Graphics Cards and Thermographic Imaging

2009/01/21 JeGX

Hardware.fr has tested several graphics cards to show GPU temperature and heat emission using thermographic imaging.

A thermographic camera has been used:

Thermographic Camera

From wikipedia, thermographic cameras (or infrared cameras) detect radiation in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum and produce images of that radiation. Since infrared radiation is emitted by all objects based on their temperatures, according to the black body radiation law, thermography makes it possible to “see” one’s environment with or without visible illumination.

To heat up the videocards, the pixel shader test of 3DMark 2006 has been used in loop mode during 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, the test is briefly stopped, and re-launched. After 15 minutes, thermal images are shot.

Radeon videocards:

Thermal Imaging: Radeon HD 3450
Radeon HD 3450 (passive cooling) under loading – GPU = 99°C and global heat emission = 113.3°C

Thermal Imaging: Radeon HD 4850
Radeon HD 4850 (active cooling) under loading – GPU = 94°C and global heat emission = 92.4°C

Thermal Imaging: Radeon HD 4870
Radeon HD 4870 (active cooling) under loading – GPU = 91°C and global heat emission = 107.8°C

Thermal Imaging: Radeon HD 4870 Crossfire
Radeon HD 4870 Crossfire (active cooling) under loading – GPU1 = 98°C, GPU2 = 93°C and global heat emission = 119.5°C

Thermal Imaging: Radeon HD 4870 X2
Radeon HD 4870 X2 (active cooling) under loading – GPU1 = 99°C, GPU2 = 83°C and global heat emission = 102.7°C

GeForce videocards:

Thermal Imaging: GeForce 9800 GTX
GeForce 9800 GTX (active cooling) under loading – GPU = 83°C and global heat emission = 79.8°C

Thermal Imaging: GeForce 9800 GX2
GeForce 9800 GX2 (active cooling) under loading – GPU1 = 97°C, GPU2 = 95°C and global heat emission = 90.4°C

Thermal Imaging: GeForce GTX 260
GeForce GTX 260 (active cooling) under loading – GPU = 87°C and global heat emission = 86.8°C

Thermal Imaging: GeForce GTX 285
GeForce GTX 285 (active cooling) under loading – GPU = 93°C and global heat emission = 94.1°C

Thermal Imaging: GeForce GTX 295
GeForce GTX 295 (active cooling) under loading – GPU1 = 97°C, GPU2 = 99°C and global heat emission = 90.7°C

Under loading, GeForce cards give out less heat than Radeon ones. This fact is not caused by the GPUs but by the videocard power supply module that heats up more on Radeon boards.

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