The HD 3870/50 Thread

[HousERaT]

I plan to do with this thread the same thing I did with the X800GTO² & X1900XTX/XT threads so gentlemen & ladies start your engines. I'll be gathering links to as much knowledge and testing as I can find concerning these cards so we have a general reference thread. Please support the thread with as much info as you like. Pics, links, benchmarks, stable voltages, overclocking & cooling methods and anything else that will contribute to the advancement of these great cards are welcome. The X1900XTX/XT sticky thread is over 80 pages so let's see if we can beat that.

How to get on the Wall of Fame

ATI HD 3870/50 List of clocks, cooling, and volts AKA (Wall of Fame) NAME...........MFG.....CARD.......GPU/MEM.....VCore.......VDD.......Cooling
HousERaT 1.....HIS.... HD3870 --- 958/1296 - 1.550 GPU, XXXXX VDD - Dynatron BH-625/Ramsinks
HousERaT 2.....HIS.... HD3870 --- 958/1296 - 1.550 GPU, XXXXX VDD - Stock
HousERaT ......HIS.... HD3870CF - 958/1296 - 1.550 GPU, XXXXX VDD - Stock/Dynatron BH-625
Ross ..........SPH.... HD3870 --- 885/1387 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Stock
vixro .........GCB.... HD3870 --- 877/1233 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Stock
ManOfKnight ...SPH.... HD3870 --- 864/1260 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Stock
Super Nade.....HIS.... HD3870 --- 877/1404 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Thermalright HR03 w 90mm
Alexhk ........VTK.... HD3870 --- 860/1276 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - AC Accelero S1 (w/1500rpm 120mm fan)
Coreyhm1 ......SPH.... HD3870 --- 857/1197 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Stock
OC nub ........SPH.... HD3870CF - 835/1251 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Stock
OC nub ........SPH.... HD3870 --- 850/1287 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Stock
ryantt ........SPH.... HD3870 --- 877/1368 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Stock
WonderingSoul .SPH.... HD3870 --- 860/1200 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Stock
()nslaught ....VTK.... HD3870 --- 857/1350 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Stock
juane414 ......SPH.... HD3870 --- 837/1242 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Stock
Eclectic ......HIS.... HD3870 --- 918/1242 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Swiftech MCW-60/Enzotech Ramsinks
Classicholy ...SPH.... HD3870 --- 875/1261 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Stock
grumperfish ...DIA.... HD3870 --- 850/1250 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - HR-03/92mm Delta
juane414 ......SPH.... HD3870 --- 891/1296 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Stock
just2stoned ...DIA.... HD3870 --- 837/1179 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Stock
just2stoned ...DIA.... HD3870CF - 837/1179 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Stock
gibletzor .....SPH.... HD3870 --- 891/1296 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Accelero S1 Rev2/Yate Loon fan
thescavenger...DIA.... HD3870 --- 877/1323 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Accelero S1 Rev2 w/ 120mm fan
gmony01 .......VTK.... HD3870 --- 864/1278 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Stock
Realgun .......ATI.... HD3870 --- 877/1251 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Swiftech MCW-60

Woomack .......SPH.... HD3850 --- 769/1017 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Stock
ShadowUrlich...HIS.... HD3850 --- 799/1030 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Stock ICEQ3- Turbo
Firestrider ...POW.... HD3850 --- 769/1026 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Stock
jhanby ........GCB.... HD3850 --- 722/909 -- XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Stock
T1GG4L4T0R.....HIS.... HD3850 --- 810/999 -- XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Zalman VF900Cu
eva2000 1......HIS.... HD3850 --- 823/1098 - 1.330 GPU, XXXXX VDD - Stock ICEQ3- Turbo
eva2000 2......HIS.... HD3850 --- 823/1098 - 1.330 GPU, XXXXX VDD - Stock ICEQ3- Turbo
eva2000........HIS.... HD3850CF - 823/1098 - 1.330 GPU, XXXXX VDD - Stock ICEQ3- Turbo
chrome-187.....VTK.... HD3850 --- 735/1044 - XXXXX GPU, XXXXX VDD - Stock



HIS Digital site - Just in case I need it for some reason.......

New bios OC fix - This is supposed to fix the 860 OC limit. Tested and works.

ATI Flash 3.49 - To flash to the new bios

Winflash 2.0.0.2 - To flash to the new bios

How to Flash your ATI card - This works for the 3870 cards as well.

3870 VCore Pencil Mod - Confirmed and works with a #2 Pencil

Modded clock bios @ IAX Tech - Clocks have been modded but not the voltage.

Techpowerup Downloads - AtiTool, GPUZ etc.

vixro's 3870 benchmarking thread - vixro benchmarking everything he can get his hands on. 56K beware

 

[HousERaT]

Stock Cooling just fine for normal use!

