ASUS Radeon HD 6870 CrossFire

[W1zzard]

In this review we will put the dual card CrossFire configuration of the AMD Radeon HD 6870 in the spotlight. It promises higher performance than a Radeon HD 5970 at only a fraction of the price. But is this enough to make CF a recommendation?

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[Spaceman Spiff]

Yikes. The scaling is not too great. Ill keep my 4890s for a while. Power consumption isnt bad though. Good review Wiz. Could have used some Crossfire 5850, 5870, and SLI 460, 470, and 480 for some extra comparison.

 

[DanishDevil]

I wonder why this review and Guru3D's crossfire review are in stark contrast of each other. Must investigate...after dinner!

 

[alexsubri]

I wonder why this review and Guru3D's crossfire review are in stark contrast of each other. Must investigate...after dinner!

Maybe different CPUs and Motherboards, etc etc etc

 

[wolf]

fantastic review as always W1zzard, worth staying up till 4am for

great cards for the price, but I think what we all want to see is Cayman

 

[DanishDevil]

Knew that already. They're using an i7 965 @ 3.75GHz with 6GB of 1500MHz RAM. Very similar systems actually.

 

[fullinfusion]

Should I say it?

Ok I will, the 6870 x-fire stomp's!!!

So now to the Green team to counter with there re-branded card's

Thanks Wizz, great review

 

[DanishDevil]

AHA! They used Catalyst 10.10, while W1zz used Catalyst 10.7. Maybe 10.10 gives much better crossfire scaling performance.

W1zz, any chance you could do a quick test on 10.10 for a 5870 Crossfire to see if it has improved?

 

[fullinfusion]

Knew that already. They're using an i7 965 @ 3.75GHz with 6GB of 1500MHz RAM. Very similar systems actually.

Nice quick edit DD

 

[fullinfusion]

AHA! They used Catalyst 10.10, while W1zz used Catalyst 10.7. Maybe 10.10 gives much better crossfire scaling performance.

W1zz, any chance you could do a quick test on 10.10 for a 5870 Crossfire to see if it has improved?

Oh stop blaming the driver and except the new red gpu kicks azz!!!!

god I see someone's a tad desperate lol

 

[alexsubri]

AHA! They used Catalyst 10.10, while W1zz used Catalyst 10.7. Maybe 10.10 gives much better crossfire scaling performance.

W1zz, any chance you could do a quick test on 10.10 for a 5870 Crossfire to see if it has improved?

The 10.10's will be release tomorrow

Ay, W1zzard ...I gotta silly question..what do you do with all those 6850 and 6870s? Do/Can you keep them or you have to ship them back

 

[fullinfusion]

The 10.10's will be release tomorrow

There out now

 

[alexsubri]

hehe..They've released them early then

Via Twitter from CatalystMaker:

RT @Kinleyb: @CatalystMaker Hey man! Know ur busy..But i just wanted to know if 10.10 was gonna Release today or tomorrow? ME - Tomorrow

 

[dir_d]

Good review thx w1zz. If i didnt have a 5870 these cards would be the ones to buy.

 

[alexsubri]

I know, I'm glad I stuck with my 5850s..They both perform as well as one 5970. Next month we will see the 69xx series ..those are the ones I am really waiting for. I plan on buying a pair early next year

 

[DrunkenMafia]

love those crossfire scores. 2 6870's are $100 + cheaper than a 5970 in aussie.

Yet again we inch one step closer to 100fps in Crysis

 

[n-ster]

Ummm... they scale good in a couple of games, but mostly at high setting at high resolution with AA, hich is my use so I'm happpy LOOK AT METRO 2033

 

[fullinfusion]

I know, I'm glad I stuck with my 5850s..They both perform as well as one 5970. Next month we will see the 69xx series ..those are the ones I am really waiting for. I plan on buying a pair early next year

Are you sure about that?

Maybe you need to check my benche marks in the Vantage thread!

 

[fullinfusion]

Ummm... they scale good in a couple of games, but mostly at high setting at high resolution with AA, hich is my use so I'm happpy LOOK AT METRO 2033

Well at a tiny rez all cards rule, but till you up the res these gpu's shine... Put it this way.... An engine can only pump out the demand for power.

put a load on these cards and watch the performance show what they can do.

 

[n-ster]

I meant in scaling... as in in a certain game that you already get 110fps, don't be surprised to get 140fps only... but when you on get 39fps, these beasts can get you 76 fps

 

[CDdude55]

So now to the Green team to counter with there re-branded card's

Oh stop blaming the driver and except the new red gpu kicks azz!!!!

Alright now lets just calm down now..

Your inner fanboy is being unleashed heavily.

Definitely some good scaling in some games, but lacking in some others.

 

[n-ster]

but they lack only in high fps games (ie: ow res and/or low demanding games), so who cares! look at 1920x1200 where most ppl will be using these cards... look at metro 2033 and crysis etc... practically 100%, about 90+%

just incredible IMO

 

[chaotic_uk]

would have liked to have seen crossfired 5870's in the tests with crossfired 6870's beating the 5970 in most tests , just out of interest

 

[Delta6326]

http://tpucdn.com/reviews/ATI/Radeon_HD_5870_CrossFire/images/crysis_1920_1200.gif http://tpucdn.com/reviews/ATI/Radeon_HD_6870_CrossFire/images/crysis_1920_1200.gif
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ATI/Radeon_HD_5870_CrossFire/1.html
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ATI/Radeon_HD_6870_CrossFire/1.html
now start comparing its not the newest but its the quickest way to get a estimate

 

[n-ster]

now start comparing its not the newest but its the quickest way to get a estimate

so they can see faster

Wait, a 5870 CF under a 5970? not that helpful lol

but by doing 5870 CF / 5870 normal from the first and multiplying that by the 5870 on the 2nd gives 48.847, or to round up, 48.9 fps for the 5870 CF