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It’s a classic graphics card cage match. In one corner, the feisty, but unproven newcomer; in the other corner glowers the grizzled veteran. The newcomer, of course, is AMD’s shiny new Radeon HD 5870, weighing in at 2.15 billion transistors. The grizzled veteran is Nvidia’s 285 GTX. But this is no ordinary 285 GTX. We pitted the Radeon against a souped-up EVGA 285 GTX SSC.
The 285 GTX SSC runs its core clock at 702MHz, more than eight percent faster than the stock 648MHz; the memory clock is pumped up to 1,323MHz, about 6.5 percent faster than the base. In other words, it’s about the fastest Nvidia-based, single-chip graphics card you can get.
The newcomer is AMD’s spiffy new Radeon HD 5870. With an 850MHz engine clock and 1,200MHz GDDR5 clock, AMD’s new progeny looks like it has the chops to take on Nvidia. But we’ve been disappointed by promising GPUs from AMD’s graphics division in the past.
Not this time.
We tested three cards (also tossing in AMD’s previous best, the Radeon HD 4890) in a Core i7 975 system with 6GB of RAM, running on an Asus Rampage II X58 motherboard. All that CPU horsepower is to ensure that the benchmarks stress the graphics card, rather than be held back by CPU or RAM. We used Windows 7 Ultimate RTM as the OS.
After the smoke cleared, the 285 GTX looked like a tired fighter who’d been rope-a-doped and KO’d. The performance differences aren’t minor, they’re huge: The Radeon HD 5870 was 63 percent faster in Crysis, 32 percent faster in Far Cry 2, 33 percent faster in STALKER, and even 24 percent faster in Battleforge, an RTS that’s arguably more dependent on CPU than graphics.
This round of the endless GPU wars, then, is clearly owned by AMD, at least for single-GPU cards. And with performance like this, who wants the heat and power consumption of a dual-GPU card.
On the other hand, we won’t count Nvidia out. While Nvidia’s current high end is now relegated to the status of also-rans, the company is slaving away on its DirectX 11 GPU, code-named GT300. When that ships, expect a rematch.
| GPU | Radeon HD 4890 | EVGA GTX 285 SSC | Radeon HD 5870 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crysis (FPS) | 22 | 22 | 36 |
| Far Cry 2 (FPS) | 51 | 56 | 74 |
| STALKER Clear Sky (FPS) | 24 | 27 | 36 |
| BattleForge (FPS) | 36 | 46 | 57 |
| 3DMark Vantage Performance (Score) | 12128 | 13941 | 17032 |
| 3DMark Vantage Extreme (Score) | 6276 | 4955 | 8252 |
| Idle System Power (W) | 160 | 142 | 119 |
| Full Load System Power (W) | 363 | 307 | 293 |
Best scores are bolded. All benchmarks run at 1920x1200 with 4x AA enabled and all graphics settings maxed out unless otherwise specified. Full load system power was taken during a 3DMark Vantage run at 2560x1600 with extreme settings.
One of the more intriguing aspects of the Radeon HD 5870 is its use of multiple displays, something AMD dubs “Eyefinity.” The first shipping HD 5870 comes with four display connectors: two DVI, one DisplayPort, and one HDMI. Up to three monitors can be connected to any three of the four connectors. (Due to timing limitations, all four connectors can’t be used simultaneously.) Later this year, AMD will ship a card with six DisplayPort adapters, capable of connecting up to six DisplayPort-equipped monitors at the same time.
For cards supporting up to three displays, usage scenarios might include three wide screen displays in portrait mode, side by side. Cards capable of driving six simultaneous digital monitors could support a variety of display options: 3 x 2 landscape, 2 x 2, or oddball scenarios such as 3 x 1 with another 1 on top as an extended display (for flight sims, for example.)
One underlying technology making a six display configuration possible is DisplayPort. The display controller in the RV870 generates only two timing signals, suitable for DVI or VGA. DisplayPort can source external timing signals, and DisplayPort-equipped monitors can act as timing sources.
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May 29, 2011 at 12:43am
I am loving the competition from far and wide. That brings a lot of new features at much competitive prices. Competition insures that customers are always going to get the best deal. refinance mortgage
muzzo
May 18, 2011 at 8:13pm
The faster memory gives the 5870 overall memory bandwidth of 153GB/s and thats good :)
somneim
April 20, 2011 at 9:33am
I think both ATI and nVidia are equally good, nVidia is curently developing the Pshyxs and ATI is working ont the infinity eye, multi monitor system. If there were some way to use both nVdia and ATI imaagine the result and the future of games. Jerico at web hosting reviews.
