ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2

[HEXUS]

ATI has plans to re-take the crown of fastest graphics-card on the market. That plan involves stitching two Radeon HD 3870s together on to one PCB. Will it work?

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[Mattsky]

Hmmm. Frankly, I'm tempted just to get a cheaper nvidia GTX, enjoy that, wait a few months, buy another (by then even cheaper) and get some swift SLI action going. That would kick donkey for sure. Good to see ATI back in the game, mind. (Especially since I'm the proud owner of a still-capable 9800XT. Remember those, kids?) It can only be healthy for the industry and hopefully prevent nvidia from sitting on its behind and releasing rafts of seemingly never-ending similar boards. And I won't even mention their naming convention. See? See how I didn't mention that?

[drunkenmaster]

Hmmm. Frankly, I'm tempted just to get a cheaper nvidia GTX, enjoy that, wait a few months, buy another (by then even cheaper) and get some swift SLI action going. That would kick donkey for sure. Good to see ATI back in the game, mind. (Especially since I'm the proud owner of a still-capable 9800XT. Remember those, kids?) It can only be healthy for the industry and hopefully prevent nvidia from sitting on its behind and releasing rafts of seemingly never-ending similar boards. And I won't even mention their naming convention. See? See how I didn't mention that?

well as far as i'm aware theres only one cheaper GTX available in the uk, the ocuk branded one which is heavily reduced, considering everything else they sell is more expensive than anywhere else, they only started offering 3870's for less than £160 about 2 weeks ago when everywhere else has sold them between £130-140 for 2 months. Which to be honest makes me very suspicious, repaired returns? who knows but i trust that as far as i can throw it.

Seen several for preorder with stock expected in 1-2 days at £260 which is closer to what i expected, though £240-250 would make this a fairly killer card.

Frankly, its fast enough that it makes £60 more for 8800gt's in sli probably just not worth it, ave framerate boost from 60-100 and min framerates from 30-50 are great, which is what a second card gives you, but the bump from 100-115average, or 50-55minimum will barely be noticeable anywhere except the wallet.

AMD can clearly make these cards cheaper than Nvidia, and the time and effort spent doing that is clearly paying off big time with orders on the very cheap 2400/2600's and being able to offer such cheap mid/high end parts that finally bought a 2 card setup to affordable levels. Before the 3870 we had the choice of a single gts 640 at £220, or two of them at £400+, dual card setups were now almost 50% less and nvidia had to follow suit with a cheap GT.

Now the only question i have is, whats better for Lotro being that its the only game i'm really playing at the moment

[GI Joel]

I have used nvidia for while and for what I have seen nvidia sacrifice FPS for quality. ATI shader processing seems to better than nvidias. IL2 1946 shows this off no end. I currently have an 8800gts 640mb my friend has a 3870. The game looks more polished and no graphical glitching is present in the highest settings using open gl. This is only my view of playing this one game on two different cards. Anyone else feel this ?

[.Style]

Looking at the scores im tempted to get another 3870 for CF. Nice review btw, as always

[Cosworth]

Frankly, its fast enough that it makes £60 more for 8800gt's in sli probably just not worth it, ave framerate boost from 60-100 and min framerates from 30-50 are great, which is what a second card gives you, but the bump from 100-115average, or 50-55minimum will barely be noticeable anywhere except the wallet.

I totally agree but confess still to be tempted

I have used nvidia for while and for what I have seen nvidia sacrifice FPS for quality. ATI shader processing seems to better than nvidias. IL2 1946 shows this off no end. I currently have an 8800gts 640mb my friend has a 3870. The game looks more polished and no graphical glitching is present in the highest settings using open gl. This is only my view of playing this one game on two different cards. Anyone else feel this ?

Sorry, I gather your saying the ATI is better?

[Bhavv]

£270 and faster then a Geforce 8800 Ultra, whats not to like about it?

Powercolour are also releasing a shortened version which will use two 6 pin connectors instead of 8 pin ones:

Powercolor cuts the Radeon HD 3870X2 size

My next GFX card

[j.o.s.h.1408]

so thsi card is faster then an ultra? take a look at this:

[H]ard|Forum - View Single Post - What if I told you...

[Bhavv]

Introduction : ATI R680: the Rage Fury MAXX 2?

Chexk out toms hardware review too.

[GI Joel]

I totally agree but confess still to be tempted



Sorry, I gather your saying the ATI is better?

No.. I dont know just want to see what everyone else thinks ....

[Cosworth]

No.. I dont know just want to see what everyone else thinks ....

[Ap0llo]

Screw ATI... 8800GT all the way and i'm not a Nvidia fanboy

[pow1983]

I like the fact i dont have to upgrade my board then CPU then RAM to use this, just my PSU for a bit more juice.