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The XFX HD6870 Black Edition cards are supplied in typically futuristic style XFX boxes with robotic style artwork on the front.
The XFX bundle includes stickers, literature on the product and the XFX range of power supplies, a ‘Do Not Disturb' sign for your door, and a metallic badge. XFX also include a Crossfire cable with the bundle. Scan in the UK are including Dirt 3 with this bundle, although ours didn't have it in the box.
The card is built upon a black PCB which looks great, although we were disappointed that XFX didn't include a custom cooler and fan design with this Black Edition.
The XFX HD6870 Black Edition is CrossfireX capable and it demands two 6 pin PCI E power connectors to operate properly.
The card has two DVI ports, a single HDMI port and two mini Displayport connectors. The card also features an onboard HDMI audio device which is 1.4a compliant, offering AC-3, DTS, 7.1 channel audio, DTS-HD and Dolby True HD support.
Removing the cooler is a straightforward process, although XFX include two small stickers on the GPU mount invalidating the warranty if they are removed. We don't know of any other manufacturer right now who do this.
The cooler is a standard design with a small fan placed on the far side, which forces air across the GPU block and outside the case at the rear.
An overview of the hardware in GPUz and the latest version of Catalyst Control Center.
under £140 for an overclocked HD6870? Im not often impressed, but ill mark this day down as one of them.
Shame its a reference cooler, thats disappointing for a black edition. I wonder why they do this? I suppose it would add to the price, right?
Excellent, cant go wrong with those. AMD seem to be forcing down prices in the 100-170 area
Yeah thats a mega price. I was going to buy dirt 3 for £30 on steam at the weekend, but I need a new card. ill wait another few weeks and pick one of these up
real shame about the reference cooler, its pretty average at best. although for £60, two of these could get a good upgrade to the artic cooling solution
Its basically an overclocked reference card. bit lazy from XFX.
Factoring in the price however I can forgive them. seems they hand pick them from batches as the OC headroom seems decent.
what a great price for the performance. makes the 6970 almost redundant, unless you dont like relying on driver profiles
I dealt with Crossfire years ago and it was dire, never again. GTX570 for me im afraid.
Crossfire is much better now. unless its a sponsored Nvidia game, drivers are quick.
The ideal thing about these are , buy one ‘now’ get another ‘later.
I doubt they sell many 6990s or GTX590s’
revisiting this hardware is great. I didnt know the 6870s had dropped this low. they were 180 last time I looked, for a stock clocked card.
The only other card I would consider would be the overclocked sapphire 5850 with new cooler. its much less expensive than this, although not as quick.