3870 Woes

[OrbitzXT]

On NewEgg the 3870's are still out of stock, but even while it still says Auto-Notify they price of every 3870 is now $269.99. I was finally going to go back to ATI with the way they priced that card, but now for this price it becomes an easy choice to go with another 8800GT in my next build. I still would prefer the 3870 for $219 if anyone knows of a site that has it for that price, and in stock of course...or restocking relatively soon.

[hat]

Next build? You planning to have two rigs? Good rigs? My advice to you is recycle the 8800gt in your new build, and get some cheapo card like a HD2400 or an 8500GT for your second rig. You can only game on one rig at a time anyways.

[OrbitzXT]

Nah its a separate project for another person, this one is staying intact.

[hat]

Oh, I remember this... the guy who wants that little ass microatx case? I hope you've talked him into getting a bigger case, as niether of these will fit.

So it's another person huh... reccomend the HD3870.

[farlex85]

Yea I noticed that too. I was leaning towards the 3870 but now its priced the same as the 8800 GT. A question though, I have read on this forum that the 8800 GT performs better in benchmarks but I am not sure why. I am relatively new to this, but the 3870 seems better on paper. GDD4 as apposed to GddR3. Also 320 shared shaders as apposed to 120 or so for the 8800. And faster clock speeds. So is it the same story as Core 2 duo to athlon, just better architecture for better clock cycles? I don't get it. Or better drivers? Sorry for the noobishness but if anyone feels inclined to explain I would like to know.

[hat]

Well the shaders on the 8 series are more effective. However the HD 3870 is still cheaper, it's low-power, it runs cooler (dual-slot vs single), the heat will get blown directly out of the case and not swim around inside (very useful for this guy's small case).

[farlex85]

Well, at least on newegg prices are the same. Both run for $269.99 basic. The 3870 was at 219.99 just a couple of weeks ago. Thats demand for ya. But yea, from what I have read, the lower power consumption and heat output stems from the more efficient memory (DDR4). So it does seem like the 3870 has got the edge. The 8 series must have extremely efficient shaders indeed to overcome the sheer spec power the 3870 seems to offer.

[Nightwolf83]

more effective, running at double the speed of ati's 320 shaders but still game developers are all nvidia fagboys, kinda like when you see xbox 360 fagboys bagging out ps3 all the time, cause they have nothing better to do, wankas, HAH!

[hat]

Let's not start a fanboy war here...

[farlex85]

Indeed please lets not. I can't even tell what he was the fan of. He dissed both.

[SurelySomeoneAwesome]

Dell is still in stock....I guess people don't go there to buy video cards :confused:

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Games/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A1350903

[largon]

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/games/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=29&sku=a1348853&dgc=CJ&cid=24471&lid=566643

:D

[SurelySomeoneAwesome]

Wow that is quite an amazing deal right there...it beats mine :cry:

[jpierce55]

On NewEgg the 3870's are still out of stock, but even while it still says Auto-Notify they price of every 3870 is now $269.99. I was finally going to go back to ATI with the way they priced that card, but now for this price it becomes an easy choice to go with another 8800GT in my next build. I still would prefer the 3870 for $219 if anyone knows of a site that has it for that price, and in stock of course...or restocking relatively soon.

Dell is not in stock. Fry's has a rebate for $210, but not in stock for 1-2 weeks they told me. NCIXUS.com has them for $222 with free games.

http://www.ncixus.com/search/?categoryid=0&q=hd+3870
http://shop2.outpost.com/%7BQpQBrgE+dj3QTum989Gd6g**.node2%7D/product/5449449;jsessionid=QpQBrgE+dj3QTum989Gd6g**.node2? site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

[tkpenalty]

Well the shaders on the 8 series are more effective. However the HD 3870 is still cheaper, it's low-power, it runs cooler (dual-slot vs single), the heat will get blown directly out of the case and not swim around inside (very useful for this guy's small case).

Err... even if it is Dual slot, the dual slot cooler is ineffective. I'd just replace the stock cooler on the HD3870 with a VF700ALCU or something.

[trog100]

Err... even if it is Dual slot, the dual slot cooler is ineffective. I'd just replace the stock cooler on the HD3870 with a VF700ALCU or something.

the stock cooler is very effective.. in 2d mode the fan is off.. in 3d mode it only runs about 30%..

ati seem to have opted for 90 C temps and near silent runing.. no need to swop the cooler just turn the fan up.. at 50% its quiet and cool.. rivatuner will control the fan speed.. a fixed speed of 50% drops the temps right down both in 2d and 3d mode....

trog