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5870 Comparision

The more expensive one is the reference ATI design, while the second is a revised PCB version. The former supports MSI afterburner voltage, memory, clock adjustments, which the cheaper one does not.
 
Do you recommend the reference design? Just didn't know if saving $30 was worth it.
 
Not sure why XFX decided to release a V2. Is it because it's a more efficient and better overclocking design for the end user, or is it to cut corners and save costs on manufacturing? I bought a Visiontek reference over XFX because I didn't want the V2.
 
How can you tell it's a V2 or original reference design? looking at other manufacturers and I want to make sure I know what I'm looking at.
 
Look at the coolers. The original has the fan at the far end and a closed heatsink design, whereas the V2 has the fan in the middle. All reference 5870's look exactly the same as they are all built by ATI.
 
Can anyone chime in on the difference in fan noise levels between the reference and modified designs of this card?


Thanks
 
Can't speak for V2, but here's my V1 5870 temperatures at 30% fan speed in an Antec 900 case with fans on medium. At 30%, I can't hear the video card over the case fans.

Idles at 31C! I'm impressed more and more with this card every day. Granted, it's not full blown summer yet, and it is cool in my room.

afterburner.jpg
 
dopee,

which card do you have?

edit: NM, I see you have the Visiontek
 
all non-reference 5870 from XFX are cheap version of reference, which lots of components on it have been cut out or put on the cheap version..

you will have horrible overclock result with the non-reference XFX 5870... I mean it.. HORRIBLE..
 
shansoft said:
all non-reference 5870 from XFX are cheap version of reference, which lots of components on it have been cut out or put on the cheap version..

you will have horrible overclock result with the non-reference XFX 5870... I mean it.. HORRIBLE..
Click to expand...

thanks for the info. Reference it is:D
 
the reference card supports software voltage control, which will almost certainly enable you to hit 1 ghz core. the non-reference one does not, and xfx likely cheaped out on as much as they could. avoid the non-reference card if you want to overclock.
 
What about the Sapphire Vapor-X 5870?

I'm running one in my machine and have nothing but great things to say about it, the non-reference cooler + fan is very impressive and does its job well, so well in fact that you never hear the fan. I'm really nitpicky about computer noise (running watercooling) and the 'loudest' (ha!) fan in my machine is the one in my Corsair HX850 PSU.

http://techgage.com/reviews/sapphire/hd_5870_vapor_x/sapphire_vaporx_hd5870_04_thumb.jpg
 
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i noticed alot of hte non reference designs are the slightly overclocked versions, weird.
 
dopee123 said:
Not sure why XFX decided to release a V2. Is it because it's a more efficient and better overclocking design for the end user, or is it to cut corners and save costs on manufacturing? I bought a Visiontek reference over XFX because I didn't want the V2.
Click to expand...

It's cheaper to manufacturer, it's cheaper to sell. Most consumers don't care about adjusting voltage. Lower price point is also better for the price segment.
 
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