Today we will be taking a look at the Sapphire Radeon HD6450 flex edition. In addition to being a low-profile, silent media-PC-ready card, this unit also boasts triple DVI monitor support right out of the box. This is impressive for a sub-$100 card, but what kind of performance can something working in those constraints really provide?
The SAPPHIRE HD 6450 FleX incorporates this SAPPHIRE exclusive feature into a mainstream graphics card and delivers the most cost-effective Eyefinity solution available for increased productivity in tasks such as editing or business applications. It can also be used in multi-screen information display systems where three low cost monitors can be directly connected to each FleX card installed.
The SAPPHIRE HD 6450 FleX can support three DVI monitors in Eyefinity mode and deliver a true SLS (Single Large Surface) work area. The first two monitors are connected to the DVI outputs, as usual. A third DVI monitor can be connected to the HDMI output with the passive cable adapter supplied. Thus three DVI monitors can be used in Eyefinity mode without any additional investment.
Their description claims this Radeon HD6450 is “the most cost-effective Eyefinity solution available for increased productivity in tasks such as editing or business applications,” leaving no illusions about the expectations of this card. This is designed to be a productivity workhorse supporting three low cost monitors out of the box; clearly we shouldn’t expect high-end gaming out of this card. Sapphire doesn’t even mention HD video. This low profile low power card sounds perfect for a workstation in an office.
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For an HTPC also used for occasional gaming, this card is awesome – completely silent, 50% better scores than the 5450, and simplifies cabling by routing audio over HDMI. The heat and power use is obviously a bit higher, but I’ve had no problems with the card maxed out. Works as a great stop-gap card for gaming, even at full HD resolution, with enough power that I can play some new games at mid or low detail without a problem.
My biggest reservation is the heatsink clamps. The same extremely thin, worthless springs that didn’t attach the sink at all on the Sapphire 5450, necessitating the upgrade to this card. I’m similarly worried that a knock or a cable getting wedged under will be all it needs to come unglued and overheat the underlying chips. I’m just crossing my fingers that it lasts until the 7000- and 600-series show up.
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This cards pretty damn good!