• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

3870 owners, You gonna upgrade?

Will you be keeping your 3870(s) for a while?

  • Yep. It has enough unf for me to stick with it.

    Votes: 38 59.4%
  • No. 4800 series all the way.

    Votes: 22 34.4%
  • NVidia GTX series ftw.

    Votes: 4 6.3%

  • Total voters
    64

mikek75

New Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2006
Messages
1,370 (0.21/day)
Location
Chippenham, Wilts, United Kingdom
System Name As easy as falling off a lorry
Processor Core I5 2500K auto tuned to 4.2ghz
Motherboard Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3P
Cooling Corsair H80 sealed water cooler
Memory 16gb Gskill Ripjawz 1600mhz
Video Card(s) XFX 6970 2GB
Storage Corsair 120GB Force 3 SSD, OCZ 60 GB Agility 3 SSD, Seagate 500GB, 2x80gb Maxtors
Display(s) DELL 2309w 23" Widescreen 1920x1080+ LG M2294D 22" 1680x1050 LCDtv/monitor
Case Zalman Z9 Plus
Audio Device(s) X-Fi Xtreme Gamer Fatal1ty Pro
Power Supply PC Power&Cooling 750w Silencer Quad PCIe
Software Windows 7 x64 Home Premium
I couldn't resist, got my 4870 a couple of weeks ago. The 3870 was good, but there were a few niggles (jerkiness in game videos mainly). So far the 4870 just blasts through everything, even Crysis on very high DX10 if you leave the AA off (AA only seems to affect Crysis performance, on everything else its almost free).

Only thing is I cant get Bioshock to start in DX10 mode full screen....Works in a window, works fullscreen in DX9, weird.
 

HydroIT

New Member
Joined
May 13, 2008
Messages
34 (0.01/day)
I might be upgrading me 3870x2 to a 4870x2, especially since I just recently moved to a 22" monitor :)
 
Joined
Feb 15, 2007
Messages
1,925 (0.31/day)
Processor Intel C2D E8500 @ 4.25GHz (1.36V)
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-X38-DQ6
Cooling (Temporary) Tuniq Tower 120
Memory 2GB Transcend aXeram 1200+
Video Card(s) HIS HD3870 CF Volt modded
Storage 3 Seagate 320Gb Barracuda in an Intel Matrix Raid array
Display(s) Sony GDM-FW900 24" Widescreen CRT (a.k.a "The Shiznotch")
Case Ultra Aluminus Full Tower
Audio Device(s) onboard Intel HD audio
Power Supply PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750
Software XP MCE + Vista (HP) dual-boot
I'm on the fence at this point. I have been thoroughly enjoying mine since I voltmodded them 8 months ago (seems like an eternity in this video card market!).

The 4870X2 is just too tempting. But I've got a home theater I'm about to build and an expenditure like that isn't in the (excuse pun) cards...
 

tamazoid

New Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2008
Messages
16 (0.00/day)
Location
Victoria, BC
System Name Under $2000 Gaming System
Processor Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 3.60GHz (1.40v)
Motherboard ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP
Cooling Xigmatek Dark Knight S1283V H.D.T. with Arctic Cooling MX-2 Thermal Compound Paste
Memory G.Skill F2 PC2-8500 DDR2 4GB 4X1GB DDR2-1066
Video Card(s) Diamond Viper HD 4850 512MB GDDR3 PCI-E
Storage 2x Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB SATA2 7200RPM 32MB Cache NCQ
Display(s) Samsung T220HD 22" and LG L204WT 20.4" LCD
Case NCIX XION2-BK Black ATX Mid Tower Case 4X5.25 2X3.5 5X3.5INT 2X120MM Fans
Audio Device(s) ASUS Onboard 8-Channel HD Audio
Power Supply Corsair TX750W 750W ATX 12V 60A 24PIN
Software Windows Vista Ultimate 64-Bit SP1 / XP SP3
Benchmark Scores I got P7295 in 3dMark Vantage with Q6600 at 3.6GHz @ 1.4V, Hd 4850 @ 625 Core 993 Mem (Stock)
Hahaha! I got one of the best friends ever! :D:D He just trashed hes scooter, so he needed money asap! so he sold me the 3870 back to me.. for $120!!! What a friend! :D

