Videocard Gigabyte GV-NX66T256DE

Evgenie Rudometov,

Victor Rudometov

authors@rudometov.com

On the basis of geometry processor NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT company Gigabyte has developed and has released efficient videocard Gigabyte GV-NX66T256DE with passive system of cooling. In the architecture of this card a number of perspective firm and branch processing techniques is realised

According to Moore's known empirical law promptly grow complexity of semiconductor electronic parts. After them productivity and functionality of the computers providing successful performance of permanently becoming complicated tasks increases. Thus among solved tasks the increasing share is made by the processing of the multimedia information demanding high efficiency from all computer subsystems. However high efficiency is required not only from central processor units, but also from other components. Among them one of key roles in computer systems is played by the videocards which are carrying out output of the visual information.

It is necessary to mark, that modern videocards form on the basis of the most complicated electronic units. Among these units the central place in a construction of videocards is occupied with the big specialised chips named because of complexity of the internal arrangement by geometry processors (GPU). In the architecture of the given chips many tens, and in some cases already and hundred millions transistors now use. This array of units is a necessary resource of the modern implementators constructing effective architectures of videocards, providing already today presence of a considerable quantity of the various simultaneously working arithmetic-logic units which are carrying out parallel processing in several pipelines. It provides necessary productivity and wide functionality. However the huge quantity of transistors, playing a positive role, creates also certain problems for designers GPU and designers of videocards developed on the basis of data GPU. And, first of all, it is linked to high level teploobrazovanija, insignificant for each transistor working on high clock rates separately and considerable for all their array. For modern GPU this level teploobrazovanija reaches already tens watt that demands adequate resources of cooling.

Usually such resources are presented by specially developed coolers. Thus the typical cooler consists of the heat sink installed and fixed on GPU, and also rather powerful fan intensively blowing in the given heat sink. At all simplicity and efficiency such systems, unfortunately, are a powerful source of acoustic noise that does not improve consumer properties of the computer.

However variants of cooling systems and without fans that eliminates the specified disadvantage are possible. As an example of one of such solutions it is possible to result videocard Gigabyte GV-NX66T256DE created on the basis of GPU NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT.

Geometry processors GeForce 6

In Table 1 key parametres GPU NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT, resulted on a site of its manufacturer — companies NVIDIA are resulted .

Table 1. Key parametres GPU NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT

Package and key parametres Gigabyte GV-NX66T256DE

Fig. 1. A package of videocard Gigabyte GV-NX66T256DE

For acquaintance with the arrangement of videocard Gigabyte GV-NX66T256DE and its subsequent testing the standard, serial package (a Fig. 1) has been given. Into its structure enter:

·         the Packing box,

·         Videocard Gigabyte GV-NX66T256DE created on the basis of GPU Nvidia GeForce 6600 GT,

·         the Documentation in English and CD-ROM with the software.  

·         Cable HDTV/SVideo-to-RCA and adapter DVI-to-d-Sub.

Key parametres of videocard GigabyteGV-NX66T256DE and the system requirements necessary for its correct operation, are resulted in Table 2 and Table 3.

Table 2. Key parametres of videocard Gigabyte GV-NX66T256DE

Table 3. The minimum system requirements

Features of construction Gigabyte GV-NX66T256DE

The construction of typical cooler GPU consisting of the heat sink and the fan described above, is rather simple, effective and usually inexpensive. Unfortunately, the given construction because of the working fan generates considerable enough acoustic noise. Its level quite often does not concede on intensity to noise from resources of cooling of the powerful central processor unit.

It is obvious, that the considerable acoustic noise is the negative factor with which implementators of all computer components try to struggle. Leaving for other articles the description of the solutions linked to a subsystem of the central processor unit, it is necessary to mark, that engineers Gigabyte for the videocards have found comprehensible variants of cooling resources. The part from them is linked to total failure from usage of cooling fans.

