HD5870 toxic - reliable VRMs?

[Lwerewolf]

My 4870 is kind-of malfunctioning (coil whine during load, falls back to safe mode at 54.9 amps on the VDDC - that means in Dragon Age(rarely), Halo:CE (SPV2 the 1st level, 10 minutes max in-game) and even the win7 hardware rating check) so I guess it's time to change it (warranty is out in about a month anyways) with a 5870. I'm thinking of sapphire's toxic version, however I can't seem to find info about its custom PCB design, more specifically - the VRMs and how they perform, whether the card throttles and all that (only thing I found here was that they're custom unprogrammable sapphire units). I'll be using this thing for gaming and some openCL apps (including luxrender's openCL version) so I guess it'll be good to have the complete load stability. Also the PSU is a FSP everest 800w unit. Any suggestions?

 

[Qbah]

I'm running a HD5850 Toxic @ 850 / 1150 and the card never hits 70C under the craziest loads. And is dead silent at idle. Running with a Q9450 @ 3.2GHz on a HX520W PSU.

I'd say the HD5870 Toxic will be a great update for you and you shouldn't worry about the cooling. From my experience it's amazing (my card uses the same one). Your PSU will handle it fine too.

No idea about amps on the VDDC though.

 

[3DVagabond]

My 4870 is kind-of malfunctioning (coil whine during load, falls back to safe mode at 54.9 amps on the VDDC - that means in Dragon Age(rarely), Halo:CE (SPV2 the 1st level, 10 minutes max in-game) and even the win7 hardware rating check) so I guess it's time to change it (warranty is out in about a month anyways) with a 5870. I'm thinking of sapphire's toxic version, however I can't seem to find info about its custom PCB design, more specifically - the VRMs and how they perform, whether the card throttles and all that (only thing I found here was that they're custom unprogrammable sapphire units). I'll be using this thing for gaming and some openCL apps (including luxrender's openCL version) so I guess it'll be good to have the complete load stability. Also the PSU is a FSP everest 800w unit. Any suggestions?

Have you cleaned the cooler on your card? Might be all the problem really is.

 

[Lwerewolf]

This thread just about explains the situation with the 4870. In a nutshell - the CPU and RAM both pass over 9hrs of testing, the whole computer has been cleaned with an air compressor and no temps go above 80 (including VRMs). Just wanted to know whether the PSU caused this or the VRMs were just bad :S
Still, any ideas about the toxic's ones?

 

[Fayd]

contact the company. they might take it out of warranty anyways. always a good idea to give em a chance.

 

[manimal]

does your card still have issues if you lower the mem and core a tad?

 

[Lwerewolf]

700/900 stilll unstable in halo, although it improves a bit (lasts longer). Will try 650/800 a bit later (WRC radio atm).

 

[SlowSpyder]

I have the Toxic 5870 and like it quite a bit. It's very quiet and runs very cool. As you mentioned, the VRM's are not the same as the reference model VRM's, you can't overvolt the card via software. That said, I've read that from the factory Sapphire gives the Toxic a slight bump to 1.2v from the factory. I believe I've seen it mentioned on another forum as well as a review I read but can't remember which review... but if you search you can probably find it if you are so inclined.

As much as I do like this card, if I had to do it over I'd probably save the extra money and get a reference card. If the Toxic version was the same price as the reference, then it would be a toss up or even a slight advantage to the Toxic card. Losing the ability to change the voltage, to not get every last MHz vs. a quiet card can be an advantage either way depending on the person. But when you factor in the premium (at the time I bought mine it was closer to $450) over the reference card I'd probably go reference unless you value a quiet card over all else. And I suppose the better cooler may help keep the VRM's running for a longer time.

Anyway, it's a very good card, I just wouldn't spend too much over whatever the cheapest reference version is if I were buying today, unless you are the type of person who cannot stand fan noise or are really worried about temps.