If you were a good friend, you should have took it back for $200...

haha, jk
 

Lillebror

New Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2007
Messages
719 (0.12/day)
Location
Denmark
Processor Intel Core2Duo e8400 @ 3.6ghz
Motherboard Asus P5Q Pro w/ mBios
Cooling Xigmatec something with a orange fan
Memory Kingston HyperX 4 gig
Video Card(s) Sapphire hd4870
Storage 320 gb Maxtor 750gb samsung f11 250gb hitachi
Display(s) IIyama e1900s
Case CoolerMaster Ammo
Audio Device(s) Asus Xonar D2/PM Pci
Power Supply Corsair 750w
Software Windows 7 x64
If you were a good friend, you should have took it back for $200...

haha, jk

I kept telling him that i wanted to pay the 200 back! but when i gave him 200, he took some of em and putted em in the case for the 3870! he's soooo weird.. But i really really good friend :D

anyway, i tihnk im going offtopic here.. Sorry!
 
Joined
Mar 15, 2008
Messages
403 (0.07/day)
Location
California USA
System Name MSI
Processor Intel 4790k@ stock for now
Motherboard MSI z97 gaming 7
Cooling H100i
Memory 16 gb of patriot viperx ddr3 1866
Video Card(s) RTX 2080
Storage Crucial c300 128g, wd cavier black 1tb, seagate baracuda 2gb (for storage)
Display(s) Asus VG248QE 24"
Case Haf x 942
Audio Device(s) ac 1150 onboard sound
Power Supply Roswell 1200
Mouse Logitech G502
Keyboard Velocifire mechanical keyboard red switches
Software Windows 10 pro
my trifire setup is sweet right now with a 3870x2+3870 runs everything I throw at it 60fps+ even at 2560x1600(some games) so I'm keeping my 3800series cards prolly till taxes next year
 

Bytor

New Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2007
Messages
1,051 (0.17/day)
System Name "The Dark Spider"
Processor AMD Phenom 9850 @ 3.0
Motherboard Asus M3A79-T
Cooling Water: CPU and GPU's, 2 pumps, 2 BIX Rads, D-Tek Fuzion v1, 2 Swiftech MCW60
Memory 4 gigs Crucial Balistix Tracers (1066 @ 1256)
Video Card(s) Sapphire 4870x2
Storage WD SATA 640 Gig HDD
Display(s) Acer 24" beast...
Case Modded Rocketfish
Audio Device(s) Onboard (only use head phones)
Power Supply 700 watt
Software a bunch
Benchmark Scores 3D Mark 06: 9859 on 2-X1950 pro's Xfire 3D Mark 06: 12794 on 1-3870 3D Mark 06: 16484 Xfire
I have 4 Visiontek 3870's with 3 in my sig rig and they can play anything out there with no problems...
 

HELLSPAWNPR

New Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2008
Messages
104 (0.02/day)
Location
Hatillo, Puerto Rico
System Name HELLSING
Processor AMD X4 630 @ 3.6ghz
Motherboard Asus Crosshair IV
Cooling 5 x Coolermaster 120mm / 2x Zalman92mm/ 2x Enermax Vegas 120mm
Memory 4GB ADATA X series 9+9+9+24
Video Card(s) 2 X Powercolor ATI 5850 CF OC 850/1050
Storage 80 GB WD Raptor/ 500GB segate & WD 160GB SATA
Display(s) Viewsonic 22 inch WS
Case Chieftec
Audio Device(s) onboard
Power Supply Corsair GS800
Software Wndows 7 Ultimate
to run a 3870x2 with a 3870 , how much power would i need ? Currently have a Aero cool Zerodba 620w PSU.
 
