UPDATE: Back in full swing, baby
So I finished up my work and exams for the week, and finally got home to tinker with my new toy, and XFX 5870 fresh from NCIXUS . I enjoy reading user experiences with new hardware on the forum, so, since I picked up a 5870 on launch, I thought I'd return the favor and post mine. I'll try to post information beyond what you'll find in official reviews from enthusiast websites, so I'll include impressions, thoughts, personal opinions, and more. I'm currently installing Crysis (oh you knew that was coming ), so I'll throw up my initial impressions and installation experiences as well as some pics:
OK, so going through the pictures. First, the box is HUGE. Easily the biggest retail video card box I've had. Measures ~14"x10"x4.5". XFX really has a nice presentation with its packaging. The card is well packed and surrounded by foam, included with the card is installation literature, a driver CD, a DIRT 2 coupon (not really a fan, probably will sell it), a "Do Not Disturb" gag doorknob hanger, 2 PCIe 6-pin connectors, Crossfire bridge, and a DVI->VGA connector. The card itself has a very different feel to it both literally and aesthetically - this full shroud is a big leap for ATI. The card itself is not as heavy as I would have thought (feels lighter than the 4870, IIRC, but maybe it's because the weight is distributed over a larger area), and the plastic really is enclosing a lot of air. I know there was a lot of talk about the small vent - well, a ha, no worries. If you look at the quick picture I took (excuse the quality), the heatsink actually ends a good inch before the vent. So you really have a pocket of air back there, and as air comes through the fins it can either exit through that vent in the back OR through the vent on the side in the back.
Installed, there's not much to say. You can see by the pics it is as long as it's been reported, and overhangs my mATX board by about an inch. Also note there's pretty much zero clearance with the DIMM slots, as well as the SATA ports in the front. But it still fits, so it works for me . The V351 made wiring this bugger a bit difficult, but I was still able to hide most of the wires and it's snug, but there's still plenty of room. I was happy I didn't have to take out the 120mm fan .
I grabbed the latest drivers off the ATI website and they installed without issue. One thing that's annoying me: where the hell is color saturation in these new drivers? I thought maybe my HD4350 wasn't reading the 9.9's correctly, so I installed 9.4 to get that option back. Now I don't see it on these new drivers with the 5870 - where did ATI put that option? Anyway, currently idles at 35C with 21% fan speed, which is ridiculous. The fan is incredibly quiet, I can't hear it next to my 5V Yate Loons. Also, power consumption of my entire PC went up a whole 10W at idle (according to my Kill-a-Watt) after moving from the HD4350 to the 5870 - just plain ridiculous.
That's it for now, I'll keep posting through the night as I test the card. Next will be probably be some overclocking and then gaming impressions . Also, post your requests and questions, I'd be happy to help. If you want some pictures or information, or are really dying to see some game benchmarked, let me know .
Cheers,
Mr. K6
So I finished up my work and exams for the week, and finally got home to tinker with my new toy, and XFX 5870 fresh from NCIXUS . I enjoy reading user experiences with new hardware on the forum, so, since I picked up a 5870 on launch, I thought I'd return the favor and post mine. I'll try to post information beyond what you'll find in official reviews from enthusiast websites, so I'll include impressions, thoughts, personal opinions, and more. I'm currently installing Crysis (oh you knew that was coming ), so I'll throw up my initial impressions and installation experiences as well as some pics:
OK, so going through the pictures. First, the box is HUGE. Easily the biggest retail video card box I've had. Measures ~14"x10"x4.5". XFX really has a nice presentation with its packaging. The card is well packed and surrounded by foam, included with the card is installation literature, a driver CD, a DIRT 2 coupon (not really a fan, probably will sell it), a "Do Not Disturb" gag doorknob hanger, 2 PCIe 6-pin connectors, Crossfire bridge, and a DVI->VGA connector. The card itself has a very different feel to it both literally and aesthetically - this full shroud is a big leap for ATI. The card itself is not as heavy as I would have thought (feels lighter than the 4870, IIRC, but maybe it's because the weight is distributed over a larger area), and the plastic really is enclosing a lot of air. I know there was a lot of talk about the small vent - well, a ha, no worries. If you look at the quick picture I took (excuse the quality), the heatsink actually ends a good inch before the vent. So you really have a pocket of air back there, and as air comes through the fins it can either exit through that vent in the back OR through the vent on the side in the back.
Installed, there's not much to say. You can see by the pics it is as long as it's been reported, and overhangs my mATX board by about an inch. Also note there's pretty much zero clearance with the DIMM slots, as well as the SATA ports in the front. But it still fits, so it works for me . The V351 made wiring this bugger a bit difficult, but I was still able to hide most of the wires and it's snug, but there's still plenty of room. I was happy I didn't have to take out the 120mm fan .
I grabbed the latest drivers off the ATI website and they installed without issue. One thing that's annoying me: where the hell is color saturation in these new drivers? I thought maybe my HD4350 wasn't reading the 9.9's correctly, so I installed 9.4 to get that option back. Now I don't see it on these new drivers with the 5870 - where did ATI put that option? Anyway, currently idles at 35C with 21% fan speed, which is ridiculous. The fan is incredibly quiet, I can't hear it next to my 5V Yate Loons. Also, power consumption of my entire PC went up a whole 10W at idle (according to my Kill-a-Watt) after moving from the HD4350 to the 5870 - just plain ridiculous.
That's it for now, I'll keep posting through the night as I test the card. Next will be probably be some overclocking and then gaming impressions . Also, post your requests and questions, I'd be happy to help. If you want some pictures or information, or are really dying to see some game benchmarked, let me know .
Cheers,
Mr. K6
Last edited: