CPU + Radeon R9 Nano cooling benchmarks
Core i7 4790K and Radeon R9 Nano performance benchmarks
So we now have added the AMD Radeon R9 Nano towards our liquid cooling loop. Quick stress tests show that the Nano really digs the cool temperature as it throttling remains at a very steady clock frequency - it remains to hover at the 925 MHz marker (it throttles there as it needs to stay within a set TDP power parameter by design). For this test we are doing things a little different, where we used Wprime for the sole CPU stress test, for both CPU and GPU we feel it is better to mimic an intense gaming session. We use a custom 3DMark FireStrike (Performance mode) and select and loop the "combined" testing mode. This mode will put good stress on the processor, and maximize stress on the graphics card. We then leave it simmer for 15 minutes to half an hour in total. Considering the Fiji GPU alone is 5.5x5.5cm you know it's creating heaps of heat.
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Above CPU 4600 MHz Default voltage / Radeon R9 Nano GPU default:
- CPU load temp is 58 Degrees C (max)
- GPU load temp is 36 Degrees C (max)
CPU 4600 MHz - 1.30V voltage / Radeon R9 Nano GPU default:
- CPU load temp is 67 Degrees C (max)
- GPU load temp is 35 Degrees C (max)
CPU 4600 MHz - 1.35V voltage / Radeon R9 Nano GPU 1070 MHz / Power limiter maxed out.
- CPU load temp is 72 Degrees C (max)
- GPU load temp is 38 Degrees C (max)
I have yet to find a Core i7 4970K that actually needs 1.35 Volts, but the Predator 360 runs it cold enough. The Nano then, we overclocked it towards 1070 MHz (which is the maximum stable number for our sample). The Nano needs extra voltage and a higher power limiter allowance to go higher. Unfortunately the Nano seems impossible to control Voltage wise, our in-house programmer Unwinder from Afterburner has been unsuccessful opening up Voltage tweaking for this card.
