Making a switch to ATI. Which 3870 should I chose?

[Paulieg]

I've been using primarily Nvidia cards for the better part of 5 years. I'm getting ready to by a new card, and thought I'd try ATI this time around. It makes sense since I've got a new x38 board, and will have the option to crossfire eventually. Help me pick the right card, and give a reason for your choice. Here's the candidates:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102732
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127315
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103050
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161218

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

HIS IceQ

Run from toxic ...

[philbrown23]

His I have the same cards and they rock!! :rockout:

[das müffin mann]

i personally like the sapphire, i have had nothing but good experiences with their products, although if you wanna save 10 bucks w/o the mir i would go for the HIS

another think i kinda like about the sapphire is that you get the black box and a full version of 3dmark 06

[JrRacinFan]

Wait a moment, is this an April Fools' joke Paulie?

Well ... if you must, HIS IceQ.... :ohwell:

[Paulieg]

_FBi;729233']HIS IceQ

Run from toxic ...

Why??

[Paulieg]

i personally like the sapphire, i have had nothing but good experiences with their products, although if you wanna save 10 bucks w/o the mir i would go for the HIS

another think i kinda like about the sapphire is that you get the black box and a full version of 3dmark 06

Agree about the bundle with the toxic. Might be worth the few extra $$

[Paulieg]

Wait a moment, is this an April Fools' joke Paulie?

Well ... if you must, HIS IceQ.... :ohwell:

No joke. I'm seriously considering it. In the last 2 years Ive owned a 6600GT, 7600GT, 7900gs,8600gts,8800GTS 640,8800GT 512, and now the 9600GT. I'd like to check out the 3870...

[das müffin mann]

http://www.pro-clockers.com/review.php?id=327

heres a review it seems to beat out the reference 3870's by a few frames here and there but nothing extraordinary

[Dr. Spankenstein]

Without a doubt, HIS IceQ3!

An excellent cooling solution that vents outside of case. X38 boards have plenty of room for dual slot cards. Their products just seem to get the first pick of components as well.

[JrRacinFan]

No joke. I'm seriously considering it. In the last 2 years Ive owned a 6600GT, 7600GT, 7900gs,8600gts,8800GTS 640,8800GT 512, and now the 9600GT. I'd like to check out the 3870...

Seriously, what I was meaning is that you would have backed out of the ATi thing and stuck with the 9600GT until HD4x's released.

EDIT: But I guess, if your switching to ATi cards, couldn't hurt for me to also. I still do have the ability to go crossfire (I guess).

[Paulieg]

Without a doubt, HIS IceQ3!

An excellent cooling solution that vents outside of case. X38 boards have plenty of room for dual slot cards. Their products just seem to get the first pick of components as well.

I like HIS. The last ATI card I owned was a HIS 9550 ICEQ. However, I've heard from some people that they have received terrible support and RMA problems with HIS cards. I also heard that there is some kind of issue with about 20% of the new ICEQ3 coolers.

[Dr. Spankenstein]

Hadn't heard that.

My experience with an RMA on my x1950xt was not great, but not terrible. Just took a loooooong time. Litterally had to have replacement shipped in from China/Tiawan.
Top notch products though...

[allen337]

http://www.pro-clockers.com/review.php?id=327

heres a review it seems to beat out the reference 3870's by a few frames here and there but nothing extraordinary



Nice card,review.

[TonyStark]

The only ATI card worth purchasing at this point is the HD3870X2. If that is out of your price range, get the 9600GT. It is cheaper -- and faster once filters are applied -- than the HD3870.

EDIT: Just read this post
No joke. I'm seriously considering it. In the last 2 years Ive owned a 6600GT, 7600GT, 7900gs,8600gts,8800GTS 640,8800GT 512, and now the 9600GT. I'd like to check out the 3870...

I don't know why you even started the thread .....

[Paulieg]

The only ATI card worth purchasing at this point is the HD3870X2. If that is out of your price range, get the 9600GT. It is cheaper -- and faster once filters are applied -- than the HD3870.

EDIT: Just read this post


I don't know why you even started the thread .....

Ummm, looking for opinions, why else? :slap:

[oli_ramsay]

Get the His IceQ3, I believe the cooler's UV reactive plus it's gotta better than stock.

[TonyStark]

If you're thinking about crossfiring, then I'm assuming that you're not some 15 year old who makes $20 a week from his parents allowance. Therefore I am assuming you can afford the X2 and there is potential for Quad/Tri crossfire down the track. However, if my assumptions are incorrect my advice is to not blow all your money on a computer.

As I said in a previous post, the HD3870 is not worth the money as you previously owned a 9600GT (cheaper and faster than 3870 when AA/AF are on). Unless you want to downgrade.

:cool:

[blkhogan]

I run the Toxic. Its been running perfectly with no probs at all.

-Hogan

[eidairaman1]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129100

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129102

Seem to be very nice Parts

I think next build will have one

[BumbRush]

I like HIS. The last ATI card I owned was a HIS 9550 ICEQ. However, I've heard from some people that they have received terrible support and RMA problems with HIS cards. I also heard that there is some kind of issue with about 20% of the new ICEQ3 coolers.

the problems i have seen seem to be more about the bios on some of the iceq3 cards not spining the fan up, you can fix this with a simple bios flash, its not all the cards eather, i installed 2 of the higher end 3870 iceq3 and they where fine, my buddy got one and i had to help him get the bios that had proper fan control.

also consider the powercolor version as its coolers pretty damn good in my exp :)


as to the hater, 9600 is good till u hit higher res's then it turns to crap, my buddy got one to replace his x1950pro x2 card(dual 1950pros on 1 card) and after 3 days send it back and ponyed up the extra $ to get the 3870x2.

i want to see some reviews of the 3800 cards running temporal AA as in my exp you can get the same or better quility with t2 or t3 aa at 2x as you can get out of nvidias drivers with 4 or 8xQ aa with far lower perf hit then you see with 4xAA on the 3800 cards.

and its fun to try new things, even if it can be frustrating, i have been thru both sides, nvidia was my buddy for years, then ati after the FX bullshit(5800u/5950u sucked so bad...) and im on an 8800gt now, tho i really honestly wish the 3970 had been out when i got it.......meh i got it for MSRP when morons where paying 320+ for it so i guess i should be happy. hell i would be if they would fix the driver buggs i have found.......