2X 512MB HIS HD3850 ICEQ 3 Turbo Crossfire

It is disapponting that SLI can't be used on P35/X38 when I have my QX9650 Yorkfield on hand. So decided to grab some budget ATI Crossfire action in the form of 2x 512MB HIS HD3850 IceQ 3 Turbo cards.

Default clocks are 720/1820Mhz on the box with a nice default 3rd party heatsink. Unfortunately, the heatsink feels like aluminium painted copper colour as the whole video card is noticeably very light compared to other video cards!

2x 512MB HIS HD3850 IceQ 3 Turbo with default clocks at 720/1820Mhz

http://i4memory.com/reviewimages/vid...Turbo3_001.jpg http://i4memory.com/reviewimages/vid...Turbo3_002.jpg http://i4memory.com/reviewimages/vid...Turbo3_005.jpg http://i4memory.com/reviewimages/vid...Turbo3_007.jpg

http://i4memory.com/reviewimages/vid...Turbo3_010.jpg http://i4memory.com/reviewimages/vid...Turbo3_013.jpg http://i4memory.com/reviewimages/vid...Turbo3_015.jpg http://i4memory.com/reviewimages/vid...Turbo3_017.jpg

My credit card has taken a severe beating lately, but hope it's worth it LOL

Light weight heatsink, but man is HD3850 CF pretty amazing!

System:

• Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 L739A644 Retail OEM
• CPU cooling = Dtek Fuzion Rad Tower Box
• NB chipset cooling = Radiical Chipset Block/Corsair Cool single 120mm fan Rad/MCP350
• Asus Blitz Extreme 0904 bios
• 2x 512MB HIS HD3850 IceQ 3 Turbo stock speed @715/909
• 2x1GB OCZ PC3-14400 Platinum - DDR3-1800 rated at 8-8-8-27 at 1.9v
• 500GB Seagate 7200.10 SATA on SATA1 Port
• LiteOn 165H DVD Burner
• Sony FDD
• 1KW OCZ ProXStream
• WinXP Pro SP2

Info & Findings:

• 30-33C idle with peak 46C 3dmark06 load temps. But CCC Auto Tune tests drove load temps to as high as a fluctuating 60-67C max.
• fan speed is much more quieter than my 640MB 8800GTS, 512MB 8800GT, 8800GTX and 2900XT video cards!
• stock HIS HD3850 IceQ 3 Turbo speed = 297/828 2D and 715/909 3D
• stock QX9650 speed + stock clocked HD3850 Crossfire system load power draw during 3dmark06 only 285 Watts!!! :eek:
• QX9650 @4203Mhz at 1.608v with 2x HD3850 CF @783/1098 system load power draw during 3dmark peaked only at 425 Watts ! :cool:
• CCC Auto Tune tests for 2x HD3850 CF went to 890Mhz on GPU and hung on 920Mhz MEM clocks.
• Manual overclocking via CCC for HD3850 CF manages 785Mhz GPU and maxing out CCC's MEM slider at 1100 which equates to GPUZ reported 783/1098
• stock QX9650 speed + stock clocked HD3850 Crossfire 3dmark06 = 16,693 !
• stock QX9650 speed + stock clocked HD3850 Crossfire 3dmark05 = 20,913
• stock QX9650 speed + stock clocked HD3850 Crossfire 3dmark2003 = 58,496
• stock QX9650 speed + stock clocked HD3850 Crossfire 3dmark2001 = 55,798

Catalyst 7.11 Control Center

http://fileshosts.com/intel/Asus/Bli...f/ccc/ccc1.png http://fileshosts.com/intel/Asus/Bli...f/ccc/ccc2.png

http://fileshosts.com/intel/Asus/Bli...f/ccc/ccc3.png http://fileshosts.com/intel/Asus/Bli...f/ccc/ccc4.png

Enabling Crossfire

http://fileshosts.com/intel/Asus/Bli...crossfire1.png http://fileshosts.com/intel/Asus/Bli...crossfire2.png

