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Configuration 2: Radeon HD 4870
HD 4870 test system.
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System Measurements (HD 4870)
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System State
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Idle
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CPU + GPU Load
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System Fan Speed(s)
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7V
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12V
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12V + 12V*
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CPU Temp
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36°C
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56°C
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51°C
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48°C
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SB Temp
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48°C
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58°C
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56°C
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50°C
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HD Temp
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37°C
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38°C
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37°C
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37°C
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GPU Temp
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78°C
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90°C
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88°C
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85°C
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GPU Fan
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960 RPM
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2230 RPM
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2140 RPM
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1880 RPM
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SPL@1m
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19~20 dBA
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29 dBA
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29 dBA
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27~28 dBA
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CPU fan set to 100% speed.
Ambient temperature: 25°C.
*Nexus 120 mm fan added as bottom intake.
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Adding the HD 4870 graphics card created a bigger challenge for the Solo II. While relatively cool and quiet when idle, full load brought the CPU and Southbridge temperatures into the mid to high 50's and the GPU fan had to spin at 2230 RPM to keep the GPU core at 90°C. Increasing the system fan's speed to maximum resulted in some thermal relief, but the noise level remained a rather high 29 dBA@1m.
Additional cooling, in the form of a Nexus 120 mm fan added to the bottom intake position, helped chill the graphics card such that the GPU fan slowed to 1880 RPM. The system noise level dropped to a less harsh 27~28 dBA@1m and all the components inside, save the hard drive, saw thermal improvement.
Our HD 4870 test system measured 27~28 dBA@1m on load with the stock fan and an additional Nexus 120 mm intake fan running at 12V.
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The HD 4870 stock cooler can be quite a beast but spinning at ~1900 RPM it has a lower, less jarring pitch making the overall acoustics considerably less intrusive than the 27~28 dBA@1m measurement might suggest.
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HD 4870 Configuration Comparison (Load)
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Case
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Fractal Define R2
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Antec Solo II
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CM Silencio 550
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NZXT H2
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System Fan Speeds
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rear, front & side @12V
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rear, front @12V*
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rear, front @12V
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rear, fronts @med
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CPU Temp
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48°C
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45°C
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57°C
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53°C
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SB Temp
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45°C
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47°C
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56°C
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52°C
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HD Temp
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34°C
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34°C
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31°C
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33°C
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GPU Temp
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84°C
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82°C
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89°C
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87°C
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GPU Fan
Speed
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1710 RPM
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1880 RPM
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2330 RPM
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2110 RPM
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SPL@1m
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26~27 dBA
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27~28 dBA
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27~28 dBA
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28 dBA
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CPU fan set to 100% speed
All temperature results adjusted to 22°C ambient.
*Nexus 120 mm fan added as bottom intake.
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In the HD 4870 configuration, the Solo II runs far cooler than either the Silencio 550 or the NZXT H2 . It trades blows with the Define R2 with the Fractal case running a decibel quieter, while the Solo II touts a slightly cooler CPU and GPU. Again, note that the competition all feature bottom mounting for the PSU.
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