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Sapphire HD3870 X2

Author:	Jason Jacobs
Date:	2008.05.19
Topic:	Video
Provider:	Sapphire
Manufacturer:	Sapphire

Sapphire HD3870 X2

Analysis and Conclusion:

At the time of writing the Sapphire HD 3870 X2 card currently lists for $387 while the XFX 8800GT 512MB can be found online for $179. Given that the 3870 X2 really only shines when your playing back 3D content on at high resolutions you will want to consider your screen into the equation. For those consumers with 19 to 30 inch LCD's who enjoy resolutions at 1920 x 1600 and above then this is an excellent choice. The Sapphire HD3870 X2 comes with 1 GB of video ram and 2 GPU's for less than half the price of the 9800 GX2 which lists at $515.

While the performance of the HD3870 X2 does not conquer all in games it does provide an excellent experience at the price which Sapphire offers this dual GPU card.

So lets answer that question, are two GPU's better than one? The answer is a yes and a no.

Yes

More power in less space
Less heat produced than two single cards
Less power utilization than two single cards
Excellent gameplay at higher end resolutions

Drivers still do not work correctly in Crossfire or Crossfire X mode (Game Problem or Driver Problem?)
Performance is often less than a single 8800GT
Price is higher than Single 8800GT for no significant gain in performance

While we were pleased with the overall results from the HD3870 X2 and were particularly surprised and pleased with the support from Sapphire, we did not receive the performance and issue-less installation we had hoped for. This is squarely an issue with ATI and not Sapphire at this point. If ATI releases new drivers that address some of the above concerns then this card would be a surefire winner but we have yet to see such support from ATI. In the current scenario we suggest either waiting for more mature drivers, games that support Crossfire, or a significantly lower price on the 3870 X2 before purchasing this card.

REAL TIME PRICING

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