Sapphire 5870 Toxic 2GB buffer testing

[Hauk]

I reserved $1,000 for GTX 480 SLI or 5870 2GB Crossfire. I decided on 5870 CF and have an order coming for two of these. I'm not bragging, but I'm stoked about these things!!

Many use benchmarks as evidence that 2GB is a waste. I'll be testing the latest demanding titles such as AVP, Metro 2033, BC2, and others using Rivatuner. Maxing details and cranking up AA/AF, I want to show how much of the frame buffer is used. The way I see it, if a game can fill a 1GB buffer, than 2GB is not a waste. I HATE swapping/loading during scenes. Any input on the testing would be appreciated.

Card details..

"Sapphire receives the best GPUs and runs this TOXIC model at a core speed of 925MHz and 2GBs of GDDR5 memory at 5,000MHz."

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=23079

 

[Lonyo]

Seems like overkill in most games unless you've got a lot of monitor.

I'd much rather spend $500 on two extra monitors to go with my existing 24" than buying Crossfire/SLI cards, especially considering the fact that both "sides" should eventually offer triple or more monitor gaming.
2GB framebuffer is nice and all, but if you're really wanting to push it then you should have more monitors.

That's also a suggestion that if you have lots of monitors, you should try testing at real high resolutions like 1680x1050x3 or 1920x1200x3
That's the sort of level where a larger framebuffer will almost certainly be beneficial

 

[Gikaseixas]

looking forward for the numbers

 

[mhouck]

that is one intense looking cooler. Only downside physically is the power connecters on the rear which will require more room to accomodate.

 

[alyarb]

if you have crysis, i have a map you could test. it uses over 3 gigs of system RAM and will easily max out the largest frame buffer I have which is only 512. I figure you could turn up draw distance and edgeAA on such a card.

 

[Shilohen]

I reserved $1,000 for GTX 480 SLI or 5870 2GB Crossfire. I decided on 5870 CF and have an order coming for two of these. I'm not bragging, but I'm stoked about these things!!

Card details..

"Sapphire receives the best GPUs and runs this TOXIC model at a core speed of 925MHz and 2GBs of GDDR5 memory at 5,000MHz."

Hmmm, I'm doubtful. For one, even Sapphire website does not advertise a 5870 Toxic model, only 5850: http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/VaporX/VaporX_index.aspx?cid=4. Furthermore, your picture looks a lot like the basic 1GBs model. Finally, Sapphire told AT that there would not be a 5870 Toxic, see the first two paragraphs of http://www.anandtech.com/show/2943/2.

 

[Mike_fermington]

That vapor x 5870 is such a sexy looking card. Cant wait to get my hands on the 2gb version. Hope I dont have to wait any longer than the 12th for it to come out.

Hopefully it isnt much more expensive though. $50 for twice the memory would be a steal, but I cant go any higher than $100.

 

[Mike_fermington]

Hmmm, I'm doubtful. For one, even Sapphire website does not advertise a 5870 Toxic model, only 5850: http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/VaporX/VaporX_index.aspx?cid=4. Furthermore, your picture looks a lot like the basic 1GBs model. Finally, Sapphire told AT that there would not be a 5870 Toxic, see the first two paragraphs of http://www.anandtech.com/show/2943/2.

What the hell? They pulled the plug on it? Nooooo

 

[Mike_fermington]

Hmm. That anand article dates back to february. They must have changed plans. It was reviewed last week..

 

[Shilohen]

Hmm. That anand article dates back to february. They must have changed plans. It was reviewed last week..

Hmmm, I'm still doubtful. From your review:

Hold on for a second. Is someone trying to pull a fast one and pass off the reviewed Vapor-X card? Take it at literally face value and it does appear so, as the two cards share the same excellent heatsink, whose fan is very quiet when idling and barely perceptible when under regular gaming load.

Look a little closer and the 2GB model ships with a blue PCB rather than an AMD original, indicating that this is an all-Sapphire design.

Yet, the second revision of 5870 Vapor-X do use a blue PCB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102872). The first revision was pretty much only available for reviewers, it had virtually no stock availability. I find the fact that the reviewer didn't know that quite disturbing... Anyway, a 2GBs model would be great and I do hope to see one, I just won't get too excited just yet.

 

[Mike_fermington]

Hmmm, I'm still doubtful. From your review:



Yet, the second revision of 5870 Vapor-X do use a blue PCB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102872). The first revision was pretty much only available for reviewers, it had virtually no stock availability. I find the fact that the reviewer didn't know that quite disturbing... Anyway, a 2GBs model would be great and I do hope to see one, I just won't get too excited just yet.

My review? You are really confusing.

