ATI 5000 Series Roundup

Introduction

Published: 20th January 2010 | Source: ASUS | Price: £117 - £540 | Author: Tom Logan

Introduction

The market for graphics cards got huge boost last year when ATI released the first of the DirectX 11 graphics cards, numbered, unsurprisingly, the 5 series. Demand for the latest and greatest easily outstripped supply and even now, some months later, it's still very difficult to have a wide selection of cards to purchase if you're loyal to a certain manufacturer.

Naturally the first out the door of the ATI labs was the, at the time, top of the range 5870. This was quickly followed by the 5850 and rumours persisted about the possibility of a 5870X2, which eventually reached us named the 5970. At least the adjustment of the naming conventions should make it easier for the average consumer to know where in the range their card fits.

As with all high-end graphics cards though, not long after the more value orientated models started to drip into the marketplace. Anyone who remembers the amazing value for money that the 4770 produced in Crossfire will be delighted to know that a 5770 has been made available and these four cards make up today's huge test.

With so many cards and combinations to test this is also a first for OC3D in that two of our reviewers, myself Tom Logan and Bryan Waters, are collaborating to bring you this huge amount of information as concisely as possible.

Naturally with demand so high obtaining these cards is quite a feat, so we were delighted when ASUS stepped in to offer us an amazing 6 of their excellent 5 series cards to enable us to run the full battery of tests.

We know you're all as itching as we are to see some numbers and find out which would be the best bang for buck, so let's cut to the chase.

Most Recent Comments

21-01-2010, 06:15:33

Hemicuda

Two plus months after release and the Crossfire driver still doesn’t work in CoD’s?
Something tells me the green camp pump enough TWIMTBP funding to game devs to get just enough PhysX and tesselation into the games to keep them playable on ATI cards but little better and probably a little drab, while playing on their own GPGPU orientated cards will make the game as look as intimidating as 3-D pr0n on IMAX.

/rinses brain out with Ajax
//shows self to the door

21-01-2010, 07:00:41

kyle9600

Awesome review of the cards, watched all the youtube videos aswell

21-01-2010, 10:49:10

Hemicuda

Sweet driving skills. You missed your calling.
How was the image quality in the Crossfire setups ? any microstuttering apparent during the gameplay ?

21-01-2010, 10:53:08

Nocutius

Was there any micro stuttering present or has the issue finally been resolved or improved with this generation? I can't really see it in the videos.

21-01-2010, 12:15:46

Apans

Thank you for a stunning review!

24-01-2010, 10:05:43

kkyliegeda

Hi,I had to giggle when you mention egg fryers in the review as I have a HD3870X2 Discontinued and (Now in warranty) and I was sure you could nearly light a smoke off it,Tell the truth I dont want it back and I am in the process of getting HIS to upgrade me with a 5850,but two would be the bees knees.C ya Greg

25-01-2010, 22:12:27

Pipari665

Hi, I noticed that you prefer keeping your icons at the top of the desktop? If so, I`ll recommend using objectdock, keeps the essential icons hidden! ;)

Sorry for bad english :)

25-01-2010, 23:33:27

tinytomlogan

Hi, I noticed that you prefer keeping your icons at the top of the desktop? If so, I`ll recommend using objectdock, keeps the essential icons hidden! ;)

Sorry for bad english :)

Thats just a test rig dude, I use rocket dock on my main pc ;)

27-01-2010, 09:50:16

boss67

in deed just awesome review !

27-01-2010, 15:02:12

Kurgan

Indeed,

Awesome review, I'm glad I took the time to read it over. Perhaps I'll be in the market for a HD5870 afterall.

Cheers!

K.