Powercolor 4870 1GB "pcs" -REV2-

Hi,

I'd like to get some feedback from people who are using the Powercolor 4870 1GB "pcs" - version 2. To identify:

Old version:
http://www.pcgameshardware.com/?menu...icle_id=652504

New version (rev2):
http://www.imgx.org/view/full/27215_avogh

The reason for me posting and wanting to know people's experiences with this card (rev2), is that 1) I have it waiting at the post office and 2) I read almost EVERYWHERE that rev2 is of cheapo quality. Its supposed to be factory clocked at 780MHz (a very modest clock), and still, people who recieve this card aren't stable. So, in what I guess must have been a desperate anti-RMA measure, the cards shipping now, even though specced as 780MHz core on Powercolor.com, are actually DOWNCLOCKED to 750MHz.

This goes for my card as well (I haven't picked it up yet, but I have asked people buying from the same store/batch).

So, as my primary goal with this card, when I bought it, is to hardmod/ghettocool/oc, Im really torn on whether to keep it or to send it back unopened.

This is why I would like to have some second opinions from people with this card, from a place where people "loooooves the smell of soldering tin in the morning"...

Thanks in advance!

PS. Ofc I want all comments, not just about the modding, but clocking/stability etc etc - and remember - this is about the second revision of the Powercolor 4870 1GB "pcs" - identified by having stock GPU of 780MHz or 750MHz, or from the images posted above!

I'm wondering this too. The plan is to get a 4870 1GB and mount an AC Accelero S1 on it (and a quiet 120mm fan). Now I find my retailer has this Powercolor 4870 1GB "PCS" card for the same price as a reference 4870 1GB. All the reviews of this 4870 1GB "PCS" seem to have been golden and the stock RAM sinks and PWM sinks on the "PCS" would be great to use with the S1. So it would appear the "PCS" is the best choice.

But... the older 4870 "PCS" 512MB was said to have certain (I think stability related) issues. And now I'm wondering if the 4870 1GB "PCS" is laden with these problems too. Reading this thread and redbarron's user reviews at Newegg, basically stating that Powercolor has silently switched to a new cheaper and inferior PCB design that runs hotter and overclocks much worse doesn't help.

So, should I go for this 4870 1GB "PCS" or stay "safe" with a reference board? Again, I will use an Arctic-Cooling Accelero S1 + 120mm to quiet down the card either way. Yet a free overclock with the "PCS" and memory and PWM sinks that actually fit would be nice unless the "PCS" is actually of inferior quality.