PowerColor Radeon HD 5870 LCS: The GHz Limit, Broken
Under The Hood And The Bundle
The Radeon HD 5870 LCS is Powercolor's top-model single-GPU Radeon card. It comes with an overclocked 875 MHz core and 1,250 MHz memory speeds, which is a moderate increase over reference speeds of 25 and 50 MHz, respectively.
The included bundle covers the basics with a CrossFire connector, a DVI-to-VGA dongle, and a quick installation card. As a bonus, the package includes a full version of Dirt 2, probably the first major game title that will come to retail with DirectX 11 features. The game requires Steam to download and install, and is scheduled to be unlocked December 4th. Our only complaint about this is that the installation card doesn't address the special issues related to the liquid-cooling block. For example, we could not determine which port was the inlet and which was the outlet just by looking at them. Also included are 1/2" and 3/8" fittings for the water block in addition to the appropriate hose clamps.
On the hardware side of things, PowerColor's LCS card appears to be a standard-model Radeon HD 5870, but with a customized EK water block attached. The design is simple but effective, and darn good looking, too.
Let's take off the block to check out what's underneath:
Notice how the block covers not only the GPU and memory, but the important-for-overclocking VRM. This is a good thing. The block is substantial and weighs just over a pound all by itself. Digging a little deeper, we'll take the cover off of the block and look inside.
The cover is composed of acetal (a thermoplastic), while the block is nickel-plated copper. Note how the small channels force the coolant to move in a wavy path, increasing the cooling surface and turbulence to theoretically maximize cooling performance.
With the water block removed, the card looks strangely paper-thin for a board we know as being so large.
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The GDDR5 memory chips are difficult to read, but they are Samsung K4G10325FE-HC04 components rated for 1,250 MHz operation. Since this is exactly the speed at which the memory is clocked on the card, we're not expecting a lot of headroom for pushing it higher.
Unfortunately, the I/O bezel prevents the Powercolor HD 5870 LCS from being a true single-slot card. As you can see, that second DVI output requires a double-wide slot, even though the card's cooler can easily fit in a single-slot space. Pity.
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CoryInJapan Wow...is ATI leading again...O wait they are.Reply
Nice to see ATI back on top. Would be nice to have that card. -
jimmysmitty Enjoy it while it lasts ATI.Reply
Unless nV screws G300 up (rebranding G200) then it may be a nice time but wont last forever.
If only they could get a damn seperate shader clock. With 1600 SPs running at 1.7GHz they could blow nV out of the water.... -
anamaniac It's dissapointing to hear the memory had to be put so low...Reply
Though I'd love to liquid cool my i7, then add a 5870 and liquid cool that also. I got a radiator at work that can likely handle a 10 kilowatt system, add to that it's constantly cooled by sub zero temperatures (during winter atleast), with a 5 barrel resevoir, and dual 24" fans (used to cool 3000psi hydraulics).
Even more dissapointing to see it can't keep up with it's dual 4xxx series cousin.
Also, GPU waterblocks just look so inneficient... -
7amood WOOOOOOOW extremely low temperatures... but not worth the 500W draw.Reply
I think now am interested in water cooled video cards.
but honestly, i thought the gain will be 20% at least... disappointing. -
liquidsnake718 You made a mistake on the test and benchmark page on the Crysis Bench config. It states you tested it at low quality. This would mean at least 100-150FPS....Reply
Nice work but I also wish you guys tested Crysis at Very High settings.... its always great to see Crysis tested at its maximum threshhold. -
shubham1401 Being a single card 5870 performs very impressively...Reply
And the power usage is impressive too(Only on stock).
This is the best card for now and with a lil price dip it'll be fav. of all high end gamers. -
IzzyCraft I love the draw on their oc 1 gpu is greater then 2 older gen gpus draw that's just hilariously bad results. Still with the waterblock set up maybe you can afford the 1000 dollar electric bill with you're fastest possible machine. Sorry but as far as ATI venders powercolor is low on the list of ones i trust. Poor 5870 gpu wasted on excess and ya can't waste those things, hard to come by with tsmc doing jack in the yields department.Reply