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<!-- google_ad_section_start -->Palit HD 4870 1GB Sonic Dual Edition Review<!-- google_ad_section_end -->
Palit HD 4870 1GB Sonic Dual Edition Review
Published by Shripad
7 Oct 08
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Default The Card


The Card

The card is very different in appearance than reference ATI design cards. This one carries different Heasink.



As you can see in the picture. This cooling assembly consists of a 3 heatpipe heatsink cooled by 2 fans. 1 big fan directly over the core and 1 small one next to it.
The heatsink only cools core and does not cover the RAM. But this design is different than any other card and it’s obvious that the air from the fans directly cools the ram chips. DDR5 memory does not run very hot anyway so this should not be an issue.



The card carries 2 6pin PCI express power connectors like any other HD4870. But on this card, they are not facing side of the card but rather the top. You can also see crossfire bridge connectors there.


Nothing much to really see on the backside other than serial no and warranty warning stickers.




Now to the interesting part. Palit is the first manufacturer I have seen who has put every possible connectivity options on their cards. Its fantastic to see actually. This card features good old VGA and DVI. But to add to that it also features HDMI and DRM free Displayport connectivity. This is really nice to see on a enthusiast card.
That tiny little knob you see next to HDMI port is really interesting. It’s a switch to put the card on the backup bios. This is really interesting feature and first on any card I have tested personally. This allowed you to switch to backup bios in case you screw up the original bios while modding the card’s bios or because of any other mishap. So basically you can carry two bios files on 1 card. That’s really neat feature.


The bundle is really disappointing( all it lacks is 1 critical component ). All you get is a instruction leaflet, driver CD, single molex to PCI express power connector and DVI to HDMI converter dongle ( yes, its DVI to HDMI dongle and not the other way around. This is provided just in case you want to connect two monitors which only have DVI ports and cables. This lets you connect the DVI cable to HDMI port on this card ). The 1 critical thing that is missing from this package is the Crossfire bridge. I don’t know why would Palit decide to bundle easily available DVI to HDMI dongle and wouldn’t include very hard to find crossfire bridge ( its really impossible to find here in India ) with this card. I really hope they read this and correct this

Now Lets Void the warrany
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  9 links from elsewhere to this Post. Click to view. #1 (permalink)  
By cranky on 7 Oct 08, 02:22 PM
Default Re: Palit HD 4870 1GB Sonic Dual Edition Review

Nice review, though I think I missed the price somewhere.

I really wish you could test at higher resolutions, which is where the 1GB framebuffer would come into its own. I don't see the point of a huge memory and running only 1680x, the memory would help much more at 1920x and 2560x. I understand this depends on the monitors you have available for the test, which is why it's even more surprising as you had 1920 in one of the tests and then none.

This is obviously not a solution for me, AFAIK, but I'll wait for more tests at max resolutions.
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  #2 (permalink)  
By Shripad on 7 Oct 08, 02:29 PM
Default Re: Palit HD 4870 1GB Sonic Dual Edition Review

Quote:
Originally Posted by sangram View Post
Nice review, though I think I missed the price somewhere.

I really wish you could test at higher resolutions, which is where the 1GB framebuffer would come into its own. I don't see the point of a huge memory and running only 1680x, the memory would help much more at 1920x and 2560x. I understand this depends on the monitors you have available for the test, which is why it's even more surprising as you had 1920 in one of the tests and then none.

This is obviously not a solution for me, AFAIK, but I'll wait for more tests at max resolutions.
Yup, I do have 1080P ready monitor. but its 16:9 resolution TV Thats why you can see 1920x1080 resolution in 1 gaming test. And 1 1920x1200 test was done when friend's dell landed here at my place for a day. Couldnt complete all tests that day as even this motherboard was to ship out the next day.

If someone sends me a 24incher for review and for keepers, i will start including high resolution results

its really difficult to keep moving test rig to the televiosion set and back in my room.

As far as the price goes. This is not yet available in India in retail afaik. I couldnt find it in stock with anyone. All say it is expected soon. US retail pricing is same as any other HD4870 1GB card. around $300.
Last edited by Shripad; 7 Oct 08 at 02:33 PM..
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  #3 (permalink)  
By Desecrator on 7 Oct 08, 03:41 PM
Default Re: Palit HD 4870 1GB Sonic Dual Edition Review

Nice review as always Shripad.

PS: Hope u've recovered from the illness.
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  #4 (permalink)  
By Jasku on 7 Oct 08, 03:54 PM
Default Re: Palit HD 4870 1GB Sonic Dual Edition Review

fantastic review, wonder how much this card would retail locally?!..

Edit- feel bad that i have the stock cooled 4870
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  #5 (permalink)  
By ultimabasher on 7 Oct 08, 05:35 PM
Default Re: Palit HD 4870 1GB Sonic Dual Edition Review

Nice review mate.

Hey shripad, when are you going to review 4870x2??
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  #6 (permalink)  
By panther on 7 Oct 08, 05:41 PM
Default Re: Palit HD 4870 1GB Sonic Dual Edition Review

Great purchase, wow!! i am coming at you place to see with my eyes.. what was the damage?
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  #7 (permalink)  
By fcry64 on 7 Oct 08, 06:52 PM
Default Re: Palit HD 4870 1GB Sonic Dual Edition Review

good review m8..
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  #8 (permalink)  
By ArZuNeOs on 7 Oct 08, 07:02 PM
Default Re: Palit HD 4870 1GB Sonic Dual Edition Review

nice review boss

What is the damage
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  #9 (permalink)  
By satanofgamers on 7 Oct 08, 07:28 PM
Default Re: Palit HD 4870 1GB Sonic Dual Edition Review

as usual awesome review.... any idea at wht price will it retail here ????
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  #10 (permalink)  
By saintsinner on 7 Oct 08, 11:46 PM
Default Re: Palit HD 4870 1GB Sonic Dual Edition Review

Well reviewed. I have the 512MB version. I find it a tiny bit noisy as only one fan is temprature controlled. and yea, the 2 bios function is really cool. mine runs on turbo
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  #11 (permalink)  
By kin_of_evil on 8 Oct 08, 08:10 AM
Default Re: Palit HD 4870 1GB Sonic Dual Edition Review

Nice review!! Any details on the price?
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  #12 (permalink)  
By timbak on 9 Oct 08, 03:52 PM
Default Re: Palit HD 4870 1GB Sonic Dual Edition Review

Nice review. Hope the price is as good as the performance.
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  #13 (permalink)  
By d@rK nEmEsIs on 12 Oct 08, 12:31 AM
Default Re: Palit HD 4870 1GB Sonic Dual Edition Review

superb review man one of my friend won a 4870(not this one) in our college techfest lucky him.
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  #14 (permalink)  
By gamervivek on 12 Oct 08, 03:32 AM
Default Re: Palit HD 4870 1GB Sonic Dual Edition Review

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