Joined
May 4, 2007
Messages
2,165 (0.35/day)
Location
Wallingford, CT
Processor Intel i7-5930k
Motherboard ASRock Taichi X99
Cooling Phanteks PH-TC14PE
Memory 4x8GB HyperX FURY DDR4-2666 15-17-17-15
Video Card(s) MSI GTX 1070 Gaming X 8G
Storage 1x Plextor PX-512M6S SSD, 1x WD 750gb HDD, 2x Hitachi 2TB HDD, 1x Seagate 4TB HDD
Display(s) 2x Dell P2314H
Case Fractal Define R4
Audio Device(s) Onboard
Power Supply Corsair AX860i
Mouse ROCCAT Kone Pure Color White
Keyboard Corsair K95 RGB - Cherry MX Brown
Software Windows 10 Professional x64
I have the Corsair HX620 and I overclock both cards and overclock a QX6850. I also run a watercooling system off of it and numerous hard drives and other things. You should be ok, though I'm not sure how your PSU compares to mine....
 
Joined
Mar 9, 2006
Messages
1,203 (0.18/day)
Location
FL
System Name Iam-a-computah
Processor i9 9900k @5 Ghz
Motherboard Gigabyte Auros z390x
Cooling Custom water loop, x2 280 radiators
Memory 16gb Corsair Dominator
Video Card(s) MSI 1080 TI FE 11gb WC
Storage SSD: 256gb Samsung 840pro & HHD: WD black 2T
Display(s) LG 34" UW screen
Case EVGA DG-86
Audio Device(s) Creative x-FI
Power Supply EVGA super NOVA 1300wtt
Keyboard G710
Software W 10
im gonna keep my 3870's until i start getting unplayable lag :rolleyes:
 
Joined
Mar 15, 2008
Messages
403 (0.07/day)
Location
California USA
System Name MSI
Processor Intel 4790k@ stock for now
Motherboard MSI z97 gaming 7
Cooling H100i
Memory 16 gb of patriot viperx ddr3 1866
Video Card(s) RTX 2080
Storage Crucial c300 128g, wd cavier black 1tb, seagate baracuda 2gb (for storage)
Display(s) Asus VG248QE 24"
Case Haf x 942
Audio Device(s) ac 1150 onboard sound
Power Supply Roswell 1200
Mouse Logitech G502
Keyboard Velocifire mechanical keyboard red switches
Software Windows 10 pro
to run a 3870x2 with a 3870 , how much power would i need ? Currently have a Aero cool Zerodba 620w PSU.

Well that stupid website that tells you how much you would need is not exactly right, said I needed over 1000+w psu in my rig but I have a 850w psu and no rails are being overworked.
 

J-Man

New Member
Joined
May 14, 2007
Messages
2,248 (0.36/day)
Location
Oakham, UK
System Name Watercooled beast
Processor Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 @ 4.02GHz
Motherboard ASUS Rampage Formula X48
Cooling Swiftech Apogee GTZ, Black Ice GTX Xtreme 480, EK 250 Rev 2, EK 4870 X2, MCP655, 1/2" Tygon Tubing
Memory 4GB DDR2 OCZ @ 1066MHz 2.1V
Video Card(s) HIS ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 800 on core, 1000 on memory (overclocked in CCC)
Storage 500GB Maxtor Diamondmax 22 SATA II 32MB Cache
Display(s) Samsung 24" SM245B
Case SilverStone TJ07 black/windowed version
Audio Device(s) Creative X-Fi Xtreme Gamer Fatal1ty + Logitech Z-5500
Power Supply Thermaltake Toughpower 1200W Modular
Software Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Retail
I upgraded from the 3870 x2 to the 4870 x2.
 

Jansku07

New Member
Joined
May 24, 2008
Messages
171 (0.03/day)
Location
Finland
Processor 4000X2 @ 2,1Ghz w/ AC Freezer
Motherboard MSI K9AGM3-FD
Memory 2GB DDR2
Video Card(s) 3650 w/ 256MB GDDR3
Storage WD 320GB - 7200RPM
Display(s) DELL m991 /1024x768/ 85hz
Case resonating metal case
Power Supply FSP 350W -> 16A@12V
Software Vista Home Premium x86 SP2 FIN
Benchmark Scores oh noeees.
Well that stupid website that tells you how much you would need is not exactly right, said I needed over 1000+w psu in my rig but I have a 850w psu and no rails are being overworked.
Ati website overexaggerates the power requirements because they have to make sure that even the sh*ttiest 1kw PSUs will work. As for the Zerodba PSU I would have to say no, because the brand is unknown to me -> could be VERY bad quality. A well built PSU like Corsair HX620 or TX750 will do the trick.
 
