"4870x2 reviews thread"

Psychouk · 15 Jul 2008 at 20:34

Not sure if this has been posted elsewhere but release date for x2 is 13th August!

http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/07/15/nda-posse-arms-daamit

Quote

"Over at site Guru of 3D a guy called Hilbert Hagedoorn (no, really) seems to be crying into his beer over the ****-uppery.

The wibblesome web was awash yesterday with details of AMD's HD 4870 X2s, yet poor old Hilbert doesn't seem to have his sample yet and he whines that the "actually (sic) launch of the new X2 products guys, is August 13th," (his italics).

"When I woke up and noticed pre/reviews .. I was pretty surprised to see them," he adds.

He posts a missive from Daamit Central which says samples would be sent out at the end of July in plenty of time for said launch. "Getting you the specced sample on time will not be an issue – just give us a little more time," wrote an un-named Daamit meister of spin."

http://www.guru3d.com/news/amd-messes-up-another-launch--4870-x2

Metalface Mark · 15 Jul 2008 at 20:36

LoadsaMoney said:
GTS 512mbs are about 9-9.5 inches long, the X2 will be about the same length as the 3870 X2 and GTX 280/60, about 10.5 inches.

Cheers, it looks a lot bigger in the pics with the cooler off!

It should just about fit in, ive an antec p150.

Bony Maloney · 15 Jul 2008 at 22:17

Will the 4870X2 be OK with a 600W PSU? Currently running a BFG 8800GTX.

The_Abyss · 15 Jul 2008 at 22:38

It should be fine, yes. Check the amps though.

The_Abyss · 15 Jul 2008 at 22:42

marscay said:
are you for real?

until ATI released the 48xx series the GTX280 was well over 400 pounds on release, the 4870x2 is going to smash that card silly for quite a lot less than that.

i don't think ATI have anything to prove in the pricing department - some ppl have an extremely short memory it seems

as far as drivers ATI release a new set every month and i've never found major issues with their drivers in general, neither with NV for that matter ....most problems are user error.

p.s. if you want multi-gpu and no microstuttering then the 48xx series is for you, NV have no answer for that at this point.

Yes, my statement was for real.

I'm not comparing the pricing to Nvidia, rather to ATI's own solutions. A 4870X2 should be cheaper than 2 x 4870 - when you drill down the retail process it will cost less.

Driver support for ATI is indeed regular - more so than Nvidia. The point I was trying to get across is that this is (for ATI) mature silicon - with few additions over 2 seperate cards, they should have been working on these drivers for months now. I'm not saying they will, but releasing the card without good (not necessarily mature) drivers is inexcusable. Let's hope they can get it right.

I'm talking about the position ATI have to aim at adopting to achieve a major shift in market share across all sectors of the market.

ten80p · 15 Jul 2008 at 22:51

Bony Maloney said:
Will the 4870X2 be OK with a 600W PSU? Currently running a BFG 8800GTX.

I've been wondering this too, especially if your putting some fair volts through the CPU with a decent o/c

If the final release card kicks serious ass and reviews confirm it'll be ok with the likes of a Corsair 620W then the "click here to add to basket" may be my friend

The_Abyss · 15 Jul 2008 at 22:55

Damn it - couldn't resist a 4870 after saying for ages I'd wait for the 4870X2 benches.

This purchase was brought to you by Carlsberg, sponsoring impulse hardware purchases since 1980.

ten80p · 15 Jul 2008 at 23:00

Hex also have their review up

Cant post link as it stars it all out lol

DarkMatter · 15 Jul 2008 at 23:03

ten80p said:
I've been wondering this too, especially if your putting some fair volts through the CPU with a decent o/c

If the final release card kicks serious ass and reviews confirm it'll be ok with the likes of a Corsair 620W then the "click here to add to basket" may be my friend

i've been thinking this, and with the 4870X2 which has a 8pin and 6pin connector. My 520W corsair which has about 80% efficency should output 420W max, and has a 8pin and 6pin PCIe by default. So combine that with anandtech's review showed that there system coonsumed roughly 400 watts.... i think it would work but it would be running the PSU (520watt) at its maximum capacity shortern its life dramatically?

surge · 15 Jul 2008 at 23:19

ten80p said:
I've been wondering this too, especially if your putting some fair volts through the CPU with a decent o/c

If the final release card kicks serious ass and reviews confirm it'll be ok with the likes of a Corsair 620W then the "click here to add to basket" may be my friend

According to the Corsair support forum 620HX will be fine with 4870CF so will also be fine for 4870X2

fornowagain · 15 Jul 2008 at 23:21

DarkMatter said:
i've been thinking this, and with the 4870X2 which has a 8pin and 6pin connector. My 520W corsair which has about 80% efficency should output 420W max, and has a 8pin and 6pin PCIe by default. So combine that with anandtech's review showed that there system coonsumed roughly 400 watts.... i think it would work but it would be running the PSU (520watt) at its maximum capacity shortern its life dramatically?

Its the other the way round, 520W at the psu is 650W at the wall.

DarkMatter · 15 Jul 2008 at 23:25

sorry how do you mean?

Bony Maloney · 15 Jul 2008 at 23:31

ten80p said:
I've been wondering this too, especially if your putting some fair volts through the CPU with a decent o/c

If the final release card kicks serious ass and reviews confirm it'll be ok with the likes of a Corsair 620W then the "click here to add to basket" may be my friend

I have my Q6600 clocked @ 3.4GHz. My psu is a Seasonic 600w. If I can run the 4870X2 on this psu then that's my treat for next month

fornowagain · 15 Jul 2008 at 23:31

DarkMatter said:
sorry how do you mean?

Your psu can supply 520W at full load, its efficiency is 80% so uses 650W from the mains. When system power figures are quoted in reviews its including losses from efficiency. In the example you used, 406W from the mains means the PC actually takes less from the psu.

DarkMatter · 15 Jul 2008 at 23:32

if you can run it on 600W

there is a great hope for my hx 520

just take everything out apart from the bare minimum. I just dont feel i can be bothered selling my power supply to get a better one.... so much hassel.

DarkMatter · 15 Jul 2008 at 23:35

fornowagain said:
Your psu can supply 520W at full load, its efficiency is 80% so uses 650W from the mains. When system power figures are quoted in reviews its including losses from efficiency. In the example you used, 406W from the mains means the PC actually takes less from the psu.

oh so thats pretty positive news that a 520W power supply would be ok with a 4870X2? now my other main gripe is that i have a P35 motherboard.

ten80p · 15 Jul 2008 at 23:36

Bony Maloney said:
I have my Q6600 clocked @ 3.4GHz. My psu is a Seasonic 600w. If I can run the 4870X2 on this psu then that's my treat for next month

Only thing I'm wary of is the "add to basket" link might as well be re-worded to "click here to have your wife file for divorce" :rolleyes:

fornowagain · 15 Jul 2008 at 23:40

DarkMatter said:
oh so thats pretty positive news that a 520W power supply would be ok with a 4870X2? now my other main gripe is that i have a P35 motherboard.

That all depends on the psu, but all things being equal it should be up to it. Theoretically

A P35 will run it fine, why gripe over that?

DarkMatter · 15 Jul 2008 at 23:44

p35 = PCIE1.1 = sad times.

PSU is a HX520, i wish i opted for the 620W but oh well nevermind... i didnt think graphics cards would be as watt heavy as my hd2900XT.

fornowagain · 15 Jul 2008 at 23:48

Losses from a P35 x16 PCI-e 1.1? A few percent, certainly not worth worrying about. If its anything like 3870X2/9800GX2, your cpu at 3.3GHz will hold it back more.