Equivalent card to a 4870 X2 ?

[Baron]

I had been having trouble with my pair of 4870 X2's in Crossfire, so a few weeks ago took one out and ran with the single card, intending to some testing to test the cards, and sort of forgot about it.
Yesterday I decided to install the 2nd card and try CF again, and although it booted to the desktop ....I could hear the 'windows sound', my screens were blank.
I shut down and removed one card and booted up again, and got corruption of the text and two blue vertical bars down the screen.

I shut down again, and swapped cards, and it booted to windows with no problems.
So I then did some testing by trying the single cards in all 3 slots, and the duff card failed, but the other worked just fine.

I tried CF in various combinations using the 1st + 2nd, 1st + 3rd, 2nd + 3rd, swapping cards about (using the 300mm and 100m bridges where required......I have two bridges of each size) and no display once windows had loaded.
I figured that all this testing would eliminate a dodgy DVI cable or the motherboard slots.

So, I have just sent the faulty card back on an RMA to Scan Computers (here in the UK) for a replacement.
I just hope the damn thing plays up when they test it......
I was just wondering what sort of replacement I would get, and would it be ATI or an Nvidia replacement, and would it likely be a Gigagbyte card, which I would prefer.
Just as well it has happened now, as my 3 year warranty runs out in November.....
I look forward to any replies if anyone has the time or inclination....

[allikat]

According to Toms chart the 4870x2 is roughly the same power as a 6970, GTX295, GTX480 or GTX570.
All darned fine cards.

[Baron]

Thanks for taking the time to reply.
I tracked the parcel and it was delivered to Scan Comp's this morning around 09:30.

From what I can gather a 5870 would be comparable in price....i.e. about £350 as listed at Scan, but although a decent card, it is getting a bit old in gfx card terms....

They also have in stock 6970 from Asus and MSI, the Gigabyte version is out of stock.......pooh, as I would prefer a Gigabyte card. However the 6970's are near enough half the price.

I am assuming that Scan will replace the card (assuming the thing cocks up when they test it, or it is going to cost me (again) to have it returned) from their current stock of cards, so I thought I would check their site to see what was on offer.

But if they were to replace (in theory) a like for like card, then they would have to send out a 6990 dual GPU.............and near enough £600

I shall just have to wait and see what happens next, and they offer around 10 ten days to sort out RMA's.

[notjohnny]

Just an outside voice chiming in, the cards are all exceptional really, only difference is little things that us nerds like to pick away at. For example, I have a system dedicated to tracking Facebook Application Analytics, and I have to be a little more picky with the cards. It really just depends on what you are using the system for. I have heard of a lot of examples of situations like this from my contact with a local IT staffing firm, as you all would be pretty surprised at how often situations like this one arise. Hope this information helped some of you out!

[Baron]

Well, I am still waiting............poo !.
I checked with Scan, and because the card was old and nearly out of warranty it has been sent to Gigabyte for them to sort out.
This can take up to 28 days, so I have a couple or so weeks left before I find out whether I get a refurb, or more modern replacement of whatever model they deem a fit replacement.
I hate this waiting......

[Phaedrus2129]

For the record, upgraded from Crossfire 4870s (equivalent to a 4870x2) to a 6970, and the 6970 is significantly faster. Two 4870s is closer to a 6870 than anything else.


Try asking on Overclock.net, you'll probably get more and more detailed answers there.

[rafal_iB_PL]

Two 4870s is closer to a 6870 than anything else.

My thoughts exactly. 5870 was very close to 4870x2 at launch (so nvm subsequent driver updates), and 6870 is just few percent slower than that.

Don't forget that one 6870 consumes less than half of power that 4870x2 does.

[Baron]

Finally heard back from Scan Comp's that they will send me a Gigabyte GV-R6870C-1GD as a replacement, which I assume is a reasonable exchange ?
I will just be glad to have the matter resolved as it has taken about 6 weeks now to sort out.
I may just buy another GA 6870 and CF them.

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Originally Posted by Baron

Finally heard back from Scan Comp's that they will send me a Gigabyte GV-R6870C-1GD as a replacement

Just ordered one of those myself, except I'm coming from a 3870

Mine's expected to arrive early next week.

[Baron]

First off I had to handle the card a bit delicately, since it is just the pcb plus the 3 cooling fans mounted on it, whereas the 4870 X2's fan was inside a case making the whole card much more solid.........still, once fitted there will be no real need to fiddle about with it.

Also, I think that although according to some it is a down grade, I found that once installed the monitor displays seemed to be a bit more colourful..........having stared at my screens for hours over the last 3 years with the 4870 X2 I know when I can see a difference.
Plus, I can now make use of my Display Port cable to the Dell 2408WFP monitor, and leave the DVI-D cable to the Samsung.

Also, it is a damn sight quieter than the 4870 X2 even with the 3 fans as against one............even running flat out at 100% I can just hear it above the racket the fans in the case make.....
I find ATM that running the fan at 50-60% gives plenty of cooling at around 50-60C indicated by my GPU monitoring thingy gadget when playing games.

Plus I think it draws about half the power of the 4870 X2 and doesn't get as hot.

So overall I am quite impressed with it, and it brings out a little bit more detail in some games as well, which adds to the viewing pleasure, and being DX11 capable I am 'down and with it man'.....

The next plan is to get another one and CF them for even more excitement.

Hope you are impressed with your new shiny card Mr. Wolf as I am with mine.