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    Graphics card heat

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by spandexninja, Jun 3, 2012.

  1. spandexninja

    spandexninja Notebook Consultant

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    I was wondering how much of a difference there is in terms of heat produced when comparing high-end mobile graphics cards.

    How much cooler is a 570m compared to a 580m?
    How much cooler is a 7950m compared to a 7970m?

    Is there usually a noticeable difference in noise levels between the highest-end graphics card (7970, 580) and the next step down (7950, 570)?

    I was thinking of getting a 17" MSI desktop replacement (or any affordable brand with the headphone jack on the left-hand side).
     
    spandexninja, Jun 3, 2012
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  2. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    What brand of laptop?

    Might want to ask the forum subsection as there's more than one brand.

    Also note

    570M=670M
    580M=675M
     
    Mobius 1, Jun 3, 2012
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  3. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    Worry far more of the cooling design in the machine itself. Usually 100w for highest and 75-80w for the next one down though.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Jun 3, 2012
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  4. w3ak3stl1nk

    w3ak3stl1nk Notebook Consultant

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    7950M isn't out... is it?
    heat... all cards generate heat, it depends on the case on how it handles it. Noise is caused by the fans not so much the cards.. and also case based. If you want better heat and noise management get the 17" laptops or larger. it's not so much a card itself issue.
     
    w3ak3stl1nk, Jun 3, 2012
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  5. JOSEA

    JOSEA NONE

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    JOSEA, Jun 3, 2012
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  6. spandexninja

    spandexninja Notebook Consultant

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    I was thinking of getting a 17" MSI desktop replacement or any affordable brand that has a headphone jack on the left-hand side.

    Just worried about heat because my dormitory reaches 80 degrees in the summer, and I plan to play graphically demanding games such as GW2.
     
    spandexninja, Jun 3, 2012
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  7. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    The heatsink on the MSI is fine yes. The card is really not important, it's the quality of heatsink and fan.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Jun 3, 2012
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  8. upgradeyourlaptop

    upgradeyourlaptop Company Representative

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    Another component to consider is the quality of thermal paste used to keep the card cool. OEM stock compounds are generally passable, for best results use a premium thermal paste like IC Diamond or MX-4 to shave a few degrees off your temps.
     
    upgradeyourlaptop, Jun 4, 2012
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  9. maverick1989

    maverick1989 Notebook Deity

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    Another component other than the thermal paste you want to consider is the cooler. The cooler, imo, helps the most (sure it helps in all cases but the highest benefit) when you have a higher ambient. The cooler helps in either moving air away from the vents or pushing air into the intake. Either ways, it would help in a hot environment.
     
    maverick1989, Jun 4, 2012
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  10. hockeymass

    hockeymass that one guy

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    Coolers really don't do all that much.
     
    hockeymass, Jun 4, 2012
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  11. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I thought MSi uses a single fan design and merge the heatsink fins together, doesn't it make the laptop warmer?
     
    Mobius 1, Jun 4, 2012
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  12. maverick1989

    maverick1989 Notebook Deity

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    This could be because mine is an older system, but without a cooler, my laptop gets hot enough to scare me a bit.

    Also, on my mac, using a fan facing AWAY from the gap between the screen and the base where the hot air blow out gives me a temp difference of about 6-10 degrees when the same application is running.
     
    maverick1989, Jun 4, 2012
    #12