Given the rather high demand for various models of video cards using a video chip called Barts XT, a company from Taiwan MSI today offers users five different solutions using the Radeon HD 6870 graphics processor. All these cards differ only in the design of the printed circuit board that is used in the cooling system, as well as the operating frequencies of the GPU and, accordingly, the cost. Previously, many paid attention to the Radeon HD 6870 card itself, which differs from its reference counterpart only in a standard sticker located on the cooling system cover and the BIOS version used, but today a more advanced solution related to the well-known HAWK series has become more widespread.
Cost
Given the specifics of modern video cards of this model, the overwhelming majority of parameters were left untouched in comparison with the standard version. But it should be noted that in addition to the additional design of the printed circuit board, as well as the specialized cooling system that is typical for any video card with the HAWK prefix in the name, this manufacturer also decided to slightly increase the core frequency compared to the reference sample. Thus, in the new Radeon HD 6870, instead of the standard 900 MHz, the GPU frequency reaches 930 MHz. Next, we will consider how such overclocking ultimately affected the performance of this device, and also we will understand other features of its operation.
Equipment
The video card comes in a fairly large box, decorated in black and blue. The mere appearance of this box already hints that the company has provided users with a really high-quality product in the form of Radeon HD 6870. The cardboard box is made in the shape of a small case and looks more like a package of some motherboard, rather than a box from a graphics accelerator.
After opening the top cover, the cooling system used in the video card becomes visible. Designers preferred to leave the space around the window just like the inside of the top cover in order to list the main features of the video card, as well as all kinds of technologies that were used in the process of its production.
What are these features?
According to the manufacturer, the power stabilization system, which is used in the AMD Radeon HD 6870, is equipped with ten phases at the same time compared to the five present in the standard card, which ensures fairly stable operation of the device, regardless of whether it will work in normal mode or with fairly intense acceleration.
The card’s power circuit used specialized components of the so-called “military” type, including tantalum and solid state capacitors, all kinds of chokes equipped with ferrite cores, which also positively affects the overall overclocking potential of this card, and also significantly reduces any heat emission present in the power circuit.
At individual points, using the multimeter, you can measure the voltage supplied to the GPU, memory, as well as the PLL unit. This feature is quite convenient, and in addition to this, the voltage values can be obtained as accurate as possible, which is also quite important. The values of the main voltages thus obtained can then be changed by the user independently using the Afterburner proprietary program, which is present in the initial delivery package of the video card.
Special attention was also paid to the ability to switch the operating mode of the AMD Radeon HD 6870 graphics card with the help of a specialized lever located on the printed circuit board. The user can choose the “silent” mode of operation on his own or prefer a mode in which the cooler starts working with increased performance.
Information
On the back of the package there is not much useful information on how the Radeon HD 6870 video card works and what it is. There are the minimum system requirements for the computer in which this card will be installed, as well as the main characteristics of the device. It is worth noting that in a system where there is a Radeon HD 6870 Reference or its upgraded version, there must be a power supply unit with a power of at least 500 W, as otherwise the device is unlikely to unleash the full potential laid down in it by the developers.
Additional equipment
In addition to the card itself, there are also several useful elements in the box, such as:
- The disk on which the corresponding drivers are located, as well as the above utility, designed to control the characteristics of the device during its operation. If necessary, you can use the utility in order to overclock the video card to the desired level.
- A quick guide for users, as well as a separate booklet, which details all the applied proprietary technologies.
- An adapter designed to reconnect mini DisplayPort to standard DisplayPort.
- An adapter designed to reconnect DVI to standard VGS.
- Two adapters from two four-pin peripheral power connectors to one six-pin, designed to connect power to the video card.
- Adapters that allow you to connect a multimeter for continuous voltage monitoring.
Among other things, the CrossFireX model bridge should also be included in the package. Thus, a rather rich delivery set is formed, in which there is almost everything that is needed for normal interaction with this video card without any problems.
What does it give?
Given that the AMD Radeon HD 6870 graphics card has two adapters at the same time, the user will not have any problems connecting the desired monitor, projector or plasma panel if necessary.
