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Sapphire HD3870 X2
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Design and Power:
The layout of the HD 3870 X2 consists of placing two 3870 chips and the memory for both chips on a single PCB. A single 3870 utilizes approximately 80W and considering that the clock frequency of the X2 is slightly higher than that of a single 3870 this brings the 3870 X2 to a total power utilization between 170 and 180W with the memory. This is why you see the HD 3870 X2 with two PCIe connectors. The single PCIe 2.0 8 pin connector is rated for 150W, as we have seen with other ATI cards the HD3870 X2 will work with two PCIe 1.0 6 pin connectors. The extra two pins on the PCIe 2.0 connector are used when overclocking the card.
The power connectors are additionally placed in positions which may make them difficult to work with as they are both placed facing downward and far apart. This orientation further complicates installation if you are amongst the few users seeking to operate this card in a Crossfire X mode as the power connectors will likely interfere with installation of the second card. Our preference is for the connectors to be located on the rear of the card facing the front of the case. This leads to easier installation as well as optimized airflow.
A Closer Look:
As you can see the X2 is a dual slot design with dual DVI outs and a single TV out. This massive card may cause issues in small to medium cases where the hard drive cage is too close to the motherboard. This is more of a case issue than a card issue as ATI has followed design specifications with this card and not all case manufacturers take into consideration slot design and larger cards.
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