Gainward HD4870 Golden Sample Review

[fatguy1992]

Hi, this is first review ever so could you please let me know were I can improve it.

The Golden Sample comes with the standard 750MHz core and with 512MB of overclocked DDR5 RAM, which runs at 3.8GHz, instead of the standard 3.6GHz.

Card Pictures





Rig Pictures




Test System

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad @ 2.4GHz
RAM: 2GB (1GB x 2) Corsair Dominator PC2-8500 @ 1066MHz 5-5-5-15
Motherboard: ASUS P5E

Performance - Crysis

Settings: High Quality, 1680x1050 - 45FPS


Settings: Very High Quality, 1680x1050 - 31FPS


Settings: High Quality, 1680x1050, 4xAA - 34FPS


Settings: Very High Quality, 1680x1050, 4xAA.
Testing now, update very very soon

Performance - Half-Life 2 Lost Coast

Settings: Highest Quality, 1680x1050, 4xAA, 16xAF.


Settings: Highest Quality, 1280x1024, 4xAA, 16xAF.


Performance - F.E.A.R.

Settings: Maximum Quality, 1680x1050, 4xAA, 16xAF.


Settings: Maximum Quality, 1280x1024, 4xAA, 16xAF.


3D Mark







Overclocking
I was expecting pretty good overclocking results since it has a better cooler and it’s a “golden sample” edition, I was not disappointed.

Max Core - 825MHz


Max Memory - 1150MHz (4.7GHz)


Performance During Overclocking

Settings: High Quality, 1680x1050

Without Overclocking: 45.2FPS
With Overclocking: 49.1FPS



Temps

The golden sample comes with a slot, dual fan cooler. This cooler kept the video card a considerably cooler then the stock cooler.

Room Temp
25C to 27C

No Overclocking - Auto Fan Speed


No Overclocking - 100% Fan Speed


Overclocked - Auto Fan Speed


Overclocked - 100% Fan Speed


Pros & Cons

Pros

1. Great performance
2. Overclocked
3. Better cooler, therefore lower temps, therefore better overclocking
4. Good overclocker
5. Quiet


Cons

1. The cooler isn’t the best looking

Finally notes:
I know some people will think that my Q6600 at 2.4GHz would restrict my HD4870 in Crysis, well i'v ran some test and even at 3.6GHz the FPS goes up my 1 at the most. Also i'm sorry I don't have many games.

So how did I do?

Thx for viewing.

[nigelke]

nice
and about the cooler isn't the best looking wel thats somthing that doesn't matter for me :p
But it looks nice ^^

[fatguy1992]

Thx, yeah it doesn't bother me either, i'm going to get a Thermalright Trad some time. Also I only put that cause i saw on another forum (somewhere) that some ppl didn't like it.

[adamsleath]

how good is this cooler compared to the reference cooler?

[purecain]

the graph shows a max of 54c at load... the stock cooler is quite silent untill it has to drop the core to about 45c at load... i think the fact that the back of the card is actively cooled aswell makes this the better chioce over stock cooling... good card...

[cadaveca]

The cooler on this card sucks. I have the Palit version, and even 2900XT wasn't this loud at idle. This card is not as hot as 2900XT...so WTH!?! Small fan spins 100%, 100% of the time.


(Palit cards run 775/4000, dual bios)

[eva2000]

thanks for the review... was thinking about picking up one of these only needed to know how it go for temps vs max oc's

cadaveca, no pain (in the ears), no gain

[cadaveca]

That's the issue, I'm not really seeing any gains here. No ram latency changes, nothing. 2nd bios doesn't raise CCC gpu max either, so, all you get is extra 50mhz on memory(which goes to 1100 on the Palit card, mine perfectly stable)...but you cannot effectively use it...


If you happen to have a chance to look at this card in person, eva, take a look at the shroud...smaller fan spinning so fast prevents the larger fan from effectively cooling the gpu, as the hot air from the small fan ends up overcoming the flow from teh larger fan, and heats memory pretty good(no heatsink on them). This means that even though memory can reach 1100 no problem, once the card gets hot after about 45 mins of benching, the card begins to fail, as the memory is not cooled effectively. I had to add a 120mm fan on power plug end and one on side to be able to continue benching....Phase-change pad on gpu scares me too...


The card feels cheap in my hands. Even my X800 weighs more. This tells me they could have put a far better cooler, and lessened the noise. As such, this product get a "FAILURE" rating from me, and I'll be suggesting everyone stay away from them. A stock-cooled card is much better.

