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The HIS 7850 IceQ 2GB graphics card's box is equally as uninformative as the 7770's version. HIS doesn't state the card's operational frequencies on the box, although this isn't as much of a problem for a card which isn't factory overclocked.
The HIS 7580 IceQ 2GB graphics card's bundle consists of a DVI-VGA adapter, CrossFire cable, case sticker, drivers CD, HIS iTurbo software and installation guides.
HIS implements its standard IceQ cooler on the 2GB 7850 graphics card (product code: H785Q2G2M). The cooler uses a 57mm leaf-blower fan to draw air into the shroud, force it through the large heatsink, and allow it to be expelled out of the case.
This cooler design is likely to be noisier than the open-fan alternative, but it should result in improved heat extraction performance.
The HIS 7850 IceQ 2GB graphics card features an aqua blue PCB. We said it previously about the HIS 7770 GHz Edition IceQ X Turbo graphics card, but as this model is sitting in a higher market space, the omission of a black PCB is likely to have higher consequences.
For some odd reason which we really can't explain, HIS decided that its IceQ cooler was required to be larger than the standard dual slot form factor. The cylindrical air intake above the 57mm leaf-blower fan forces the cooler's overall form factor 10mm past the two slot limit.
This is an irritating and somewhat needless design choice. It limits multi-card possibilities for users with motherboards that feature dual-spaced PCI-E x16 slots.
Users not interested in placing a graphics card in the slot below the HIS 7850 IceQ can use an expansion card up to 160mm in length before hitting the interference area, although this figure could be lessened slightly when factoring in PCB sag. An expansion card such as the Creative Sound Blaster Z should fit without problems.
Due to the 7850 IceQ's 818g weight and heavy fin array, HIS has used a solid metal support bar to minimise the effects of PCB sag and to distribute the cooler's weight more evenly. This is a good idea which we wish more graphics card manufacturers would use.
The HIS 7850 IceQ 2GB graphics card uses a pair of 6-pin PCI-E power connectors, as opposed to the single port that AMD's reference design uses. HIS claims that the extra connector, in addition to a beefed-up – 8 phase – power design and 2Oz copper PCB, should provide the Pitcairn GPU with more voltage and better overclocking capabilities.
Due to the blower's widened air intake, the power connectors are made slightly more awkward to reach when attaching the cables.
A single CrossFire connector allows the HIS 7850 IceQ 2GB graphics card to be paired with another AMD HD 7800 series model. If paired with a 1GB or 4GB variant, both cards will operate at the lowest available VRAM quantity.
A vented PCI slot allows hot to escape the IceQ cooler's shroud. A slight gap between the edge of the shroud and the vented PCI slot may cause some hot air to spill back into the chassis.
Graphics card outputs:
- 2x Mini DisplayPort
- 1x HDMI
- 1x Dual Link DVI-I
With its enhanced power design, the HIS 7850 IceQ 2GB graphics card's PCB resembles that of the AMD HD 7870's reference design. An additional power phase and 6-pin PCI-E connector are the main, and possibly only, differences from the reference AMD HD 7850 PCB.
Eight Elpida W2032BBBG-50-F memory chips are used to provide 2GB of VRAM. These GDDR5 chips are rated for a frequency of 5000MHz.
HIS has ensured that its IceQ cooler uses a solid design to offer good heat extraction performance. A copper base removes heat from the Pitcairn GPU, allowing it to be transferred to the densely-packed, but quite small, fin array by two 6mm and two 8mm heatpipes.
The 57mm blower-style fan is powered by a 4-pin PWM VGA fan header.
We are pleased to see that HIS isn't ignoring the fact that memory chips also require some form of cooling. Two thermal strips allow the memory chips to offload their heat to the IceQ cooler.
The 818g HIS 7850 IceQ 2GB graphics card measures in at 280mm, or 238mm to the PCB's edge, meaning that interference with HDD cages is a possibility for mid-tower users.
We can understand the fact that HIS wanted to put a great emphasis on cooling performance, but extending the cooler's length by 42mm, not to mention its oversized form factor, increases the possibility of interference problems being encountered.
Out-of-the-box operating frequencies for the 7850 IceQ 2GB graphics card are: 860MHz Core and 1200MHz Memory.
