Mini review: 3870X2 Game performance

[SF3D]

I did my own game tests, cause all game reviews, that I have red, gives very different results. Well, this is my approach to 3870X2 gaming performance.

We all have seen tons of pictures about these cards, so there is only pic of setup and game test table.

Windows Vista 32-bit
QX9650 @ 4GHz (10x400)
G.Skill DDR3 7-6-5-12 (2T) 1600MHz
Asus P5E3 WS Pro
Asus 3870X2 (900MHz/1000MHz in all tests)

System:
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00073/1598772.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=1598772.jpg)

Drivers:
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00060/1598990.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=1598990.jpg)

All game game tests are done with Fraps and in game. I was trying to play normally, so these framerates are quite real.

Resolution is 1920x1200 in all game tests and Driver settings are set to High Quality.

http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00086/1598455.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=1598455.jpg)

Lost Planet: Snow(lower score)/Cave(higher score)
NFS Pro street: Really bad performance. Driver problem.
Flatout 2 and Oblivion: 60fps cap.
Dark messiah: Only one core in use.

Few Crysis pictures (Click):
http://www.aijaa.com/img/t/00041/1598820.t.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=1598820.jpg)
http://www.aijaa.com/img/t/00046/1598821.t.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=1598821.jpg)
http://www.aijaa.com/img/t/00088/1598825.t.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=1598825.jpg)
http://www.aijaa.com/img/t/00077/1598827.t.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=1598827.jpg)

[trans am]

What blocks are those on the gpu's?

[whocaresbg]

I don't see the version of Catalyst driver used for the review .

Cat 8.2 is released .

[cchalogamer]

What blocks are those on the gpu's?

MCW30 chipset coolers it would appear.

[SF3D]

Yes. MCW30 blocks. Not very good performance, but these are cool cards and blocks are easy to mount on this :)

Drivers updated to first post.

[trans am]

wow! very cool use of chipset coolers.
how are your temps compared to the stock cooler?

[SF3D]

Temperature is always under 50C with these blocks. 48C is max temperature while playing Crysis for example. So, these beat the stock cooler, but not much.

I have pair of MCW60 blocks, but there is no way to mount them on 3870X2.

[s0lid]

Haha u can mount chipset blocks to GPU and GPU block to X38 NB :ROTF:
But but SF3D what is dimension between HD3870 X2 cooler mounting holes =)?

[L7R]

Nice review. But why fps cap in oblivion? You can disable vsync in options (at launcher menu).

[trans am]

What's your max overclock with that card?

[SF3D]

Solid- Distance is ~42mm and from corner to corner ~55mm
L7R- It didn't wor for some reason. Drivers maybe?

Trans am- Check this: http://www.hwbot.org/result.do?resultId=697731
972/1100 with normal watercooling and 1.45V.

[oc_junkY]

Are the Crysis settings on High or Very High?

[SF3D]

DX10 is only available on very high settings. So, it's very high and 1920x1200. No AA obviously :)

[oc_junkY]

SF3D,
I guess that's not exactly the point.
You say:

DX10 is only available on very high settings. So, it's very high and 1920x1200. No AA obviously :)

I say: (at least real) Very High Settings are only available on Dx10

Do you get it? ;)
Thank you anyway for your review!

[SF3D]

I guess that's not exactly the point.

I say: (at least real) Very High Settings are only available on Dx10

Do you get it? ;)

:rolleyes:

Ok. Is this relevant for the review?

[higgins]

Thanks for the review man, we need more of these real in-game results. :)

COD4 average seem pretty low. Wonder how these results stand up to a 8800 Ultra..

edit:

quick test

company of heroes dx9
xp 32bit
1680x1050 max details no aa

8400 4.0ghz
8800 gtx 675/1458/1000
2x1gb 44412

avg: 113
max: 251
min: 41

so your results on vista and 1920x1200 are pretty sweet.. tempted to sell my gtx and go 3870x2, but i guess ill just wait for the 9800gtx instead in a couple of months

[71 (Bryan)]

is prostreet some graphic intensive?
its like the car version of crysis :p:

[SF3D]

Higgins- Thanks! Cod4 level was quite intensive and long viewing distances. If I look the walls or sky, fps would have been really high :) I think that is worst case scenario.

