ASUS EAH3870X2/G/HTDI/1G Radeon HD 3870 X2 1GB (512MB x 2) 512-bit (256-bit x 2) GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

Pros: Quality performance with the Asus-supplied utilities, which can fine-tune the fan and frequencies. All games run perfectly at max settings, depending on Catalyst A.I. compatibility (need to adjust that manually- some games run best on Advanced Cat A.I. setting, while others can't work on anything but Standard... and I understand the on-board crossfire of the card doesn't work right with Cat A.I. disabled), except Crysis because it's Crysis and not even two RV670s can run that at absolute full settings perfectly smoothly.

Cons: Nothing from me, besides keeping track of Catalyst A.I. compatibility.

Other Thoughts: Note to those complaining about the fan: Asus SmartDoctor is meant to control the fan on these Asus cards. It can vary the speed either based on usage (I believe this is what Auto Fan Control does) or based on temperature (SmartControl, with four speeds that will activate at the specified temperatures- probably the best option, honestly, so long as good temps are set). SmartDoctor doesn't need the Asus drivers, either, to work right- you can use the official ATi drivers with this card and SmartDoctor. Recommend using Asus GamerOSD with it, though, to make sure all the features are functioning. Check under either 3870x2 or 3870 downloads on Asus' support page for version 5.131 of SmartDoctor and 3.03.1130 of GamerOSD. And be sure you have the latest version of CCC- should be 8.476 currently, though a new update may be due in the next week. Also, the power connections aren't that bizzare for a modern PSU- mine has four PCI-E 8-pins with 2 pins optional.

Pros: Runs everything acceptably on highest settings, only exception being some of the larger levels on Crysis (towards the middle of the campaign, this could be RAM-limited because it clears up at checkpoints, runs high just fine though). Would have liked a bit more performance to be perfectly honest, but I'm looking at getting the 4870 whenever it arrives anyway. For the price it's competitive, and this should be more than enough to run the new Aliens FPS whenever it releases, which is what I happen to care about. When Cool and Quiet or other fan-control utility is working this actually runs pretty quiet, nowhere near as loud as some other reviews seemed to indicate, except...

Cons: Cool and quiet almost never works, may or may not be related to MB BIOs and/or AMD Overdrive, and I don't have the 8-pin power connector yet which I assume is why I can't access fan control in CCC or anywhere else. Hence the fan runs at 100% all the time, and yes it sounds like a vacuum cleaner at this speed. And why the heck does this thing need an 8-pin power connector anyway? Just like the 6-pin, this mostly just seems to necessitate buying another adapter, only this one's harder to find. All the necessary voltages are available on the standard molex in the first place. So for the moment I'm docking one egg.

Other Thoughts: For most people I suspect cross-firing this card won't be a practical benefit. I was curious about this so I crossed this with a 3870 and my 3D mark score and framerates don't budge on a 1680x1050 monitor. This could change if drivers get better configured for different applications over time, but I'm a bit skeptical that they're going to prioritize on increasing framerates on medium-rez monitors. People who are seeing their scores drop when crossfiring: activating crossfire may require a reboot or two. I had the same thing happen when I would just trust CCC that crossfire was already on, but once rebooted my scores recovered...they just didn't improve.

Pros: Great card. I love the fact that I can have it hooked up via HDMI to my tv. I have yet to find a game that I cannot run on high settings (including crysis).

Cons: It's big. Since I am running two of these in Crossfire, I only have room for one HDD (with out modifying the case). As mentioned previously the only other con is the price.

Other Thoughts: ASUS M3A32-MVP Deluxe Wifi, AMD 9600 Black Ed., 8GB OCZ DDR2 800 ram, Dual ASUS 3870X2 in Crossfire, 250GB Seagate Barricuda, Lite-On DL-DVD w/ Litescribe & 1000watt Ultra X3 PS in a ASUS Vento 3600 case.

