I don't, the aftermarket coolers are usually higher performance, and the reference coolers are actually pretty large volume-wise for the cooling performance they deliver.
Have you seen a reference 7770? The Powercolor basically is reference for this card.
Anyway, which would you prefer:
1) A launch where every single launch card is reference design, and thus they are all the same.
2) A launch where there is variety among the early cards, and thus enthusiasts get to pick and choose based on what they are looking for with regards to cooling, factory clocks, warranty, and price.
I know which one I prefer - you don't know boring until you have to write up ten cards that all look, perform, and cost exactly the same. Let's talk about the 7970 launch...
It is a nightmare for tinkerers though, since you have to check the layout of each card to know if it fits with after market cooling solutions or water coolers. I don't mind these custom solutions. I bought a Hawk HD5770 because of the great cooler and better voltage options. But having a standard line is nice to have too. :-)
So you're saying the infamous G80/G92 nVidia cards that had 8 memory sizes, 5 bit widths, multiple memory speeds, a large assortment of shader options, and all those differences mixed and rematched on many varied cards was not boring... I'll have to remember that "rebranding" was anything but stale and boring.
I think this anti-reference card movement has a hidden agenda of eventually killing the practice of using reference cards for bios modding. Such as 5850-5870 & 6950-6970...
They only come with one crossfire bridge slot, I currenly have a 6770 and 2 5750s crossfired on a MSI fxa890-gd70. This about the same as a nvidia 460. I also bought them in 3 increments. Laying out $250 in cash was to much for a 460. This MB is touchy about how much power is supplied to the CPU and GPUs. 3 to 4 cards is easy if they are low watts. A 95 watt 4 core is good enough also. This can be done with a 700 watt supply if you go easy on the OC end. Pushing a 125 watt CPU is not recommended. I have no problems with bottlenecking with a 960T @ stock and a 220 setting for the northbridge. Most review don't consider the the cost of a power supply needed to crossfire the GPU beasts.
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9 Comments
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dagamer34 - Monday, February 20, 2012 - link
I miss reference looking cards.LtGoonRush - Monday, February 20, 2012 - link
I don't, the aftermarket coolers are usually higher performance, and the reference coolers are actually pretty large volume-wise for the cooling performance they deliver.Alexvrb - Monday, February 20, 2012 - link
Have you seen a reference 7770? The Powercolor basically is reference for this card.Anyway, which would you prefer:
1) A launch where every single launch card is reference design, and thus they are all the same.
2) A launch where there is variety among the early cards, and thus enthusiasts get to pick and choose based on what they are looking for with regards to cooling, factory clocks, warranty, and price.
Andrew.a.cunningham - Monday, February 20, 2012 - link
I know which one I prefer - you don't know boring until you have to write up ten cards that all look, perform, and cost exactly the same. Let's talk about the 7970 launch...Death666Angel - Tuesday, February 21, 2012 - link
It is a nightmare for tinkerers though, since you have to check the layout of each card to know if it fits with after market cooling solutions or water coolers.I don't mind these custom solutions. I bought a Hawk HD5770 because of the great cooler and better voltage options. But having a standard line is nice to have too. :-)
CeriseCogburn - Wednesday, March 21, 2012 - link
So you're saying the infamous G80/G92 nVidia cards that had 8 memory sizes, 5 bit widths, multiple memory speeds, a large assortment of shader options, and all those differences mixed and rematched on many varied cards was not boring...I'll have to remember that "rebranding" was anything but stale and boring.
CeriseCogburn - Friday, February 15, 2013 - link
I miss all the amd fanboys screaming rebrand.Suddenly they are silent.
LOL
Pathetic.
Pneumothorax - Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - link
I think this anti-reference card movement has a hidden agenda of eventually killing the practice of using reference cards for bios modding. Such as 5850-5870 & 6950-6970...warpuck - Saturday, May 26, 2012 - link
They only come with one crossfire bridge slot, I currenly have a 6770 and 2 5750s crossfired on a MSI fxa890-gd70. This about the same as a nvidia 460. I also bought them in 3 increments. Laying out $250 in cash was to much for a 460.This MB is touchy about how much power is supplied to the CPU and GPUs. 3 to 4 cards is easy if they are low watts. A 95 watt 4 core is good enough also. This can be done with a 700 watt supply if you go easy on the OC end. Pushing a 125 watt CPU is not recommended. I have no problems with bottlenecking with a 960T @ stock and a 220 setting for the northbridge. Most review don't consider the the cost of a power supply needed to crossfire the GPU beasts.