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Test Results - Configuration #2 (CrossFireX)
Case with test system installed (2 x HD 4870 in CrossFireX). |
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System Measurements (2 x HD 4870s in CrossFireX)
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System State
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Idle
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CPU + GPU Load
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Active System Fans
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none
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none
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top, rear side @9V
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top, rear, side @12V
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SPL@1m
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22 dBA
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35~36 dBA
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30 dBA
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31~32 dBA
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CPU Temp
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33°C
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55°C
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44°C
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43-23°C
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SB Temp
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58°C
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69°C
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52°C
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47°C
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HD Temp
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36°C
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36°C
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36°C
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36°C
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GPU #1 Temp
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79°C
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91°C
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86°C
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85°C
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GPU #1 Fan
Speed
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950 RPM
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2320 RPM
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1720 RPM
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1700 RPM
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GPU #2 Temp
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70°C
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86°C
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83°C
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83°C
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GPU #2 Fan
Speed
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1020 RPM
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1930 RPM
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1620 RPM
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1610 RPM
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CPU fan set to 100% speed.
Ambient temperature: 23°C.
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With no system fans active, adding a second HD 4870 in CrossFireX
increased the CPU and GPU temperature by about 5°C, while the Southbridge,
trapped between two 130W+ graphics cards, heated up by an extra 10°C. The
noise level was also a tremendous 10~11 dBA higher. This time, turning on the
system fans resulted in a decrease in noise as the side fan helped to cool the
GPUs and areas surrounding them, so their fans didn't have to work as hard.
With all the fans running at 9V, the CPU temperature dropped by 11°C and
the Southbridge temperature was 17°C lower. The two graphics cards ran moderately
cooler as well, resulting in a decrease in fan speed and an overall system noise
reduction. Increasing the fan speed to 12V made the system 1~2 dBA louder with
very little thermal improvement except for the Southbridge.
The system measured 30 dBA@1m with the CrossFireX configuration. |
Like the single GPU setup, the overall acoustics of all the configurations
tested had a smooth character, but was very loud.
Comparisons
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CrossFireX Configuration Comparison (Load)
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Case
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Raven 2*
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Inwin Maelstrom
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Antec 1200*
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Antec P183*
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Active System Fans
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bottoms @low, top @9V
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top, rear & side @9V
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top, rears, front, side @low
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rear, front @low
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SPL@1m
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26~27 dBA
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30 dBA
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31~32 dBA
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35 dBA
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CPU Temp
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48°C
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43°C
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46°C
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58°C
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SB Temp
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65°C
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51°C
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61°C
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69°C
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HD Temp
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32°C
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35°C
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29°C
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39°C
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GPU #1 Temp
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87°C
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85°C
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87°C
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99°C
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GPU #1 Fan
Speed
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1930 RPM
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1720 RPM
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2110 RPM
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3030 RPM
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GPU #2 Temp
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83°C
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82°C
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84°C
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89°C
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GPU #2 Fan
Speed
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1670 RPM
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1620 RPM
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1910 RPM
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2400 RPM
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CPU fan set to 100% speed, 9V for Raven 2.
All temperature results adjusted to 22°C ambient.
*Antec 1200 & P183 tested with Antec CP-850, Raven 2 tested with Seasonic
X650, Maelstrom with Cooler Master Silent Pro M700.
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The advantage of having a large side fan blowing on the video cards became
evident when we tested the case using a CrossFireX configuration. The Maelstrom
runs cooler than the Antec 1200
in all respects except for the hard drive as we did not turn on the front fan.
It was also 1~2 dBA quieter due to lower GPU fan speeds. Neither come close
to the Raven 2 though, which remains tops for the moment.
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