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March 19, 2011 at 5:05pm
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February 28, 2011 at 12:57am
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doggz
August 23, 2010 at 1:46pm
I dunno how much they cost in the beginning, but I was able to grab an XFX 5870 for around $370 plus tax in a sale last month at Newegg.
Smokeless Cigarette
August 10, 2010 at 9:01pm
I've been out of the video card market for several years but am looking to buy again sometime in the near future. Has this card dropped dramatically in price since this review was written?
AtomicKitten
February 27, 2010 at 2:26pm
I think my ATI 4870 Graphics Card is good enough and still the fastest. Don't upgrade if you have an ATI 4800 series card, wait for 2014 or something and get a new computer then, with a good new processor and video card. I don't think anyone would ever get the 5870 since there will be a better model in the future.
1337-n00b
December 19, 2009 at 9:29am
Yes, I typed right. I am an <em>ati</em>, not an <em>amd</em> fanboy.
Ever since the 4870 x2. It rocked.
So, nVidia, take your power-hungry desktop cards that require 1000-watt PSUs and only run on older tech, with massive, monolithic design, and shove 'em where the sun don't shine.
:-P
My vews will only change if they can get out something as cheap and efficient and fast as a Radeon.
And do it before the Radeon gets even better.
ATI to nVidia: you are STILL obsolete.
it's pronounced ELEET NEWBEE.
and it means talks like a n00b, knows like a 1337.
As opposed to a 1amma, who thinks like n00b, talks like 1337; better a 1337-n00b than a 1amma.
Smokeless Cigarette
December 09, 2009 at 1:18pm
Oh I'm so pumped for this! By the time Diablo 3 comes out this should be in the discount bin for $45 and all mine, all mine! Muhahaha! Smokeless Cigarettes
gendoikari1
December 08, 2009 at 6:16pm
I hope the 5870 available at Newegg.ca stays available. The last one was probably delisted due to both TSMC's awful yields and the cretins that decide to run a quad-Crossfire setup with a crazy-limited card.
apeck9
December 07, 2009 at 12:56pm
so what is the real difference between the brands of the 5870 card? diamond sapphire asus xfx .....
xchrissypoox
December 07, 2009 at 2:04am
5870s are becoming more and more available at newegg, they have been there for much of this past week.
Halo549
December 01, 2009 at 10:05pm
Below is my 3DMark Vantage score.
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dmv=1151992 <-Verified by Futuremark.
Thats the Intel 965@3850Mhz and count them 2 8800GTX ACS3's SLI and they are almost 3 years old !
Almost match this cards score.
Yes my two 3 year old card against 1 almight powerful ATI card.
Sorry, I'll have to pass on this one !!!!!!
And yes I beat the AMD Phenom II 940 X4 overslocked to 6.1Ghz CPU score with an
Intel 965@3.2 by 10k.......
EVGA send me your GeForce GTX 285 Classified 01G-P3-1190-TR available at zipzoomfly.com for $389.
And I'll beat that ATI 3DMark Vantage score.
Circlestrafe
February 27, 2010 at 12:31pm
3DMark Vantage scores are a joke. NOT real world, never have been, never will be. I can show you countless articles, reviews, benchmarks showing negligible 3DMark score differences in machines that, in real world (i.e. actually playing a game, real in game benchmarks) comparisons don't even come close to each other. If you're just looking for numbers on paper, by all means, read 3DMark Scores as the gospel truth. But if you want to know how your system performs in reality, throw those scores out the window. I guarantee you, your dual 8800GTXs won't hold a candle in 32-64 player full detail multiplayer gaming as the 5870 will. Not...even...close.
xchrissypoox
December 07, 2009 at 2:02am
In fact if you watch the following vid at the end he compared the vantage score of both and the 5870s win, just saying. http://www.youtube.com/user/trubritar#p/u/4/RT4xmxC48jU
xchrissypoox
December 07, 2009 at 1:58am
ati has had 4 way crossfire for a while. here is a vid http://www.youtube.com/user/trubritar#p/u/6/WKQVqcHRos4.
Hitachi
November 15, 2009 at 11:27pm
You can't do reviews on cards that don't exist. And as i've proven by searching the internet, clearly this card does not exist, it's just a hoax that ATI came up with for publicity. DUH MaxPC how could you not see through this one. Just to sell the lie they made a single card and sent it to you, how could you be so blind.
JohnP
December 02, 2009 at 8:29pm
Is there really a new card out there by ATI? I think that I have a better shot at photographing a UFO than I do buying one of these cards in the next 6 months. One sick company to "release" a card and never put any in stock anywhere. What is this, a Wii or something?
altair31
November 16, 2009 at 6:17pm
How could you be so dumb as to think MPC would review something that doesn't exist! Also, how could it not exist, since it's in my gaming rig! Sorry, I probably went overboard there, since likely you are some fanboy. As for be, I just want pure power.
