ASUS HD 4870 X2 (EAH4870X2) 2GB PCI-E
Packaging & Appearance
Published: 19th August 2008 | Source: ASUS | Price: £347 |
Packaging
Based on our previous experiences with ASUS products, it's fair to say that they love going over the top where packaging is concerned. Large boxes with flaps, windows, tonnes of accessories and excessive amounts of padding all help to give the impression that you're really getting your money's worth when unwrapping that new purchase.
Much like the EAH4850 reviewed a short while back, the EAH4870X2 is presented in an orange and black cardboard box printed with with the model number of the card in large bold lettering along with some logos depicting the main features of the card. Once again, the box also features a flap which can be opened to reveal further specifications along with detailed descriptions of their function.
Contained within the outer packaging is a rugged black cardboard box with a gold ASUS logo. Opening the box reveals a further two boxes of the same design, both of which store the copious quantity of accessories listed below:
- Driver Disk
- Faux Leather CD Wallett
- DVI to VGA Adaptor
- DVI to HDMI Adaptor
- 6-Pin to 8-Pin PCIe power cable.
- S-Video cable
- Crossfire Bridge
- Various leaflets and gumph.
Appearance
Measuring in at 270mm in length and weighing more than a sack of spuds (ok maybe not quite), the 4870X2 is certainly one beast of a card in every respect. Much to our surprise, AMD have made a bold switch away from the trademark red ATI PCB in favour of a much more neutral, yet extreme looking black PCB. This contrasts extremely well with the white backed ASUS sticker adorned with a picture of our favourite ASUS CGI hussy showing a bit of booty.
Looking underneath the card reveals a similar backplate to that used on ATI/AMD's previous dual-gpu card, the 3870X2. Essentially this plate acts as a heatsink for the GDDR5 memory chips placed on the back of the card, while also preventing the card from warping under its own weight.
The front of the card is your average affair with two DVI ports separated by an S-Video port in the centre. Both of the DVI ports are able to provide HDMI output using the included DVI-HDMI connector and as mentioned further up the page S-Video connectors are also provided if you want to output to slightly dated equipment.
Although power consumption is undoubtedly going to be considerably higher than the single-GPU 4870, AMD have managed to keep PCI-e cable requirements to one 8-pin and one 6-Pin connector. This is the same as both the 3870X2 and NVIDIA's current flagship card, the GTX280.
With two 4870 chips on-board, AMD knew that the 4870X2 would get hotter than the blazes of hell. Thankfully the stock cooling on the card consists of two copper bases attached to a large copper finned heatsink for cooling the GPU's, and a fairly weighty steel frame for dissipating the heat generated by the power circuitry and memory IC's.
During our testing of the card, ATI's Catalyst Control Panel reported idle temperatures of around 52c, with 100% load temperatures hitting 77c. While these temperatures are perfectly within acceptable operating temperatures for the GPU's the vented blanking plate at the rear of the card did often get too hot to handle.
Sitting pretty in the middle of the two HD4870 GPU's is PLX Technology's PEX 8647 PCI-Express switch. This chip essentially provides an on-board Crossfire bridge between each of the GPU's but with considerably less latency than sending the data via the Northbridge on a traditional Crossfire setup. An earlier version of this chip (PEX 8547) was first used by AMD/ATI on the 3870X2 graphics card but was often slated for only providing PCI-e 1.1 bandwidth. Thankfully the PEX 8647 resolves this issue by providing full PCI-e 2.0 bandwidth at 5.0GT/s.
Initial news surrounding the HD4870X2 card suggested that it would be using GDDR5 memory IC's manufactured by Qimonda. However, as we can see from the image above-right, the ASUS EAH4870X2 makes use of Hynix H5GQ1H24MJR chips. Whether or not these chips will perform on-par or maybe even better than the extremely capable Qimonda chips is yet to be seen.
Most Recent Comments
Great review!
Monster card!
I want, but dont need
Monster card!
I want, but dont need
Great review Jim, and good to see that AMD are continuing with the good price performance ratio.
nVidia u can kiss my @$$
Tis an awesoome card, wonder what difference the extra cross bridge will make when enabled in the drivers.
