Saphire 5870 Vapor-X

[Sailindawg]

I'm interested in hearing from users of this card and their experiences with its performance. I'm currently running 2-GTX 260's in SLI and the performance is good. However, I'm getting tired of hearing the fans when I clock the cards up for performance. I don't want to water cool the cards. Not worth the expense at this time for these cards.

The VaporX is a non-reference design with some sort of copper heatpipe cooler. It looks like Saphire may have also upgraded MOSFETs, capacitors, etc. The card is shorter than reference designs.

Questions:

Can the gpu voltage be tweaked with MSI Afterburner?

How loud is the fan? When running it overclocked with fan >65%, does it sound like a hair dryer? Does the fan need to even go that high at higher clock states?

Performance - I can run Crysis at high settings with V-sync, forcing triple buffering and run 30-60 fps, ave=45 fps @ 1920x1200, with the 191.07 drivers, W-7 Pro 64 bit

Crysis Warhead runs 30-60 fps, ave=40 fps, no V-sync, enthusiast settings, running 64 bit game .exe, 1920x1200 on the 196.34 drivers. These drivers seem a little borked regarding V-sync and triple buffering. I'm running W-7 Pro 64 bit.

How would the 5870 compare? My expectations would be a simpler one card set-up, cooler, quieter, preferrably more performance @ 1920x1200 than my current cards. Later I can always add another 5870 or get whatever is performing better as a single card solution.

Thanks ahead!!

[Razrback16]

Can the gpu voltage be tweaked with MSI Afterburner?

I can answer this one -- can't answer the others tho, sorry, as I have only had watercooled cards for the past ~5 years -- yes, you can voltmod the 5870 via software (Afterburner works good). I believe RBE will let you change it in the BIOS now also.

[Splave]

Fan is not loud at all, its like a 80mm. They are great cards and run super cool even the top card in a crossfire config. Only thing I would recommend it pointing a fan at the backside of the card, drops temps alot as these dont come with a backplate like reference.

1000/1300 was stable at 1.187 though

[zalbard]

The cards have great coolers, indeed, the PCB is the same for all 5870s atm.
I'd say it's worth getting this one over a 'standard' 5870 if you are not going to watercool.

[Nintendork]

Since I know of it's existance I prefer the HD5870 PCS+ from Powercolor. Whisper quiet at idle and whipers quiet at load.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/P...CS_Plus/1.html









90mm fan helps

[emertX]

I can answer this one -- can't answer the others tho, sorry, as I have only had watercooled cards for the past ~5 years -- yes, you can voltmod the 5870 via software (Afterburner works good). I believe RBE will let you change it in the BIOS now also.

Careful man!
The second edition isn't able to be overclocked by MSI Afterburner because of it analog VRM

[kow_ciller]

That HD5870 PCS+ looks super-sexy. Time to wait for them to come in price before I snag one =D

[Roger_D25]

I will post back as soon as possible as my Saphire VaporX 5870 just got delivered a few hours ago (got it from the egg when they were in stock). In about 20min I'm going to install the card and do some basic testing, however this is my first ever AMD/ATI graphics card so I know very little about driver/overclocking software/etc... so it might take me some time to get it sorted? I can say that the card is much smaller than I thought it was going to be, its not much longer than my old GTS250 1GB (a bit shorter than reference design). As someone else already mentioned the VaporX currently available in retail channels (well most retail channels that is) is not capable of voltage adjustment via MSI Afterburner (or any software) because of new VRM design. Unfortunately I've heard first hand accounts from other rev 2 owners that this card doesn't have much overhead in regards to clocks (but I'm really hoping that won't be the case with my card)! Well wish me luck guys and I'll post back later tonight.

