The 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/...e_fury_maxx_2/
Asus P5E3 Deluxe (X38) + Core2 Extreme
Cat 8-451-2-080108a
XP??

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum...-review-9.html\
Asus Blitz Extreme (P35)
Cat 8.451.2-080
Vista Ultimate x64

http://www.guru3d.com/article/Videocards/490/1 (Thanks Honestjohn)
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/H...3870_X2/1.html (Thanks Debello)
Gigabyte P35C-DS3R Intel P35
Catalyst 8.12 v8.451.2
Windows XP SP2

http://www.hothardware.com/articles/...870_X2/?page=1 (Thanks Ganjastar)
EVGA nForce 680i SLI
Cat ATI Catalyst Bets v8.451
Vista Ultimate

http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews/...view/index.php (Thanks jam2k)
Asus P5E3 Deluxe (X38)
Catalyst 8.451 230108
Vista Ultimate

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/...ce/default.asp (Thanks jam2k)
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 (Thanks jam2k)
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...e=expert&pid=2 (TY Honestjohn)
EVGA nForce 680i Motherboard
AMD Catalyst R680 Beta
Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit

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

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

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

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/200...n_hd_3870_x2/7
Quad 6600+X38+vista+Cats 8-451-071220a1 Hmm... Why not 8-451-2-080123a. That's the crap driver they are using.

If this is REALLY $449. We have a winnah.

In the USA
$449 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...eon+HD+3870+X2

In Canada
$479 - http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...acture=Diamond
$489 - www.memoryexpress.com (verbal for now. I called them)

C.

[Debello]

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/H...3870_X2/1.html

[GanjaStar]

http://www.hothardware.com/Articles/...on_HD_3870_X2/


http://translate.google.com/translat...%3Den%26sa%3DG

IM jusdt posting links, and am not sure at all if the reviews are "correct" so don't spaz on me

[Sudz]

On Tom's review, they used a Coolermaster RealPower Pro 850W.
As far I as I can see, this doesn't have a 8 pin pci-e connector. How did they expect to oc? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817171017
techPower used a OCZ GameXStream 700W, also no 8pin.
Did they use an adapter?

[Debello]

Originally Posted by Sudz

On Tom's review, they used a Coolermaster RealPower Pro 850W.
As far I as I can see, this doesn't have a 8 pin pci-e connector. How did they expect to oc? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817171017
techPower used a OCZ GameXStream 700W, also no 8pin.
Did they use an adapter?

Either an adaptor, a paper clip or used ATItool.

[Wild Thing]

The X2 looks pretty damn good.
It beats all NVidia single cards fairly easily and(for those who want to point to the 8800GT SLI set up being faster for "not much more"...did you forget about the SLI motherboard you are going to have to buy along with the 2 GT's?
X2 works in a normal motherboard so figure another $150 dollars or so for a GT SLI setup.

[Android1]

I am extremely impressed with the benchmark results. I guess the driver improvements did the trick! This is the video card that will be going into my new Q9650-based rig.

[dennilfloss]

AnandTech's comment about Oblivion with 4xAA makes me regret a bit that I bought my 3870. It's like a virtual doubling of one's FPS at 1920x1200.

Aw well, the X2 is probably more than what I can afford anyway considering I'll have to upgrade my mobo+RAM+CPU to feed it.

[ECH1]

3870 X2 at newegg

[Android1]

Originally Posted by ECH1

3870 X2 at newegg

All at retail price, too! Excellent.


I wonder why the Diamond 3870 X2's core is clocked lower (775 MHz vs. 825 MHz).

[jam2k]

Oh, no Quad Fire Benchies ...

[jam2k]

Originally Posted by ECH1

3870 X2 at newegg

That's what everybody wanted to see !

Great launch ATI

[jam2k]

Firingsquad: http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/...2_performance/

They have X2 against 3870 Crossfire results.

DriverHeaven: http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews/...view/index.php

TechReport: http://techreport.com/articles.x/13967

They have X2 against 3870 Crossfire results.

[Blacklash]

Wow and they're 449, GG Newegg. I'd get 'em now before they go up!

[train2win]

Jethro to **** on our party in 3......2.....1

[Nascar24]

Yea if you want one get it now as price is guar. to go up at the egg.

[spajdr]

Originally Posted by jam2k

Firingsquad: http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/...2_performance/

DriverHeaven: http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews/...view/index.php

DriverHeaven has 3870 Crossfire against 3870X2 Results

TechReport: http://techreport.com/articles.x/13967

I dont see that DH have 3870 CF vs 3870X2

[jam2k]

Originally Posted by spajdr

I dont see that DH have 3870 CF vs 3870X2

Oh, ****ed up.