Crossfire Mode Overdrive

One card idles 30-33C while other card idles 39-41C

http://fileshosts.com/intel/Asus/Bli...overdrive1.png http://fileshosts.com/intel/Asus/Bli...overdrive2.png


Stock QX9650 9x333FSB = 3005Mhz

Stock 2x 512MB HIS HD3850 IceQ 3 Turbo stock speed @715/909

• 3dmark06 = 16,693
• 3dmark05 = 20,913
• 3dmark2003 = 58,496
• 3dmark2001 = 55,798

2x 512MB HIS HD3850 IceQ 3 Turbo @783/1098

Some benchmarks seem very cpu limited for 3850 CF :)

• 3dmark06 = 17,128
• 3dmark05 = 21,069
• 3dmark2003 = 64,080
• 3dmark2001 = 57,135

QX9650 9x467FSB = 4203Mhz
Let's see how cpu limited 3850CF would be when QX9650 is clocked up to 4203Mhz :)

2x 512MB HIS HD3850 IceQ 3 Turbo @783/1098

• 3dmark06 = 21,414 - http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=4187412
• 3dmark05 = 28,434 - http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm05=3788174
• 3dmark2003 = 68,381 but got higher score @4185Mhz = 68,494 - http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=5645922
• 3dmark2001 = 76,155 (no LOD used yet) - http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=9302636

Not bad.. shame my QX9650 suxs on H20 heh

Tried to run AM3 but it blanks out at the very end ???

wow nice those little 3850's go hard! a cpu like that feeding them helps a lot. isnt the stock clocked 3d mark 01 & 05 scores a bit low for the hardware? i pull 53xxx in 01 & 189xx in 05 on a single GTS & e6300. is it due to the cpu being @ 3 ghz?

edit: ive also had 2 ati cards that would never run aqm3 - blanks to black screen near the end.

very nice vga:)

Are these cards using Samsung, Hynix or Qimonda memory chips?

These GeCube X-Turbo cards I am currently testing have 1ns Samsung chips :)

At stock they can do 1.1GHz 3DMark06 stable.

GeCube is using the HD3850 reference pcb for these cards.

They have configured VGPU differently and reworked the fan control.

The X-Turbo cooling seem to be just as good as the 3870 reference, but the fan made by Evercool is much more silent at high rpm.

When I bumped up the VGPU voltage from 1.305V -> 1.37V the card will do 900MHz easily :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Timbosan

wow nice those little 3850's go hard! a cpu like that feeding them helps a lot. isnt the stock clocked 3d mark 01 & 05 scores a bit low for the hardware? i pull 53xxx in 01 & 189xx in 05 on a single GTS & e6300. is it due to the cpu being @ 3 ghz?

edit: ive also had 2 ati cards that would never run aqm3 - blanks to black screen near the end.

---

yeah no idea on AM3.. someone help! :) Probably low as it's cpu limited ?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sav

very nice vga:)

---

thanks Sav :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Stilt

Are these cards using Samsung, Hynix or Qimonda memory chips?

These GeCube X-Turbo cards I am currently testing have 1ns Samsung chips :)

At stock they can do 1.1GHz 3DMark06 stable.

GeCube is using the HD3850 reference pcb for these cards.

They have configured VGPU differently and reworked the fan control.

The X-Turbo cooling seem to be just as good as the 3870 reference, but the fan made by Evercool is much more silent at high rpm.

When I bumped up the VGPU voltage from 1.305V -> 1.37V the card will do 900MHz easily :)

---

not sure what memory these HIS use.. they're covered up with ramsinks but easily do maxed out CCC 1100Mhz in all benchmarks so far :)

What's stock GPU volts on HD3850 vs HD3870 ? Where you are raising GPU volts for your HD3850 ??? ATI Tool working for volt adjustments for HD3850 CF yet ? :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by eva2000

not sure what memory these HIS use.. they're covered up with ramsinks but easily do maxed out CCC 1100Mhz in all benchmarks so far :)

What's stock GPU volts on HD3850 vs HD3870 ? Where you are raising GPU volts for your HD3850 ??? ATI Tool working for volt adjustments for HD3850 CF yet ? :)

---

Sounds like Samsung then :)

Well, on GeCube the stock VGPU is 1.305V.
On HIS HD3850 it was around 1.28V IIRC.
On Gigabyte HD3870 stock VGPU is 1.37V.

