AMD / ATI is bustin' out with some new graphics cards for your gaming (or casual use) pleasure, and we've got details to share with you. The company has recently issued its Radeon HD 3870 X2 for review, and FPSLabs has the breakdown of the company's new high-end gamer, pushing it to the limit with Hell-ride tests utilizing Bioshock, Oblivion, and F.E.A.R., amongst others. The card performed like a monster in most arenas, though when it went up against EA's monster Crysis, even the dual-GPU card buckled under the intense pressure of the game, getting a surprise beating from the supposedly-less-powerful NVIDIA 8800GTS 512. We won't give you the nine-page rundown, but you can get the idea. The company also recently released a more consumer-oriented set of cards, the Radeon HD 3650 and 3450, meant for a kinder, gentler user -- you can check all the info on those dudes in the read link. Enjoy!
[Thanks, Robert C]
Read - AMD Radeon HD 3870 X2 Review
Read - ATI Radeon HD Refresh: The 3650 and 3450 Arrive
posted January 23rd 2008 12:19PM
Used to be ATI user once i went Nvidia i am never going to go back... Maybe only for like a cheapo extra comp since those things arent as expensive.
I currently own a HD2900PRO but I just ordered 2 8800GTS 512MB cards. I hope that ATI can get its game on again. It sad to see it get its @ss kicked every time nvidia comes out with a new card. For all of us on the nvidia boat I see we still have the upper hand.
can you use a AMD chip with nVidia ghrapics? intels quad core is a rip off...its just 2 dual cores. AMD redesigned theirs.and the truth is ATI is not better then nVidia...
you can use amd processors with nvidia gpu's. its true that intel just put 2 dual cores together, but they're still faster than AMD's quadcore phenoms.
you can use amd processors with nvidia gpu's. its true that intel just put 2 dual cores together, but they're still faster than AMD's quadcore phenoms.
You'll go back if ATI can ever manage to make a better card than NVIDIA.
Why would they develope a game that pushes the most expensive cards to the max? Just doesn't make sense to me.
Because its EA and they do stupid shit like that.
@Ken, I totally agree with you.
Well, I suppose part of it is that people will buy it and THEN learn that their hardware isn't up to the task, or they're banking on graphics cards getting way faster and cheaper, simultaneously, and soon.
I bet there's a union of Hardware manufacturers out there with members from Intel, AMD, nVidia, and the likes that pay game developers for cutting edge games that lures users to upgrade their current system. That would be the only explanation for why a game is developed where nothing we currently have will play it to the max.
EA didn't do anything. It was Crytek.
I always needed another space heater...yum.
I'm stoked their is a battle again. I'm fickle - both nvidia and ATI make good cards but can always improve them in performance, size, noise, heat and price. While I'm sure nVidia has a nifty new card up their sleave, I say BRING IT ON!
I like the MSRP on this card - let's see what nVidia brings to the table at that price on their next release. Gotta love some competition finally.
I wonder if artic cooler, zalman or someone else makes a good silent VGA cooler that will fit on this card and doesn't require a water pump.
what's with the 8-pin power AND 6-pin power. wouldn't it just be more convenient to stick to one standard?
Athlons get trounced by Pentiums. ATI cards are regularly trounced by NVidia cards...
AMD just can't keep up these days. Rough.
Err actually, Athlons rape Pentiums, but they get owned by Core2Duos that are more expensive. The Pentium line died in disgrace with the Pentium D.
Yeah, you're right. I should have just said "Intel" in general.
Looking good for AMD in this particular segment actually. The high-end cards aren't the money makers. As the Radeon HD3850 has proven to be a decent
atleast it comes in RED !
Yeah, but will it work in my Mac Pro? Probably not. I'm more and more starting to look for a PC gaming rig and considering dumping my Mac Pro on the market. Too bad Cupertino can't make it easy on graphics card companies like ATI and nVidia to make cards that are compatible with Mac Pros. And no, the new Mac Pro supporting the 8800GT isn't enough. Not when I can't use that card on my Mac Pro from last year. Pitty. Like I said above, I'll have to get a PC gaming Rig and hack a version of OS X86 on it and go back to how I used to compute.
