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Simon Lau

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AMD/ATI HD3870X2

A number of websites are already reporting results of the new AMD/ATI HD3870X2. The official release of this card was Jan 28th, 2008 after being delayed by 5 days as a result of unoptimized drivers. Personally, I think it was a good idea for ATI shift release day until the driver kinks are worked out. The card doesn’t come cheap, so when you plunk down 5 bills for it, you want it to work perfectly.

3870
Image courtesy of AMD.

Sadly, the current review results on the web are slightly deceiving. I won’t give you a list of who is doing that, you can find it yourself on Overclockers Online. Many of the sites are reporting what will be lower than actual results because they’re using the Catalyst 8.451 (beta) drivers or not reporting the drivers version at all. Reviewers should give the manufacturer an opportunity to release production drivers as opposed to the beta ones before publishing results. They are only misinforming the readers and taking away potential customers.

If retailers are selling the product with beta drivers well after the release date, than that’s a whole other ballpark. However, ATI has send word, found on VR-Zone, that the Catalyst v8.453 will be out today for download as a RC and the WHQL approved drivers available on the 30th. There should be significant improvements on performance with that said.

So…if you’re reading a review from a site that published their results at 12:01AM on Jan 28th, 2008 so they could be the first to publish a review on the HD 3870 X2, you’re probably wasting your time as the numbers won’t be right. Wait a bit before judging the card. HIS has kindly send me their reference HD3870 X2 to review and we’ll be publishing it when we’re confident our results and what they represent.



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