Gainward HD4870 Golden Sample Review

[Nazu]

Its what?

Codegen=about the worst quality psu's there are. I would dump that crap in a blink of an eye.

[M-XXXX]

Codegen=about the worst quality psu's there are. I would dump that crap in a blink of an eye.

Thank your for explanation, but I will keep my PSU (for now I haven't got any problems, and it has nearly perfect voltages (2900 XT CF, 4870CF and Q6600@ 4300mhz or Pentium D- almost 400W at full load under SS,...) THe lovest voltage that I have measured was 11.98, so be carefull when talking about my super duper PSU

But we are not talking about my super duper PSU, but about Gainward GS 4870

[Ket]

You know.. running that CPU stock really cripples that 4870x2. It doesn't have nowhere near enough throughput to meet the demands of the 4870x2.

[M-XXXX]

You know.. running that CPU stock really cripples that 4870x2. It doesn't have nowhere near enough throughput to meet the demands of the 4870x2.

And how the heck did we come to CPU? E8600 is on 4500 and Q6600 was on 4ghz, and that is more than enough power for GPU's...

[Ket]

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

...

[Hosser]

You know.. running that CPU stock really cripples that 4870x2. It doesn't have nowhere near enough throughput to meet the demands of the 4870x2.

It's just a regular 4870, not an X2.

[Ket]

My bad, misread a CPU @ 2.4GHz is still going to pose a large bottleneck though.

[fatguy1992]

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

at idle the fans are only at like 600rpm for me. Even at 100% their like 2400rpm.

[fatguy1992]

You know.. running that CPU stock really cripples that 4870x2. It doesn't have nowhere near enough throughput to meet the demands of the 4870x2.

Thats what i thought would happen to my HD4870, but the FPS in most games didn't increase that much for a overclock to 3.0GHz. Even Crysis, and since its the most demanding game...

If u want i'll post some screem shots?

[Ket]

You wont see a huge boost with the CPU @ 3GHz. HD cards only start to stretch their legs once you hit 3.5GHz+. My C2D @ 2GHz returns a score of 8k with one of my HD3k cards stock in 3Dmark06, going to 3.4GHz that score goes to 11k. Before anyone says it, 06 is NOT hugely CPU biased, its a 80\20 ratio. Anyway, in Crysis any FPS boost is a good boost, its not exactly a well optimised engine, it handles AA horribly wasting all kinds of untold memory, even with the supposed "fix" in one of the patches.

[alcachofa]

at idle the fans are only at like 600rpm for me. Even at 100% their like 2400rpm.

Lucky you ! Apparently they have fixed the problem now, but some people have had bad luck

Here is a link about it (sorry, it's in french) : http://www.generation-3d.com/SAV-Gai...it,ac12916.htm


Edit : seems the Palit 4870 Sonic (Gainward is a part of Palit since 2005) suffers from the same issue :

4870 Sonic review @ Hardware Canucks

[fatguy1992]

My second Gainward HD4870 GS arrives in the next 2 days

[alcachofa]

My second Gainward HD4870 GS arrives in the next 2 days

Then it will be time to post some nice crossfire results

[fatguy1992]

Then it will be time to post some nice crossfire results

Will do

[fatguy1992]

Still don't have it yet, oh well should be here tomorrow - it better be

[fatguy1992]

Still don't have it yet, oh well should be here tomorrow - it better be

Forget that it just turned up but i didn't get a CF bridge with either card.

So now I have 2 wait and get one off ebay

[The Stilt]

Small fan spins 100%, 100% of the time.

Thats because the fan is not controlled with PWM unlike the main fan.

We bundle following fan controller with Palit Group HD 4870 series cards



When the smaller fan is running at 5V the card is dead silent.
The difference in card temperatures between fan running at 12V vs. 5V is only a couple celcius.

[Jip]

Hi all, i've this card to, and i test with the TRad², but the hole dont correspond :'(

grrrrrr...

[Caveman787]

So how come nobody noticed they got that fan controller with there card?

Also It's not the core temp that's to worry about with your cooler, the small fan is there to cool the vrm's. Those are what end up burning up the card's.

[cadaveca]

Thats because the fan is not controlled with PWM unlike the main fan.

We bundle following fan controller with Palit Group HD 4870 series cards



When the smaller fan is running at 5V the card is dead silent.
The difference in card temperatures between fan running at 12V vs. 5V is only a couple celcius.

Well, I apologize for claiming wrong, but that was not in the packaging I recieved, I made sure to take pics as I opened it. Is it possible for me to get one? card was purchased from NCIX, BTW.

[fatguy1992]

I didn't get that either ?

[fatguy1992]

Hi all, i've this card to, and i test with the TRad², but the hole dont correspond :'(

grrrrrr...

Really?

Dam that was my plan

[alcachofa]

Thats because the fan is not controlled with PWM unlike the main fan.

We bundle following fan controller with Palit Group HD 4870 series cards

When the smaller fan is running at 5V the card is dead silent.
The difference in card temperatures between fan running at 12V vs. 5V is only a couple celcius.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but this seems to apply for a specific retailer in Finland which is this one if i refer to the pic :

http://www.elektroni.fi/?PHPSESSID=7...ch=4870+golden

Like everyone here, i had no fan controler in the box.

BTW this card's PCB is not following the reference design (1 cm shorter), so any cooler or full WB might be impossible to install.

[razno]

I wrote to gainward about a cable, but no response. I have same controler like on pict, but didnt have 3 to 2 pin connector. i tryed to get in in varous computer and electronic shop (cable, or at least 2 pin connector like on card) but no luck...

Someone have any suggestion?

Thnx..

[vservera]

Nice it's a beast good temps you got there