That was Firingsquad

[jam2k]

Originally Posted by train2win

Jethro to **** on our party in 3......2.....1

[AllexxisF1]

I just bought my new Asus 3870X2 two seconds ago from Newegg with overnight delivery

I though it was a smart decision considering just how fast they are going to be sold. I have a feeling you will be seeing out of stock and high prices any hour now.

Man am I stoked.

Going from a AMD 64 4000+ single core\ Radeon X1900XTX rig to a new Phenom 3870X2 rig is going to be mind blowing

..but man have I waited long enough (2+ years).

[HonestJohn]

Here are a couple more for the master list. Can't comment on their quality as I haven't had a chance to read them yet.....

http://www.guru3d.com/article/Videocards/490/

http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/articl...50aHVzaWFzdA==

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

[Ristogod]

Considered purchasing this morning. But it still can't play Crysis at full glory. So I'll wait to see what's next before dropping coin.

[Gerard]

Wonder if the drivers hardware sites were using will be available anytime today?

[HonestJohn]

Here are a few more ....

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...2253049,00.asp

http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles...?cid=3&id=2475

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=11398

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/ati_hd3870_x2/

[{0}Salamander{0}]

I am actually quite impressed, I didn't think the performance would be as good as it is shown there in those benchies.

Even with 4XAA enabled the performance seems pretty good.

Good stuff.

[cfsirl]

Very nice. Time for an upgrade to my X1900GT. Amazon has the Diamond x2 at $449.99. Since it's free shipping and no tax (where I live), ordered.

[Blacklash]

Watch buying them @ Newegg. They have return for replacement only for this product. So if you don't like it for whatever the reason, you're stuck.

[hazindu]

http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/articl...50aHVzaWFzdA==

(Editor's Note: You will see here today that our evaluation of the gaming performance produced by this video card does not track with some other big sites on the Web, and the simple fact is that those sites did not measure "gaming performance." Those sites measured frames per second performance in canned benchmarks and even some of them went as far as to use cut scenes from games to pull their data from. I have been part of this industry for years now and we are seeing now more than ever where real world gaming performance and gaming "benchmarks" are not coming to the same conclusions. Remember that when we evaluate video cards, we use them exactly the way you would use them. We play games on them and collect our data.

Another thing to think about is this. Do game developers want to provide built in benchmarks that show their games running slow? Or would the game developers rather put a game "benchmark" in that shows their game hauling ass? Do you think that slow benchmarks equal more sales?

The "3dfx way" of evaluating video cards is DEAD. It did have its time and place, but we are beyond that now. Any person using those methods to influence your video card purchase is likely irresponsible in doing so. You might even consider them liable. And I think that is going to come bubbling to the surface more and more as the industry matures. )

This may not be the road to popularity, but I agree with this.

[metalfatigueca]

Originally Posted by hazindu

http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/articl...50aHVzaWFzdA==

(Editor's Note: You will see here today that our evaluation of the gaming performance produced by this video card does not track with some other big sites on the Web, and the simple fact is that those sites did not measure "gaming performance." Those sites measured frames per second performance in canned benchmarks and even some of them went as far as to use cut scenes from games to pull their data from. I have been part of this industry for years now and we are seeing now more than ever where real world gaming performance and gaming "benchmarks" are not coming to the same conclusions. Remember that when we evaluate video cards, we use them exactly the way you would use them. We play games on them and collect our data.

Another thing to think about is this. Do game developers want to provide built in benchmarks that show their games running slow? Or would the game developers rather put a game "benchmark" in that shows their game hauling ass? Do you think that slow benchmarks equal more sales?

The "3dfx way" of evaluating video cards is DEAD. It did have its time and place, but we are beyond that now. Any person using those methods to influence your video card purchase is likely irresponsible in doing so. You might even consider them liable. And I think that is going to come bubbling to the surface more and more as the industry matures. )

This may not be the road to popularity, but I agree with this.

not all the other reviews used "canned" benchies though. take a look at guru3d review.

problem with it is this. play through the whole game with fraps. cherry pick the levels that favour one particular brand. release it as the holy grail.

you know which ones [H] is going to use. he is nvidia. i don't know why ati even bothers with him. anyone who was silly enough to give props to the fx series has no business benchmarking cards.

that said i am a little disappointed with the overall perf of the x2. i was hoping for an extra 15% above the average review scores.

[train2win]

Originally Posted by metalfatigueca

not all the other reviews used "canned" benchies though. take a look at guru3d review.

problem with it is this. play through the whole game with fraps. cherry pick the levels that favour one particular brand. release it as the holy grail.

you know which ones [H] is going to use. he is nvidia. i don't know why ati even bothers with him. anyone who was silly enough to give props to the fx series has no business benchmarking cards.

agreed!