Last edited:

Viscarious

New Member
Joined
May 17, 2008
Messages
951 (0.16/day)
Processor AMD Phenom 9850BE
Motherboard ASUS M3A32MVP Deluxe 790FX
Cooling ZALMAN CNPS9700
Memory Crucial Ballistix Tracers 4G (1G x 4) 800Mhz CAS4
Video Card(s) VisionTek HD3870 + a VisionTek HD3870 OC Edition Xfire'd
Storage 320G WD SATA + 160G
Display(s) Gateway HD 19" 4ms
Case Raidmax Ninja
Audio Device(s) Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer
Power Supply 650W Antec Earthwatts
Software Windows Vista 64bit SP1
Benchmark Scores candle_86 is a fanboi
I love my current two. And when the prices drop further, if they do, I'm going to buy two more. I've never had a problem with them so I'll run them hard till they die. :D
 

WarEagleAU

Bird of Prey
Joined
Jul 9, 2006
Messages
10,812 (1.67/day)
Location
Gurley, AL
System Name Pandemic 2020
Processor AMD Ryzen 5 "Gen 2" 2600X
Motherboard AsRock X470 Killer Promontory
Cooling CoolerMaster 240 RGB Master Cooler (Newegg Eggxpert)
Memory 32 GB Geil EVO Portenza DDR4 3200 MHz
Video Card(s) ASUS Radeon RX 580 DirectX 12 DUAL-RX580-O8G 8GB 256-Bit GDDR5 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video C
Storage WD 250 M.2, Corsair P500 M.2, OCZ Trion 500, WD Black 1TB, Assorted others.
Display(s) ASUS MG24UQ Gaming Monitor - 23.6" 4K UHD (3840x2160) , IPS, Adaptive Sync, DisplayWidget
Case Fractal Define R6 C
Audio Device(s) Realtek 5.1 Onboard
Power Supply Corsair RMX 850 Platinum PSU (Newegg Eggxpert)
Mouse Razer Death Adder
Keyboard Corsair K95 Mechanical & Corsair K65 Wired, Wireless, Bluetooth)
Software Windows 10 Pro x64
I Will eventually upgrade to the 4x series (or maybe 5x next year around taxes if not sooner).
 
Joined
Mar 15, 2008
Messages
403 (0.07/day)
Location
California USA
System Name MSI
Processor Intel 4790k@ stock for now
Motherboard MSI z97 gaming 7
Cooling H100i
Memory 16 gb of patriot viperx ddr3 1866
Video Card(s) RTX 2080
Storage Crucial c300 128g, wd cavier black 1tb, seagate baracuda 2gb (for storage)
Display(s) Asus VG248QE 24"
Case Haf x 942
Audio Device(s) ac 1150 onboard sound
Power Supply Roswell 1200
Mouse Logitech G502
Keyboard Velocifire mechanical keyboard red switches
Software Windows 10 pro
if anything I'll turn in the two 3870s I have lying around and trade them for another 3870x2
 
Joined
Dec 28, 2006
Messages
4,378 (0.69/day)
Location
Hurst, Texas
System Name The86
Processor Ryzen 5 3600
Motherboard ASROCKS B450 Steel Legend
Cooling AMD Stealth
Memory 2x8gb DDR4 3200 Corsair
Video Card(s) EVGA RTX 3060 Ti
Storage WD Black 512gb, WD Blue 1TB
Display(s) AOC 24in
Case Raidmax Alpha Prime
Power Supply 700W Thermaltake Smart
Mouse Logitech Mx510
Keyboard Razer BlackWidow 2012
Software Windows 10 Professional
not anytime soon my 3850 holds up fine for what I play.

