We have measured operation noise, GPU temperature and consumption of the analyzed cards in our usual method. Consumption is measured in three states: idle, with the CPU under stress using Orthos, and CPU/GPU under stress using Shadermark along with Orthos. Temperature is also measured in these three states. For the noise test we place a noise meter approximately 10 cm from the GPU fan. In order to reduce any errors, we temporarily disable all other system fans.

Based on our measurements the Gigabyte and Gainward 8600 GTS consume the most power out of all the GeForce cards. What raises a few more questions is that neither of those two cards are overclocked.

The two Gigabyte cards have the highest operating temperatures, but the data isn't all that negative considering that both cards are passively cooled. The Gainward thermal designs are not particularly efficient, as they immediately occupy the three spots right after the Gigabyte cards. The MSI card has the best thermal design, making it an ideal card for overclocking without needing to change the cooling solution. Its temperature raises only 7 degrees going from idle to stress.

The effectiveness of the MSI cooling solution has a price in terms of noise, even if the value is not all that distant from the other competing video cards.The Gaiward cards are particularly quiet as Gainward seems to have given this aspect priority over actual temperatures. Obviously, the Gigabyte cards are not part of the tests as they are completely silent thermal designs.