Can't decide between these 2 cards (ATI 5870 2GB Toxic vs Eyefinity 6)

J

Jawn

New Member
SAPPHIRE Toxic Radeon HD 5870 2GB
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102891
Pros: Better and quieter cooling
Cons: No Eyefinity 6


SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 5870 2GB Eyefinity 6 Edition
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102888
Pros: Eyefinity 6
Cons: Stock cooling

Although I can always change the cooling from stock to aftermarket, I'm not a fan of voiding the warranty. Does anyone know if they plan to release a Toxic / Vapor-X Eyefinity 6 version?

Thanks for your input!
 
Also, I read a comment on another 5870 Eyefinity 6 card:

BE ADVISED: there is alot of misunderstanding about mini DP plugs on this thing. In simple terms: any eyefinity card including this one can only operate 2 non Display port monitors through the supplied passive adaptors. If you want a 3rd monitor, you must either buy a monitor that has a DP connection or purchase an ACTIVE miniDP to DVI dual link adaptor that costs about $100. These can be hard to find BUT I HAVE A SOLUTION: Apple makes one and every mac dealer like "BB" has them in stock, It is called MB571Z/A, it costs $114 and it works. I use it and it's perfect, plus I did not need to order online from someone I don't know and wait a month to get it by mail…


Is this true? 100$ per adapter?

Do the ones from Monoprice that cost like 10$ each work too (it doesn't say if they are passive or active)?

Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5311&seq=1&format=2

Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5106&seq=1&format=2
 
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When I bought my 5870 EF6 I figured that since the 2 gigs does not do much for a single monitor and the 5870 does not have a cooling issue at least the EF6 might have value down the road to someone?

I read the review above and I have no idea.
 
Do you realy need the Eyefinity edition?

Id go with whatevers cheaper though.
2gb of vram is good too...should max GTA IV :P
 
Nevakonaza said:
Do you realy need the Eyefinity edition?
Click to expand...

Yeah I think so, I already have a 4 screen setup and wouldn't mind expanding to 6, but if it's 100$ per adaptor that's pretty lame. I'll just stick with a secondary cheaper card and get the Toxic with OC and quieter / cooler solution.

Too bad it isn't Toxic Eyefinity 6 :(
 
I have concern about the design of the Toxic 5870. Does this heat up the case a lot? The exhaust is small than the stock design and the front of the card is also much more open than the stock design.

Toxic version
13_thumb.jpg

14_thumb.jpg



E6 version
card5.jpg

card6.jpg
 
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Saphire usually has great heatsinks. They actually put some thought into them and usually are a lot quieter and more efficient than AMD's horrible stock solutions.
 
The ref design does not put air out of the small red holes on the inside. The Vapor-x cooler cover is open all around and exhausts air into the case more than it ever will through the back port. FYI. I would not worry about cooling. I just figure the EF6 gives me something more than the non-EF6 2g at the same price.
 
wow jimjudy2008, thanks for the link! ( :sarcasm: )
the vapor-x version will probably put the same amount of air out the back of the card as the original one. i am assuming it has better cooling primarily due to the improved heatsink...
for your question earlier about the cheaper adapters, generally speaking, no they don't work. there have been some reported to work since they are actually active and convert the signal using power supplied by the displayport connection, but you need to look around for some. i am looking to try this one:
http://www.directron.com/apdpvga.html
evidently someone got it to work with their 5xxx card. so yes you can get some cheap ones but they won't work as seamlessly as the $100 (obviously). i actually tried an adapter that was only like $15 and it actually worked, just not very well.
overall, i personally would go with the 6 port edition. why? a. because heating really doesn't seem to be a major problem with the cards thus far. b. because it has the ability to have more monitors. c. looks cool (not really important but still a plus for me). d. extra ram, and who can ever have too much?
 
joh06937 said:
wow jimjudy2008, thanks for the link! ( :sarcasm: )
the vapor-x version will probably put the same amount of air out the back of the card as the original one.
Click to expand...

How would it do that? The Sapphire NR Vapor-x case is open on every side. The air from cooling the GPU goes into the case.
 
Gabe63 said:
How would it do that? The Sapphire NR Vapor-x case is open on every side. The air from cooling the GPU goes into the case.
Click to expand...

The over all heatsink is probably a superior design. It's like all the aftermarket solutions. My Zalman VF-1000 is open on all sides yet it keeps my GPU cooler while being about 10X quieter than ATI's stock heatsink.
 
diduknowthat said:
The over all heatsink is probably a superior design. It's like all the aftermarket solutions. My Zalman VF-1000 is open on all sides yet it keeps my GPU cooler while being about 10X quieter than ATI's stock heatsink.
Click to expand...

I agree that the heat sink is better from the reviews I read. However, the ref design moves the air outside the case. The Vapor design does not. In the end the ref cards do not run hot so I do not have a concern about heat.
 
Gabe63 said:
The ref design does not put air out of the small red holes on the inside. The Vapor-x cooler cover is open all around and exhausts air into the case more than it ever will through the back port.
Click to expand...

That's what pisses me off about the Toxic design, what's the point of having better cooling if 3/4 of the hot air goes into the case and heats up other stuff.

I'm leaning towards the E6 version for now. Since you own one with the stock fan, how loud is it when it gets hot? Apparently the Toxic version is pretty silent even at 75%, and it keeps the GPU in the 50-60's vs stock which is like 80's. (I'm taking information from the reviews I've read)
 
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