MSI Readies HD 5870 Lightning Graphics Card

[btarunr]

MSI is designing a high-end graphics card based on the ATI Radeon HD 5870, to be featured in its Lightning series of overclocking-friendly graphics cards. A PCB drawing of the same surfaced recently, revealing a taller than usual PCB, with a high-grade VRM to support high-levels of overclocking, among other noticeable features. The PCB seems to have a 12-phase vGPU and 3-phase vMEM, it is fed by two 8-pin PCI-E power connectors, though it remains to be seen if MSI places two actual 8-pin connectors. Some parts of the PCB make use of high-C surface-mount capacitors. The display connectivity cluster seems to be identical to that of the reference design PCB, with two DVI-D, and one each of HDMI and DisplayPort. It is likely that MSI uses a high-end cooler for this card, perhaps similar to the Twin Frozr II design. More information will surface during the upcoming CES event.



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[AltecV1]

a short 5870 good job msi

 

[sno.lcn]

Awesome!!!

 

[[H]@RD5TUFF]

About time! I've been thinking for a long time how it's stupid that cards keep getting about an inch or so longer each generation. Is it really that hard to add an inch or even half an inch onto the width of the card and cut about 2 inches off the end of the card. Don't you think 13 inches is a bit much AMD ?

 

[Semi-Lobster]

A short 5870, if only these were around when I bought my 5850! Then it would actually fit in my Antec 300 case!

 

[SummerDays]

About time! I've been thinking for a long time how it's stupid that cards keep getting about an inch or so longer each generation. Is it really that hard to add an inch or even half an inch onto the width of the card and cut about 2 inches off the end of the card. Don't you think 13 inches is a bit much AMD ?

There's at least 2 more additional inches of room from the 5970 length in the Thermal Take Armour Case so I think it'll last another graphics card generation. lol

 

[eidairaman1]

The first non Ref 5870 is in the works, Awesome

 

[mlee49]

Are they going to include the voltage reading points like they did on the 275?

TPU's review if anyone would like to see:

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_275_N275GTX_Lightning

Edit: looks like those voltage readouts are on the far right, slightly under the power connectors.

 

[eidairaman1]

ive been waiting for the 3rd party designed boards

 

[[H]@RD5TUFF]

There's at least 2 more additional inches of room from the 5970 length in the Thermal Take Armour Case so I think it'll last another graphics card generation. lol

That's not really the point at all. more room or not, the cards don't need to be that long.

 

[Error 404]

Just how long is this card? It might actually fit in my case!

 

[Fourstaff]

I have got this feeling that the next gen cards will all be about small size, seeing that they cut down the power consumption this gen.

 

[wolf]

yay first 5870 I've seen with non reference PCB

full of win? lets wait and see.

 

[AsRock]

About time! I've been thinking for a long time how it's stupid that cards keep getting about an inch or so longer each generation. Is it really that hard to add an inch or even half an inch onto the width of the card and cut about 2 inches off the end of the card. Don't you think 13 inches is a bit much AMD ?

The card being wider will be heavier on the PCI-e slot than making it longer.

There's at least 2 more additional inches of room from the 5970 length in the Thermal Take Armour Case so I think it'll last another graphics card generation. lol

.

 

[Sasqui]

Hey that's confidential! "For internal CES Train Only" - Whatever the hell that means

Judging by this image:

... looks like it'll be 1"-2" shorter

 

[WarEagleAU]

I like, especially the component upgrades MSI put on there. Seems like they want to play with the big boys now.

 

[[H]@RD5TUFF]

The card being wider will be heavier on the PCI-e slot than making it longer.

How so, if your going to make the case that a 13 inch car puts less stress than a card of 9-10 inches , your fooling yourself, also were talking less than an inch wider, the PCB area is the same iether way.

 

[DarthCyclonis]

Kind of reminds me of the 3870X2 from PowerColor I used to own. Short PCB, a little taller but shorter none the less.

 

[Hayder_Master]

cool i wonder if they release 5970 with same size