So there's my own review tacked on. Personal feelings, no hard numbers. FPS numbers mean very little now to me...multi-gpu has high FPS, but little visual quality. Single 4870 is better than 2x3870x2. 2x4870x2 will only work well if you have SidePort enabled cards, and then we must still wait for driver...

[mascaras]

hi

thnks for the results!

i also heard the Second Fan on this cooler is very noisy , do you confirm??

btw: how did you test Crysis with Very High Settings in Windows XP @ DX9 ??? (with tweak Cvar config ?)


thnks again and regards !

Mascaras

[fatguy1992]

hi

thnks for the results!

i also heard the Second Fan on this cooler is very noisy , do you confirm??

btw: how did you test Crysis with Very High Settings in Windows XP @ DX9 ??? (with tweak Cvar config ?)


thnks again and regards !

Mascaras

Well I have 3x Scythe 3000rpm 45DB fans(2x CPU, 1x RAM ), and it lot quieter then them, I couldn't hear it with auto fan speed, even if I took the side off the case and put my ear near it.

Also yeah I only use XP and I tweaked the Crysis Cvar config .

[fatguy1992]

BTW I forgot for the temp test my room temp was around 25C to 27C, i'll go fix that .

[cadaveca]

Hmmm, can you upload bioses, pls? that might make my card quieter...I can upload mine if you'd like to give them a try...

Mind you 45db is deafening to me.

[fatguy1992]

OK sure, but first where do I upload it to? Or do u want it by email?

Also I don't know how to flash a video card BIOS, i heard it very very dangerous, more then a mobo.

UPDATE: I just added performance during overclocking.

[cadaveca]

bioses should be small enough that you can attach them to a post here by clicking the "go advanced" button on "quick replay" box. You'll need to zip the file before upload, but as you can see by my own post, it's quite easily accomplished. You can save the bios using gpu-z.

Yes, bios flashing can go wrong, but so can voltmods, and I'm not afraid of either myself, but I've been doing it for years now.

[burebista]

Sorta off-topic, but please try to get rid of that Codegen PSU. Have mercy for your Quad and HD4870.
And thanks for your review.

[Mungri]

Overclockers may have made a misprint, but they list this card as running at 775 / 4000, and the price on it is quite hefty.

I have recently been converted to the juicy all copper zerotherm coolers though. Looks shouldnt matter, but now that I have pimped my PC so much with copper loops, they do matter to me

[fatguy1992]

Sorta off-topic, but please try to get rid of that Codegen PSU. Have mercy for your Quad and HD4870.
And thanks for your review.

LOL I know, but its not the only PSU, i'v got a Thermaltake 650watt drive bay PSU for my 4870

[fatguy1992]

Ok here's the BIOS. I saved it using GPU-Z.

[mascaras]

Well I have 3x Scythe 3000rpm 45DB fans (2x CPU, 1x RAM ), and it lot quieter then them.

that explain all !!


i also have only one scythe Kaze 2000Rpm and is very noisy , i cant imagine 3x Scythe Kaze 3000rpm in same system


regards

[fatguy1992]

Yeah it pretty dam noise, thats y i use headphones most of the time

[alcachofa]

I bought this card saturday, and i'm about to sell it ...

I have a "quiet type" watercooled setup, meaning my fans run between 1000 and 1200 rpm, and i can assure you this card IS noisy in idle ...
One other thing, it's obvious if you look at the pics : the hot air remains in the case, which resulted in a +3 °C for my Cpu.

It's really a shame, since it has very good performance, but if you're looking for a quiet card in idle an no hot air exhausting inside your case, think twice before buying it.

I hope the toxic will be THE HD 4870 i'm looking for

http://www.pro-clockers.com/reviews/?id=103&page=2

[alcachofa]

Oh and I almsot forgot ! Look what you have at the back of the card :



Update :

There are two fans on this card, a 80 mm and a 70 mm. Some of the HD 4870 GS have a non-PWM regulated 70 mm, which spins at 3500 rpm hence the noise. If you have a noisy card, two options :

- RMA to get a V2, on which both fans are PWM regulated
- Send a mail to ww-sales@gainward.com with your serial number to get a small cable in order to lower the rpm on the 70 mm

[M-XXXX]

Ive made my review of 4870 GS, if you want to see it, you can found it on: http://www.oc-lab2.com/test.php?t=86 But it is in Slovenian language

[vera]

Your psu is codegen ! lol

[M-XXXX]

Your psu is codegen ! lol

Its what?