3 ms·

AMD's reference designs still don't look too weird at least. http://images.bit-tech.net/content_images/2016/06/amd-radeon-rx-480-8gb-review/rx480-16b.jpg http:

• gehwartzen 9y ago
  Nice clean design. I get that its largely subjective and comes down to personal preference but I remember being a teen and thinking a graphic card looked cool in their natural state (i.e seeing the PCB, chips and heatsinks/pipes)
  • potatolicious 9y ago
    Sadly this is no longer possible - the plastic shroud actually serves a cooling purpose by directing air out the back of the card rather than blower-style coolers that direct hot air into the rest of the case. But I agree with you, "gamer" hardware aesthetic is grating. It's as if a F-22 and a Nerf Gun decided to have a child together.
    • favorited 9y ago
      The Titan is a blower-style card. Open-air coolers, on the other hand, do result in higher ambient case temperatures but typically keep the graphics card itself cooler blower-style (at lower fan speeds, therefore more quietly as well). Bottom line is there are lots of factors, most significantly case design and cooling strategies for other components.