x850xt

[concernedsophist]

How is the noise level on the x850xt? Does that big stock cooler raise the decibels?

 

[Matrix21]

Yes, it's Super Loud on startup and then drops to just loud.

 

[concernedsophist]

Too bad, seems like a good deal right now. Double slot cooling is annoying though.

 

[aboothman]

It is only super loud IF you use ATI Tool to max the fan speed. Otherwise, it runs at somewhere between 25 and 25 or 40 percent depending on temps.

 

[ElFenix]

i can't hear my x1900xt right now, and it uses at least as loud a cooler.

i've got the window open so there is some noise from the fountain outside.

 

[Dman877]

The X850's benefit tremendously from the arctic cooling type aftermarket coolers. Temps drop and they're silent.

 

[apoppin]

loud at startup . . . and occasionally at full-bore when thngs get 'heavy' in Oblivion . . . but i never notice when i am playing
. . . i am quite impressed with this HW . . . and my case is cool - i kinda like the design.

 

[selfbuilt]

Originally posted by: concernedsophist
Too bad, seems like a good deal right now. Double slot cooling is annoying though.

Personally, I prefer double slot because it helps keep the case cool (i.e. exhausts heat instead of re-circulating in the case, which requires more case cooling and thus more noise).

If you find it too loud at default settings, you can always reduce fan speeds down further using ATITool. I do this for my X800XTPE - I've knocked the default idle speed from 67% to 50% (inaudible over case fans), and with no more than 1 degree idle temp increase. I'm sure you could arrange something similar for the X850XT. Of course, I leave fan speed higher during games, but I am not aware of the noise over the explosions.

 

[imported_Finny]

Yeah, I can also attest to it's loudness. It's insanely loud at startup (I personally don't mind though- Kinda like revving up the engine ), but becomes nearly inaudible after a few seconds (Perhaps 'cause of this damn loud case fan of mine...). Can't say if it speeds up during games 'cause I still haven't tested it there, but at least during normal operation, it's tolerable IMO.

 

[stockjock]

Just like the rest have said...it makes some serious noise on startup but becomes very quiet right away...but I'm thinking mine is way too quiet and I've been getting some VPU recovery errors...so, I'm thinking my fan doesn't speed up under heavy use.

 

[Shotgoon]

I had the HIS version with the Arctic Silencer stock. Idled at about 36C, peaked in the 60s maybe? Modern graphics cards can safely go over 100C. Couldn't hear the thing on full speed fan settings, it was great. I want to get a silencer for my 7900GT because the damn little fan makes an audible whining noise.

 

[concernedsophist]

I own a 7800gt myself. It is quiet, by my standards. How does the x850xt compare? I am considering an x850xt for a mid-range gaming system build for a friend. It seems like a good value, as I said above. If the fan noise is not noticeable during use then I doubt he would mind.

 

[Munky]

The fan noise is noticeable during 3D gaming, unless you have a bunch of Tornado case fans. However, it's tolerrable, and while it may bother some people, others will not complain about it. During 2d mode it's fairly quiet.

 

[concernedsophist]

I know this is a subjective question, but is the noise annoying to the average gamer? For example, would it detract from the sound of the game itself, played at a normal volume?

 

[Meuge]

Replace with an aftermarket cooler?

 

[concernedsophist]

An aftermarket cooler is a possibility I suppose, but wouldn?t that just detract from the overall value of the x850xt? It would be an extra $20-$30. I have never installed a new cooler on a GFX card. Is it a relatively simple process?

 

[Munky]

Well, for example I played Oblivion on a x1900xt using the stock cooler, and the noise was noticeable over the sounds of the game through speakers at a medium volume. It wasnt that loud that it made the game less enjoyable, but it was loud enough that I eventually replaced it with a quiet aftermarket cooler. Also, I should mention that the rest of my fans are quiet, so the video card was the only loud fan in my case. And that's with the case next to me on my desk. If your case is on the floor under the desk, the noise may be less noticeable.

 

[concernedsophist]

Thanks for the input munky.

 

[43st]

Originally posted by: aboothman
It is only super loud IF you use ATI Tool to max the fan speed. Otherwise, it runs at somewhere between 25 and 25 or 40 percent depending on temps.

My X850XT PE fan idles at 9%. I used ATItool to make Oblivion more stable and it can be set to dynamically adjust the fan based on the core temp., pretty cool feature.

I mostly use headphones for gaming so the fan noise doesn't bother me. When I'm on the desktop though I want it to be dead quiet... and it is.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

my x1900xt is inaudible at idle. spins up only during gaming and benchmarking but who plays without sound. with sound you wont notice it unless you turn down volume or have the comp next to your head. mine's about 3 feet away on the floor. x850 should be similar

 

[cubeless]

i have the agp, and ditto above... it scared me the first time it ran up... but i use atitool to only have it spin up to 100% if it goes over 70c, 75% is ok when the kid is playing a game, 10% blends in with other noise in room for non-game stuff...