Pros: Excellent single-card Crossfire solution. Superb high-end performance. Oh, and runs fine at the TOP edition's clock speeds, which let it reign in Crysis at full settings (excluding AA- at 1920x1200, I don't see the point of using AA, though, so.. ). ASUS's control software (at least the latest versions) work great to keep the card's temps down enough to run Crysis for decent lengths (just be careful about leaving it 'paused' on the menu in mid-session. I notice most cards overheat more in those instances, and this is no exception). Everything else, should be cake for this thing (it is delicious and moist).

Cons: Heat can, admittedly, be problematic. I especially notice some high heat near the PCI-E slot and the 790FX NB right above it, but that may be my case's low chassis fan flow (Lian-Li's fans are quiet, but at the expense of seeming fairly light-weight on the performance). But it doesn't seem to get too bad.

Other Thoughts: Crysis is pretty playable at 850/1902(2x951), so far. Not sure everyone would want to push it at the expense of warranty, but it can certainly do it with the ATI Reference Cooler. And all the heat goes out the back of the case, instead of dumped in with the air the CPU uses to stay cool, and I'd rather not mistreat my Phenom (9850, with a slight OC boost to the still-awaited 9950's 2.6GHz, cooled by a Scythe SCMN-1100 Mine Rev.B)

The GPUs seem to idle around 38, and can get up into the 50s, at least, under load. Haven't seen a 60, but I haven't gotten proper temperature tracking software yet.

Pros: A great improvement over the 2900xt series. Went from 12500 to 16800, 3dmark06, with this card. Easy to deal with great step up for ATI.

Cons: Extremely long. About 2 inches longer than my 2900xt. Just as long as my Mobo which sucks cause now im out 3 SATA connectors but im upgrading to a new one soon so no worries.

Other Thoughts: Used to be a huge Nvidia fan but SLI cant touch Crossfire ATI is definitely taking the market. I have a Asus Mobo runnin DDR3 with a 6850 quad core on vista. easy 16000 straight out the box.

Pros: Allowed me to get a 3DMark 06 score of 13200 paired with a Phenom 9850. I haven't OC'd any part yet You will not be disappointed with its performance.

Cons: I am not getting the performance I want yet with Crysis, but I think thats a problem with my RAM.

Pros: Very nicely laid out, well thought out design... many bios options as expected... no issues thus far...

Cons: obviously price, but you get what you pay for...

Other Thoughts: still thinking

Pros: Awesome product. This was my first major upgrade in awhile. I realy like the design. I didn't test out the fan to see if it was loud. Mine is with a EK 3870x2 waterblock. Load temps never above 34*C :D!!! Also comes with a free game!

Cons: Doesn't overclock well. Maybe I got a card that doesn't overclock well. My clocks are stable at 945core/1085mem. I read reviews of possible 1000mhz core!

Other Thoughts: I don't know if the con is a con. I am fairly pleased with the product. I get 160fps stock clocks at Half Life 2: Lost Coast. That is the only game I've tested so far. I get around 12500 in 3dmark06 with a q6700@stock, 4gb ram, XP64.

Pros: I bought my card for $375. Upgradded from an 8800gtx and supprised about how much my score improved in 3dmark06, however running crysis i have to turn down some of my settings that once were on high to med to get to run smoothing unlike my 8800gtx. This card really slows down on my older games or on lower resolutions where the 8800gtx didnt. Overclocking Is easily done.

Cons: This Card really gets hot when overclocked. The fan gets really annoying when it runs at %50 speed or more. The Drivers for this card are still not up to par. When turnning on anti aliasing for almost every game will kill your fps where my 8800gtx didnt have a problem.

Other Thoughts: Bought My card a day before the 9800gtx came out. Kinda wished i waited to get the 9800gtx which doesnt have any major bugs in its drivers and draws less power than the 3870x2. Its still a great card just full of bugs.

Pros: Wow, where do I begin. Fast, sexy, & quiet fan. What alse can I ask for??? No problems installing it!!! No fan problems. Free Company of Heroes.

Cons: More satisfaction than being married!!! Except for the nightly activities of course!

Other Thoughts: Asus Maximus Extreme, Patriot Viper 4GB(2 x 2GB) DDR3 1333, Vista Ultimate 64, X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty, LG Blu-ray/HD DVD-ROM, 42 inch Westinghouse 1080p. Etc....