Anyway worst come to worst Ill just pick up the 2gb 5870 Matrix. Whatever 2gb 5870 comes out first, actually. No sweat.

 

[Shilohen]

My review? You are really confusing.

Anyway worst come to worst Ill just pick up the 2gb 5870 Matrix. Whatever 2gb 5870 comes out first, actually. No sweat.

I meant your hexus link. Oups, the OP's link... I confused you with the OP right there...

 

[Mike_fermington]

Hauk and I are just after the same card, but I assure you I am not him.

 

[Hauk]

Removed for thread topic's sake

 

[Mike_fermington]

They confirmed thats the Vapor x model? Good to hear if so.

I dont know if I would feel comfortable buying from provantage though. Ill have to check their BBB rating.

 

[Mike_fermington]

Just fyi, provantage has a C rating and has had 46 complaints.

http://www.bbb.org/canton/business-...rporation-in-north-canton-oh-21000529/#rating

Im gonna wait for a more reputable site.

 

[Shilohen]

Also, this look like the mythical Eyefinity 6 5870 from the "Hexad Mini DP" label, and the review does not show those ports at all, but rather 2 DVI, 1 HDMI and 1 DP?

 

[Udgnim]

hope you'll be testing eyefinity resolutions

 

[betasub]

Beat them up on price? I thought you'd want to beat the price down?

 

[OCGuy]

Can anyone show me where a 2GB card has made a shred of difference over a 1GB card?

With some of these more graphically intense games coming out, I can see it on a 30 inch monitor, but how many people use those?

Its like when "average" PC users get 8GB of RAM in their computer thinking it will do something that 4GB wont.

 

[SlowSpyder]

That vapor x 5870 is such a sexy looking card. Cant wait to get my hands on the 2gb version. Hope I dont have to wait any longer than the 12th for it to come out.

Hopefully it isnt much more expensive though. $50 for twice the memory would be a steal, but I cant go any higher than $100.

I have the Vapor-X 5870, I saw it in the pictures obviously before I bought it, but didn't really see just how this thing looks until I opened the box. It looks so very... industrial. I have to say it is a nice looking part.

Can anyone show me where a 2GB card has made a shred of difference over a 1GB card?

With some of these more graphically intense games coming out, I can see it on a 30 inch monitor, but how many people use those?

Its like when "average" PC users get 8GB of RAM in their computer thinking it will do something that 4GB wont.

I had 4GB then went to 8GB mainly because at the time DDR2 was dirt cheap. I didn't measure FPS before or after 8GB, and I doubt it made any difference to tell you the truth. But, for whatever it's worth, there is a very noticable difference in response when exiting programs/games. For example, when I exit Age of Conan or Alt + Tab to the desktop it is there and ready the second it closes or switches to desktop. Before I got the blank generic icons with no names and the hard drive would grind away as things would reload. I'm not saying that's a worth-it type of difference for many people, but there are differences that can be noticed besides just raw FPS.

 

[Hauk]

Can anyone show me where a 2GB card has made a shred of difference over a 1GB card?

With some of these more graphically intense games coming out, I can see it on a 30 inch monitor, but how many people use those?

Its like when "average" PC users get 8GB of RAM in their computer thinking it will do something that 4GB wont.

Talking 2GB is risky business here, always someone waiting to point out its "usefulness." Prolly the same people who were saying 1GB was a waste.

Recall FarCry 2, with 4870 512GB owners having to manually cap frame rates while GTX 260 896MB owners smiled. The problem? Buffer size.

If there are just a handful of games that can chew into a 1GB frame buffer with max detail and high AF/AA, that's enough for me. GTX 480 offers an optimal buffer size, but I'm not buying Fermi.

 

[Hauk]

Also, this look like the mythical Eyefinity 6 5870 from the "Hexad Mini DP" label, and the review does not show those ports at all, but rather 2 DVI, 1 HDMI and 1 DP?

hmm, recent appearance of mythical card, possibly reference Sapphire

 

[Mike_fermington]

Can anyone show me where a 2GB card has made a shred of difference over a 1GB card?

With some of these more graphically intense games coming out, I can see it on a 30 inch monitor, but how many people use those?

Its like when "average" PC users get 8GB of RAM in their computer thinking it will do something that 4GB wont.

LOL, this guy sounds like he has the symptoms of penis envy, only its for computer memory. Why do you care so much?

I want a 2gb card mainly for future proofing as I dont plan on upgrading for 3-4 for years after this. With the 2gb cards are on the horizon and only going for $50 or so more, I would have to be crazy to not opt for doubling up my memory.

Dont worry, Im sure your 1gb card will be enough to 'satisfy' your games for a long enough while.

 

[Hauk]

OCGuy's okay, he's just testy right now..