Welcome to the darkside. I'd avoid Vista even though you come from the mac world. Vista will be more mac like but XP is much faster for everything including gaming.
Much faster, as in 5 - 10 fps (assuming DX9 for both).
Why are these lies still being spread?
http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/amd_nvidia_windows_vista_driver_performance_update/
If it is still faster, even as minimal as 5-10 fps, then how is he lying?
Radeon HD 3650 and 3450, filling a void that never needed to be filled.
X2 got its ass kicked in Crysis, I'd like to see that again sans the nvidia optimizations
all around it good for the suggested price, a Crysis killer it is not.
Like the fact that you only need a PCIEx16 port and the X2 only needs *cough* 334W of power
http://xtreview.com/addcomment-id-4105-view-Radeon-HD-3870-X2-review-and-benchmark.html
@Coster
it was never intended to be a "crysis killer". even a quad 8800Ultra setup cant run Crysis on max settings, so why would this? Plus, as far as dual setups go, how much power is required for 2x 8800GT's or GTS's? I imagine its comparable if not more.
my bad, its 3 cards...http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3183&p=4
my bad, its only 3 cards....http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3183&p=4
@sjdurfey
didn't you notice the *cough* that was to say that it ate a lot of power and the link I provided had a small comparison between it and the Geforce 8800 Ultra :)
and heck I consider 30 fps for medium setting on Crysis to be decent, I should have phrased it differently to "adequately play crysis on medium settings".
If I had something that took 1200W to play games I would Like it cook my food as well, thanks for the link :)
I didnt say it wasnt faster, but ive always felt that "much" was double or more, or some substantial number. But when its the difference between 58 and 63 FPS, is that much?
I would take a bit faster, slightly faster, etc. and i wouldnt say a word.
By saying much faster when its only a little is a lie.
I used to have an AMD-based system. I recently upgraded to an Intel Core 2 Duo (E6750....pretty sweet for the money) and love it. I've always used nVidia GPUs and don't intend on switching unless ATI develops something truly remarkable, which since they're owned by AMD, I seriously doubt!
Damn 2 power jacks how is this for casual gamers
you'll only have to buy a new P/S and not MB as well :)
I used to be an ATI guy as well. Now i have 2 8800 gts's and there is no going back. Nvidia all the way
I'd say its not that bad of a card for not being officially released. I think that AMD just needs to refine their Catalyst drivers, and they could really pull it off with this one, especially with Crysis, because it can't be an issue with not having enough brute power.
I don't know what you're smoking - this card packs a serious punch... It performs better that 8800GT SLI in 3dMark and DOUBLES fps compared to 8800GT-SLI in Call of Juarez. With ALPHA drivers!
Sure, it's slower in Crysis - but look at that chart: It's all in the drivers. The winner is the old 8800GTS, that blows away both the SLI and Xfire offerings.
Other than that - Nvidia SLI only beats this single PCIe card in games that was co-developed with nvidia.
VERDICT: The 3870 X2 is the BE(A)ST graphics has to offer right now. When tested with drivers that are past the alpha stage, performance will only increase. The only bad thing is heat/power consumption. A 200W TDP card needs a better cooler.
dude the 8800GTS 512mb came out in December 2007 and confused the crap out of people by using the "GTS"
Come on Engadget...Man up and call the company DAAMIT already!
you've gotta love all the little kiddies taking everything aa website says about ATI cards always being slower than Nvidia cards. this site reaks of bias. notice that they didnt give any of the details about the crysis test? THEY DONT HAVE ANY. starting holy wars between groups of people with hardware preferences is getting a bit childish. why dont all pc gamers unite and drive out consoles instead of civil war eh?
I just got 2 at http://fxvideocards.com/ $455.99
EA's?EA has nothing to do with crysis except they're distributing it...wow.