SAPPHIRE Vapor-X Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

Almost Perfect

Reviewed By: I'm Broke on 5/15/2009

Tech Level: high - Ownership: 1 week to 1 month

This user purchased this item from Newegg

Pros: This is the fastest card I have purchased. Just upgraded from an 4670 512 MB to this monster. The 4670 don't get me wrong is not an bad card at all with vertical resolutions ranging from 720-800 P, any thing above it will scream I need more than 128 bits memory controller. I tested out my new 4870 on an number of games that has come out recently. FC2, its playable with every thing maxed, just don't expect the smoothes gameplay all the time. FEAR 2 is butter smooth, I tried my best to make the game run under 60 FPS, not a chance. COD4/5 plays both smoothe with everything maxes, just in COD 5 you might not want to be around too many explosions, tends to slow down with 8 X AA. Crysis War Head, it plays smooth in the begining, but choppy in the snow levels and end. BIOShock and Mass Effect, perfectly smooth with everthing maxed out. GTA 4 it plays smooth with some stutter here in there. Saint Rows 2 it plays it in the Teens, no fault of the card, just an poorly ported game.

Cons: This card idle heat is perfectly fine as long the fan is set to 50-60 percent for the speed. Load temps and nosie can get out of hand. With the card fan being set to 65 percent it will keep the GPU generally under 75 C during load, anything less than that your talking about baking eggs on the front plate. Pushing the fan past 70-75 will keep the load temps on 70 C, but you can expect to hear something sound like those little remote control cards stuck against the walls with the tires turning. Overall not as cool running as they advertise, the box content seem to be missing items from the review copy. I wish I could do an half star off because this card is pretty good except for the cooling system, its either silent and hot, or loud and cool, pick your posion.

Other Thoughts: All in all and great card, not had this kind of power before. My Rig, Core 7 920 overclocked to 3.1 GHZ, 6 GIGS of OCZ 1600 DDR 3 Ram, Blu Ray and 22 X DVD drive. 800 watt Zalman Power supply, ATI 650 TV Turner,
Sound Blaster 4 Fatility Edition sound card. 560 5.1 logitech setup and a 25.5 inch Samsung TOC monitor.

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Superbly Cool

Reviewed By: AusDog on 4/23/2009

Tech Level: somewhat high - Ownership: 1 week to 1 month

This user purchased this item from Newegg

Pros: Fantastic performance. Use your fav OC utility and run it at 1000 and 780 all the time so your 2D is great also. Just set the fan on manual 70% constant and it never goes over 60C. Dropped right in no problem and quiet as a mouse.

Cons: The Sapphire has the worst warranty in the biz at only 60 days whereas XFX warrants their cards for the life of the first owner AND the second owner. Vapor-X was what sold me and it's worth the trouble to get.

Other Thoughts: Tickled Pink.

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what can i say?

Reviewed By: Ahmed on 10/2/2009

Tech Level: high - Ownership: 1 day to 1 week

Pros: GREAT CARD !!!!!
wow everything is just suddenly running smooth as hell
at mirrors edge i probably get more than 70 frames per second
all max 4xAA
its idling and under load (load = mirrors edge , haven't got crysis yet) at 60C idle , 63C max at load LOL :D
but its not really load.... i still have a 17" monitor
getting a 23" soon thats why i bought this card

Cons: none

Other Thoughts: its one of those cards you'd never think of running in crossfire
because one of it is more than enough!
---
so...
BUY IT , BUY IT NOW XD
(i didn't get it from newegg)

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Reviewed By: on 9/30/2009

Tech Level: somewhat high - Ownership: 1 week to 1 month

This user purchased this item from Newegg

Pros: I am very pleased with this card. It runs extremely quietly and extremely cool while playing every game I throw at it. Crysis and FarCry 2 have given me no problems, and Source games run like a dream. Under load, it reaches something like 50° C. Great performance for the price, and the cooling system is amazing.

Cons: Nothing I can think of.

Other Thoughts: Win7
4 GB DDR3 1333
AMD Phenom II X4 955

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Nice overclocker!

Reviewed By: QuiddlerX on 9/22/2009

Tech Level: somewhat high - Ownership: 1 month to 1 year

This user purchased this item from Newegg

Pros: First off, I purchased this card as a replacement for an MSI 4870 card rather than buying an aftermarket cooler to reduce heat and reduce noise. This card is silent in 2D mode and nearly silent while the fan is running at full speed playing Crysis. I have the card overclocked to 790 core and 1050 memory and it runs smooth as could be.

Cons: My greatest qualm with ATI cards is the catalyst drivers! Recently, upgrading to catalyst 9.9 drivers, my computer started to blue screen!!!! Horrible feeling, and after downclocking the card to default speeds, same problem. After uninstalling and running games, no such problem. Re-installed drivers and catalyst, BAM, same problem. 9.8 drivers work fine, so get them, but remember that sometimes it is the drivers, not the card.

Other Thoughts: Get this card.

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