Palit Releases GTX 1650 KalmX - a Passively Cooled, 0dB GPU

[AleksandarK]

Palit has today released the latest addition to its KalmX passive series of graphics cards - the GTX 1650 KalmX. This graphics card is an ITX-sized, 178 mm long GPU that is designed for zero noise, passively cooled builds, where noise is the primary factor. With a heatsink consisting out of two heat-pipes and many fins, the cooling solution should be capable of cooling the 75 W TDP of the GTX 1650 GPU. The cold plate of the heatsink covers the GPU and VRMs to provide safe GPU operation. Being based on the reference design, this card features default speeds of 1485 MHz base, and 1665 MHz boost clocks. For IO, Palit opted to include three ports, where one is HDMI 2.0b and the other two are DisplayPort 1.4a. All the power needed is provided by the PCIe slot, so there are no external power connectors.


View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Vayra86]

Kalm is exactly how Calm is written in Dutch.

I suppose the obligatory X had to be included because hardware

Looks pretty good and that is some nice passive grunt.

 

[cucker tarlson]

is a passive card a good idea

 

[Vayra86]

is a passive card a good idea

With the right VBIOS... it just might

 

[cucker tarlson]

With the right VBIOS... it just might

needs pretty direct case airflow anyway or it's gonna cook.

 

[Keullo-e]

This should have been released when GTX 1650 was released. Better later than never, I guess.

 

[ratirt]

Huh. This is something I might consider for my two builds. Maybe.

 

[notb]

is a passive card a good idea

First of all: the video is about a badly configured passive mode in normal card. Heatsinks in these cards aren't optimized for passive cooling and, more importantly, the shroud greatly limits airflow.

Palit's heatsink is less dense, larger, it protrudes around the PCB. Everything good so far.
Problem?
The worst case scenario for this card is hanging horizontally with the cooler facing down and case airflow parallel to the PCIe slot (front-back)... which is how almost all DIY desktops work.

Somewhere in the middle there's a more common situation: a normal ATX layout as above, but with strong inflow from the floor.
But here's the Catch 22: most people buy these cards aiming at very low noise. Will they pair it with strong case fans?

Best case: heatsink fins aligned vertically in a tight case with bottom-up airflow - which is true for some niche mITX cases.
Here's Ghost S1:

In short: it's a very good card for a very tiny consumer group (with very niche PC) and extremely bad for the rest.

 

[ixi]

This should have been released when GTX 1650 was released. Better later than never, I guess.

Palit back at it . At least I think that it's good that even single company is making passive cooled gpus. Because there is a small chance that others will join slowly as well...

 

[natr0n]

I would enjoy zip tying a silent 120/140mm fan on that.

 

[Keullo-e]

I would enjoy zip tying a silent 120/140mm fan on that.

-Buys a passive card
-Macgyvers a fan

But why?!

 

[notb]

Palit back at it . At least I think that it's good that even single company is making passive cooled gpus. Because there is a small chance that others will join slowly as well...

Palit has been making passive cards for many generations and it didn't convince anyone.
It's a very niche product. Larger companies won't waste time.

 

[londiste]

But here's the Catch 22: most people buy these cards aiming at very low noise. Will they pair it with strong case fans?

It actually does not matter that much. With a heatsink with fins that are this sparse, any airflow is good. Placing this in a completely closed environment will obviously suck but as long as any airflow is there (be it 300rpm case fan or two), it will manage. The jump from completely passive to a little bit of airflow is usually underestimated.

By the way, I am pretty sure KalmX will not fit into Ghost because the card is too wide
The part of heatsink that is over the edge of card is considerable and I would suspect the card does better in horizontal position rather than vertical even with airflow from the bottom.

 

[R0H1T]

How about placing it under the AC, problem solved?

 

[Keullo-e]

With a heatsink with fins that are this sparse, any airflow is good.

Exactly. I remember when I had a Radeon HD 4850 with Accelero S1 (passive), even a little airflow kept it with safe temps.

 

[gamefoo21]

Exactly. I remember when I had a Radeon HD 4850 with Accelero S1 (passive), even a little airflow kept it with safe temps.

I remember the 'turbo module' I got for mine...

That thing lusted to bite your fingers... LoL

 

[Assimilator]

Nice to see no DVI on this card.

is a passive card a good idea

Yes, if it's designed properly. And GTX 1650 has sub-75W power draw versus RX 5600 XT's up-to-225W. That's a third of the heat to dissipate.

Of course, the point of that GN video isn't passive cooling, it's the continued fallout from AMD's half-a**ed 5600 XT launch. How difficult is it to make fans spin at a certain speed, for crying out loud? And yet AMD and its partners have managed to break that simple functionality. That's a stunning display of incompetence, even for RTG.

 

[TheDeeGee]

0 dB, so that means zero Coil Whine?

 

[Keullo-e]

I remember the 'turbo module' I got for mine...

That thing lusted to bite your fingers... LoL

Isn't the first Twin Turbo like S1 with Turbo Module from factory? I have the Twin Turbo 1gen on my GT 1030 and it's a "little" overkill..

 

[Medicate]

According to this site's own review a passively cooled 1050ti could easily handle the heat of that card. I don't see a reason why it shouldn't work for a 1650 too.

 

[medi01]

I totally love totally silent devices that totally expect you to organize the airflow.

 

[cucker tarlson]

I totally love totally silent devices that totally expect you to organize the airflow.

how much airflow do you need for this to stay within reasonable temperatures?

 

[ppn]

how much airflow do you need for this to stay within reasonable temperatures?

500 rpm fan keeps the core at under 60. but the memory chips will reach 100C.

 

[Keullo-e]

500 rpm fan keeps the core at under 60. but the memory chips will reach 100C.

And the card was..?

 

[ppn]

Correct this newer version covers VRMs and VRAMs If true could be under 60 C in any area of the card with simple airflow.