ATI Radeon 5870 or 4870 X2?

[MARSOC_Operator]

Which one should I get for my new Gaming PC? (I can buy either one for very similar prices, so budget should not matter)

My system is:

- Intel Core 2 Quad 9650 3.00 GHZ
- ASUS P5Q-SE
- 2x2GB OCZ Reaper PC2-8500 DDR2 1066 mHz
- ANTEC Earthwatts 650w


I do not intend to use Crossfire in the future, so this is going to be a definitive videocard for this rig. Another question: Is my PSU fully compatible with those videocards? Can it handle them plus all the rest of my hardware?

Thanks in advance!

 

[hunter315]

You should upgrade to a 750 watt PSU for 2 5870s to be on the safe side, the EA650 would be able to handle it but it might shorten its lifespan, and you really need a 1k watt PSU for 2 4870x2s which is essentially 4 4870s.

 

[MARSOC_Operator]

You should upgrade to a 750 watt PSU for 2 5870s to be on the safe side, the EA650 would be able to handle it but it might shorten its lifespan, and you really need a 1k watt PSU for 2 4870x2s which is essentially 4 4870s.

No, you didn't understand me... I will not run dual cards, it's going to be either a single 5870 or a single 4870 X2. My motherboard don't even support dual-videocard configuration. No Crossfire.

 

[hunter315]

For a single 4870X2 you would be very close, for a single 5870 you are fine and well within its safe range.

 

[MARSOC_Operator]

For a single 4870X2 you would be very close, for a single 5870 you are fine and well within its safe range.

Ok, thanks! But which card do you think is the better option overall?

 

[BruceOTB]

in my opinion, it would be the 5870.

 

[brockh]

The 5870 is the easy winner.

 

[soundefx]

You might as well get the 5870 as I think that it performs better than the 4870x2 in games and it is dx11 capable.
That way, you have the power now to play most if not all the games out already and capable of playing future games in dx11.

 

[MARSOC_Operator]

Ok, thanks everyone! 5870 it is. Now I need to make sure that monster-sized card fits into my Lian Li PC-B25B blue Ring case, does anybody here have experience with this case?

 

[rodney_ws]

Gonna need a solid 11 inches for that 5870. Power connections plug in on the side of the card so as long as you have 11 inches, you shouldn't have any clearance issues to worry about.

 

[haxs101]

Me when I got my 5870, I took out the HD tray/holder, just to be on the safe side, but when I finally put the card inside I seen I didn't even have to take the tray out. Just make sure you have 11.2/3 inches.

 

[purplefire]

I'd advise you to wait for the Vapor-X variant very soon to be released by Sapphire, they are using a custom PCB which is about an inch shorter, and has the power umbilical ports on the end like most other cards have, which, depending on your internal configuration, might improve the feng shui even more.

Incidentally, off-topic, how is the internal layout of that case? I haven't been able to find any shots of it from the side with the panel removed. Also, is it as cool in reality as it looks from the photos?

 

[MARSOC_Operator]

I'd advise you to wait for the Vapor-X variant very soon to be released by Sapphire, they are using a custom PCB which is about an inch shorter, and has the power umbilical ports on the end like most other cards have, which, depending on your internal configuration, might improve the feng shui even more.

Incidentally, off-topic, how is the internal layout of that case? I haven't been able to find any shots of it from the side with the panel removed. Also, is it as cool in reality as it looks from the photos?

It is the best and the most practical case I've ever own in 10 years of PC building. I don't have any pics now, but you can see a some reviews with good shots here-->> http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases/2007/09/05/lian-li_pc-b25/1

http://www.lian-li.com.tw/v2/en/pro..._index=136&cl_index=1&sc_index=25&ss_index=62

 

[Bluescreendeath]

I'd advise you to wait for the Vapor-X variant very soon to be released by Sapphire, they are using a custom PCB which is about an inch shorter, and has the power umbilical ports on the end like most other cards have, which, depending on your internal configuration, might improve the feng shui even more.

Incidentally, off-topic, how is the internal layout of that case? I haven't been able to find any shots of it from the side with the panel removed. Also, is it as cool in reality as it looks from the photos?

end as in the edge end or the top end?

Because ATI cards with the power ports at the edge is annoying since you have to bend the PCIe connectors at an angle, requiring another half inch or so. Ports at the top makes more sense, although it makes the cables slightly more messy.

 

[purplefire]

Top end? Like i said, the way the majority of cards have. Like the 8800GT for example. That way :]

 

[jennyh]

That would be the back end. 😉

 

[purplefire]

That would be the back end. 😉

Isn't it all relative?

 

[Bluescreendeath]

da good ole G92s still alive and kicking with the best of today's generation...

 

[GO-GO]

MARSOC_Operator, can you please tell me if it fits, because I was wondering the same question (I have the same case and I'm planning to buy the same graphic card in November). I would be grateful if you could notify me how it all went and if you had to remove the upper HDD cage.

 

[MARSOC_Operator]

MARSOC_Operator, can you please tell me if it fits, because I was wondering the same question (I have the same case and I'm planning to buy the same graphic card in November). I would be grateful if you could notify me how it all went and if you had to remove the upper HDD cage.

I'd be more than happy to answer that, the problem is that it is just IMPOSSIBLE to find one in stock right now. (I'm not to comfortable in buying from some eBay seller located in China, asking almost double the average selling price-- not to mention the absurd shipping fees).

 

[twinswords]

Resurrecting this old thread as it asks the exact question I have for the forum....

I'm getting ready to order the parts for a new system, and was reviewing the video card benchmarks included in the March 26, 2010 article GeForce GTX 480 And 470: From Fermi And GF100 To Actual Cards.

To my surprise, I found that in benchmark after benchmark after benchmark, 2 x ATI Radeon 4870 outperform 1 x ATI Radeon 5870. The only cards that consistently do better (in these charts) than 2x4870 are the top of the line and much more costly GTX 480 and Radeon 5970.

Examples:

In the 3DMark Vantage benchmark, 2x4870 does under-perform relative to 1x5870, but I'm not sure how much weight to give these results relative to the results for the specific games shown above.

Based on current prices at NewEgg.com:

2x4870: $319.98
1x5870: $439.99

So: I'm curious what everyone thinks. Is there more to this than the raw benchmark numbers? Am I misunderstanding what I'm reading? I'd like to get a good gaming system and don't really mind the $440 price tag for the ATI Radeon 5870, but from the benchmarks, it appears that I would actually get better -- or at least comparable -- performance from two 4870's, while saving $120.

I appreciate any insight people can offer!