ASUS Released Non-Reference Radeon HD 4870 with Expanded Power Circuitry


ASUS has released a non-reference variant of the ATI Radeon HD 4870 graphics card. The model EAH 4870 D5 is characterised by enhanced power circuitry. The card uses a 4 phase vGPU power circuit along with a 2 phase vMem circuit, making it similar to that of the PowerColor HD 4870 PCS+, unlike the reference design of 3 + 2 phase. The PCB uses a 100% conductive polymer capacitor design. The same memory chips as those used in making reference designs, made by Qimonda.

The card uses reference ATI card speeds of 700 MHz Core / 900 MHz Memory. Not surprisingly, ASUS used its signature Glaciator Fansink for the GPU and decided to leave the memory chips without active or passive cooling. The cooling reportedly turns into its demerit. Temperatures as high as 110 °C were noted during the card's testing, for the VRM area, with the provided heatsink not looking quite adequate. The card uses single slot expansion bracket though the card itself requires two slots worth space. This release follows several other designs from the likes of Palit, PowerColor, etc., that have similar power circuitry, presumably to facilitate better overclocks though poor cooling designs implemented by these AIBs mar the effort put in to design these superior PCBs.



STcom Korea


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