Sapphire HD 5870 Vapor-X Detailed Further

[btarunr]

First spotted (http://www.techpowerup.com/?104447) soon after AMD's release of its flagship ATI Radeon HD 5870 accelerator, Sapphire's HD 5870 Vapor-X has finally taken shape. From the looks of it, the final iteration seems to be slightly different from the CGI drawing that made for the older report. Sapphire's design methodology seems to be revolving around giving AMD's reference PCB better cooling than AMD's own cooler. Perhaps owing to lavish use of high-grade digital-PWM circuitry, there is very little room for improvement, leaving room only for cost-cutting, which surprisingly, doesn't form part of Sapphire's new card.

Unlike an older prototype in which the cooler shroud doesn't seem to be fully covering the PCB, the redesigned shroud fits the PCB like a glove, enhancing its aesthetics. The Vapor-X cooler uses a vapor-chamber design, that accumulates and distributes heat to the cooler better. Aluminum fin blocks on either sides of the GPU block disperse heat under the fan's air-flow. The AMD Cypress GPU that powers it is DirectX 11 compliant, which features 1600 stream processors, and a 256-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface to connect to the 1 GB of memory onboard. Sapphire uses overclocked parameters, 870 MHz core (vs. 850 MHz reference), and 1250 MHz / effective 5.00 GHz memory (vs. 1200 MHz / 4.8 GHz reference). Sapphire's HD 5870 Vapor-X should be out in time for X-Mas.

http://www.techpowerup.com/img/09-10-27/97a_thm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/img/09-10-27/97a.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/img/09-10-27/97b_thm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/img/09-10-27/97b.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/img/09-10-27/97c_thm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/img/09-10-27/97c.jpg)

Source: Legit Reviews (http://forums.legitreviews.com/about23703.html)

[Xyvik]

Certainly looks a lot better than the reference boards. I wonder when we'll be able to get our hands on these? Anybody know/guess?

[Solaris17]

this is HOT i want this only in the 2x X2 flavor.

[skylamer]

n1ce video card :))))

[WarEagleAU]

I so want this. Maybe after the first of the year when prices come down.

[Easo]

Even reference looks kewl, but this just plain rocks!

[pantherx12]

Nice!

Like that the back end is open as well, it means front intake fans can help force air out the vent!

[DonInKansas]

I hear Jim Carrey in my head saying "liiiiiiiike a glooove!!"

[MKmods]

these looks like the silly toxic coolers with Vapor X written on them.

The 4870s Vapor X coolers were MUCH better than the toxic ones, its gonna be interesting to see if they improved these coolers or if they use the same smashed closed heatpipes as the earlier ones.

If anyone finds a pict of the insides it would be really nice to see.

[Hayder_Master]

now we talk better cooler

[LittleLizard]

me wants that and a psu to handle it

[erocker]

these looks like the silly toxic coolers with Vapor X written on them.

The 4870s Vapor X coolers were MUCH better than the toxic ones, its gonna be interesting to see if they improved these coolers or if they use the same smashed closed heatpipes as the earlier ones.

If anyone finds a pict of the insides it would be really nice to see.

I quite like the toxic cooler, it has to be the best GPU cooler I've used!

Looking closer at the 1st picture I do see heatpipes running off the center.

[MKmods]

I quite like the toxic cooler, it has to be the best GPU cooler I've used!

Looking closer at the 1st picture I do see heatpipes running off the center.

I compared both the Toxic and Vapor X coolers on the same cards and the Vapor
X was at least 5C cooler each time.
I had 2 of each to play with (thanks to Tzi) Here is a shot of the toxic tubes smashed closed
http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo142/Partspicts/Picture005-3.jpg

Here is a back side shot of the 2 dif coolers
http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo142/Partspicts/Picture002-9.jpg

Here is the dif in fans
http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo142/Partspicts/Picture003-8.jpg
The smaller fan on the Vapor X (with more blades) was much quieter as well

I would really like to see the insides of the new cooler and see if they changed anything

[phanbuey]

woah... now THAT is a smexy card - much better than stock lol.

[Soylent Joe]

I thought that the Vapor-X cards were really problematic...

[erocker]

I thought that the Vapor-X cards were really problematic...

How so? What problems are happening?

[pantherx12]

How so? What problems are happening?


I heard they were iffy too, was when I first joint up, a lot of people telling people not to buy them etc, never saw any sources though :laugh:

[Animalpak]

Very bad ass looking card.

[FreedomEclipse]

Very nice

http://www.techpowerup.com/img/09-10-27/97b.jpg

It looks like you could swap out that 92mm fan there & replace it with one of your own.

Ive still got an old 92mm LED fan that i took off a old Zalman flower cooler a while back. that would look totally bling with that on.

Im not an overall huge fan of vapour X coolers myself - or at least not the toxic ones anyway my 4870 toxic use to idle around 60-65'c untill I put some MX-2 on it & tweaked the fan profiles in the bios. now its more like 50-55'c idle.

I still keep the temps from hitting 70'c if i can.

[Divide Overflow]

I thought that the Vapor-X cards were really problematic...
I've been using my HD 4870 Vapor-X 24x7 for months crunching distributed computing applications when I'm not gaming. I haven't had a single problem so far and am still going strong.

I'd almost like it to start acting up. It would give me an excuse to upgrade to this sweet piece of silicon.

[InnocentCriminal]

I'm interested to see what other manufacturers have to offer, ASUS will be releasing their non-reference (cooled) 5870 soon or so I've heard. I'm a bit gutted Gainward aren't doing any more ATi cards as well.

:(

[Soylent Joe]

How so? What problems are happening?