On HD38x0 series cards the voltage can be adjusted, but only downwards.
It cannot be raised by software because it is a hardware limitation (voltage is configured by resistors).

Also to get pass the 865MHz GPU Clock limitation you will need a bios with fixed PLL VCO algorithm.

Interesting how much the GPU volts varies from one brand to another!

But it suxs voltages can't be raised :( Only reason I've liked ATI cards is software voltages since I don't know how to volt mod/solder heh

Is the 865Mhz GPU clock limit for both HD3850/HD3870 or just HD3870 ? and HD3850 has a lower limit ??

I can't wait until HIS unviels their 3870 iceq 3 turbo edition, even if the heatsinks are alu, it still looks far better not to mention it has a heatpipe in there which none of the other stock 3870s have

there's a new ati tool about to come out that supports the 38x0s and that should solve the voltage issues

Very good results for a $200 card!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by eva2000

Interesting how much the GPU volts varies from one brand to another!

But it suxs voltages can't be raised :( Only reason I've liked ATI cards is software voltages since I don't know how to volt mod/solder heh

Is the 865Mhz GPU clock limit for both HD3850/HD3870 or just HD3870 ? and HD3850 has a lower limit ??

---

If you send your cards to vince, he will gladly mod them for you :)

The 865 mhz limit is a bios issue, so we just need to see these modded bioses come out.. I do not think the 512 meg 3850 has one yet...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by eva2000

Interesting how much the GPU volts varies from one brand to another!

But it suxs voltages can't be raised :( Only reason I've liked ATI cards is software voltages since I don't know how to volt mod/solder heh

Is the 865Mhz GPU clock limit for both HD3850/HD3870 or just HD3870 ? and HD3850 has a lower limit ??

---

I think GeCube has a bit higher VGPU voltage because it is a OverClock Edition ;)

The GPU Clock limit excists on both cards because they are based on the same GPU.

Oh my.... very nice testing eva2000, another highly informative tread by you :toast:

I'll be glad to compare some 3870 results with you soon, since i'm going to buy 2 of them this week...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fhpchris

If you send your cards to vince, he will gladly mod them for you :)

The 865 mhz limit is a bios issue, so we just need to see these modded bioses come out.. I do not think the 512 meg 3850 has one yet...

---

Yeah shipping would cost more than me upgrading to 3870s hehe

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Stilt

I think GeCube has a bit higher VGPU voltage because it is a OverClock Edition ;)

The GPU Clock limit excists on both cards because they are based on the same GPU.

---

Interesting as the reviews of Gecube OC one show poor oc'ing around 702-740mhz GPU.. maybe they had early samples ?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Extera

Oh my.... very nice testing eva2000, another highly informative tread by you :toast:

I'll be glad to compare some 3870 results with you soon, since i'm going to buy 2 of them this week...

---

thanks.. good luck on 3870s :)

Used ATI Winflash to save my HIS HD3850 IceQ 3 Turbo bios as a few folks have asked me for my bios.

http://fileshosts.com/intel/Asus/Bli.../winflash1.png

Download bios here.


Any 3850/3870 bios editors out there to at least view the settings inside my bios ?

You typo'd in post #2 ;) "890mhz"

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...72&postcount=2

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by eva2000

Yeah shipping would cost more than me upgrading to 3870s hehe

Interesting as the reviews of Gecube OC one show poor oc'ing around 702-740mhz GPU.. maybe they had early samples ?

thanks.. good luck on 3870s :)

Used ATI Winflash to save my HIS HD3850 IceQ 3 Turbo bios as a few folks have asked me for my bios.

Download bios here.


Any 3850/3870 bios editors out there to at least view the settings inside my bios ?