COD2, CnC3, Combat Arms, and CSS. I see no current need to upgrade. Heck my old 7950GT would still be fine for me lol
 
Joined
Feb 14, 2008
Messages
986 (0.17/day)
Location
Cincinnati, Ohio
Processor AMD Ryzen 1700 @ 3.825ghz 1.36v
Motherboard ASRock x370 Taichi
Cooling Noctua NH-C14s
Memory Corsair Vengeance RGB 16gb 3200
Video Card(s) Gigabyte GTX 1080 ti
Display(s) LG 4k IPS
Case Be Quiet Pure Base 600 + more fans
Audio Device(s) Sound Blaster Z
Power Supply EVGA P2 750w
Mouse G900
Keyboard G810
Software Windows 10 Pro
Let me say this. I used to use a 2900XT, which I thought was fine and dandy, but now.... Now I play Oblivion at 8xAA 16AF Qual settings Transparency SuperSampling AA with full HDR and max view distances on....

It makes Oblivion beautiful!!!! Cant wait for Fallout3!!!!

So yea its noticable and WORTH IT.
 
Joined
Aug 14, 2008
Messages
30 (0.01/day)
System Name Lil Truck
Processor 4670k
Motherboard MSI Z87M G43
Memory 16GB Patriot DDR3
Video Card(s) MSI GTX 660 Twin Frozr
Storage Seagate 1GB x2_512 GB SSD
Display(s) Acer 24" 1080p
Case CM Elite 430
Audio Device(s) Creative Soundblaster_Z
Power Supply Tt 750W
Software W10
Let me say this. I used to use a 2900XT, which I thought was fine and dandy, but now.... Now I play Oblivion at 8xAA 16AF Qual settings Transparency SuperSampling AA with full HDR and max view distances on....

It makes Oblivion beautiful!!!! Cant wait for Fallout3!!!!

So yea its noticable and WORTH IT.

Before I had this 9600GT I had a 7950GT 512MB (great card BTW) and when playing Oblivion I had to use a 4:3 AR @ 1152*864 on my 22" LCD (it stretched out ok) to get it to have acceptable FPS with moderate settings. Now, I can pretty much max Oblivion @ 1440*900 2X AA 16AF HDR and get good FPS (around 40 average but many 55-65 spikes). It's a a lot better than what I had lol, but yeah I know a 4850 would do wonders, but I think I'm going to skip the 4850/4870 cards and maybe get a card from the next gen. Unless .. the 4850 drops to around $100.00-$120.00 =) But for now this 9600GT is very good, as I would suspect a 3850 would be too, but no doubt if I were buying a new card I would get an HD4850 right now.
 
Joined
Apr 17, 2008
Messages
3,935 (0.68/day)
Location
West Chester, OH
I didn't realize how hard it is to buy a dual slot 3870 now. I'm glad I got my MSI one before they stopped selling em on NewEgg. I'm planning to put a pair of Accelero's on them to go the silent route. Can't wait to do that! Sick of the fans roaring! :)
 

HELLSPAWNPR

New Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2008
Messages
104 (0.02/day)
Location
Hatillo, Puerto Rico
System Name HELLSING
Processor AMD X4 630 @ 3.6ghz
Motherboard Asus Crosshair IV
Cooling 5 x Coolermaster 120mm / 2x Zalman92mm/ 2x Enermax Vegas 120mm
Memory 4GB ADATA X series 9+9+9+24
Video Card(s) 2 X Powercolor ATI 5850 CF OC 850/1050
Storage 80 GB WD Raptor/ 500GB segate & WD 160GB SATA
Display(s) Viewsonic 22 inch WS
Case Chieftec
Audio Device(s) onboard
Power Supply Corsair GS800
Software Wndows 7 Ultimate
3800 series is a great buy and have performed great on my pc. Today I orderd a MSI 3870x2 for $219.99 plus free shipping. As for the 4800 series I prob buy those when i decide to upgrade my other pc.
 
Joined
Nov 14, 2007
Messages
1,773 (0.30/day)
Location
Detroit, MI
Processor AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Motherboard ASUS TUF Gaming X570-Pro Wifi II
Cooling Hyper 212 EVO v2
Memory 2x16GB G.Skill DDR4-4000
Video Card(s) AMD RX 6750 XT
Storage WD Black SN850 2TB, various other SSD's from ages past
Display(s) LG 27GL850 1440@144, AG Neovo EM2701QC 1440@75
Case Zophos EVO Silent by Raijintek
Audio Device(s) HyperX Cloud II Wireless headphones
Power Supply Corsair RM850x
Mouse ProtoArc EM01
Keyboard Razer Blackwidow X Chroma Mercury
Software Windows 11 Pro
I'll hold onto my 3850 for a couple years. Plays all the games I want so far. I'll probably get something new around the 5k series though, or if I end up making more money than I need. However, I'd rather invest in a smartcar or a motorcycle before more hardware. 40-mile round trips to work are killer when you only get 19mpg...
 
