Comment Thread for HIS Radeon HD3870 Review

[SKYMTL]

ATI's "new" card has arrived!! It has some initial teething problems but the potential is definately there. And it has a price to LOVE!!

I even popped in some initial Crossfire testing for you guys.

You can read the review here: HIS Radeon HD3870 Review & Crossfire Performance Preview

Please post on this thread any questions, comments, rants and raves that you may have.

OVERCLOCKING UPDATE WITH THERMALTAKE DUORB

If you remember, the review states that with the stock cooler installed Catalyst control does not allow me to overclock the card past 860Mhz on the core without Catalyst locking up or the screen going purple, blue or white when I try to accept any core clock over 860Mhz.

With the DuOrb reducing temperatures by nearly half I was expecting a bit more overclocking headroom. Well, I was wrong.

Well, here are some more results:

AMD GPU Clock: Lock-up after accepting clock of 865MHz
Rivatuner: Lock-up after accepting clock of 865Mhz
Catalyst: Lock-up after accepting clock of 865Mhz

Considering the card runs without ANY artifacts at 860Mhz, there should be at least a little headroom left...especially at lower temperatures brought on by the DuOrb. With these results I am thinking that it is the BIOS of the HD3870 that is stopping me from clocking any higher. Whether there is insufficient voltage or something else, 860MHz seems to be the limit for now.

[S_G]

I've been waiting for this review from you for a while. Those memory overclocking numbers are exciting to say the least, though it looks like that bus is a bit limiting. I'm especially happy about the power consumption. I wonder how the core and memory will scale with a little voltage bump.

All in all, the only gripe I have with this review is the lack of acoustics testing, though it sounds like it will definitely be a lot quieter than the average 8800GT. Granted, I am a fan nut, so you are excused.

Will you be doing an updated review once WHQL drivers are out?

[SKYMTL]

I will probably update a few benches but to tell you the truth....true acoustical testing is nearly impossible when you live in the city. I am looking into getting a small sound chamber but that may take a little while.

It is a valid comment though.

As for the WHQLs....the word is that they will be ready when they are ready.

[1Tanker]

Nice review. How would you rate the visual quality vs. the 8800GT? I have read that the 3870 renders a nicer image than the NVidia, but i didn't see it mentioned in your review.

[Cptn Vortex]

Awesome review, as always. That is a very impressive card for the cost. Overclocked results are awesome! I like that DuOrb, getting one sometime near the end of the week for one of my GTX's, maybe I'll beat you to the review, eh?

[burebista]

Thanks SKYMTL. As usual a very good review.

Originally Posted by SKYMTL

Upon further research it seems that the HD3870 and HD3850 will fit nearly every heatsink which is compatible with the X1900 and HD2900 series of graphics cards.

By chance AC Accelero S1 will work? If yes I guess what Santa will bring to me.

[cdn_Madrach]

Great review Sky. The two things that impress me most is price and the fact that all that performance is with beta drivers in which ati usually improves alot with first driver revisions

[SKYMTL]

I can't comment on the S1 but as long as the offsets are the same, there really shouldn't be much of a problem since the DuOrb is listed to work with 8800-series, 7900-series and X1900 series. In order to mount the DuOrb on the card, I used the mounting holes for the X1950/X1900 series if I remember correctly. There are also two different heights of standoffs.

[ebdoradz]

Nice review and JEsus that card OC like Crazy

god damn, i wish i didnt bought that x1950XT 2 month ago, i would change my card

[Mindwarp]

Great review! This is a very interesting card indeed, especially once oc'd. With a DuOrb it makes for a nice solution. I can see myself buying this setup.