It is worth noting separately the fact that four monitors can be connected to such accelerators at the same time, the resolution of each of which is up to 1900x1200, and given the presence of two additional DisplayPort hubs, purchased separately from the standard set, there is the possibility of additional connection of two more monitors, forming an integral six-monitor configuration.
Reviews
In their reviews, users often pay attention to the possibility of playing simultaneously on multiple monitors, since the card shows stable operation in most cases.
The only thing that some did not like was the size of this device, since it is not always convenient to insert it into medium-sized cases. Also, not everyone is happy with the fact that the device can get quite hot and make noise in case of a serious load, but during the game the latter is almost imperceptible.
Pay
The design of the printed circuit board is made somewhat different from the reference, which is quite expected. In order to completely present the elements of the 10-phase power supply circuit on this board, it was decided to increase it by two centimeters. For owners of small cases who want to install a Radeon HD 6870, the characteristics of this card may play almost no role if they cannot allocate at least 275 mm inside the chassis. The 10-phase circuit itself was used precisely to ensure the most stable operation of the device, as well as provide users with more options in terms of overclocking the video card to the desired value.
It is worth noting once again that in the production process of this card, specialized components are used that comply with the Military Class II standard, with which maximum durability, extremely low heating of the power supply circuit elements, as well as excellent overclocking potential of this device are achieved.
Reverse side of the board
Various light indicators located on the reverse side of the printed circuit board allow you to extremely clearly assess how loaded the graphics core is, since the power supply stabilizer of this device provides for dynamic switching of active phases if necessary. This makes it possible to completely turn off unnecessary phases in the event that a sufficiently low accelerator load is present.
Small controls are also located here, with the help of which thermal monitoring is activated, as well as specialized GPU protection, which ensures the safety of the device when applying too high a voltage. Of course, such functions are relevant only for a fairly narrow circle of professional specialists using the appropriate equipment for cooling the card during the "nitrogen" tests, so ordinary users are not recommended to conduct any serious experiments, performing extreme overclocking of the device with only a standard cooler installed.
Also, the reverse side of the board, in addition to the components already indicated, has a card cooler mount. Thus, all the main elements in the Radeon HD 6870 reviewed above are located on the front side of the PCB, which ensures their most effective cooling.
Connectors
Often, they leave positive feedback about the Radeon HD 6870, and often this is due not only to the characteristics and cost of this device, but also to the fact that it provides a fairly large number of connectivity options due to the mass of connectors and specialized adapters.
So, you can immediately notice the connector designed to connect to the CrossFireX bridge device, in connection with which the user can combine two accelerators at the same time to provide a comprehensive calculation of graphic effects.
In addition to the standard PCI-Express bus, the card can also be powered with two six-pin connectors located on the side of this card. Near them there are voltage measurement points, as well as a mode switch in which the cooler will work.
Core
The graphics core, code-named Barts XT, is produced in accordance with the standards of the 40 nm process, and also represents the main element of the AMD Radeon HD 6870. The characteristics of this device show 1,120 absolutely universal shader pipelines, as well as 32 rasterization units at the same time, while information is exchanged between the memory and the kernel using a 256-bit bus.
Video memory
Video memory is made in the GDDR5 standard, and its total volume is 1 GB, obtained using eight chips simultaneously, each of which has a capacity of 128 MB. Chips, in accordance with the technical documentation, can operate at an effective frequency of not more than 5 GHz. Considering the fact that in the tested video card the memory is initially operated at an effective frequency of 4.2 GHz, the user has the opportunity to significantly speed it up using overclocking, which results in a significant performance increase.
Cooling system
It is worth noting that when a review was carried out on a standard card and Gigabyte Radeon HD 6870, special attention was always paid to the Twin Frozr III proprietary cooling system, which occupies two slots and consists of an aluminum radiator with five heat pipes, as well as a special casing with a duet of 80 mm fans. providing effective forcing of air on a radiator.
According to the manufacturer, thanks to the use of the cooling system, the temperature of the graphic core is 21 degrees lower compared to the standard reference turbine, when the device is operating at the maximum possible load. At the same time, marketers say that the company cooler perfectly copes with its mission, so that in the process of work, 7 dB is less noise. According to the information from the description, such a high efficiency of the cooler is achieved through the use of Propeller Blade fans, which are the development of MSI and were first used on these devices.