ASUS Released Non-Reference Radeon HD 4870 with Expanded Power Circuitry

[btarunr]

ASUS has released a non-reference version of the ATI Radeon HD 4870 graphics card. The model is called EAH 4870 D5 and it's main difference is the enhanced power circuitry. The card uses a 4 phase vGPU power circuit along with a 2 phase vMem circuit, making it similar to that of the PowerColor HD 4870 PCS+, while the reference design uses 3 + 2 phases. The PCB uses a 100% conductive polymer capacitor design. The same Qimonda memory chips as those used on reference design boards rounds up the card.

The card runs at reference speeds of 750 MHz Core / 900 MHz Memory. ASUS used its signature Glaciator Fansink cooler for the GPU, which can already be found on many of their other cards but decided to leave the memory chips without active or passive cooling. Expreview notes that the heatsink on the MOSFETs looks small and could be a cause for concern since temperatures of that zone of video cards in general could reach as high as 110 degrees Celsius. The card uses single slot expansion bracket though the card itself requires two slots worth space due to the heatsink. This release follows several other designs from the likes of Palit, PowerColor, etc., that have similar power circuitry, presumably to facilitate better overclocks though poor cooling designs implemented by these AIBs mar the effort put in to design these superior PCBs.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[insider]

Made for overclockers by the sound of it, first thing they do is remove the stock cooler anyway...

 

[jbunch07]

I have the 3870 version of this. I was very pleased with it. I may look into getting this one, but i had my eyes on that palit one.

I do wish they would have put heat sinks on the memory though.

 

[btarunr]

If Intel sells a QX9770 without a stock cooler (assuming anyone who buys a $1500 CPU would use aftermarket cooling), they might as well start selling video cards sans coolers. Unfortunately, installing a aftermarket cooler (before which, finding one that fits perfectly, cools well) is cumbersome. So they have to provide cooling that is sufficient. Going by the 4870 'fiasco', definitely OC'ed RV770s don't do well with even double slot cooling. Like what originally came up with SuperRV770 specs only cards with water-blocks or pre-fitted WC solutions can tame a RV770 at 850+ MHz.

 

[nafets]

If Intel sells a QX9770 without a stock cooler (assuming anyone who buys a $1500 CPU would use aftermarket cooling), they might as well start selling video cards sans coolers. Unfortunately, installing a aftermarket cooler (before which, finding one that fits perfectly, cools well) is cumbersome. So they have to provide cooling that is sufficient. Going by the 4870 'fiasco', definitely OC'ed RV770s don't do well with even double slot cooling. Like what originally came up with SuperRV770 specs only cards with water-blocks or pre-fitted WC solutions can tame a RV770 at 850+ MHz.

Finding a good cooler for the GPU is no problem. It's the VRM area that is always lacking, with regards to stock cooling for HD4870s. The only card I've seen so far with better than normal cooling is the Palit Sonic HD4870. Great non-reference PCB design along with a fairly sizable VRM heatsink.

This offering from Asus looks like a total joke, as far as VRM cooling goes. I'd expect more from Asus...

 

[jbunch07]

I Think that would actually be a good idea, selling cards without coolers on them.

 

[InnocentCriminal]

They'd have to put a cover over the GPU or could get badly damaged in transit. We all know retarded delivery people can be.

 

[jbunch07]

True but that doesn't mean it has to be a cooler....they could just put some kind of temporary something on there.

 

[oli_ramsay]

So is this card underclocked (700/900) due to the poor cooling round the VRM? Sounds like you'd be better off buying a reference 4870 and an Accelero S1!

 

[InnocentCriminal]

True but that doesn't mean it has to be a cooler....they could just put some kind of temporary something on there.

I never said it had to be a cooler.

 

[wolf2009]

will be interesting to see the noise and temperatures on this one, compared to palit one .

 

[EastCoasthandle]

The card runs at reference speeds of 700 MHz Core / 900 MHz Memory.

The website you referenced states 750/900 not 700/900.

Temperatures as high as 110 °C around the VRM area were noted during the card's testing, with the provided heatsink not looking adequate.

I have found no such information from the link you provided.

while the reference design makes due with 3 + 2 phases

Interesting, I read 4+2 phase power from Tech Connect Mag and Game Star Hardware

Were are you getting your information from?