Joined
Jan 7, 2008
Messages
3,924 (0.66/day)
System Name Main / Home Media Serever
Processor Intel i5 2500k @ 4.75ghz / AMD AM3 5200+ x2
Motherboard ASRock Fatal1ty P67 Performance / Biostar 790GX
Cooling Xigmatek Dark Knight / XIGMATEK Apache
Memory 12gb of G.Skill Value Series DDR3 / 4x 1gb DDR2
Video Card(s) XFX Radeon 6870 1gb / Asus Radeon 5450 512mb
Storage 2x Samsung 830 64gb SSD Raid 0 & 750gb WD Blue HDD / OCZ Vertex II 80GB & 10TB of HDD Space
Display(s) 2x Acer 24" LED / Samsung 50" LED
Case Xigmatek Asgard II / APEX PC-389-C
Power Supply Rosewill 750w / Antec EArthwatts 380w
Software Windows 7 Professional x64 SP1 / Ubuntu 14.04
Im gonna stay with my 3870 + 3850 crossfire setup. My cpu is kinda a bottleneck as it is for my current system.

Ill wait until I make a new build to upgrade my video cards. Probably won't be for a while though because I am pretty happy with my current results.
 
Joined
Apr 19, 2007
Messages
215 (0.03/day)
Location
Southern Arizona, USA
System Name Home/Work/Home
Processor Dual Xeon 5570 / Core i5-2.6Ghz / Dell Vostro 410 Xeon L5430
Motherboard Lenovo D20 / Dell 4110 / Vostro 410 G33 based
Cooling stock / stock / stock
Memory 12Gb / 4Gb / 4Gb
Video Card(s) 9800GT 512 / HD3000 / 9800GT 512 PCIE
Storage Geez Louise - a whole bunch !
Display(s) CRT Phillips Brilliance 204P
Case EATX / Laptop / Glorious Dell Vostro 410
Audio Device(s) stock / stock / stock
Power Supply stock / stock / stock
Mouse Zowie, is there another?
Keyboard Awesome Dell Natural (by Microsoft)
Software W2K3 Svr / W2K3 Svr
Benchmark Scores Alot / not so much / Working on it
Yo...my HIS Icq3 3850AGP is my current fastest AGP option!

jtleon
 
Joined
Jan 7, 2008
Messages
3,924 (0.66/day)
System Name Main / Home Media Serever
Processor Intel i5 2500k @ 4.75ghz / AMD AM3 5200+ x2
Motherboard ASRock Fatal1ty P67 Performance / Biostar 790GX
Cooling Xigmatek Dark Knight / XIGMATEK Apache
Memory 12gb of G.Skill Value Series DDR3 / 4x 1gb DDR2
Video Card(s) XFX Radeon 6870 1gb / Asus Radeon 5450 512mb
Storage 2x Samsung 830 64gb SSD Raid 0 & 750gb WD Blue HDD / OCZ Vertex II 80GB & 10TB of HDD Space
Display(s) 2x Acer 24" LED / Samsung 50" LED
Case Xigmatek Asgard II / APEX PC-389-C
Power Supply Rosewill 750w / Antec EArthwatts 380w
Software Windows 7 Professional x64 SP1 / Ubuntu 14.04
I didn't realize how hard it is to buy a dual slot 3870 now. I'm glad I got my MSI one before they stopped selling em on NewEgg. I'm planning to put a pair of Accelero's on them to go the silent route. Can't wait to do that! Sick of the fans roaring! :)

Should be a good route to go. I currently have them on my 3850 and 3870. Makes for a pretty quite system, when I get some time I'm gonna pick up some fans to attach so I can do some sick overclocking, maybe even some pencil modding!!! :rockout:
 
Top