They ahve to have a good reason for holding back 10gbps worth of bandwith direct between the two gpus
They ahve to have a good reason for holding back 10gbps worth of bandwith direct between the two gpus
Would have been nice to include the gx2 too, that way my decision making would have been easier lol.
Sweet review mate, glad you updated the testbed and went with the QX, whoever suggested that is clearly awesome
I get paid in 11 days; I'm toying with one of these, a velociraptor and an e8600 and a 50" samsung series 6
Sweet review mate, glad you updated the testbed and went with the QX, whoever suggested that is clearly awesome
I get paid in 11 days; I'm toying with one of these, a velociraptor and an e8600 and a 50" samsung series 6
Great stuff, I am feeling a little less smug about my purchase.
I wonder how Sli Gtx280s would do in comparison, despite costing the earth, do they dominate?
We shall see :P
I wonder how Sli Gtx280s would do in comparison, despite costing the earth, do they dominate?
We shall see :P
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Originally Posted by name='Mr. Smith'
Would have been nice to include the gx2 too, that way my decision making would have been easier lol.
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In all honesty tho, the GTX280 and GX2 were pretty much on even ground in most benchmarks. The 4870X2 however, suitably blows the GTX280 away. So i think its fairly safe to say the GX2 wouldn't stand much of a chance either.
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Originally Posted by name='Mr. Smith'
Sweet review mate, glad you updated the testbed and went with the QX, whoever suggested that is clearly awesome |
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Originally Posted by name='Mr. Smith'
I get paid in 11 days; I'm toying with one of these, a velociraptor and an e8600 and a 50" samsung series 6 |
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Originally Posted by name='anklebiter'
Great stuff, I am feeling a little less smug about my purchase.
I wonder how Sli Gtx280s would do in comparison, despite costing the earth, do they dominate? We shall see :P |
I reckon it's only a matter of days before I give up on waiting for prices to drop and just spanking the Gigabyte card.
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Originally Posted by name='Jim'
-Yeah I would have liked to include it. Unfortunately a certain company are making it REALLY hard to get hold of samples of their cards at the moment. Especially certain high performing ones. In all honesty tho, the GTX280 and GX2 were pretty much on even ground in most benchmarks. The 4870X2 however, suitably blows the GTX280 away. So i think its fairly safe to say the GX2 wouldn't stand much of a chance either. -Taa. Was hoping the QX @ 3.8 would make u happy. Turns out we've got quite a http://forum.overclock3d.net/oc3d/smilies/cussing.gifhttp://forum.overclock3d.net/oc3d/smilies/cussing.gifhttp://forum.overclock3d.net/oc3d/smilies/cussing.gifhttp://forum.overclock3d.net/oc3d/smilies/cussing.gifter here as it needed 1.45v to get there -Wasnt you going to buy a console or something? |
-3.8ghz is quite low for the qx; sucks you have a dog but the higher mhz and better archtecture remove the cpu bottleneck
-Weren't you going to build an orange pc with turbo fans, or was it a phase cooled black ice or was it some other oc3d turbo pc with gx2 sli'd?
lol. I get frustrated with my toys, so I channel my energy into other interests for a bit. I'm currently enjoying my latest interest (camera/gf combo
Home made vids ftw )Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='Mr. Smith'
-Weren't you going to build an orange pc with turbo fans, or was it a phase cooled black ice or was it some other oc3d turbo pc with gx2 sli'd? lol. |
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Originally Posted by name='Mr. Smith'
I get frustrated with my toys, so I channel my energy into other interests for a bit. I'm currently enjoying my latest interest (camera/gf combo Home made vids ftw ) |
haha dirty man 
great review, i'm liking the new fps comparsion flash thing.
great review, i'm liking the new fps comparsion flash thing.
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Originally Posted by name='Brooksie'
great review, i'm liking the new fps comparsion flash thing. |
Another fine review m8.
I'm still not sold on the line graphs tho
I'm still not sold on the line graphs tho
Great review Jim, made me wonder my GFX order now, GTX 280 or this monster...
