4870 X2 Owners Club

[domen]

Originally Posted by John

Yeah, no PCI-E 2.0 on the P35 chipset. But no, it won't be a bottleneck at all.

Ok, thanks.

[psyxeon]

My native resolution is 1680 - 1050 Samsung 26bw

Should i get a 30" and witch one?

[John]

Originally Posted by domen

Ok, thanks.

Well, that's what I think atleast. It hasn't been a bottleneck on any cards to date, but you never know I guess. I think we can establish that it won't be by much in either case. Will know when I get it!

I refuse to buy a new motherboard at this stage. I'm set to wait for Nehalem before I touch anything platform related in my rig.

[domen]

Originally Posted by psyxeon

My native resolution is 1680 - 1050 Samsung 26bw

Should i get a 30" and witch one?

That's personal preference IMO. If you think that you need or want 30" and have the money for it, then why not, go for it.

Originally Posted by John

Well, that's what I think atleast. It hasn't been a bottleneck on any cards to date, but you never know I guess. I think we can establish that it won't be by much in either case. Will know when I get it!

I refuse to buy a new motherboard at this stage. I'm set to wait for Nehalem before I touch anything platform related in my rig.

Yeh, same. Mobo upgrade would seem worthless at this point really.

[domen]

nvm.

[psyxeon]

I might wait a few days to hear your comments. I´m going to order the Samsung SyncMaster 305T and I suppose I don´t need new psu for a single 4870 x2

[Vector]

Bios changes ...


check out ATIWinflash and RBEditor

http://www.mvktech.net/index.php?opt...id=12&id=51252

http://www.mvktech.net/component/opt...lectcat/cat,1/

I used these two programs to change my card's bios many times successfully.

[JaxMacFL]

Been playing around a little with my 4870X2 (of course) and thought I'd share what I've found.

3dmk06:

SAP4870X2 score: 18,989.....sm2.0: 8324.....sm3.0: 10,652.....cpu: 3566
Ran with E8600 @ 4GHz (10 X 400) gpu default (750/900).

XFX9800GX2 score: 15,272.....sm2.0: 6991.....sm3.0: 5866.....cpu: 3050
Ran with E6850 @ 3.6GHz (9 X 400) gpu default. (680/2080)

XFX8800GTX score: 13,660.....sm2.0: 5956.....sm3.0: 6136.....cpu: 3532
Ran with E8600 @ 4GHz (10 X 400) gpu oc'd @ 648/1620/2060

I let ATI Overdrive fine tune it to a tune of 790/965 but didn't like the temps so I went back to default. At default according to GPUZ one gpu reads at idle [DISPIO] 52.0C....[MEMIO]....55.5C [SHADERCORE] 50.5 with GPU Terperature at 51.0c. The other gpu reads higher: [DISPIO] 67.0C....[MEMIO] 71.5C....[SHADERCORE] 70.5 with GPU Temperature at 66.0c.

I'm using the driver software that came with it, 8.5, I think. I tried the 8.7 on ATI's site but found out they don't support the 4870X2. I read somewhere that official 8.8s should be out in a week or so. Hope so.

Anyway, I'm really lovin' it.

Oh, vantage scores on performance default are:

score: 12,256.....GPU 14,860.....CPU 8032. E8600 @ 4GHz

[chispy]

Very nice , thanks for sharing

[Stukov]

Originally Posted by JaxMacFL

Been playing around a little with my 4870X2 (of course) and thought I'd share what I've found.

3dmk06:

SAP4870X2 score: 18,989.....sm2.0: 8324.....sm3.0: 10,652.....cpu: 3566
Ran with E8600 @ 4GHz (10 X 400) gpu default (750/900).

XFX9800GX2 score: 15,272.....sm2.0: 6991.....sm3.0: 5866.....cpu: 3050
Ran with E6850 @ 3.6GHz (9 X 400) gpu default. (680/2080)

XFX8800GTX score: 13,660.....sm2.0: 5956.....sm3.0: 6136.....cpu: 3532
Ran with E8600 @ 4GHz (10 X 400) gpu oc'd @ 648/1620/2060

I let ATI Overdrive fine tune it to a tune of 790/965 but didn't like the temps so I went back to default. At default according to GPUZ one gpu reads at idle [DISPIO] 52.0C....[MEMIO]....55.5C [SHADERCORE] 50.5 with GPU Terperature at 51.0c. The other gpu reads higher: [DISPIO] 67.0C....[MEMIO] 71.5C....[SHADERCORE] 70.5 with GPU Temperature at 66.0c.

I'm using the driver software that came with it, 8.5, I think. I tried the 8.7 on ATI's site but found out they don't support the 4870X2. I read somewhere that official 8.8s should be out in a week or so. Hope so.

Anyway, I'm really lovin' it.

Oh, vantage scores on performance default are:

score: 12,256.....GPU 14,860.....CPU 8032. E8600 @ 4GHz

I have the 8.8 beta's linked up top.

And I can't add your Vantage score because I dont know if its X or P or whatever. Also, on those benchmarks what driver did you use? 8.5? Also, they do support 4870X2 in the driver, they just haven't updated their webpage yet.

[Jonesboy21]

Got my HIS version today from Newegg (ordered yesterday). Just added MB and CPU recently, and running stock until I ever get interested in overclocking. Pretty busy this week, so I'll install it Either Fri. night or Saturday

[chispy]

Hi Stukov , would you please correct my name , its chispy not chipsy

[Stukov]

Originally Posted by chispy

Hi Stukov , would you please correct my name , its chispy not chipsy

Doh!

















Fixed

[chispy]

hehehheehhehe , tx bro

[JaxMacFL]

Originally Posted by Stukov

I have the 8.8 beta's linked up top.

