To test power consumption today we are using a Keithley Integra unit and we measure power consumption from the VGA card inputs, not the system wide drain. The best way to get maximum load results is by using Furmark, and even though it is not indicative of a real world situation it shows the limits the card can theoretically demand. The ‘gaming’ results are measured when playing Crysis Warhead and is a more valuable result to take from this.
The PowerColor HD6870 Eyefinity 6 Edition is a very efficient card, demanding only 17 watts when idle and 118 watts when under gaming load. Two of these cards in CrossfireX would demand less than 250 watts when gaming.
Damn this is a seriously sexy HD6870, really loved that article, wish I could afford the panels. 🙁
Thats a hell of a card, the HD6870 doesnt get much attention, but its a good pricepoint normally. quite affordable.
I need to get another 6850 for my system, hopefully in August 🙂
Good boards, but powercolor dont have a good warranty system in the UK, always worth pointing out I think.
6 mini displayports, very nice. Wish they would supply six mini displayport screens in the box with it :p
How many people have 3 or 4 screens though? its rather hardcore, even for this audience, I would say.
they should make a 6970 version of this card too, thats wicked
The 6870 is a good card, but I opted for the 560 as I will never use more than one screen at home and I got a good deal on one at the time.
regardless these are good boards, and if I had a bigger desk or more money I would have gotten two 6850s or 6870s
The 6 series is really good for CFx. the scaling always impresses me. shame it needs driver profiles though. wish AMD could crack an ‘all in one dual card profile’. my biggest problem with it, that sometimes AMD take a month to add a profile and id have the game beaten by then.
Im afraid if I was opting for 4 screens id get two 6970’s.