GPU RTX 2060 Recommendation

[Arboreal]

Are any of the single fan RTX 2060 GPUs better than the others?

I'm looking at the Asus Phoenix, the Palit StormX, Gainward Pegasus and the Gigabyte one

I need a short card to fit my Metalfish T40

 

[SaperPL]

I have and used both gigabyte's GTX 1080 and RTX 2070 Mini and I do not recommend it, at least the cards from that time. Their semi-passive mode keeps failing to wake up when their app freezes, and it often does freeze up. Also there's no reasonable hysteresis handling for the fan semi-passive mode, so if you're right on the edge of threshold, the fan will keep shutting off, spinning up to max speed on wake up and shutting off again, and it's like each such cycle takes 1~3 seconds and keeps going on and on forever.

Also the app from gigabyte is terrible at conveying what the button switching on/off the semi-passive mode is set to - is it on right now or is clicking the button will switch it to on or off, this kind of thing.

I think the palit and gainward are the same cooler, but I would check if they have coil whine under warranty and asus would probably have the best board.

 

[Arboreal]

Thank you @SaperPL for coming back so fast on that.

I will avoid the Gigabyte then...

I did think that the Asus may be the best option, but know that a lot people like the StormX versions.

I think you could be right, the Palit and Gainward coolers look very similar, just with a different shroud

 

[nightshift]

I had an Gigabyte ITX 2060 Mini for about 5 years now. I can wholehartedly recommend it - it didn't let me down once.
However out of the box, it had the issue of the fan turning off and on every 10 second as it balanced on the passive-mode thermail limit, but that got solved immediately with MSI Afterburner and setting a fan curve. However it was so LOUD when stressed, that I remember first it actually got me scared. I wanted this card to be good, so I didn't return it, but swapped the fan with a slim 92mm noctua, a 3D-printed tri-arc mounting pad copying the mounting original fan and a pwm to vga adapter to control it the same way as the original without doing anything irreversible.


All my problems got solved instantly. My appreciation for this little gpu skyrocketed.It's small, super silent and powerful. It never let me down - always worked great for exteneded time, got repasted once as well a year ago, easy disassembly cleaning and general maintenance. The card got quiet with the noctua fan under moderate load and I was even able to set 30% RPM's under 40'C which was literally inaudible. Very satisfied with the card, however the fan mod is a must. If you're looking for a single fan 2060, you'll be very happy with Gigabyte's model, but only after doing the fan mod. Luckily, it's easier than you think. I bought the card back in 2020 and it's working perfectly since.

 

[Arboreal]

Thanks for that interesting update on the Gigabyte.
I won an Asus Phoenix over the weekend and it seems to run fine.
I will repaste it and then have a go at undervolting it to see if I can get the temps down.

 

[Gingerbeer]

Have you considered a 4060LP, Tre? I know a guy...

 

[Arboreal]

Have you considered a 4060LP, Tre? I know a guy...

Head and Heart case…[or want vs need!]
Heart combined with a fuller wallet would have gone 4060 Solo here in an ideal world, but I’ve not sold much from the disposal pile.
So, the Head went with the 2060 that I had the funds for.

The 4060LP is tempting and opens up opportunities for even smaller cases, grrrr

 

[Gingerbeer]

The 4060LP is tempting and opens up opportunities for even smaller cases, grrrr

You mean something like a 4 litre aluminium tank that is the ZS-A4DC?

 

[Arboreal]

You mean something like a 4 litre aluminium tank that is the ZS-A4DC?

Get behind me 'Stan', I know what you're up to...
Luckily my allergy to Flex ATX would keep me from going that way