And I can't add your Vantage score because I dont know if its X or P or whatever. Also, on those benchmarks what driver did you use? 8.5? Also, they do support 4870X2 in the driver, they just haven't updated their webpage yet.

It is P12,256. Not sure if this is the way to post the results for Vantage, hope it works:

http://service.futuremark.com/result...&resultType=19

Yes, the 8.5 drivers on Sapphire's install disk are the ones I used. I first tried the official 8.7s' that ATI has up on their web site, but they never would install. It would go through the motions like they were installing but the directory folder was empty. I read in a forum, (don't recall which one) that the 8.7s didn't support the 4870X2, but the 8.8s did and the official ones were expected within the next week. So close I figured I'd bypass the 8.8 betas and just wait. I assume that updating ATI drivers involves the same procedure as the Nvidia drivers; uninstall everything through the control panel, run driversweep and reboot, right?

[eduardmc]

Originally Posted by JaxMacFL

It is P12,256. Not sure if this is the way to post the results for Vantage, hope it works:

http://service.futuremark.com/result...&resultType=19

Yes, the 8.5 drivers on Sapphire's install disk are the ones I used. I first tried the official 8.7s' that ATI has up on their web site, but they never would install. It would go through the motions like they were installing but the directory folder was empty. I read in a forum, (don't recall which one) that the 8.7s didn't support the 4870X2, but the 8.8s did and the official ones were expected within the next week. So close I figured I'd bypass the 8.8 betas and just wait. I assume that updating ATI drivers involves the same procedure as the Nvidia drivers; uninstall everything through the control panel, run driversweep and reboot, right?

is this your first ATI card, i would like to know cause i ordered the 4870x2 and i'm kind of scare to use a different GUI control panel and setting which are not nvidia like. in your opinion, is it complicated or friendly user.

[Stukov]

Originally Posted by eduardmc

is this your first ATI card, i would like to know cause i ordered the 4870x2 and i'm kind of scare to use a different GUI control panel and setting which are not nvidia like. in your opinion, is it complicated or friendly user.

I used Nvidia on my 7800GS Mobile (volt modded and overclocked) and hated their new panel thingy mabobby so always used older drivers (never saw much benefit from newer drivers anyways). However, when I bought my 2900XT I actually liked CCC, not that it has great control, but its a pretty simple layout (little better now).

Basically, it opens and you have a collapseable boxes on the left, and main viewer on the right. There are different branches for settings for quality (adjusting AF/AA etc), gamma, CF/window resize (for how you want games running at non-native resolution to run on your monitor, aka not stretch starcraft/diablo2), overclocking, etc.

Personally the only one I use regularly was the All Settings that has FSAA 2-8 + Temporal AA on/off(edge detect, box,etc), Aniostrophic 1-16, Multi/Supersampling, Vsync, Catalyst AI, and I think 1 more which I cant remember off the top of my head. It also gives you a little fake 3d picture to show you how the setting will 'kind of' look in game. I think there is also a mipmap setting from speed/quality.

Overall I think it works and isn't too hard to use, you don't get profiles or whatever (biggest complaint I've heard), but with so many Nvidia people switching over AMD might add them.

[John]

Good news my watercooling friends!

Originally Posted by EK Waterblocks

Blocks will be available after 20.8.2008

High performance VGA water block for the Radeon HD 4870 X2 series graphic cards. Base is made of electrolytic copper. Top is made of quality acrylic glass. Back ram heat sinks are made of black anodized aluminium. The sealing is preformed by quality rubber washer. Block is mounted with enclosed M3 screws.
Mounting mechanism and fittings are included in price!

Fittings can be used on both side of the block (up and down), the 2 plugs are enclosed!

Technical data:
- dimensions of copper base: 206 x 118,5 x 8mm
- dimensions of acrylic top: 207 x 119,5 x 8mm
- threads: 4 x G1/4
- fittings size: optional
- weight: 970 g

Click here for installation manuals.

Only compatible with Built by ATI refference design!

http://ekwaterblocks.com/shop/produc...roducts_id=301


This means I won't have to use dreadful air cooling for long! A 1KG massive copper lump from EK... Hooray

Edit: Pics:

[domen]

Originally Posted by John

Good news my watercooling friends!



http://ekwaterblocks.com/shop/produc...roducts_id=301


This means I won't have to use dreadful air cooling for long! A 1KG massive copper lump from EK... Hooray

Edit: Pics:

Good choice. EK company HQ's are just few KM from where i live

[Stukov]

What about price and will it be available in the US?

[John]

EK has always made the highest quality full cover blocks. Others can't really compete with his work. I've never really been a huge fan of full cover blocks, as they're restricted to one card only (can't be reused later with other cards) and are more restrictive than GPU only blocks. With this card however, I really can't see the benefits of going GPU-only, as there's too much that needs cooling (two GPU's, PLX chip, PWM unit etc), so I'll go full-cover for sure this time.

For those of you who want to spend silly amounts of money, there will be a nickel plated version available too:

[John]

Originally Posted by Stukov

What about price and will it be available in the US?

Yes, most major watercooling shops in the US carry EK (Petra's Techshop, Sidewinder Computers), so don't worry.

Price hasn't been disclosed yet, but I expect it will be expensive.

[domen]

I've never used watercooling before, but if i get 4870X2 i might re-consider it.

[ngeunit1]

Count me in, computer specs on the left. I so want to go the extra yard and do some kind of aftermarket cooling, but I don't think I have to guts to void my warrenty on something this expensive. Can't wait to get this thing going.

[psyxeon]

John Mixing metals is not a good idea.