Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 X2

[SirBenn21]

Thought I would spoil myself a bit and get myself with

This...

Attachment 72549

The reviews I've read have got alot of good things to say about this card and I can't wait to give it a whirl!
Anyone else got some comments of firsthand experiance. I would appreciate it. I would be replacing a 8800 GTX, would I see a increase in fps?
I know some are going to say it will not make that much of a difference in FSX, but I do play other titles. By the way has anyone given DCS Black Shark by Eagle Dynamics a go?

Ben

[txnetcop]

Thought I would spoil myself a bit and get myself with

This...

Attachment 72549

The reviews I've read have got alot of good things to say about this card and I can't wait to give it a whirl!
Anyone else got some comments of firsthand experiance. I would appreciate it. I would be replacing a 8800 GTX, would I see a increase in fps?
I know some are going to say it will not make that much of a difference in FSX, but I do play other titles. By the way has anyone given DCS Black Shark by Eagle Dynamics a go?

Ben

Unless you play other games that will take advantage of the second GPU it will not add much to the frame rates on FSX, however the HIS HD4870 ICE-Q4 Turbo and HIS HD4850 ICE-Q4 is just as fast and a lot cheaper. However this card is kickarse in other games that use that second GPU.
Ted

[harleyman]

I agree that it will not give large advantages...But I use the 4870X2 also and find the colors to be excellent ..

But its a smokin card ..

Let us know if this is your first ATI card ,it takes some special attention to set up some times and tends to run very hot.But it can be cooled with the fans...

[SirBenn21]

Thanks all.

It is my first ATI in quite a while. I would appreciate a little guidance with this one.

Thanks

Ben

[harleyman]

Give me 15 minutes and I will give you a step by step......I will post it back here in this thread.....


SirBen.........
First go get the newest 8.12 driver..For your OS ..Choose the first one with the complete CCenter (not just the drivers)
Install it..then open your Catalist Control Center....
On the left at the bottom select ATI Overdrive
See the Key ..Click it to open Overdrive,,That will Un-Gray all the features
Select (check) Manual fan Control Set it at 100% for now..You may be able to reduce it later to 80%..Yes it is loud...You will hear it spin up....As the card ehxausts out the back do not crowd it up against a wall..leave it as open as possible...LOL
Select Apply..That will spin the fan up.......


Now Back to the left...Select 3D..Scroll down to All Settings...
SmoothVision AA........Uncheck..Set at 8X
SmoothVision AF........Uncheck.. Set at 16X
Catalist AI............Uncheck.... Standard
MipMap Detail Level...........Quality
Wait for Vertical Refresh.........Quality
Adaptive Anti-Alaising ..Check......Quality
Open GL Settings....Check
Now select Apply.....And OK...That will apply all your settings and drop the CCC into your Tool tray...It will also be in your Program files list..

Thats it.....You will notice on the ATI Overdrive Page that your Core and Memory Clock Speeds do not show correctly..No worries..its an ATI thing..Means nothing...

Hope this covers it for you.....
These settings work great for me...You may need to play a tad here...but should be perfect for you too....

[SirBenn21]

Thanks Harleyman

Much appreciated.

Ben

[Wiens]

Mason,

Thanks!! I'm trying your suggestions on my 3870X2; should be the same.

At the Open GL Settings do you mark both boxes? I have the Triple Buffering & Force 24-bit Z-buffering boxes.

Thanks,

Kevin

[txnetcop]

You would only apply triple buffering if using vertical refresh the other box Z buffering is for OPEN GL which FSX does not use
Ted

[harleyman]

Thanks txnetcop...You saved me butt there...I did not know how to answer Kevin......:woot:

[Wiens]

Thanks, Ted & Mason!!

So, I'll leave both boxes unchecked, correct?

Kevin

[txnetcop]

Thanks, Ted & Mason!!

So, I'll leave both boxes unchecked, correct?

Kevin

If you are going to use vertical refresh it would be wise to check triple buffering. If you are not going to use vertical refresh ya don't need it
Ted
Harleyman I just happened to be looking in don't mean to interfere here on the Guides ya do good work sir
Ted

[Wiens]

Well, heck Ted & Mason, I don't even know if I'm using vertical refresh!!!! Where do I check that?

Kevin

[harleyman]

Check Open GL only ....


Try it ...If not good uncheck it and try again....

[txnetcop]

Kevin are you using Catalyst 8.12?

[Wiens]

Yes. I did get an error message on reboot that the ATI 8.12 driver is not supported!! RivaTuner also said the same......

Kevin