*edit - I have the Vapor-X version, not Toxic. I had the Toxic 4870... didn't have my coffee when I wrote the above, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I just bought an open box 5870 toxic from newegg. Got it a couple days ago and I can see why it was open box. Everything worked perfect except it wouldn't display out of the dvi ports. Using hdmi it worked great. I really wasn't that impressed. Idled in the low 50's and load at 83c while playing dirt 2. I'd save the money and buy a reference card. I sent the card back to newegg and bought me a evga 470 superclock. Can't beat evga's service and 90 day step up program.

 

[Lwerewolf]

This is the reason I don't want to go with a reference design. Looks like the 5870s might be having a similar problem, that's why I'm wondering about the custom PCB designs and their stability. Willing to throw a bit more for a stable card, even better if it doesn't throttle at stock speeds

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Why do you care about furmark or any other stress tests? As long as the card does what it's supposed to who cares about a stress test? The 5870 is a great card and if this bothers you why not get a nvidia card?

 

[Hauk]

So you're looking for a 5870 replacement, and are curious about non-reference PCB/VRM design? Your personal experiences with the 4870 matter; but as others have said, concerns with Furmark and 5870? That topic's been beaten silly already. Gaming matters.

There are several non-reference designs that deliver solid power, 5870 Vapor-X 1GB (blue pcb) being one of them. Others are Powercolor's PCS, Gigabyte's offering, and Asus 5870 V2. Powercolor and Asus use more power than ref, Gigabyte needed (and hopefully has now) a bios update allowing 2D clocks. I took some good pics of the Asus power array. Easily clocks to 930+ with no tweaking: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2067407&highlight=5870+pics.
IMO a ref 5870 is a superb design that works for gaming. Non-ref designs vary, it really takes some research on board design. The three I listed have very good board designs.

On the Sapphire's, the blue pcb has the "Black Diamond" chokes, which reviewers tend to favor:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102872

Lazy, didn't search for a review for the one above, but here they talk about the VRMs:
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/sapphire__hd5870_toxic_2gb/2.htm
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/sapphire_hd5850_toxic/2.htm

Honestly, I think Sapphire has the best choice due to it's lower power consumption, excellent temps, and low fan noise. If I'd grabbed two of the 1GB models, I'd prolly still have them.

 

[Lwerewolf]

About why do I care - not only my experience (I still can't imagine how my card got into this state, doubt the ati linux driver and warsow killed it off.. Before I noticed this issue I hadn't been playing anything GPU-intensive for at least two months, mostly warsow and RBR). Since I'll most probably be using it for GPU-accelerated rendering and maybe some other OpenCL-based things, I really want it to be stable under that kind of conditions

EDIT:
Just saw the articles you added to your post, can't believe I missed those (the reviews)... Thanks a LOT!

 

[Hauk]

About why do I care - not only my experience (I still can't imagine how my card got into this state, doubt the ati linux driver and warsow killed it off.. Before I noticed this issue I hadn't been playing anything GPU-intensive for at least two months, mostly warsow and RBR). Since I'll most probably be using it for GPU-accelerated rendering and maybe some other OpenCL-based things, I really want it to be stable under that kind of conditions

EDIT:
Just saw the articles you added to your post, can't believe I missed those (the reviews)... Thanks a LOT!

Ur welcome. If I rememer correctly, they didn't do a 1GB toxic but did a 2GB. But out of the 1GB versions, the blue pcb is the choice one, be it 5870 1GB Vapor-X, or the 5850 1GB Toxic.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

About why do I care - not only my experience (I still can't imagine how my card got into this state, doubt the ati linux driver and warsow killed it off.. Before I noticed this issue I hadn't been playing anything GPU-intensive for at least two months, mostly warsow and RBR). Since I'll most probably be using it for GPU-accelerated rendering and maybe some other OpenCL-based things, I really want it to be stable under that kind of conditions

EDIT:
Just saw the articles you added to your post, can't believe I missed those (the reviews)... Thanks a LOT!

