MSI Radeon HD 6850 Cyclone Power Edition

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Introduction

AMD's Radeon HD 6800 series is placed in the critical upper mid-range segment and studied there in the form of the Radeon HD 6850 and Radeon HD 6870 for buyers. The smaller version kicks the strong GeForce GTX 460 from Nvidia, certainly not an easy opponent. However, the customer has the choice not only in Nvidia but also in AMD. Of the Radeon HD 6850, there are also numerous partner models, so that possible in terms of the different clock speeds and cooling systems are many different variants. In order to assist in the decision, we have therefore already some time ago, five different "Radeon HD 6850" models considered. We wanted to close the chapter of the smallest Radeon HD 6800 model really, but MSI has now sent another version of the race, which has the potential to delay its class and they are: the Radeon HD 6850 OC Cyclone Power Edition.

MSI has a total of three variants of the Radeon HD 6850 in its own portfolio:

• MSI Radeon HD 6850: Own design, standard clock speeds, 1,024 MB
• MSI Radeon HD 6850 OC: your own design, slightly higher clock speeds, 1,024 MB
• MSI Radeon HD 6850 OC Cyclone Power Edition : Own design, higher clock speeds, PCB optimized for OC and features, "silent mode", 1,024 MB

Two special features we have to mention it in the MSI Radeon HD 6850 OC Cyclone Power Edition separately. Thus, MSI optimized, there are the PCB of the graphics card and it can not only (as usual) to adjust the GPU voltage but also the tensions of GDDR5 memory and the clock. Secondly, the graphics card, similar to the reference design Radeon HD 6950 and Radeon HD 6970, equipped with a second BIOS. There is a switch on the board, it switches to that between the two software versions. The default setting (performance) can rotate the fan at very high speeds, while the silent setting the speed in 3D mode reduced to ensure a quieter operation.

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Benchmarks

The following benchmarks were with the current graphics card test system based on an Intel Core i7 965 determined on. This is operated with a clock of 3.87 GHz to thwart not the cards unnecessarily. As the driver came for all measurements (including power consumption and volume) of the Catalyst 10.10E (HD 6900: 8.79.6.2) or the GeForce 262.99 (GTX 570: 263.09) were used.

Performance Rating

Since MSI, unlike two previous Radeon HD 6850 cards, is on the Radeon HD 6850 OC Edition Cyclone Power screwed something more to the clock speeds, it creates the graphics card, among 1.920x1.200 an average of eight percent from the reference design to share, bringing the new development exactly in the middle between the standard model and the Radeon HD 6870.

The greatest increase in performance is eleven percent (Crysis Warhead without AA / AF and Mafia 2 without AA / AF), the least difference to the reference design for low two percent (Call of Duty: MW2 with AA / AF). In the latter, we must note that Call of Duty higher frequencies generally like to ignore and not implement it in more power.


Other measurements

On Windows, there is the MSI Radeon HD 6850 OC Power Edition, regardless of the BIOS selection, very good 40 decibels, which is impossible to tell from a closed case. The graphics card is to be described as quiet. The Performance Mode (the performance BIOS) do not under load to please, however, and reached 55.5 decibels, a worse result than the reference design. Unlike other tests us, this aspect of the Power Edition but halfway matter, because the selectable silent mode makes the contrast it right: 45.5 decibels is the best result in a speedy graphics card in 3D mode, which we have long have measured! Of the remaining components of the fan while playing, even in quiet scenes is hardly discernible, so is the MSI card with no objections for a silent PC. Even the good subjects of Asus and Sapphire to the same calculation engine did not stand a chance.

At the temperatures are holding the MSI Radeon HD 6850 on Power Edition OC even in silent mode is always in the front part of the test field. On Windows, the Barts-chip is not warmer than 40 degrees Celsius and under load keeps the GPU at 71 degrees cool. In performance mode, the 3D accelerator reached 66 degrees even the tip of the test field, albeit at the expense of volume. On the reverse side, we measure a maximum of 54 degrees (performance) to 56 degrees Celsius (Silent).

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Power consumption

On Windows draws the MSI Radeon HD 6850 OC Edition 166 Watt power from the socket (meaning the entire PC) and therefore at the same level with the other Radeon HD 6850 subjects. Under load it is then with 304 (performance mode) or 305 watt (Quiet Mode) slightly more than the competition, which can be explained with the higher clock speeds. Given the increasing frequency of consumption is in order.



Overclocking

Even without a voltage increase can be calculated from the MSI Radeon HD 6850 Cyclone Power Edition OC to get just a little more tact. So we can raise the Barts-GPU (1,149 volts) to 71 MHz to 931 MHz and overclock the 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory at 102 MHz to 2302 MHz. Depending on the application are available between seven and eight percent more speed.

By increasing voltage, it goes up further. The maximum adjustable by Afterburner GPU voltage is 1.3 volts, the memory can be one of 0.05 volts and the clock one (the basic tension of both components are not known to us) by 0.03 volts higher voltage. In the case of the calculation engine can be 982 MHz without mistake, the 2352 MHz memory. Another two to four percent more performance is possible. The pure overclocking without an increase in voltage allows the power consumption on the MSI card for exactly ten watts increase the volume by six decibels, and the temperature of two degrees. Significantly larger, the differences at the higher voltage. This scenario increases the power consumption equal to 46 watts, the volume by 5.5 dB and the temperature by 15 degrees.


Pros and Cons

Pros

• Usually fast enough for 1920x1200
• Sometimes AA / AF possible
• Good Power Windows
• Whisper quiet on Windows
• Very quiet under load
• Eyefinity

Cons

• Availability is not currently well

Conclusion

The best Radeon HD 6850, it should be. Not an easy target for the MSI Radeon HD 6850 OC Power Edition, but not unattainable. As quick it looks in any case already been good, because on average renders the 3D accelerator eight percent faster than the reference design and therefore faster than any other Radeon HD 6850 cards. This is certainly not a world but still noticeable from time to time. The selectable via BIOS switch silent mode makes its name. On Windows, the Radeon HD 6850 OC Edition Power and quiet even under load, you have to listen really close, to distinguish the fan from the other components. The graphics card is so fully committed to Silent-PC, not the less, the cooling performance is still very good.

The power consumption is a few watts for the standard card, which is attributable to the higher frequencies - and in order is because energy consumption is still quite low. The overclocking potential and it features provided are nice, but ultimately not really helpful - especially as the power at exorbitant correct the voltage increases. The Radeon HD 6850 OC Edition Power is currently available for approximately Rs. 10,000. This is the 3D accelerator is not quite 20 € more expensive than the most inexpensive Radeon HD 6850 and therefore in our view, a worthwhile investment. The MSI card is currently the best known to us Radeon HD 6850, against which even have the high quality of derivatives of Asus and Sapphire no chance. No vulnerabilities can be found on the Radeon HD 6850 OC Edition Power.