After a very quick test with the TT Duorb vs Stock Cooler my findings are that the Stock cooler is good enough.

E6850 @ 4Ghz, HD 3870 @ 860/1301 - Room temps at 18°C - setup is not in a case

Stock Cooling @ 60% highest load is 54°

TT DuOrb highest load is 53°

Both are pretty silent....... take that how you want to.....

 

[HousERaT]

Confirmed 3870 VCore Pencil Mod (thanks to Rumon for the pic)

I take no responsibility for you using this mod. If you use it and brick your card it's on you. Make sure you have a volt meter.

 

[TTP]

You know how I do..... same as before with the "Wall of Fame" and all that other good stuff. Coming soon.

The only reservation I would have is... why thermaltake cooler?

 

[Jacobman]

Wow this is gonna be awesome, i was just on the egg and it said it had the HIS 3870 in stock and when i clicked it was out of stock, lol. They are going fast.

 

[HousERaT]

The only reservation I would have is... why thermaltake cooler?

Next to the Thermalright coolers it's one of the best out there........

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16835106112

 

[majinwar]

Next to the Thermalright coolers it's one of the best out there........

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16835106112

Which thermalright fits onto the 3870?

 

[HousERaT]

Which thermalright fits onto the 3870?

The tests I've seen comparing this cooler were not done on the 3870......

Wow this is gonna be awesome, i was just on the egg and it said it had the HIS 3870 in stock and when i clicked it was out of stock, lol. They are going fast.

what's really wild about this is when the X1900 XT 512 MB cards first came out I got one for a total of $499.99 plus shipping. Now I'm getting two cards plus two 3rd party coolers for about the same thing.

 

[hUMANbEATbOX]

what's really wild about this is when the X1900 XT 512 MB cards first came out I got one for a total of $499.99 plus shipping. Now I'm getting two cards plus two 3rd party coolers for about the same thing.

When you got your x1900xt it was competing with the 7900's and it won a lot of tests. That isn't the case this time around.

Although, the price of both of those cards and coolers is still pretty shocking.

 

[HousERaT]

When you got your x1900xt it was competing with the 7900's and it won a lot of tests. That isn't the case this time around.

Although, the price of both of those cards and coolers is still pretty shocking.

Indeed. However I'm thinking there is a bit of untapped power in these cards at this point. We have yet to know the overclocking limits because right now the current software will only go up to about 860 on the core. Once all those things are worked out (if they're worked out) and we get some more muture drivers I think this little combo is gonna do some damage.

In case anyone is wondering, yes I will be hooking one of these cards up to my Kingwin/Tornado combo.

 

[CGR]

History states that ATI cards always perform better after driver updates. Somtimes it takes a while though.

Hard for the 8800GT to compete with a card at $219. They would have to lower the 8800gt to at least $240 - 250 across the board to compete.

 

[HousERaT]

History states that ATI cards always perform better after driver updates. Somtimes it takes a while though.

Hard for the 8800GT to compete with a card at $219. They would have to lower the 8800gt to at least $240 - 250 across the board to compete.

Well if people were selling the cards at the price they should have been selling them at then it wouldn't be so bad. Right now you can get some of the overclocked 8800GT cards for over $330 shipped. That's just ridiculous for a card that is supposed to cost below $250.00

 

[CGR]

Well if people were selling the cards at the price they should have been selling them at then it wouldn't be so bad. Right now you can get some of the overclocked 8800GT cards for over $330 shipped. That's just ridiculous for a card that is supposed to cost below $250.00

Cant agree more. Lets not forget the fact that they have a serious supply problem as well.

If they has plenty of stock when it was released I dont think you would see these high prices.

 

[TTP]

The tests I've seen comparing this cooler were not done on the 3870......


what's really wild about this is when the X1900 XT 512 MB cards first came out I got one for a total of $499.99 plus shipping. Now I'm getting two cards plus two 3rd party coolers for about the same thing.

2 cards that are a whole lot faster too

I'm looking to get a pair myself.

 

[jmorgan]

In stock at newegg http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102713

 

[WonderingSoul]

In stock at newegg http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102713

Only two per customer

 

[onguardtech]

only 2...how many do u want man?

 

[ryanmartini]

I just got my 3870!

 

[chaos]

For a HTPC and I would like to play Bioshock & Crysis and any of the other games coming out at least at 1280x1024 which card would you get?????3850 or 8800 gt

 

[Sgt_Pinto]

u americans have no idea how lucky you are.

Our dollar is worth 88 of ur cents yet i still have to pay 380 for a HD 3870 and $350 for an 8800gt. I guess i have to wait till the shops here become sensible.