If having a card that lasts is really important buy an evga 470/480. That's what I did. It's good knowing all my cards (evga gtx 280,9800gt,Gtx 470) are covered by a warranty by the best in the business.

 

[Hauk]

Oilfield does have a good point OP. You may have a preference, but look at what $319 buys you right now:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-550-_-Product

 

[Lwerewolf]

I wish I was in the states T_T
Any recommendations for a good online hardware store in the EU? Currently looking only at the local resellers, the cheapest 470 I found was priced almost like the reference 5870 (7$ less) - exactly 400$.

 

[Quiksilver]

While your all worried about stability of your PC you should probably read this about your PSU that can't hold it's minor 3.3/5V rails in ATX spec... (see here: http://www.hardwareheaven.com/reviews/833/pg5/fsp-everest-80plus-800w-psu-test-results.html ) While the 12V is in spec but 50mv isn't exactly something to brag about either... all FSP Everest based PSU's seem to suffer from this problem or just blow up.
700... http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=120
(heh this one blew up)
900... http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=103

 

[Lwerewolf]

Guess I gotta change that too then (had some worries)...
Any recommendations? Limited to Enermax, Corsair, Thermaltake, Spire, Neotech, PowerColor and FSP(fortron) but that's out of the question I guess (along with JNC :biggrin: ).
Specs are:
CPU - Q9400@stock speeds, Scythe Shuriken FAN(got this as an emergency upgrade ^_^)
MB - AsRock p45turbotwins200
RAM - 2x2GB A-data ViTesta 1066+@800 (MB has problems with 1066DDRII, otherwise fine)
Sound - X-fi Prelude
HDDs - 1x 500GB Seagate Barracuda 7200 32m cache SATAII, 1x 58GB Seagate Barracuda 7200 8m cache SATA
VGA - atm HD4870@stock, to be either 5870 toxic or a GTX470

EDIT:
Just to update, it just restarted while playing the unmodded halo, didn't expect that so I didn't monitor the current.

 

[Quiksilver]

Guess I gotta change that too then (had some worries)...
Any recommendations? Limited to Enermax, Corsair, Thermaltake, Spire, Neotech, PowerColor and FSP(fortron) but that's out of the question I guess (along with JNC :biggrin: ).

Enermax (as long as its more recent --Liberty series had a few issues with it dying after 1 to 2 years) or Corsair and pretty much the best of that little list. Thermaltake is OKAY but has room for plenty of improvement. The others except maybe the Powercolor (not sure who the OEM is) is all garbage.

Out of sheer curiosity I wonder if it could just be a straight up PSU issues and not just a video card issue your having anyway.

 

[Lwerewolf]

Would a 350w bluestorm II suffice just for the video card (the 2 6-pin connectors)? I can test it using a dual PSU setup.

 

[Quiksilver]

Well if its anything like its 500W brother (http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story2&reid=84 ) which seems to have its best results in the 300-400W range. So it might work; at least with this platform the minor rails are in spec. I just wouldn't use Furmark or anything like that you may blow up the PSU if you did that...

 

[Lwerewolf]

I most probably won't use it, there's a chance that I'll get external help on this matter Otherwise I'm thinking of a Corsair 750HX or TX. Guess I won't need modular though

 

[Lwerewolf]

Right, looks like I'm changing the motherboard as well. Got an MSI 5850 twin frozr II and tried to run it - it posted 2 times - "not recognised as an ATI device", otherwise no-go. Posted on another computer just fine. In the service they told me it's something related to asrock's pci-e ports, dunno honestly... Tomorrow I'll be bringing the whole PC to the shop to see what's up.

 

[bryanW1995]

If having a card that lasts is really important buy an evga 470/480. That's what I did. It's good knowing all my cards (evga gtx 280,9800gt,Gtx 470) are covered by a warranty by the best in the business.

bfg used to have double the "best warranty in the business". I wonder how comfortable their users are about receiving warranty work now?