The Diamond Viper Radeon HD 2900XT 1GB is a very big videocard, not only in length but also in weight. The massive heatsink is the main culprit that pushes the needle to nearly 930 grams. Obviously, you'll want to move your computer carefully when transporting it to and from LAN parties. Better yet, remove the videocard(s) and install them when you get to your destination!

The large heatsink for the ATI/AMD Radeon HD 2900XT GPU weighs in itself at 640 grams, and it's made primarily of copper. Behind a very massive copper block are two copper heatpipes which conduct heat from the core out to a collection of thin copper fins.

Eight GDDR4 memory DRAM make contact with the aluminum frame of the heatsink, as do the MOSFET and digital VRM chips. A 65mm PWM squirrel cage fan powers the whole heatsink, and it is speed is automatically adjusted by the system based on GPU thermal load.

But I suppose you just want to know one thing - is it loud?

Well, in 3D games with a lot of action going on the Diamond Viper Radeon HD 2900XT videocard is audible, but it's not an annoying noise level. While you type away in Windows or within a 2D application, the videocard is very quiet, as expected. It was only when the Diamond Viper Radeon HD 2900XT videocard was overclocked to the max, that the 65mm fan ramped up in speed. PCSTATS had to push the videocard strenuously for this to happen, but at full speed the videocard is loud , sort of like those 60mm Delta screamers of yesteryear! Two Diamond Viper Radeon HD 2900XT videocards overclocked to the utter max were positively blaring.

However, that only happened when the Viper HD 2900XT videocard was overclocked to the max. In 3D games the fan never really spun past ~60%, even under full 3D load. At those levels, the videocard was audible, but not so loud as to be annoying. The fan is rated to draw 0.94 amps.

The videocard heatsink smartly takes air from inside the PC chassis and expel it out are the rear through an expansion slot vent. If your home is dusty, it's a good idea to clean the heatsink and exhaust grill of dust and debris on a regular basis.