 

[largon]

So is this card underclocked (700/900) due to the poor cooling round the VRM? Sounds like you'd be better off buying a reference 4870 and an Accelero S1!

It isn't. See the source.
btarunr was sloppy and typed "700" instead of "750"...

 

[btarunr]

I'm sorry. I fixed it.

 

[largon]

[The card uses a 4 phase vGPU power circuit along with a 2 phase vMem circuit, making it similar to that of the PowerColor HD 4870 PCS+,] while the reference design makes due with 3 + 2 phases.

Interesting, I read 4+2 phase power from Tech Connect Mag

Were are you getting your information from?

EastCoasthandle,
You're getting tad entangled in your quotes...

 

[btarunr]

The website you referenced states 750/900 not 700/900.



I have found no such information from the link you provided.


Interesting, I read 4+2 phase power from Tech Connect Mag and Game Star Hardware

Were are you getting your information from?

http://en.expreview.com/2008/09/02/...-hd-4870-with-42-phase-power-module/#more-800

 

[EastCoasthandle]

http://en.expreview.com/2008/09/02/...-hd-4870-with-42-phase-power-module/#more-800

Ok thanks.

Unfortunately, what might be anxious is the cooling system. No mention the weak-looking GPU cooler, the heatsink on the powering mosfets is too small. Since many dates show temperature of the power module can be up to 110+, Asus should pay more attention to it.

The mention of 110+ isn't directly talking about this card in particular but making a general statement. They make no mention of having the card or testing the card. But appear to just be making opinions on the announcement. Besides, high vreg temps (assuming they mean C and not F as they make no mention of it) can be accomplished on most video cards (be it ati or nvidia) if a combination of:
-high ambient temps
-an enclosed case
-little to no ventilation/active cooling

 

[btarunr]

They didn't mention degrees Cecilius but that's understandable else they wouldn't have used "can be up to" because that's much higher than ~42 C. 110 F is ~42 C. Glaciator does look weak for a RV770 @ 750 MHz. Made an edit.

 

[tkpenalty]

Finding a good cooler for the GPU is no problem. It's the VRM area that is always lacking, with regards to stock cooling for HD4870s. The only card I've seen so far with better than normal cooling is the Palit Sonic HD4870. Great non-reference PCB design along with a fairly sizable VRM heatsink.

This offering from Asus looks like a total joke, as far as VRM cooling goes. I'd expect more from Asus...

More phases = cooler. They arent even using the digital VRMs so it wont even run that hot! VRMs are notorious for their heat production versus the normal mosfet + inductor + capacitors.

 

[largon]

Volterra chips (which for no reason are called "digital") should be a bit more efficient than "the conventional PWM block". The problem with the Volterras is they're just single chips so all that waste power is concentrated on a single small chip which directly translates to a high temperature - but not necessarily a higher wattage of heat.

 

[R_1]

Volterra chips (which for no reason are called "digital") should be a bit more efficient than "the conventional PWM block". The problem with the Volterras is they're just single chips so all that waste power is concentrated on a single small chip which directly translates to a high temperature - but not necessarily a higher wattage of heat.

Looks like they are more expensive too. There can be 4 phase digital VRM like PowerColor did in their HD 4870 1GB (cooled by simple AL cooler). There are more powerful Vitec chips too, all they need is a cheap piece of aluminum with many fins on it . If this is the future, why company like ASUS makes change in reference design and uses capacitors?

 

[Wile E]

that have similar power circuitry, presumably to facilitate better overclocks though poor cooling designs implemented by these AIBs mar the effort put in to design these superior PCBs.

Adding more phases to the power circuit reduces the individual component temps. The individual components are no longer working as hard. They don't need the same amount of cooling as a stock design on the phases.

As far as no cooling on the GDDR5, I'm starting to think the clock limits are reached before the temperature limits. Even the Palit card hit 1100MHz without problem (which is more than enough bandwidth anyway).

Does GDDR5 really run that much cooler?

 

[Bjorn_Of_Iceland]

urk.. Quimondas..

 

[tkpenalty]

urk.. Quimondas..

Whats so bad about quimondas? Samsung arent providing AMD with any GDDR5 atm you know? Quimonda is the only supplier.

 

[Wile E]

Whats so bad about quimondas? Samsung arent providing AMD with any GDDR5 atm you know? Quimonda is the only supplier.

And Hynix