---

Great resluts eva2000, youre cards do alot better then my Powercolor PCS 3850 512! My card only does 760\970 for bench if I´m lucky... Card could do alot better with more volts... But my card does not use refernce PCB, So volt mods are out :(
Mayby Sham\Lord_Arse can mod his Quantumforce software to suport HD 3850\3870 cards?

No typo.. AUTO Tune went to 900mhz and dropped down to 890mhz before it hung and froze my system LOL

Digital camera shots ...

http://i4memory.com/reviewimages/vid...totune_001.jpg

http://i4memory.com/reviewimages/vid...totune_004.jpg

http://i4memory.com/reviewimages/vid...totune_006.jpg

http://i4memory.com/reviewimages/vid...totune_008.jpg

http://i4memory.com/reviewimages/vid...totune_012.jpg

http://i4memory.com/reviewimages/vid...totune_015.jpg

http://i4memory.com/reviewimages/vid...totune_016.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BadNizze

Great resluts eva2000, youre cards do alot better then my Powercolor PCS 3850 512! My card only does 760\970 for bench if I´m lucky... Card could do alot better with more volts... But my card does not use refernce PCB, So volt mods are out :(
Mayby Sham\Lord_Arse can mod his Quantumforce software to suport HD 3850\3870 cards?

---

thanks.. hopefully there is a bios editor soon.. but no need to quote my images ;)

hiya eva all whats needed to make aquamark run is delete the direcpll.dll file out of the aquamark program folder, how you liking the qx9650 paired with the ddr3 ram, nice going powerful cards for the the price the 3850s

i jsut want to be able to break the 857 mhz wall.. thats all. :rofl:

You install the dll file on aquamark??

Eva2000, why did you run the 4,2ghz york run with 934mhz DDR3 speed? and not at the same mem speed? I would like to see the differance in pure cpu power....

No rush, I'll be testing this myself monday :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GLENBOY

hiya eva all whats needed to make aquamark run is delete the direcpll.dll file out of the aquamark program folder, how you liking the qx9650 paired with the ddr3 ram, nice going powerful cards for the the price the 3850s

---

thanks that worked a treat.. see below starting AM3 score :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JamesBong420

i jsut want to be able to break the 857 mhz wall.. thats all. :rofl:

---

haha and i'm stuck around 783mhz heh

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rol-Co

You install the dll file on aquamark??

---

remove it for HD3850 to run AM3 :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Extera

Eva2000, why did you run the 4,2ghz york run with 934mhz DDR3 speed? and not at the same mem speed? I would like to see the differance in pure cpu power....

No rush, I'll be testing this myself monday :D

---

I always run at the best bandwidth/latency providing memory config/settings and for 9x467FSB 1:2 is max divider so 934Mhz 7-6-5-x clocks is what I use :)

Clocked QX9650 a bit higher to pull of these runs :)

@4350Mhz 3dmark06 = 21,747
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=4213297

http://fileshosts.com/intel/Asus/Bli...1100_21747.png

Definitely, 3dmark06 cpu score is dependent on video card used as with single 8800GT @4300Mhz QX9650 my cpu score was way higher at 7,203 compared with these HD3850 CF cards.

@4300Mhz 3dmark05 = 29,015
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm05=3794131

http://fileshosts.com/intel/Asus/Bli...1100_29015.png

@4279Mhz 3dmark2003 = 68,767
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=5647997

http://fileshosts.com/intel/Asus/Bli...1100_68767.png

@4320Mhz 3dmark2001 = 79,134
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=9303445

http://fileshosts.com/intel/Asus/Bli...1100_79134.png

@4330Mhz AM3

http://fileshosts.com/intel/Asus/Bli..._258540_tn.png

nice going eva , nice aquascore re 3dmark03 increasing the gpu core frequency makes a massive difference to score i found with the 2900s in crossfire the gpu frequency made a massive difference to score if you can up the clocks of gpu in 3d03 with a modded bios maybe

My score does not last when compared to eva´s by clock-to-clock :(

http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=4217109

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by eva2000

thanks.. hopefully there is a bios editor soon.. but no need to quote my images ;)

---

Sorry, did not mean to qoute images! Fixed that know!