Sapphire HD5970 Toxic 4GB Preview

[Derbixrace]

http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/3230/sapphire_radeon_hd_5970_toxic_4gb_video_card/index.html

 

[notty22]

Well, we all know this thing is going to be crazy fast. So , look at the power numbers.
It uses a 100 watts more than a stock 5970, WoW. But , would that stop anyone from gaming or buying the thing for the right price. You see where I am going with this right? LOL

 

[multiscreenz]

It's an amazing card for sure! It's huge though, so make sure your case can fit it. Many Mid-ATX towers don't have enough room to fit this card.

 

[shadow187]

Well, we all know this thing is going to be crazy fast. So , look at the power numbers.
It uses a 100 watts more than a stock 5970, WoW. But , would that stop anyone from gaming or buying the thing for the right price. You see where I am going with this right? LOL
http://images.tweaktown.com/content/3/2/3230_95.png

It's 80% better than the GTX480 and uses 10% more power.
What are you complaining about? The GTX480 is 10% faster than the HD5870 and uses how much more? 60% or somethin'?

 

[xcrapid]

@Shadow


Mind pointing out where the 5970 4GB is 80% better than the GTX480?

http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/3230/sapphire_radeon_hd_5970_toxic_4gb_video_card/index7.html

That's the graph showing high AA/AF performance, which is ideally where the extra RAM *should* shine.

FarCry 1920x1200 [8xAA]

GTX 480: Min FPS [46] Average FPS [89]
ATI 5970 4GB: Min FPS [35] Average FPS [110]

That gives the 5970 about 23% advantage in average FPS, and a 31% disadvantage in minimum FPS. And that thing will probably cost $150-$200 more than a GTX480.

*Incoming argument about how minimum FPS is more important, 89 v. 110 average is not noticable by the naked eye, etc.*

 

[shadow187]

@Shadow


Mind pointing out where the 5970 4GB is 80% better than the GTX480?

Yeah, in every game without high AA/AF. AFAIK, AMD has some issues with AA perf.

 

[notty22]

To bad that design is going to dump every bit of heat in to some poor saps case to. OMG !

 

[firebird]

How much of the extra performance is because of the overclock vs. the extra memory?

All reviews of the 2GB 5870 show little to no improvement over the 1GB version. I was truly bummed to see that

I'd like to see the comparison 'tween the 2GB version overclocked to the specs of the Toxic 4GB.

 

[shadow187]

It'll still output less heat, probably.

And I agree with Firebird, I was a tad let down about the low improvements over 1GB vs 2GB.

Shows how much work ATI has with drivers, .

 

[xcrapid]

Yeah, in every game without high AA/AF. AFAIK, AMD has some issues with AA perf.

Why are you buying a 5970 4GB if you DON'T plan on using AA/AF on a high resolution monitor? That's like telling someone who games at 1280x720 to buy a 5870...