Powercolor Radeon HD 5830 1GB Video Card Unboxing & First Look Linus Tech Tips

In this Linus Tech Tips unboxing and first look, the presenter introduces the PowerColor Radeon HD 5830 1GB graphics card, positioned between the Radeon 5770 and 5850 and branded under PCS Plus for overclocked performance. He notes key specs such as 1 GB of GDDR5 memory, a 256-bit memory interface, PCI Express 2.0, DirectX 11 support, and Crossfire capability, highlighting the inclusion of HDMI with 7.1 surround and DisplayPort for multi-monitor setups. The host then dives into the unboxing sequence, joking about the abundance of packaging and even the humorous banana-looking driver CD, before pointing out accessories like a Crossfire bridge and a DVI to VGA adapter. The card itself is examined in detail: a non-reference cooler design with a 92 mm fan, four heat pipes, and a separate VRM cooling solution, underscoring PowerColor’s design choices to maximize cooling. He discusses the physical dimensions, noting the card’s length and dual PCIe 16x connectors, which imply extra space in the computer case and potential fit considerations for longer chassis. RAM is identified as 1 GB of memory, positioned under the fan, with remarks on cooling strategy for the RAM and the importance of airflow around the VRMs. The segment closes with observations about the heat sink construction, exhaust behavior, and overall impression of a thoughtfully engineered, although non-reference, card intended to deliver strong performance for its price tier.

Topics · technology · hardware