Sapphire HD6790 CrossfireX Review

The tests were performed in a controlled air conditioned room with temperatures maintained at a constant 25c – a comfortable environment for the majority of people reading this.

Idle temperatures were measured after sitting at the desktop for 30 minutes. Load measurements were acquired by playing Crysis Warhead for 30 minutes and measuring the peak temperature. We also have included Furmark results, recording maximum temperatures throughout a 30 minute stress test. All fan settings were left on automatic.

The Sapphire cooler generally runs about 7-8c cooler than the reference design and it is also much quieter. The fan idles at 28% and when at full load peaks around 50%.

Return to ambient is a feature we have recently added to our reviews … we measure the time it takes for a solution to return to idle temperatures, immediately after full load. The faster the time, the better the cooler – for example a Noctua NH D14 cooler will return an Intel processor to idle temperatures much faster than a reference cooler. This is a good indication of how quickly a heatsink can dissipate heat.

Sapphire have opted for a non aggressive fan profile, always catering to lower noise levels, especially when under 60c. The fan spins down quickly to under 35%, meaning that the temperatures take a little longer to settle to idle again. This is a very good cooler however and was clearly designed for a higher specified card. The enhanced HD5870 cooler from Sapphire looks identical to this.

Become a Patron!