Tue Jan 19, 2016 6:10 am
Yep, I'm aware that the cooler compatibility is completely dependent on the back-plate/mount. But I think you answered by question by linking the one that supports AMD cards from the 4000/5000? All the way to the current 300 series. That is impressive, regardless if they haven't changed the mounts or not, its good to know.
This upgrade is something she is going to want soon, aka next month (or few weeks) as I just put this spare together for her to game with me and we finally found a game we both like. We are playing Ark Survival: Evolved, it can be a very graphically taxing game. While I'd love to hold off and get her a mid-range Polaris based card, we don't need to spend the cash. I rarely get to play often enough and she plays even less (we have 2 kids and I work a lot). That said, my budget NOW for her was around $100-150 for a card... but with a working 6850 it seems crazy to buy something else when this is more than enough card for her... She was blown away with the GTS 450 compared to the laptop she was on before.
The system is an Intel i5-2500 (non-k) with 2x4gb 1600. Your standard Sandy Bridge setup, more than enough for most any normal game, save for the GPU power it is lacking.
Great to see all of those options, some good some not so good for this little card. Heck the GELID solution is only $53! If that even performed on par with stock coolers I'd be down. The issue with this one was the fan. I made posts about it a few years back and just shelved it until now. I'm actually typing this message on her system with that 6850 in it. Watching the temps with my ghetto rigged 80mm fan setup. Going to check to see if the thermostat I hooked up to it works and see how loud this thing gets.
*UPDATED*
OK... This card beats the all living hell out of the GTS 450... I know, big surprise. But confirmed that with my amazing ghetto blaster fan setup this thing gives the old Dust Buster video card a run for its money and then some. If I can get a decent cooler on this and/or a proper fan replacement then this card is perfect for the game. Side note, the fan kept the card below 60*C the entire time.
"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943
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