71 (Bryan) Not at all. It looks like s**t and performance is the same.

Edit:

Crysis UPDATE:

Windows Vista 32-bit
QX9650 4.2GHz (1.43V)
4GB DDR3 7-6-6-12 (1T)
3870X2 918/1000
1920x1200 Very High DX10. No AA

From fraps:
2008-02-15 01:39:45 - Crysis
Frames: 8813 - Time: 268893ms - Avg: 32.775 - Min: 12 - Max: 48

Minimum framerate is 12, cause there was "save game" period during gameplay.

[leo_bsb]

show us more pictures of the blocks installed!
did you use the stock ramsinks? do the blocks fit in the space without mod anything?
great job on that.

[oc_junkY]

Does anyone know a review where the cards is tested on PCIe 1.x and 2.0 ?
The difference would be interesting.
I just found something (sorry it's german) with the standard 3870:
http://media.bestofmicro.com/Grafikkarten-PCI-Express-2-0-PCI-Express-x16-x8-x4-Crossfire,D-Y-71782-15.jpg

[Anemone]

Kind of a side topic, since you have both:

How does "Saturation" under AVIVO compare to Digital Vibrance on the 8800?

[SF3D]

leo_bsb: Picture for you :up:

oc_junkY: I don't think ther is huge difference between 1.0a and 2.0. With high resolutions maybe..

Anemone: I have no idea, cuase I don't use that stuff. Someone else know this better.

http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00019/1606065.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=1606065.jpg)

You have to cut little pieces from cooling plate. 3-4mm is enough with these MCW30 blocks.

[R*r]

thanks for the review SF3D & the wb mounting are very intresting :D ill work something to mount some chipset wb

i think i do something wrong on crysis couse i only get ard 20fps high setting 1280x1024 with q66@3,6 def 3870x2 with cat 8.1 patch 1.1 doesnt help :( hope 8.2 will help :D

[OriginalNutta]

Hey,

Top review, Nice to see some real world performance specs :up:

Any chance you could do me a favor and measure the two heatsinks that ATI ship stock with the X2, As I think what im gonna do with myne is take the top plastic's off and mount fans directly ontop of the heatsinks.

Just need to know some measurements :D

Thanks again

[hzrcn]

good performance, good cooling :)

[leo_bsb]

leo_bsb: Picture for you :up:

oc_junkY: I don't think ther is huge difference between 1.0a and 2.0. With high resolutions maybe..

Anemone: I have no idea, cuase I don't use that stuff. Someone else know this better.

You have to cut little pieces from cooling plate. 3-4mm is enough with these MCW30 blocks.

Thanks buddy, you are a genious to realize the use of MCW30 on that.
If you have some time please check the temperatures. I gave up buying one of those after check the full block costs and the no go for the MCW60 fitting on the card.

[NaeKuh]

ROFL.... your solution is cheap and very effective.

Man.. mad props on your mod.

But its funny... how blocks are changing around now. The MCW30 fits on GPU's. The MCW60 fits on Intels x38, possibly even the D5400XS as well since it shares the same nb sink.

What next?? mosfet blocks on hard drives?

[-Acid-]

Good review and love the ninja card mods lololol

I cannot wait to get my 3870 X2 and mod it likewise !!!!!

Do i spy volt mods too there ?

[NeedMoMegaHurtZ]

Thx for the nice mini-review!

I love it when min/avg/max framerates are included :)

[fragmasterMax]

leo_bsb: Picture for you :up:

oc_junkY: I don't think ther is huge difference between 1.0a and 2.0. With high resolutions maybe..

Anemone: I have no idea, cuase I don't use that stuff. Someone else know this better.

http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00019/1606065.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=1606065.jpg)

You have to cut little pieces from cooling plate. 3-4mm is enough with these MCW30 blocks.

SF3D-
Very nice, in depth review. Great job hacking up a set of gpu blocks. I bet having 3/8" tubing helped out in that scenario, as the water would be hitting the flat water blocks harder. (than with 1/2" id tubes)

[Mjhieu]

WOW, nice job man, but where did you get that cooling for your hd3870x2 from swiftech? I'm looking for that water block for my VID.. For me, I'm currently using Apogee GT for my Q6600, it's so good to lower my temp at 65oC at 3.6 ghz.