The Radeon HD 5870 LCS is Powercolor's top-model single-GPU Radeon card. It comes with an overclocked 875 MHz core and 1,250 MHz memory speeds, which is a moderate increase over reference speeds of 25 and 50 MHz, respectively.

The included bundle covers the basics with a CrossFire connector, a DVI-to-VGA dongle, and a quick installation card. As a bonus, the package includes a full version of Dirt 2, probably the first major game title that will come to retail with DirectX 11 features. The game requires Steam to download and install, and is scheduled to be unlocked December 4th. Our only complaint about this is that the installation card doesn't address the special issues related to the liquid-cooling block. For example, we could not determine which port was the inlet and which was the outlet just by looking at them. Also included are 1/2" and 3/8" fittings for the water block in addition to the appropriate hose clamps.
On the hardware side of things, PowerColor's LCS card appears to be a standard-model Radeon HD 5870, but with a customized EK water block attached. The design is simple but effective, and darn good looking, too.


Let's take off the block to check out what's underneath:


Notice how the block covers not only the GPU and memory, but the important-for-overclocking VRM. This is a good thing. The block is substantial and weighs just over a pound all by itself. Digging a little deeper, we'll take the cover off of the block and look inside.


The cover is composed of acetal (a thermoplastic), while the block is nickel-plated copper. Note how the small channels force the coolant to move in a wavy path, increasing the cooling surface and turbulence to theoretically maximize cooling performance.


With the water block removed, the card looks strangely paper-thin for a board we know as being so large.
The GDDR5 memory chips are difficult to read, but they are Samsung K4G10325FE-HC04 components rated for 1,250 MHz operation. Since this is exactly the speed at which the memory is clocked on the card, we're not expecting a lot of headroom for pushing it higher.


Unfortunately, the I/O bezel prevents the Powercolor HD 5870 LCS from being a true single-slot card. As you can see, that second DVI output requires a double-wide slot, even though the card's cooler can easily fit in a single-slot space. Pity.
- Introduction
- Under The Hood And The Bundle
- Installation
- Overclocking PowerColor's Radeon HD 5870 LCS
- Test System And Benchmarks
- Benchmark Results: 3DMark Vantage And Crysis
- Benchmark Results: Far Cry 2
- Benchmark Results: World In Conflict: Soviet Assault
- Benchmark Results: Resident Evil 5
- Benchmark Results: Fallout 3
- Benchmark Results: Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X.
- Benchmark Results: Left 4 Dead
- Power Usage And Temperature Benchmarks
- Conclusion

oh and you too powercolor. mmmmmmmmm waterblock...
Nice to see ATI back on top. Would be nice to have that card.
so much potential lost for shame...
sorry for double posting but i got cut off.
Unless nV screws G300 up (rebranding G200) then it may be a nice time but wont last forever.
If only they could get a damn seperate shader clock. With 1600 SPs running at 1.7GHz they could blow nV out of the water....
Though I'd love to liquid cool my i7, then add a 5870 and liquid cool that also. I got a radiator at work that can likely handle a 10 kilowatt system, add to that it's constantly cooled by sub zero temperatures (during winter atleast), with a 5 barrel resevoir, and dual 24" fans (used to cool 3000psi hydraulics).
Even more dissapointing to see it can't keep up with it's dual 4xxx series cousin.
Also, GPU waterblocks just look so inneficient...
can i has one to sell? then buy dual 5850s
I think now am interested in water cooled video cards.
but honestly, i thought the gain will be 20% at least... disappointing.
Nice work but I also wish you guys tested Crysis at Very High settings.... its always great to see Crysis tested at its maximum threshhold.
And the power usage is impressive too(Only on stock).
This is the best card for now and with a lil price dip it'll be fav. of all high end gamers.
For now single 4890 is plenty for most of us.Buy when prices fall.
I am running a watercooling setup on my CPU alone at the moment. Despite majority of heat gone from internal case, my HD4850 card would barely escape overheat in room temperature of 23deg C in UK winter. I once tried moving my soundcard closer leaving 2 inch clearance from HD4850 and it crashes every single time when I run Mass Effect. Now it crashes once in a while and I am 100% sure it's due to overheating of the GPU. Load temperature reaches 106 deg C. The card crashes at 110 deg C.
http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/3038/kingpin_cooling_single_gpu_competition_with_ln2_by_deanzo/index.html
That deanzo guy is crazy....
but can it run pacman?
Keen to find out if DX 11 will make a difference once its mature...
what rubbish?