Dedicated ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 Discussion | Released!! | Reviews | See OP!!

[DiGiTaL MoNkEY]

Considering how big the General 4800 series discussion has become, this is created for the discussion of ATI's Radeon HD 4870 X2 High End Solution which has been released on the 12th August 2008. Now lets see how ATI and Nvidia battle it out in the GPU wars!

Continue chat in the original 4-series thread, once this one dies down.

Press Release: http://www.amd.com/us-en/Corporate/V...127542,00.html
AMD's Product Page: http://game.amd.com/us-en/unlock_rad...870x2.aspx?p=1
AMD's Spec's Page: http://game.amd.com/us-en/unlock_rad...870x2.aspx?p=3
Key Features Page: http://game.amd.com/us-en/unlock_rad...870x2.aspx?p=2

_________________________


Review Listing:

• AnandTech - http://anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3372
• Bit-tech - http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/200...n-hd-4870-x2/1
• Club Overclocker - http://www.cluboverclocker.com/revie..._2GB/page1.asp
• CustomPC - http://www.custompc.co.uk/reviews/60...-4870-x2.html#
• DriverHeaven - http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews.php?reviewid=607
• ExtremeTech - http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...2327863,00.asp
• FiringSquad - http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/...rmance_review/
• Guru3D - http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon...iew-crossfire/
• Hardware Canucks - http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum...rd-review.html
• Hardware Secrets - http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/602
• Hardware Zone - http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles...?cid=3&id=2653
• Hexus - http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=14928
• Hot Hardware - http://www.hothardware.com/Articles/...D-Back-On-Top/
• LegitReviews - http://www.legitreviews.com/article/766/1/
• MadShrimps - http://www.madshrimps.be/?action=getarticle&articID=864
• NeoSeeker - http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Ha...d4870x2/<br />
• Overclockers Club - http://www.overclockersclub.com/revi...pphire_4870x2/
• PC Perspective - http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=605
• T-Break - http://www.tbreak.com/reviews/article.php?id=627
• Tech Report - http://techreport.com/articles.x/15293
• TechGage - http://techgage.com/article/palit_ra...gpu_supremacy/
• TechPowerUp - http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Sapphire/HD_4870_X2/
• TechWareLabs - http://www.techwarelabs.com/reviews/...palit-4870x2//
• Tom's Hardware - http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...-amd,1992.html
• TweakTown - http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/154...rex/index.html


_________________________


Specifications:



• Process: 55nm
• Cores: Two RV770 GPU's
• Core Clock: 750MHz
• Memory Capacity: 2048MB
• Memory Clock: 3600MHz (900MHz X 4)
• Memory Type: GDDR5
• Memory Interface: 2 x 256-bit
• Unified Stream Processors: 1600
• Standard DirectX Version: 10.1
• Video Playback Technology: Avivo HD (UVD2)
• Interface: PCI-Express 2.0 (Backward Compatible)
• Power Connector(s): 8-Pin & 6-Pin PCI-E Connector
• MSRP: $549USD / $669AUD

_________________________


Pricing/Where to Buy?:

OCAU Sponsors are offering these cards for reduced prices, please visit them in the Sponsor Specials forum.

PriceSpy: http://www.pricespy.com.au/pno_13547.html

StaticICE: http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/....cgi?q=4870+X2

[Ice009]

I just read TOX's review plus the Hexis one and the single card power consumption numbers seem to vary by quite a bit.

Is it their testing methods that make them different? Both seem to be running pretty basic systems at 3.0GHZ.

[DiGiTaL MoNkEY]

Originally Posted by Ice009

I just read TOX's review and also the Hexis one and the single card power consumption numbers seem to vary by quite a bit. Is it their testing methods that make them different?

It comes down to what hardware they are using, thats the biggest factor, and sometimes the power meter they use.

