HD3870 from Sapphire

[DanishDevil]

I assume you tried to copy and paste from above...the links don't copy properly that way.

1st Pick:
1x http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103050
1x http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148230
1x http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812189053

2nd Pick:
1x http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161218
1x http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148230
1x http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812189053

3rd Pick:
1x http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102732
Comes with 3dmark06, Power DVD, DVD suite

Basically, this, correct?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...2E16814102732,N82E16814103050,N82E16814161218

Out of those three cards, if you want red PCB, get the Diamond. If you don't mind the blue PCB, get the HIS. It will probably OC better. The Sapphire is more expensive because of the cooler, and you're going water anyway.

 

[zaqwsx]

Ya I fixed the links in the second post the ones you just quoted, they should work.

 

[DanishDevil]

So...what are you thinking? Door number one, two, or three?

 

[zaqwsx]

Seconed pic looks good

 

[DanishDevil]

The HIS? Same one I ordered. If you want pretty flashy pics, let me know, and wait til Friday

 

[zaqwsx]

Well I just saw the PowerColor HD3870 PCS on newegg for 205 good thing I got lucky and got a refund for that card for 254 when I bought it at the time and luckly i dont have to pay a restocking fee! Any way I was wondering about that volt mod you can do to some cards what so good about that because I remember when I had my Powercolor 3870 it had the resister to were you couldent volt mod it. So whats so good about it and here is the PowerColor hd3870.

Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131077

 

[ShadowFold]

My HIS IceQ3 doesnt light up

 

[zaqwsx]

Did you use a black light or cold catode light because I think it needs to be a black light!

 

[zaqwsx]

Do you guys think I should try PowerColor again? Also it has the resister to were it cant have voltage controles.

 

[DanishDevil]

Keep in mind, the resistor doesn't keep you from doing a voltmod/pencilmod. It just means that you can't control it through software. I assume W1zz is working on an addon to ATiTool to boost the core voltage for better overclocking. That way, all you do if the card fails is boot in safe mode and disable the autostartup of ATiTool and you're back to stock!

I would go with the HIS unless you want red PCB. If you want red PCB, get the Diamond.

Stay away from Apollo and PowerColor, as they use non-reference PCB designs, and they haven't seemed to improve on the original design.

The HIS comes with a MUCH better cooler than the Diamond. My GPU idles at 40C! My old Visiontek, which used an improved cooler over Diamond's idled in the 60s and loaded in the high 90s! Haven't tested the load on the HIS yet, though. It also comes with a nifty screwdriver tool with a built in level, white LED light, and clip. I've been using it to piece away at my new case Many of the HIS cards from newegg both allow software voltage control and should have the ability to flash to their "IceQ3 Turbo" bios with clocks of 850/2380 versus the stock 775/2340.

 

[Bytor]

I have a pair of Visiontek's and they have a red PCB...

 

[DanishDevil]

They look good man! The Visionteks come with a non-reference cooler that fails to contact the one diagonal memory chip. Of course, if you're getting an aftermarket cooler, that doesn't really matter! But the HIS doesn't need an aftermarket cooler For that reason, and for the reason that newegg doesn't have a Visiontek that competes with the prices of the others, I don't recommend it.

Here's a link to the thread about the cooler (also found on some of the earlier Diamonds):
http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?p=639174

 

[Bytor]

Not sure about the cooler, since I took it off before using it. But these cards rock....

Have them running at 857/1377 with no problems... And they are so SEXY!!!

 

[zaqwsx]

Wow such a hard dessision. Also the powercolors clocks are 800Mhz ans 1170Mhz mem but what im thinking about right knoe is that HIS only problem is it dosn't come with the S-video to HDTV converter

 

[DanishDevil]

You are correct on that one. HIS comes with a DVI > HDMI, DVI > VGA, and S-VIDEO > COMPOSITE VIDEO.

If you need the HDTV Converter, go with one that does. Not the Powercolor though. You can OC a 3870 to 800 core almost guaranteed and flash it with an edited BIOS so it'll always run at those speeds.

 

[zaqwsx]

You think I can buy one of tpu from somone that dosn't use it? and would it work on the card. Actuly before I do that which is beter HDMI or the HDTV Converter?

 

[calvary1980]

HDMI over HDTV Comp you connect TV - HDMI to DVI Adapter - Video Card. some vendors include them for both nVidia and ATI but most of the time they don't they are $10-20 cables so it can be a problem if you plan on hooking your Computer up to your TV on the other hand if you were serious about that you would of built a HTPC.

- Christine

 

[DanishDevil]

HDMI includes both video and audio. The bottom line is: What kind of displays do you want to connect your computer to?

If you're connecting to a CRT or LCD monitor, you don't need either. If you are connecting to an HDTV, the questions is whether it has an HDMI input or not. If it does, the HDMI Adapter is fine. If it doesn't, Component Video (which the HIS does not have an adapter for) is better than S-Video.

 

[zaqwsx]

Ok well If I get the HIS how do I flash the card and should I do it or will I be taking a risk?

 

[DanishDevil]

TPU's Guide to BIOS Flashing:

http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/overclocking/vidcard/34

Yes, it is a risk, but it's probably a 2% chance you'll screw your card up if you know what you're doing. I would try flashing an older card with it's own BIOS first, so you've at least flashed a card before you take a crack at the 3870. Also, be sure to OC the card to the Turbo BIOS's speeds before you flash it to make sure the card will run at those speeds.

 

[zaqwsx]

This is what a finaly decided on! I also just ordered it because I got my refund from the powercolor card.

HD: http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148230
GPU: http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102732
Gift with gpu: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16800995043

Edit: Forgot to add that the card comes with an HDMI cable, 3dmark 2006, Power-DVD, DVD Suite, plus the vapor chamber cooling all for $230 + free $40.00 amd shirt.

Edit again: It also comes with Valve Black Box!!!

 

[johnarmstrong1981]

My Sapphire 3870 came with DVI HDMI Composite and a driver CD the main thing that i noticed is that it now has external heatpipes and a clear not red cover!!

 

[erocker]

This is what a finaly decided on! I also just ordered it because I got my refund from the powercolor card.

HD: http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148230
GPU: http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102732
Gift with gpu: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16800995043

Edit: Forgot to add that the card comes with an HDMI cable, 3dmark 2006, Power-DVD, DVD Suite, plus the vapor chamber cooling all for $230 + free $40.00 amd shirt.

Edit again: It also comes with Valve Black Box!!!

You made the best choice I could think of! That card you got is the same thing as the Atomic edition. And it's on sale right now ooohh!

 

[zaqwsx]

Well i was looking at both Atomics and it seems that the limited edition one has more circuitry plus i dont know what there called but on the front of the card the limited one has more of those blocks ( i think its coils) plus some more caps

 

[WarEagleAU]

with the price drops down to 189.99 for the cards, I think these should be lower. I got a nice Zalman vf900 and Id hate to not use it on my new hd3870 (or 3850) when I get it.