Hardware.fr has tested several graphics cards to show GPU temperature and heat emission using thermographic imaging.
A thermographic camera has been used:
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:
Radeon HD 3450 (passive cooling) under loading – GPU = 99°C and global heat emission = 113.3°C
Radeon HD 4850 (active cooling) under loading – GPU = 94°C and global heat emission = 92.4°C
Radeon HD 4870 (active cooling) under loading – GPU = 91°C and global heat emission = 107.8°C
Radeon HD 4870 Crossfire (active cooling) under loading – GPU1 = 98°C, GPU2 = 93°C and global heat emission = 119.5°C
Radeon HD 4870 X2 (active cooling) under loading – GPU1 = 99°C, GPU2 = 83°C and global heat emission = 102.7°C
GeForce videocards:
GeForce 9800 GTX (active cooling) under loading – GPU = 83°C and global heat emission = 79.8°C
GeForce 9800 GX2 (active cooling) under loading – GPU1 = 97°C, GPU2 = 95°C and global heat emission = 90.4°C
GeForce GTX 260 (active cooling) under loading – GPU = 87°C and global heat emission = 86.8°C
GeForce GTX 285 (active cooling) under loading – GPU = 93°C and global heat emission = 94.1°C
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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