The Basics (continued):
The next set of images show the card from different angles. We see the 6-pin PCI Express power connector off in one corner, the blue heatsinks affixed to all of the memory chips, and that Zalman and Sapphire apparently couldn't get together before manufacturing to make sure that the fan had the same connector as the header on the card.
The below left image shows that the GPU cooler is above all of the memory heatsinks, so that the air that cools the GPU will also wash over the memory coolers before its work is done. The below right image shows a close up of the fan adaptor cable, as well as showing something that caught my attention... crooked memory heatsinks.
The image below shows an end view of the card where we see the two DVI outputs surrounding the TV output connection. This image also provides a good height reference, and we see that the cooler is most definitely a two slot solution.
My main issue with the physical features of the Toxic Radeon HD4850 is that it looks like it was modified at home (and definitely not at my home). The aftermarket cooler is taller than most stock coolers (but will hopefully perform better), some of the RAM heatsinks are crooked, and the fan power connection required an adaptor in order to plug into the card's header. It doesn't look bad, but it definitely looks less like something designed and manufactured by professionals, and more like something hastily put together by a gamer anxious to get back into the action.
I will admit that I am picky. If I had modified it myself I would have tried to do a better job, and I just expect more from a factory installation. What I am really interested in seeing is how well the card performs, because once this thing gets plugged in, the fan wire and crooked memory heatsinks won't mean a thing if it can crank out frames in 3D games without issue!
