3870x2 reviews thread...

[cvearl]

The reviews in RED used different platforms for each brand of card to compare.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3209&p=3
Catalyst 8-451-2-080123a
Core2 Extreme on 780sli board.
VISTA 32bit

http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/01/28/ati_r680_the_rage_fury_maxx_2/
Asus P5E3 Deluxe (X38) + Core2 Extreme
Cat 8-451-2-080108a
XP??

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/4236-ati-radeon-hd3870-x2-1gb-review-9.html\
Asus Blitz Extreme (P35)
Cat 8.451.2-080
Vista Ultimate x64

http://www.guru3d.com/article/Videocards/490/1
nVIDIA nForce 680i SLI (eVGA)
8-451-2-080108a beta
Vista Business Edition

http://www.legitreviews.com/article/656/4/
Gigabyte X38-DQ6
CATALYST 8.1 driver
Windows Vista Ultimate

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/HD_3870_X2/1.html
Gigabyte P35C-DS3R Intel P35
Catalyst 8.12 v8.451.2
Windows XP SP2

http://www.hothardware.com/articles/R680_Has_Landed_ATI_Radeon_HD_3870_X2/?page=1
EVGA nForce 680i SLI
Cat ATI Catalyst Bets v8.451
Vista Ultimate

http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews/AMDX2Review/index.php
Asus P5E3 Deluxe (X38)
Catalyst 8.451 230108
Vista Ultimate

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/amd_radeon_hd_3870_x2_performance/default.asp
ASUS P5E3 Deluxe (X38) (for Radeon cards) EVGA nForce 680i SLI mbrd (for GeForce cards)
Cat 8.451.2_080123a-058649E
Vista 64-bit w/Service Pack 1 RC Refresh

http://techreport.com/articles.x/13967/1
Gigabyte GA-X38-DQ6 (Radeon cards) and nForce 680i SLI (geforce cards)
Cat 8.451.2-080116a-057935E
Vista Ultimate x86 Edition

http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=512&type=expert&pid=2
EVGA nForce 680i Motherboard
AMD Catalyst R680 Beta
Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2253049,00.asp
Intel D975 XBX (Intel 975X)
Catalyst 8.2
Vista Ultimate

http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles/view.php?cid=3&id=2475
Core 2 Duo E6700 and an Intel D975XBX
Cat 8.1
XP SP2

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=11398
MSI X48 Platinum (X48+ICH9R)
CATALYST 8.2 beta
Vista Business, 64-bit, Windows XP SP2 32-bit (X2 and GTX)

If this is REALLY $449. We have a winnah. http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048+106792462+1067936594&name=Radeon+HD+3870+X2

C.

[PlayerZen14]

http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=512

A review of the Asus 3870x2 1gb

[PlayerZen14]

found this one as well
http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTQ1NCwxLCxoZW50aHVzaWFzdA==

[MUYA]

Anandtech did a review with no AA and AF analysis and calling it a winner????

Strange...at least other websites include AA and AF performances

[Sazar]

Anandtech did a review with no AA and AF analysis and calling it a winner????

Strange...at least other websites include AA and AF performances

?

AT did have charts with AA and AF included m8.

Oblivion in dx10 inherently has no AA available to be implemented afaik.

For AA on their charts, look at this:

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3209&p=4

Given that Stanford's folding project is going to be releasing a new 2xxx and 3xxx capable folding application, I am seriously thinking about this little sucker to add to my current folding setup :)

[MUYA]

?

AT did have charts with AA and AF included m8.

Oblivion in dx10 inherently has no AA available to be implemented afaik.

For AA on their charts, look at this:

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3209&p=4

Given that Stanford's folding project is going to be releasing a new 2xxx and 3xxx capable folding application, I am seriously thinking about this little sucker to add to my current folding setup :)
Hmm, I dunno about AT's review. Seems I did miss out observing some AA numbers but it is still sparse I think compared to other reviews.

[skank]

From Anandtech: AMD wanted to release new drivers at the last minute, the 123a. These drivers didn't solve any bugs and haven't changed the performance. A few occasional drops where noticed, the most significant ones appearing once antialiasing was activated (in Oblivion or Age Of Empires III). There was no change in picture quality. Thus, we stuck with the 108a drivers for all the cards, as they've been the best in our experience.

lol

[PlayerZen14]

gpureview.com lists a lot of review links. Here's the page for 3870x2
http://www.gpureview.com/Radeon-HD-3870-X2-card-549.html

[Blacklash]

You can get a 8800GTX for 399 with rebate @ Newegg and they are awesome high res cards with AA in DX10. You can get 8800GT 512Mb SLi for 29usd more than a 3870 X2, Newegg has those as low as 239usd each with rebate. The Anandtech review shows 8800GT SLi often walking all over the 3870 X2, save sometimes @ 2560x.

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

If you want something that works all the time, I'd say overclocked 8800GTS 512Mb, 8800GT 512Mb or 8800GT. @ very high resolutions in DX10 with AA piled on an overclocked 8800GTX is a solid choice too. It will often out perform the new nVidia cards in those cases.

We already know these cards are often going to be hurt badly by AA too. Not to mention they have some sort of odd min FPS issue. DH mentions it.

The way 8800GT SLi out performs this card leads me to believe the 9800 X2 will as well.

It's a good effort and I'd recommend what I already outlined instead or waiting on the 9800 X2.

[cvearl]

You can get a 8800GTX for 399 with rebate @ Newegg and they are awesome high res cards with AA in DX10. You can get 8800GT 512Mb SLi for 29usd more than a 3870 X2, Newegg has those as low as 239usd each with rebate. The Anandtech review shows 8800GT SLi often walking all over the 3870 X2, save sometimes @ 2560x.

