3870x2 reviews thread...

[mtl]

More from bit-tech
Case in point, while the Radeon HD 3870 X2 can deliver higher frame rates than the GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB, the latter delivered a much smoother gaming experience and thus much higher minimum frame rates.


http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2008/02/01/bfgtech_geforce_8800_gts_oc_512mb/7

[XMAN52373]

The card does NOT make anny more noise then my GTS in Crysis. I have UT3, COD4 and Crysis on my disk atm and they all run better then on my GTS/512. Also driver seems fine. Also my dual screen setup works great.


DX9 is a good path to play, why not try some DX10 action man.

[MicroZ28]

I'll add my input.I have had my Sapphire 3870 X2 since Wed. and although its not a bad card I just sold it on Ebay for the same price i paid for it:captnkill: Im going back to the GREEN:) 8800GTX until Nvidia comes up with something better.3870 X2 was gr8 in 3dmark06 but that was about it for me.Games were not as good.Plus catalyst sucks.Had terrible time with vista install but XP wasnt to bad.Just wanted to try it out but it got me just like the 2900XT did me awhile back bought it and sold it a week later.As much as i use to like ATI products i just feel that they are just to far behind now to catch up.

[Feyy]

.As much as i use to like ATI products i just feel that they are just to far behind now to catch up.

Yeah pretty much same here, im waiting for r700 though ;)

[BioHazZarD]

What sucks most is that the card cant even beat the old gtx in crysis.. i mean why do they bother if they cant beat cards over 1 year old ?

[slaWter]

True and Crysis is the most important game right now for new GFX cards, it's like a system seller.

[Riptide]

What sucks most is that the card cant even beat the old gtx in crysis.. i mean why do they bother if they cant beat cards over 1 year old ?
Err what?

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3209&p=5

[mtl]

Anandtech doesn"t measure real game play, and the minimum rates are often terrible.
http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTQ1NCwzLCxoZW50aHVzaWFzdA==

[Riptide]

I read the [H] review. It did OK. There is nothing wrong with the way Anandtech reviewed the card. [H] is the only place that reviews with that style.

[mtl]

Not so good for the price.

We need to look at the performance in comparison to the closest competition for this video card, a single GeForce 8800 GTX. In every game except Half Life 2: Episode 2, the GeForce 8800 GTX delivered higher framerates. Keep in mind we are simply using a stock clocked GeForce 8800 GTX, so this doesn’t take into consideration a partner overclocked video card or the 8800 Ultra.http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTQ1NCw4LCxoZW50aHVzaWFzdA==

[Riptide]

One review. In practically every other review it does better than the GTX or on par with it.

[mtl]

Not Really, and there are others like these. Hardly a rousing success.
Notice that the new G92-based 8800 GTS card with 512MB is about on par, overall, with the 3870 X2, but the Nvidia card sells for about $379. The GeForce 8800 GTX, which is usually about $469, is a little faster in some cases, a little slower in others. Other high-end single cards like the G92-based GeForce 8800 GTS is a better overall value that will give you more consistent and predictable performance.

it’s not something that I can recommend over Nvidia’s current flagship GeForce 8800 Ultra and 8800 GTX cards

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2008/01/29/amd_ati_radeon_hd_3870_x2/14
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2252579,00.asp

The minimums are terrible.
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2008/01/29/amd_ati_radeon_hd_3870_x2/9

[Riptide]

In the bit-tech review it beats the GTX and even the Ultra in Crysis DX10 and DX9.

It also beats the GTX in Crysis DX10 on the second review you linked.

The post you responded to of mine was in response to Crysis btw.
http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=1541937&postcount=132

Indeed the card does very well in that game. Better than the GTX.

[mtl]

and Nvidia has new drivers coming which will improve Crysis by 20-30%.

[Riptide]

and Nvidia has new drivers coming which will improve Crysis by 20-30%.
lol we'll see. I'm sure AMD can make similar claims. It's painfully obvious from the reviews that there are some driver issues holding the X2 back as it is.

[PeterJensen]

and Nvidia has new drivers coming which will improve Crysis by 20-30%.

Dude chill, its a fine card. Stop the crusade ;)

[mtl]

It's a fine card for 250-300.

[PeterJensen]

It's a fine card for 250-300.

Mjaaa i think it got an ok price tag.

[Riptide]

Mjaaa i think it got an ok price tag.
Shhh.. Don't disturb the fanbois. ;) :lol:

[cvearl]

It's a fine card for 250-300.

Dood. You cannot write it off completely. Skew as much as you want. But the price DOES need to be lower IMO. Not because of the cards shortcommings. But in light of recent and drastic price drops by nVidia.

First of all, if it had a simple Dual/single GPU switch for a few of the games that don't work well with CF, it would be worth whatever the current price of the GTX is. Period. If they don't implement it, I wont be buying it.

Assume for a second that they did...

I have re-evaluated the performance numbers and I cannot be bothered to post anything elaborate but here it is. This is averaging everyones results in all games tested. These results are aproximate and rounded.

In 65% of the games the 3870x2 beats a STOCK 8800GTX and or STOCK 8800(G92) by varying degrees.

In 15% of the games it matches GTX/G92's. Still good there.

In 20%, it is either below or does not work well at all. You currently need to turn off CF mode by disabling AI in the CCC and then it plays around in the stock 8800GT zone.

Going off just these performance figures alone, the card is worth the same price as a GTX or just slightly above. The G92 does NOT have the legs in the higher resses in most of the games to match a GTX let alone the 3870x2.

That said, anything 1280x1024 or below, the 3870x2 AND GTX are overkill most of the time anyway and the G92 is just fine in that world. If you need to spend less, the 8800GT is the next best value as ATI has not dropped the pricing if the 3870 to match yet. nVidia is on the pricing warpath and that is clear.

3870x2 should currently be $419 - $429 in light of current GTX prices.

3870 needs to be $199 now in light of current 8800GT $239 - $259 pricing.

That is the long and the short of it.

But in the end. They need to offer the on/off CF switch in the CCC.

C.

[Shocky]

More from bit-tech
Case in point, while the Radeon HD 3870 X2 can deliver higher frame rates than the GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB, the latter delivered a much smoother gaming experience and thus much higher minimum frame rates.


http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2008/02/01/bfgtech_geforce_8800_gts_oc_512mb/7

Yep, the X2 is seems to have a much lower minimum and higher max framerate, whereas the GTS/GTX/Ultra all provide a much more stable framerate.

I just can't imagine gaming with a X2 would be much fun at all with large framerate delta like that, I'd only recommend the X2 to someone who only plays 3dmark. ;)

[XMAN52373]

One review. In practically every other review it does better than the GTX or on par with it.

Every other review that uses the canned benchmark that has clearly been optimized for. Which is why real game play isn't showing the same results.

[Riptide]

*delete*

[Blacklash]

IMO if you really must try one wait on this-

http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?t=33915340

Or one close to it.

[Shocky]

IMO if you really must try one wait on this-

http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?t=33915340

Or one close to it.

Damn, it looks huge in those screenshots.