Always knew this would dominate this gen
If you're an idiot enough to think that SLI/Crossfire is a worthy upgrade of course
Seriously it's a nice card but until a single GPU model can push those kind of figures my 8800GTX will be staying right where it is.
If you're an idiot enough to think that SLI/Crossfire is a worthy upgrade of course
Seriously it's a nice card but until a single GPU model can push those kind of figures my 8800GTX will be staying right where it is.
Idiot??
I'm pushing a bloody GTO at the moment!! I'd say it's worthy!
I'm pushing a bloody GTO at the moment!! I'd say it's worthy!
ouch put away the claws people! hehe anyway I have to say Sli has the cool factor that all you single GPU owners just dont have. Thats why ur a bit bitter...
muhahhaha
Regards
Ollie
muhahhaha
Regards
Ollie
Swish review, with some swish effects
Any1 play at 1280x1024 with a 8xxx+/3xxx+ series card anymore ? *cough* 1680x1050 *cough*
Any1 play at 1280x1024 with a 8xxx+/3xxx+ series card anymore ? *cough* 1680x1050 *cough*
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Originally Posted by name='Kempez'
If you're an idiot enough to think that SLI/Crossfire is a worthy upgrade of course
Seriously it's a nice card but until a single GPU model can push those kind of figures my 8800GTX will be staying right where it is. |
My 8800GTS is performing solidly at 1600X1200 atm. I was initially eying the HD4870 but, why get a new graphics card when your current one does you fine.
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Originally Posted by name='Jim'
So where do i find you on redtube then?
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Originally Posted by name='Jim'
Good stuff. I wanted to test it out on a few reviews and see what people think. It makes things a little more interesting than flat images and eventually I'm hping to get some more interactivity in there
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Originally Posted by name='Thanh55'
Great review Jim, made me wonder my GFX order now, GTX 280 or this monster...
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='Kempez'
Always knew this would dominate this gen
If you're an idiot enough to think that SLI/Crossfire is a worthy upgrade of course Seriously it's a nice card but until a single GPU model can push those kind of figures my 8800GTX will be staying right where it is. |
I hear what you are saying re single card monster and I totally agree but untl that happens I'll be getting something worthy like this...
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Originally Posted by name='Mr. Smith'
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Originally Posted by name='Mr. Smith'
I did mean to comment on them, I like them but they seem stolen from another site, as does the cost/fps... They make the site better so who cares! |
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Originally Posted by name='Mr. Smith'
People still use 88GTX? I hear what you are saying re single card monster and I totally agree but untl that happens I'll be getting something worthy like this... |
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Originally Posted by name='Jim'
I did think those toenails looked more like hoofs.
Its actually a bit of software you can buy over the web that generates them, so it's more than likely lots of places are using it tbh. Personally I'll take whatever kicks ass and kills the hostages...even if its got 20 GPU's, requires a dedicated pipe from the national grid and needs to be run in a large shed in your garden. But meh thats just me |
Either way the graphs are nice so thats all that matters!
Y'know me, I always end up buying the good stuff even if my intentions are to wait it out, the only reason I didn't get the 280 was because the gx2 bettered/equalled the 280's performance.
The X2 is on my list... I just need some games to play!
In what department is ur 9800GX2 lacking in atm ?
Having said that u want to get a kick ass screen dont u.
Having said that u want to get a kick ass screen dont u.
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Originally Posted by name='Mr. Smith'
The X2 is on my list... I just need some games to play! |
There was a TV show called Monster Garage, i think this card is one of their products ;]
AAAAAAAAAAmaiiiizzzzziiiiiing performance and look ;]
AAAAAAAAAAmaiiiizzzzziiiiiing performance and look ;]
ATI is back!
wow i want this! but totally unnessary..
im gonna be picking up a 2nd 4850
wow i want this! but totally unnessary..
im gonna be picking up a 2nd 4850
talk about a beast and ati have gone black, not racist or out but ati shud stick to the red
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ASUS HD 4870 X2 (EAH4870X2) 2GB PCI-E