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How loud is the Aurora with single video card?
Anyone have an Aurora with a single video card such as the GTX 260? How loud is it subjectively?
I'm considering getting one for music/multimedia production.
Thanks!
Greenwit
49 Posts
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February 23rd, 2010 21:00
That card has a pretty favorable sound profile.
http://techreport.com/articles.x/16229/13
maxage
33 Posts
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February 23rd, 2010 21:00
That's great to hear (no pun intended).
I read a recent review of the ALX model with dual video cards and the reviewer said it sounded like a tornado under load, which I assume is because of the cards since the CPU is liquid cooled.
http://www.desktopreview.com/default.asp?newsID=950&p=2
Yodasmaster
76 Posts
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February 23rd, 2010 21:00
Mines whisper quiet with a GTX 260. Never hear the fans speed up besides when it starts up. I use it for 3D animation and photoshop.
EagleIDEyes
25 Posts
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February 24th, 2010 05:00
I had the GTX260 in my system for a while and have since upgraded to 2X Radeon 5770's.
The GTX260 card was very quiet. The GPU used in this card was a 40nm version (at least in my case). If you are considering this card, though, you should understand...
1.) Even though the GPU is the 40nm version, this card only has 192 shader cores enabled - most (if not all) 40nm versions of this chip have the full 216 cores enabled. I'm sure the 40nm GPU helps the thermal profile and consequently helps keep the noise level down.
2.) The GPU on this card is underclocked relative to the reference design on for the GTX260. Both the core clock and the shader clock are turned by by almost 10%, although the memory clock is slightly increased by about 1%. Slower clocks would also dissipate less heat, so again, this 'detuning' is probably an advantage from a thermal and noise level perspective.
If you are considering the possibility of a SLI configuration at some point in the future, keep in mind that it may be difficult to find an exact match to this unique implementation of the GTX260 (double memory, slower clocks, 192 core). Another alternative for you to consider would be any of the ATI 40nm cards (5000 series). If you are concerned about noise this new ATI family has some of the best power and noise levels available. This was a factor in my decision to buy the 5770's.
maxage
33 Posts
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February 24th, 2010 10:00
Thanks EagleIDEyes for the additional info.
I don't plan on going SLI. Part because I don't need it (I don't game, though need to drive 2 monitors 30" and 24"). The other reason is that I couldn't spare the addtional mobo slot as I'm planning on having a sound card.
Any thoughs on the GTX260 handing those two monitors (30" and 24")?
Cheers,
Maxage
EagleIDEyes
25 Posts
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February 24th, 2010 22:00
So long as you are not playing advanced 3D games, the GTX should do just fine - even with the two large monitors.