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

If you want something that works all the time, I'd say overclocked 8800GTS 512Mb, 8800GT 512Mb or 8800GT. @ very high resolutions in DX10 with AA piled on an overclocked 8800GTX is a solid choice too. It will often out perform the new nVidia cards in those cases.

We already know these cards are often going to be hurt badly by AA too. Not to mention they have some sort of odd min FPS issue. DH mentions it.

The way 8800GT SLi out performs this card leads me to believe the 9800 X2 will as well.

It's a good effort and I'd recommend what I already outlined instead or waiting on the 9800 X2.

Hmmm...

I would have to say that sure. Get an overclocked 8800 G92 or a GTX (basically in the same performance range) and you will get close to 3870x2 in many cases.

But playing with a 3870x2, which usually seems to beat those 2 cards, looks like it might just be plain old fun. It's the most interresting and unique card in the market at this point IMO while at the same time seems to scale really really well. In a 15% of the games that won't scale right out of the box, you will have 8800GT performance at least. The rest of the time GTX to Ultra and beyond.

All that and in 1 PCIe slot and for $449. Nice.

Great job AMD.

C.

[Siskods9]

I wonder how noisy these things are?
Years ago I had a X1900-XTX and the fluctuating fan speed noise(s) drove me nuts, that sucker was loud!

[nekrosoft13]

?

AT did have charts with AA and AF included m8.

Oblivion in dx10 inherently has no AA available to be implemented afaik.

For AA on their charts, look at this:

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3209&p=4

Given that Stanford's folding project is going to be releasing a new 2xxx and 3xxx capable folding application, I am seriously thinking about this little sucker to add to my current folding setup :)

Oblivion never was and never will be dx10

[nekrosoft13]

you people do realize that new nvidia card will be out in about a month?

I wouldn't buy a card now, not unless i see comparison between this and new nvidia card

[LordJuanlo]

You can get 8800GT 512Mb SLi for 29usd more than a 3870 X2

And you need a nForce chipset for this. No thanks, I prefer one single 3870x2. It's slower but I can use an Intel mobo that blows away anything nVidia has or will have in the near future. Even if I need more speed I can add a second card for quad crossfire.

[cvearl]

I wonder how noisy these things are?
Years ago I had a X1900-XTX and the fluctuating fan speed noise(s) drove me nuts, that sucker was loud!

I have read pretty much all the reviews so far and the consensus seems to be "about as loud as a GTX". Charts show it a touch louder under load though.

But I guess it's subjective.

C.

[Libertysyclone]

I would hold off on card buying, NVIDIA is supposed to have 3 cards out by mid march...

[hirantha]

you people do realize that new nvidia card will be out in about a month?

I wouldn't buy a card now, not unless i see comparison between this and new nvidia card

This is right, i was gonna buy this new ATI card but I'm gonna wait a bit more to see the new nvidia benchmarks.

[Blacklash]

Hmmm...

I would have to say that sure. Get an overclocked 8800 G92 or a GTX (basically in the same performance range) and you will get close to 3870x2 in many cases.

But playing with a 3870x2, which usually seems to beat those 2 cards, looks like it might just be plain old fun. It's the most interresting and unique card in the market at this point IMO while at the same time seems to scale really really well. In a 15% of the games that won't scale right out of the box, you will have 8800GT performance at least. The rest of the time GTX to Ultra and beyond.

All that and in 1 PCIe slot and for $449. Nice.

Great job AMD.

C.

It's a good effort from AMD and there are quite a few folks with GTXs beyond Ultra speed. I admit mine is atypical.

I could see someone that wanted to upgrade now and that was on an Intel or AMD chipset buying one.

Many are likely going to wait and see what the 9800 GX2 brings though. Especially after seeing how 8800GTs in SLi did against the HD 3870 X2 @ Anandtech.

On the other hand, nVidia may ask for a much higher price for the 9800 GX2 and that might keep the HD 3870 X2 attactive. Guess we will have to wait and see.

[Siskods9]

you people do realize that new nvidia card will be out in about a month?

I wouldn't buy a card now, not unless i see comparison between this and new nvidia card

Dumb question but... Will the new 9800GX2 cards require SLI support on the mobo to work? Or could I successfully run one on my Intel P35 mobo?

[hirantha]

Dumb question but... Will the new 9800GX2 cards require SLI support on the mobo to work? Or could I successfully run one on my Intel P35 mobo?
9800GX2 is a single card just like this 3870X2, don't need SLI but i think you can run this in SLI.. see the X2 is common to both?

[nekrosoft13]

Dumb question but... Will the new 9800GX2 cards require SLI support on the mobo to work? Or could I successfully run one on my Intel P35 mobo?

no sli board required for single card.

if new nvidia card was 6+ months away, then buying this card now would make sence, but since new cards will be out in about a month.

it doesn't make sence, just wait for both new products to be out and make a fair comparison.

[tornadog]

waiting is always a good thing with new hardware releases. I guarantee the prices are not going to go up and you will have a better basis for comparison, better driver support, etc.

[walterman]

Given the price/performance ratio of this card, and the upcoming Quad CF driver for Intel mobos, i think that we've a winner.

I hope that the Quad CF pushes enough pressure on nVidia to give a SLI license to Intel.

[nekrosoft13]

Given the price/performance ratio of this card, and the upcoming Quad CF driver for Intel mobos, i think that we've a winner.

I hope that the Quad CF pushes enough pressure on nVidia to give a SLI license to Intel.

we had a quad before, we all know how bad that turned out. I'm not getting excited about quad graphics before i see real benchmarks.

[mtl]

Too little too late.