XFX HD 6790 Review (dual fan)

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.

This cooler is significantly better than the reference design, and even better than the Sapphire HD6790 cooler, which peaked at 72c under Furmark load. The fan idles at only 18 percent and under load peaks at 30 percent.

Return to Idle 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.

The dual fans helps disperse the heat faster, and even though the fan speeds are low, the card returns to idle in around 20 seconds.

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