Xylogeist
November 12, 2009 at 11:10am
Just tested this against my GTX 295.... Holy hell... The 295 lost... looks like over 70% of your are wrong :) ATI now reigns the land... until the 300 series of Nvidia comes out XD
sybert
November 06, 2009 at 4:50pm
ATI has been owning Nvidia so bad lately. When they release a new GPU it crushes the Nvidia side.
And then ATI got owned by their own manufacturing.
gendoikari1
November 03, 2009 at 8:22pm
All right, fess up. Who has the sole 5870 ever made? Sure, it might kick ass and have DX11 to boot, but it won't do much if there is just one card in existence. AMD's manufacturing progress=fail.
JohnP
November 12, 2009 at 8:50am
Notice that there is NO STOCK on Newegg, Amazon, and Zipzoomfly? Lot of good to have a great card if you DON"T MAKE THEM! Is AMD/ATI nuts? What are they waiting for, NVidia to catch up? Idiots. Never announce a new card unless you can deliver. Otherwise, you get folks forgetting about all the good publicity this card has gotten.
UPDATE: Well, One card in stock at ZipzoomFly (11-5-09). 20% over MSRP but 1st card I have seen...ANOTHER UPDATE must of had all of one card in stock! Gone in 10 minutes..
CrimsonFrost
November 03, 2009 at 11:27am
http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/rv870_092209122344/20094.png
Looks like it's beating the #$%^ out of the GTX295 to me.... Guess what happens to the 295 when the X2 version of this card comes out?
Evolyptic
November 07, 2009 at 1:03am
"Nvidia Geforce GTX 295" is on the list. It is the forth one from the top.
n3iyr
November 01, 2009 at 9:22pm
This is a carefully worded biased article. This guy is so AMD biased he just happend not to mention the NVIDIA GTX-295. Oh, ooops! we were talking single GPU models. Oh, so sorry. So, how is it king if it can't knock down the castle door? The dual GPU model is still secret hush, hush rumor. Well, it might be if, ah, well, um, NVIDIA hasn't said anything ya know. Could be their not worried? Come on dude. It is not king till it rules the land. Truth is, it's another AMD attempt to catch up. As usual. If, could, should, are words. They don't make the card top the numbers.
Evolyptic
November 07, 2009 at 1:07am
The guy above you posted a nice graph that shows how the 285 SLI beats the 295 on crysis & this card beats both; Thus, I think your the one being biased & Fanboyish.
Onyx2291
November 02, 2009 at 1:47pm
Well yes, but still, it can keep up on a decent pace at a fraction of the cost. Once the 5970 comes out then it will be a true battle, equal on both sides for classification purposes.
nVidia does market the 295 as the fastest dual gpu doesn't it?
-Onyx
DRAGONWEEZEL
October 29, 2009 at 1:47pm
They are sold out throughout the state of WA. I found one at *$%#? (Oh, I don't want you to get there before me, I'll uncensor that when I have it in my hot lil hands)
It'll be 400 for the card, and 20 for gas to get there and back. I'll take it though.
THERE ARE ONLY 11 TYPES OF PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD. Those that think binary jokes are funny, those that don't, and those that don't know binary
Mayhemm
October 28, 2009 at 1:15pm
The 5870 seems like an awesome card from a performance and power consumption standpoint. However, this thing looks like the Red October and, from what I've heard, is almost as large. Is this thing going to fit in most cases? My current case is struggling to accomodate a 9.5" card!
shaolin95
October 26, 2009 at 5:17am
It is the fastest SINGLE card. It gets beaten by the GTX 295 and even the 4870x2 very often.
Of course if you prefer single GPU and do not care for the game changing experience that is 3D Vision then this is your card.
Regards
mattman059
October 26, 2009 at 6:10am
Oh wow 3D! what is this 1980? I personally dont give a shit about 3D anything, games, movies, popup books..who cares? I'll take my games the way the good Lord intended it. flat. regular. enjoyable.
DRAGONWEEZEL
October 29, 2009 at 1:46pm
Dude... chill. Flat isn't going anywhere in the next 5 years. Everyone just bought shiny new plasma and Lcd tv's / monitors.
Though I still use an old SGI 3.2 MP monitor.
THERE ARE ONLY 11 TYPES OF PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD. Those that think binary jokes are funny, those that don't, and those that don't know binary
neelchauhan
October 23, 2009 at 12:57pm
I went to 3dGameMan.com and they reviewed the 5870, 5850, and 5750 when you only got the 5870. I believe that this is the fastest card but I want to tell high-end gamers (They will need it) and Wii lovers (To suck their money) to buy this.
