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The XFX box art has some of the finest designs in the industry and this one looks like an advertisement for the UK TV show Robot Wars. On the front is a list of specifications and the feature set. This card supports Eyefinity with dual link DVI ports and Mini DisplayPort.
The outer sleeve slides out to reveal the inside box with a window cut into one side, showcasing the cooling solution. The card ships protected in a plastic sleeve.
Inside the box is a fairly minimal bundle, an install guide, a driver disc, a molex to 6 pin adapter and a ‘do not disturb' sign to hang over your closed door handle … these make ideal toys for pets also when they try to jump up and eat them. We also received a voucher for the DX11 capable Colin McRae Dirt 2 which is part of the DABS bundle deal. We mentioned to XFX that our box didn't come supplied with a Crossfire connector, so hopefully they can include one in the bundle on the DABS store.
While the card pictures above looks just like any other reference card on the market (with a slim single slot profile obviously), there is more to it than you might first think. XFX have created a custom PCB for one which maintains their traditional black colour and secondly allows for a custom cooling solution.
The 80mm fan is bigger than most single slot cooling solutions and we hope it will offer low noise levels with reasonable cooling efficiency.
Two of the little boards can make for a formidable gaming system, which we will test shortly on the latest game engines.
Above left is a single Crossfire connector for dual card mode, and above right a single six pin power feed is required.
Due to the single slot solution there is no much room for a wealth of output connectivity, two dual link DVI connectors with a mini DisplayPort are offered. Some people might like to see one of the DVI outputs switched to an HDMI output, but it is pretty easy to get an HDMI to DVI converter cable and this configuration offers broader PC monitor support, especially when using Eyefinity.
XFX are using military grade standard solid capacitors on the card which they say will increase life time while offering enhanced stability and reliability.
There once was one and now there is two. The single slot cooler shown beside a Sapphire Vapor X HD5770. The card is around a quarter of an inch shorter than the reference design due to the removal of the overhanging shroud. The really observant among you will already have noticed that the GPU core is moved further away from the backplate which required a reversal of the heatsink fins – directly over the core and aiding the cooling system.
The cooler also incorporates IP-5X ‘anti dust' protection which is an industry rating they have managed to achieve when creating the board design.
These are so sexy lookin’. XFX and Sapphire rocks !
Very capable and the noise levels and power consumption is excellent.
Very impressed with these little boards. the cooler looks quite crap on the pictures due to the t iny little blades but it seems to handle the cooling fine.
I want to see Sapphire passively cooling these though with an Ultimate Edition 🙂
Temperatures look a bit higher than normal, but its expected with such a cooler. Regardless im impressed with how good they are and the work XFX put into designing a custom cooler for the cards.
Well these rock, I wasnt expecting them to run so well, thought the fans might be spinning at 10k to keep the temps down. if it wasnt for XFX, powercolor and Sapphire ATI would be losing a lot of sales due to their average coolers.
Nice one XFX and usual quality review Zardon, very thorough.
Wait a minute did you say no Crossfire connector was bundled? what a miss. I hope thats not the case on the retail bundle. Otherwise a lot of people will be pissed off.
Wait a minute did you say no Crossfire connector was bundled? what a miss. I hope thats not the case on the retail bundle. Otherwise a lot of people will be pissed off.
These are really sexy little boards. I know powercolor have some out, any differences you know?
Great review KG, very efficient boards all round. good in CFx, even if scaling isnt always quite as good as it might be.
Shame they never seem to ship anything in those awesome X packages now. they used to do that, and I loved to use to see them in stores.
ohhh, wasnt expecting a review of this today. Read it and they seem really good. pricing is spot on, but its a shame they didnt hit the 250 inc vat price point.
XFX aer such a quality company, imagine the GTX460 boards they would be producing NOW if nvidia werent such tools.
HONEY I SHRUNK THE VIDEO CARDS !
Nothing much to fault with these, its the way all the lower end boards should be shipping anyway. ATI take note
XFX have overcharged a little with these, they should be £5 less than the reference boards, and aim for a £240 price point, not 265. I think its going to be hard for them to sell these as people wont understand what Crossfire is. not the mass punters anyway.
The news here yesterday pissed me off big time. Nvidia kicking XFX into touch.
Well I hope someone high up is reading this review, cause this is the quality product they release. Idiots.
Well these really appeal to me, i love small things, and things that dont make a racket when you game. Ideal configuration for a powerful gaming focused media center in a shuttle chassis.
XFX have been quiet quite lately. so this is welcomed.
HD5770 is ATis best card right now. thats my opinion. its open to such a huge market at this price. quality gaming without spending a fortune. CFx is lovely.
One of these is enough. I dont think XFX have created enough incentives to buy two in a bundle deal. same price and you still dont get a crossfire connector !
I would not buy this until I found out if XFX are bundling a crossfire connector. Neither single card box has one included, so why bundle two in a CFX bundle if people can’t use it. Very few motherboards that actually support Crossfire bundle them anymore either. so its useless until I know.
Hi all, my name is Dunc from dabs.com – just wanted to assure you that in the DABS exclusive XFX 5770 Single Slot Crossfire bundle that a CrossfireX Bridge is included in the box.
http://www.dabs.com/articles/promotions/products/s-9076.html
PS: First 10 to buy and leave a review on the item will also get a bonus free game download – either Stormrise or Stalker: COP.
Duncan thanks for letting us know, thats great. ill be on after work tonight ordering for myself. cheers.
No worries at all! Happy to help! Thanks for all the feedback to the offer so far, keep it coming!
No worries! Enjoy the card – anyone ordering this week gets a FREE copy of Bad Company 2 worth £35 too!
Thanks Dunc, im ordered it tomorrow evening when im paid.
Saw the link from XFX to this today in email, putting in my order this weekend when im paid.
Great review kitguru, bookmarked this site, all my friends are talking about it.
Is the battlefield offer still ok ?