[mojom@n]

Subscribed

[SupaGu]

i just wanna know if a 550w PSU is enough to power one of these babies!

edit: i'm going with a 620w PSU just incase

[DiGiTaL MoNkEY]

Originally Posted by SupaGu

i just wanna know if a 550w PSU is enough to power one of these babies!

For a single 4870X2 it is, but it comes down to what hardware you already have in your system.

[Ice009]

Originally Posted by DiGiTaL MoNkEY

For a single 4870X2 it is, but it comes down to what hardware you already have in your system.

That's the thing TOX mentioned in his system the power draw in Crossfire was 778W. Single card was 431. TOX also said that those numbers are with his system running the bare minimum of components. 550 might not be quite enough.

I was thinking of getting a HX1000 for my new system incase I want to Crossfire two of these X2's down the line, but TOX's numbers are making me second guess this decision. If you've got a system that is fully loaded with tons of drives and an overclocked Quad Core would the HX1000 even be enough. I would just stick with what you have now and only upgrade the PSU when/if you go Crossifre otherwise you might find that you spent money on a 1000 watt PSU for nothing and you need something beefier.

[Omarko]

prices keep coming down ... Itestate just listed PCI-e 4870 x2 2GB PowerColor for $635

[DiGiTaL MoNkEY]

Originally Posted by Ice009

That's the thing TOX mentioned in his system the power draw in Crossfire was 778W. Single card was 431. TOX also said that those numbers are with his system running the bare minimum of components. 550 might not be quite enough.

Like i said it depends on your system, i only have a pair of dvd drives and 4 hard drives, plus a similar system to what TweakTown have, and i'd still get away with a 550watt psu...a good quality one that is. But i'd still go for a Corsair 620W psu for any new systems, for a single card.

[rockqc]

So who actually has them in stock ?

AusPC just emailed me and said they aren't expecting the Sapphire card till late next week..

[TOX]

I have a lot of faith in my power meter - it was about $1500 US, it really is one of the top of the line ones. Not one of those $20 ones that you plug into the wall socket

Edit: Just spoke to Rex at PC Maniacs, he had stock this morning, but sold them but has more stock coming in. http://pcmaniacs.com.au/hd4870x2-750...er-p-4479.html prob worth emailing / calling - He should have more stock tommorow he said

[DiGiTaL MoNkEY]

Originally Posted by TOX

I have a lot of faith in my power meter - it was about $1500 US, it really is one of the top of the line ones. Not one of those $20 ones that you plug into the wall socket.

Not bagging your power meter just before the full reviews came out there was a variety of power ratings that added to the confusion about power usage when in CrossfireX..now it looks like most people should be looking at a 800-850watt PSU to be happy with dual 4870X2's, and that may not be enough if you put a highly clocked quad core into the system.

[Ice009]

Originally Posted by DiGiTaL MoNkEY

Like i said it depends on your system, i only have a pair of dvd drives and 4 hard drives, plus a similar system to what TweakTown have, and i'd still get away with a 550watt psu...a good quality one that is. But i'd still go for a Corsair 620W psu for any new systems, for a single card.

I was going to write, that from the looks of the numbers TOX had if going with a new system a 600-620 should be the starting point for a single card. Like you're saying though if you've already got a decent 550W then that might be OK. .

Originally Posted by TOX

I have a lot of faith in my power meter - it was about $1500 US, it really is one of the top of the line ones. Not one of those $20 ones that you plug into the wall socket

I didn't know you were using a high quality one like that. I will trust your numbers a lot more than those other sites using the cheaper ones. Also, like DM said we weren't bagging your numbers just saying that there seems to be lots of different numbers thrown around in different previews/reviews.

[Omarko]

ITestate are going to have apparently quite few in stock by Thursday ... with a tiny bit of luck by tomorrow ...

I'll just keep rining around ... will be interesting how my little project slapping two Dtek Fuzion GPU v2 blocks on the 48770x2 works out hehehe

[Omarko]

TOX ... any chance you can measure the hole distances (around the GPUs) on the cards ? I just want to confirm its the same hole distances as the 4870 ...