[Sailindawg]

@Roger D25

Congrats on your new purchase. The card comes out of the box clocked slightly higher. The review from TechPowerUp indicates that 1000 MHz GPU & 1300 MHz mem were easy achievable at stock fan settings. (edit: TPU reviewed the Powercolor heatpipe card, not the Saphire VaporX - both cards seem to have great cooling solutions, Powercolor's is a bit more moddable)

Regarding volt mods, you would have to use RBE and mod the BIOS. Card looks sweet, but they missed the boat with the VRM. I've been waiting for MSI's Lightening 5870, which will have the Volterra adjustable VRM. That card is total non-reference. Be interesting to see MSI's card WHEN it becomes available. One of my 260's is a MSI with a heat pipe cooler. Very quiet & efficient. I have been running it at 30% fan cycle at 736/1490/1215 clocks. Its the slave in my SLI and it loads at 50-65C.

I've also found I can now run 2 different fan profiles with EVGA Precision. I've gotten a handle on those 2 hair dryers!

[-JJ-]

has anyone successfully flashed bios of Saphire 5870 Vapor-X (rev. 2), whose core voltage by default cannot be tweaked trough MSI Afterburner?

[RoadconeTuning]

overclocked my stock fan sounded like a hurricane once it started to try cooling the VDDC's

[Sailindawg]

has anyone successfully flashed bios of Saphire 5870 Vapor-X (rev. 2), whose core voltage by default cannot be tweaked trough MSI Afterburner?

Good question. My thought was to change the stock voltage through RBE. However, that may not be so straight forward if Saphire locked the BIOS chip. I'm interested to hear if anyone had success modifying the card's voltage through the BIOS.

[-JJ-]

This is exactly what I wish to know

Here is how bios of Saphire 5870 Vapor-X (rev. 2) looks like @default seetings through RBE.

[Roger_D25]

I'll start with my initial thoughts on the card (VaporX 5870 which I just installed 2-days ago). It took me a few tries before figuring out what software I wanted to use for adjusting graphical settings (CCC, RivaTuner, ATI Tray Tools, etc...), after testing each I ended up using the stock CCC v10.2 along with Afterburner (mostly so I could view temps, clocks, and fan speed via my G15 but it also comes in handy for clocking). Initially I didn't like the CCC software at all (after many years of Nvidia's control panel) but once I got used to it I'm actually pretty impressed with how simple it is to use! Since I'm in grad school I haven't had enough time to run many benchmarks but I've played a few hours of Mass Effect 2 with zero issues and very smooth gameplay at 1920x1200 maxed out (which beats my old GTS250 1GB), lol! So all in all I'm pretty happy with my first ever ATI/AMD graphics card but I do regret buying the Saphire VaporX (I really wish I just got one of the reference design PCB's instead, it would make clocking much easier and will make watercooling much easier too)! I might return the card since its in perfect working condition and hasn't even been clocked for another one of reference design, should have done more homework before buying!

With that all said I spent the last hour or so trying to figure out if anyone has modified their VaporX BIOS and was able to get control over the voltage, unfortunatley I couldn't find anything! If I decide to keep this card then I'll do my best to figure this question out (probably have to use unlocked ASUS BIOS, unless theres an easier way)? By the way thanks for posting those screenshots JJ, much appreciated!

[-JJ-]

Whatever may be the ending for this voltage editing saga, you really have to appreciate the cooling setup of this card. At decent OC of 950/1300 and fan set on auto, it runs cool as hell and the fan is barely noticeable even under the heaviest of loads! It is simply amazing to run games @max settings with max temp. of GPU reaching only 67 C !

[pr@$r1g]

Is Rev-2 is having a blue PCB ?

I RMAed my black PCB 5770,they forwarded me a custom designed blue PCB 5770.....& that too the voltage now cannot be changed ,through MSI AfterBurner or RBE 1.24...............

that is the case here i think so ..... Good Luck

[-JJ-]

Is Rev-2 is having a blue PCB ?

Yes! It is developed by Sapphire, instead of AMD, as it is the case with the black PCB and Rev. 1.

Did you try flashing your RMAed HD 5770 (custom designed PCB (blue)) to ASUS bios ?

[pr@$r1g]

yes i did & it does work but with creepy clocks instead of 850/1200 it works @ 600/1200 ...........

Flashed back to original .......... i think RBE is still buggy ,i tweaked the bios to 960/1250 it works but the clocks go up & down ..........

