Between the introductions of new series of video cards between AMD and nVidia, the graphics market is relatively quiet. What we do see, however, is AMD’s partners coming out with different variations of cards based off of an original platform. Sapphire has been dominating the market and keeping it busy due to its introductions of upper-end video cards that offer different things. Most recently, Sapphire surprised many of us with its Toxic HD 6950, which overclocked like a dream and showed chances of success while flashing to an HD 6970 bios. A couple of weeks ago Sapphire brought its HD 6850 Vapor-X edition to the table. The Vapor-X suffix means use of a specially designed vapor chamber cooler that brings up expectations for cooling capability. The reference-style blower is generally sufficient, but can be very loud at full speed. Higher efficiency coolers, such as those found on the Vapor-X edition video cards, can achieve similar results but are able to do so at a much lower level of volume.

Sapphire has been the pioneer in keeping the market somewhat interesting, as least for the Red Team folks. We’ve seen one or two other AMD manufacturers’ cards here on OCC, but until recently with a couple of GTX 580 reviews, nVidia hasn’t really had anything ‘different’ hit the shelves in quite some time. Still though, we can all agree that we’re ready to see more. Hopefully with the upcoming release of Bulldozer and we’ll get some news about perhaps a new top of the line GTX5X0 from nVidia, and maybe some hints about AMD’s next generation of video cards.

Today I will be looking at Sapphire’s HD 6850 1GB Vapor-X Edition. The Vapor-X line is already well established and widely known, and I’m excited to see it continue to grow. The Vapor-X technology employs the same principle used by heatpipes, only in a different shape. A vessel with very low interior pressure (vacuum) contains a fluid that easily evaporates and condenses depending on the temperature. The condensed form absorbs lots of energy (heat) from the GPU die and evaporates, moves outwards where it is cooled, then condenses to complete the cycle. Just about every new video card and processor heatsink integrates this idea themselves, only that the Vapor-X line puts it together on a larger scale.

• READ MORE (Source): Sapphire HD 6850 1GB Vapor-X Edition – Overclockers Club