Here it is necessary to mark, that for cooling GPU it is possible to use the big heat sinks. On this path some manufacturers of videocards have gone. They have supplied the products with huge, heavy heat sinks, risking to destroy fragile chips GPU, and is possible also plugs of videocards, not saying that such maps occupy a considerable part of size of tank. Besides, similar constructions quite often occupy on space of three plugs on the motherboard.

However there are also other solutions differing bolshej by compactness. For example, maintenance of a temperature mode necessary for correct operation GPU can be reached a construction of definitely designed several heat sinks jointed by special heat-conducting handsets. Such handsets have received the name thermal (Heat Pipe).

Thermal handsets are rather new products, but, despite it, they have already won high popularity as thermal energy transmission media. On efficiency they essentially exceed possibilities of cores of the equal diameter made of integral copper, not speaking about aluminium.

The principle of operation of thermal handsets is simple enough and grounded it on transformation of the liquids concluded in hollow handsets, the thermal playing a role. The liquid under the influence of heat derivated, for example, from operation of semiconducting units, passes in a gaseous state. Thus at the expense of transformation heat considerable quantity is swallowed very much. To estimate the given quantity of thermal energy it is enough to recollect from course of school physics warmth of steam formation for water which makes very big value — 539 calories on gramme. Further the liquid in a vaporous state reaches the cold end of the thermal handset jointed to the heat sink, disseminating heat. At the expense of cooling the liquid in a thermal handset is condensed, giving heat to a handset, and from it and to the heat sink. At this stage warmth of steam formation comes back, and skondensirovavshajasja the liquid at the expense of forces of surface-tension gets again to hot area. Further the cycle repeats, it and ensures functioning of the thermal pump which role is fulfilled by the thermal handset, capable to handle thermal energy in considerable quantities with a high speed.

Usage of thermal handsets allows to create constructions from the several heat sinks jointed together allocated optimally on a surface of a videocard for the purpose of effective dispersion of heat.

Fig. 2. Appearance of videocard Gigabyte GV-NX66T256DE

Such construction has been taken as a principle systems of cooling GPU GPU NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT videocards Gigabyte GV-NX66T256DE. A method of cooling by means of the given construction consisting of heat sinks and thermal handsets, it has been named by experts Gigabyte processing technique Silent-Pipe II. Appearance of the given videocard is resulted in a Fig. 2.

The turned out video subsystem is completely silent, that raises its attractiveness among potential users.

The given subsystem of cooling well functions in an open system unit. However its efficiency essentially raises in case of usage of streams of air, obrazuemyh at the expense of existing case fans.

Fig. 3. The main streams of air cooling videocard Gigabyte GV-NX66T256DE

The additional stream of air forms thanks to the central processor unit fan, that cools videocard heat sinks even more.

Company Gigabyte estimates efficiency of the solution offered by its engineers very highly. The illustrating diagramme resulted on a packing box testifies to it. The fragment of this diagramme is presented in a Fig. 4.

Fig. 4. Efficiency tehologii Silent-Pipe II, used in videocard Gigabyte GV-NX66T256DE

Not going into details the analysis of the resulted numerical data as which it is necessary to recognise enough sporny, it is necessary to mark, that efficiency Silent-Pipe II, it is really high. Operational testing of described videocard Gigabyte GV-NX66T256DE testifies to it.

As to its productivity it has been estimated in the course of testing.

Productivity

5 numerical data testify to productivity of videocard Gigabyte GV-NX66T256DE resulted in Table 4 and in a Fig.

Table 4. Results of performance of the test 3DMark05

Fig. 5. Results of performance of the test 3DMark05

These data do not require remarks and testify to high efficiency of videocard Gigabyte GV-NX66T256DE.

In summary it is possible to recommend the given map to a wide range of the users aspiring to silent, high-powered systems.

Videocard Gigabyte GV-NX66T256DE has been given by the Moscow office of company Gigabyte