I think volt mode for vcore & vmem is the last option to get more out of this ................

I have already started a thread here http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=244599

Im not able to get this locally



where ever i ask for the above ,they show me this



...........

[Roger_D25]

Well guys I've got some interesting news (well interesting to me anyway). I was browsing through newegg yesterday when I noticed there was two listings for the Saphire 5870 VaporX card, initially I had no idea why they posted the same card twice but after closer examination I realized the second Saphire 5870 VaporX card was actually the first revision version with the black PCB. Also interesting to note is that they second revision 5870 VaporX card with blue PCB just jumped from $429 (which is what I paid for it at newegg less than a week ago) to a whopping $479 Plus the new listing they have for the first revision of the card is only $429

With that all said I ended up buying one of them (there was only 4 in stock) and it should arrive on Thursday (they were listed as brand new retail cards so I very much hope that newegg didn't just clean up some old revision one VaporX cards that got returned and now their selling them for premium prices)! I'm very curious as to how this card will compare with my current rev2 card in regards to clocking and heat levels (both at idle and while under load)? I will try to post back on Thursday night once I get home from work with some initial info on the card.

Newegg listing for rev2 5870 VaporX
Newegg listing for rev1 5870 VaporX

Last but not least, has anyone here actually tested out Powercolors non-reference version 5870? I ask because while I was viewing the rev1 VaporX card last night I took a much closer look at the Powercolor card as well. I could be wrong but the PCB design looks very similar to the rev2 VaporX card (VRM design is very similar and unlike reference design). I'm curious if the Powercolor 5870 also has no ability to change voltages via software like Afterburner. Again I don't know this guys, I just realized that the PCB design is very similar?

[-JJ-]

I'm curious if the Powercolor 5870 also has no ability to change voltages via software like Afterburner. Again I don't know this guys, I just realized that the PCB design is very similar?

Yes, Powercolor HD 5870 PCS+, similarly as Saphire 5870 Vapor-X Rev. 2 also has a custom PCB, and you wont be able to adjust GPU core voltage trough software or bios edit.

[Roger_D25]

Thanks -JJ-, much appreciated!

[Biker]

Yes, Powercolor HD 5870 PCS+, similarly as Saphire 5870 Vapor-X Rev. 2 also has a custom PCB, and you wont be able to adjust GPU core voltage trough software or bios edit.

The Powercolor runs 12.016 rev bios and the Vapor-X rev 2 runs 12.019...

[Roger_D25]

Well the card arrived today, what a huge disappointment! The newer rev2 VaporX 5870 (with blue PCB) has the model #100281VX-2SR, and the older initial rev1 VaporX 5870 (with black PCB) has the model # 100281VXSR. Newegg had posted the older rev1 card with black PCB (model #100281VXSR) two days ago and they had 4 of these cards in stock (one of which I purchased). With that all said I got home today I was pretty excited because the retail Sapphire box that got delivered from newegg had the model # of the initial rev1 card printed on it (it was the first thing I checked to make sure they didn't send the wrong card before I actually opened the retail package).

So I opened it up and immediately realized it was infact the new rev2 card with with blue PCB and model #100281VX-2SR which was very disappointing and strange given that the box had the correct model # on the outside? My initial thought was that newegg maybe opened the boxes up and stocked them with rev2 cards (maybe knowing that there was some demand for the original rev1 card with black PCB). However after giving it some thought this makes no sense because they just increased the price of the rev2 cards from $429 to a whopping $479 overnight one day before I bought this supposedly rev1 card?

It really stinks because I was looking forward to checking out and testing the original rev1 VaporX card, fortunately I was able to call newegg and they are refunding my entire payment (no restocking fee) and also paying for me to ship the card back to them (so at the very least I didn't loose any money)! Sorry to blab and on and on but I wanted to share my experience (so hopefully no one else makes the same mistake I did and has to deal with all this crap)!

[kow_ciller]

Ouch man. That sucks, at least they didn't make you eat the costs to ship it back to them.

[Roger_D25]

Yes I was very greatful for that! They handled it much better than I thought, I was sure I'd be screwed big time!