I have be work with other 6950-based card and be have a hard time get my temperature under control . I decide to experiment with a higher price-point on a device that review better and appear to have better thermal control -lrb- two fan , etc -rrb- . the difference over my ` whatever the cheapest 6950 be ' be marked ... I have script that vary the chip frequency in order to keep it below my max temperature -lrb- 85c -rrb- . other card all end up peg at 85c with the clock rate be vary to keep it there . this one stay at it be max with stable temperature in the 70 . the net effect be roughly at 30 % increase in the yield of the card . well-worth the price premium .