Vapor-X might run at a slightly lower voltage than the TOXIC, due to its lower clocks, and that would lead to a slightly lower noise profile.

After 10 minutes of FurMark at 2,560x1,600 the TOXIC's fan spins at around 2,000rpm, at a temperature of around 68°C. It's not silent, obviously, but you'd need sensitive ears if the card-produced noise bothered you.

Great

To be honest though i'm not quite sure why i'm worried about the noise as much at load.
It's only idle i'm worried about as it's going to go into my gaming HTPC and i don't want it to be making a load of noise when i'm watching a movie.

[liquidmetal]

Do these have voltage adjustments like the stock 5850?

[Percy1983]

Is it just me who got a standard 5850 and overclocked way past these cards, 900/1200(4800) in my case.

And it only cost me £198 with dirt 2.

[Tarinder]

Do these have voltage adjustments like the stock 5850?

Hello there,

It appears as if voltage-adjustment settings have been removed on this card.



The picture shows MSI's Afterburner software (Rivatuner, effectively) and the voltage bar is shaded out.



Here's the same utility but with a Sapphire Radeon HD 5870 Vapor-X in the test machine. Note that it's now visible and tweakable.

[liquidmetal]

Thanks Tarinder. Aww thats unfortunate especially with this improved cooler.

[Percy1983]

It may be possible to flash the bios, bus it does seem they have messed with ti so that may not work.

[12GaugeShotty]

I have a MSI Radeon HD 5850 and it is completely quiet when in 2D and 3D modes. That's with the factory cooler and I have not used ATI Overdrive to modify the fan settings at all.

There isn't a need for a different cooler for the HD 5850. Obviously this Sapphire TOXIC version is actually longer than the stock HD 5850 as well. Another negative. Plus this Sapphire TOXIC version doesn't exhaust all the hot air outside of the case where as the stock cooler does (mostly).

[Boykie Boykie]

Would it be possible for me to overclock toxic significantly without increasing the voltage?