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To test the hardware today we have built a system with suitable matching components, based around a liquid cooled Intel i7 970 processor overclocked to 4.33ghz with 6GB of GKILL memory running at 1800mhz with tight timings. We will be mixing the resolutions, as we know that less than 1 percent of the audience have access to a 30 inch screen.
System Validation is available over here.
Processor: Core i7 970 @ 4.33ghz
Cooling: Coolit Vantage
Motherboard: MSI X58A-GD65 (MS-7522)
Chassis: Thermaltake Level 10
Power Supply: Corsair Ax1200
Memory: 6GB GSkill Performance Gaming ram @ 902.9 MHz (2:10) @ 7-8-7-24
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V+ 512GB Gen 2 SSD (Storage) / Crucial RealSSD C300 256GB (OS boot)
Monitors: Dell U2410 UltraSharp, LaCie 730, Iiyama Prolite E2472HDD x2
Other graphics cards for comparisons:
Nvidia GTX590
Nvidia GTX580
Nvidia GTX570
XFX HD5970 Black Edition 4GB (QuadFireX)
AMD HD6990
AMD HD6970
AMD HD6950
AMD HD6850
AMD HD5870
AMD HD5850
MSI N560GTX Ti Twin Frozr II
nVidia GTX570
nVidia GTX460 OC (715/900)
Software:
Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit
Unigine Heaven Benchmark
3DMark Vantage
3DMark 11
Fraps Professional
Steam Client
FurMark
ShaderToy
HQV 2.0 Software
Technical Monitoring and Test Equipment:
Keithley Integra unit
Thermal Diodes
Raytek Laser Temp Gun 3i LSRC/MT4 Mini Temp
Nikon D3X SLR with R1C1
Extech digital sound level meter & SkyTronic DSL 2 Digital Sound Level Meter
Games:
Resident Evil 5
Far Cry 2
Alien V Predator
Lost Planet 2
Home Front
Dirt 3
STALKER: Clear Sky
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Dead Space 2
Total War: Shogun 2
All the latest BIOS updates and drivers are used during testing. We perform under real world conditions, meaning KitGuru tests all games across five closely matched runs and average out the results to get an accurate median figure.
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.