Many of the 1 egg reviews (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=14-102-841&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&SelectedRating=1&PurchaseMark=&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&Page=1&Keywords=) are describing a boot problem. But I know, that's just a single card and any model of video card will have some lemons. Also, knowing that there is an active water cycle going on within the cooler would make me kind of hesitant about it's reliability, that is, there is a water cycle (evaporation, condensation, precipitation) going on. I'm not completely sure as to how the coolers work.

[Cheeseball]

The reason why there are people that don't like the Vapor-X versions of the HD 4870 and HD 4890 is because their PCB design lacks the Volterra voltage control chip. :P For overclockers, that's a kick in the balls. One of Sapphire's dumbest mistakes.

EDIT: I double-checked the review of the HD 4890 (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Sapphire/HD_4890_Toxic_Vapor-X/4.html) that W1zzard did, but his had a reference PCB. Weird.

[Aceman.au]

If I cant get a x2 then this is what Im getting... F***ing awesome card...

[Conflict0s]

One of the nicest cards I have seen, I think I will get this instead of the XFX now.

[wolf]

I'd have liked to see a non reference PCB, even though there isn't much to fault on ATi's

the thing that annoys me is the coil buzz, my experience of non-reference = no buzz/screech.

[kylzer]

Both 5850 and 5770 i have

been no buzzing or cap sounds so far.

[tkpenalty]

Any improvements in terms of cooling will probably only be due to the vapor-x cooler having a more open air shroud and a better air intake source (centred 92mm, versus horrendous squirrel cage fan), but I bet that the heatsink itself would be almost identical, doesnt the reference cooler use a vapor chamber for the main heatspreader?

Probably costs sapphire less to produce a vapor-x versus the reference cards.

[my_name_is_earl]

Some one quickly, kick me :nutkick:. I just bought an Asus and this news came up.

[tkpenalty]

Some one quickly, kick me :nutkick:. I just bought an Asus and this news came up.

-kicks steals and runs-

[mtosev]

still only 1GB of RAM. when are the 2GB versions coming

[grunt_408]

I thought that the Vapor-X cards were really problematic...

The 4890's had big trouble. 100 percent fan and no display. an intermittent problem that are getting replaced as people send them back.

[Tatty_One]

these looks like the silly toxic coolers with Vapor X written on them.

The 4870s Vapor X coolers were MUCH better than the toxic ones, its gonna be interesting to see if they improved these coolers or if they use the same smashed closed heatpipes as the earlier ones.

If anyone finds a pict of the insides it would be really nice to see.

I agree, but with the advent of the 4890 it's the other way round, the Atomic and Toxic versions have an upgraded VaporX cooler with additional heatpipes (actually not sure if the VaporX had ANY heatpipes), the VaporX model is the poor cousin both in performance and cooling terms.

[wolf]

Come to think of it 870mhz core overclock is downright pitiful, I'm willing to wager just about any 5870 will do 900mhz out of the box, especially with better cooling, Mine and I'm sure a few others do 950mhz on stock voltage, which is at least a measurable boost, I think you'd be lucky to see 3% more performance with this card.

nice cooler, disappointing clocks.

[mikek75]

The problem I found with my non reference Sapphire 4870 with this centrally mounted fan is that when using the lower pcie slot (in crossfire) my pci soundcard covers the fan with only about 2mm clearance, severly restricting the air intake. Not the case with reference designs with the fan at the end. This issue resulted in my lower card idling 10c hotter than without the soundcard.

[MKmods]

I agree, but with the advent of the 4890 it's the other way round, the Atomic and Toxic versions have an upgraded VaporX cooler with additional heatpipes (actually not sure if the VaporX had ANY heatpipes), the VaporX model is the poor cousin both in performance and cooling terms.

From what I saw the 4890 Toxic cooler was the same as the 4870 one. (If you see a pict thats different please let me know other than the tubes were nickel plated instead of copper)

The 5870 cooler looks a bit different, same fan but the heat tubes are quite a bit lower profile.

The Vapor X had a small heat tube inside the unit. The main heatsink of the Vapor X was steel with a copper plate for GPU contact (the Toxic cooler was similar)

[mab1376]

I want one!!!!

[Tatty_One]

Come to think of it 870mhz core overclock is downright pitiful, I'm willing to wager just about any 5870 will do 900mhz out of the box, especially with better cooling, Mine and I'm sure a few others do 950mhz on stock voltage, which is at least a measurable boost, I think you'd be lucky to see 3% more performance with this card.

nice cooler, disappointing clocks.

Yeah, basically it's the improved cooling you are paying for, problem being that this release makes it likely that Sapphire will probably also release a Toxic and perhaps eventually even an Atomic version and therefore they have to set their reference clocks according to the 3 overclocked models, lets suppose the very best binned chips manage 1000mhz, the Atomic with a safety margin would come in at around 980mhz, the Toxic at say 930 mhz leaving this little baby, I suppose the problem is, if you have an overclock margin of 150mhz then trying to fit 3 OC models in there makes it tight.

[Tatty_One]

From what I saw the 4890 Toxic cooler was the same as the 4870 one. (If you see a pict thats different please let me know other than the tubes were nickel plated instead of copper)

The 5870 cooler looks a bit different, same fan but the heat tubes are quite a bit lower profile.

The Vapor X had a small heat tube inside the unit. The main heatsink of the Vapor X was steel with a copper plate for GPU contact (the Toxic cooler was similar)

Not sure about the looks, but there are reviews out there of the 4890 Toxic and Atomic versions which clearly state they have an "improved" and more efficient version of the VaporX models cooling system which was what i was getting at.

[eidairaman1]

This is a nice looking part, Cant wait until XFX pulls out all the stops in their boards, I mean with the Late Model 4890s they were looking very nice.


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