Best VEGA 56

[Aggravated Salmon]

1. Gigabyte Gaming OC

$310 before negotiations

2. Asrock Phantom Gaming

$300 after negotiations

3. Powercolor Red Dragon 

$310 before negotiations

 

which of these three has the highest OC potential and the quietest

 

and thus which should I get

[mxk]

Vega 56 is a crazy good card for overclocking. I think the powercolor red dragon is the best card in this case but if you want the crazy overclocks that vega 56 can do, then you can kiss the silence goodnight.

[Aggravated Salmon]

4 minutes ago, mxk. said:

Vega 56 is a crazy good card for overclocking. I think the powercolor red dragon is the best card in this case but if you want the crazy overclocks that vega 56 can do, then you can kiss the silence goodnight.

Why is that, is it only ROG STRIX and such models that can achieve it? Cos of PCB layout and VRMs?

[NelizMastr]

2 minutes ago, Aggravated Salmon said:

Why is that, is it only ROG STRIX and such models that can achieve it? Cos of PCB layout and VRMs?

Vega 56 and 64 are hot cards, literally, so you have to cool them. When overclocking, temps will inevitably go up due to increased power draw. The only real solution is a water block and custom GPU loop.

[Aggravated Salmon]

1 minute ago, NelizMastr said:

Vega 56 and 64 are hot cards, literally, so you have to cool them. When overclocking, temps will inevitably go up due to increased power draw. The only real solution is a water block and custom GPU loop.

But the triple fan should be acceptable in cooling the v56 right? Like below 80C

[NelizMastr]

1 minute ago, Aggravated Salmon said:

But the triple fan should be acceptable in cooling the v56 right? Like below 80C

Depends on how good your case airflow is and how much you want to OC. Don't expect a high overclock with temps in the 70s and whisper quiet. Also 80c isn't high for a GPU, it's perfectly normal.

[Jurrunio]

9 minutes ago, Aggravated Salmon said:

Why is that, is it only ROG STRIX and such models that can achieve it? Cos of PCB layout and VRMs?

Gigabyte give you still inadequate cooler, and it's a custom PCB so you can't even get your own cooler and strap onto it.

 

Phantom Gaming is a reference design, hence held back by the cooler. At least it's reference so there are cooler swap options

 

Red Dragon is the better one of the three, but with a 2 slot cooler there's only so much in can do

 

Unfortunately, Vega air cooled cards that can hit high OC (not talking about breaking power limits from the factory) are the Strix, Sapphire Nitro+ and Powercolor Red Devil.

 

4 minutes ago, Aggravated Salmon said:

But the triple fan should be acceptable in cooling the v56 right? Like below 80C

3 fan sure, but not thick enough of a heatsink. Vega also has a wall at 70C in which HBM refuse to clock as high, if you want to bypass that you will be liquid cooling or nothing.

[mxk]

3 minutes ago, Aggravated Salmon said:

But the triple fan should be acceptable in cooling the v56 right? Like below 80C

It depends on what you think is acceptable. Hard overclocks on the card do slowly decrease its life.

[mxk]

Just now, Jurrunio said:

Gigabyte give you still inadequate cooler, and it's a custom PCB so you can't even get your own cooler and strap onto it.

 

Phantom Gaming is a reference design, hence held back by the cooler. At least it's reference so there are cooler swap options

 

Red Dragon is the better one of the three, but with a 2 slot cooler there's only so much in can do

 

Unfortunately, Vega air cooled cards that can hit high OC (not talking about breaking power limits from the factory) are the Strix, Sapphire Nitro+ and Powercolor Red Devil.

 

3 fan sure, but not thick enough of a heatsink

^^^^^Nailed it^^^^^

[LukeSavenije]

of the 3, the powercolor is the best. but all 3 aren't that good, as stated by @Jurrunio

Do you want to use the cooler, or are you going to add one on yourself?