Bundle and warranty
Sapphire didn't have the ULTIMATE box ready in time and provided us with just the contents.
| Items | CyberLink PowerDVD 7 (6-channe)l CyberLink DVD Suite Futuremark 3DMark06 Multi-language user manual Installation driver CD CrossFire dongle HDMI dongle VGA dongle HDTV cable PCIe-to-Molex cable Mini-DIN-to-S-video converter |
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It's a full-retail package, though, that ships with a couple of useful multimedia titles from CyberLink. 3DMark06 is included, but now that VANTAGE is coming out soon, albeit not completely free, the included title's relevance has diminished.
Just like the HD 3850 1GiB packaging, we like the fact that Sapphire has included a DVI-to-HDMI adapter in the bundle; it allows for 5.1-channel sound pass-through to, say, your LCD TV without the need for additional cabling.
There's no full gaming title, which is becoming increasingly common in the mid-range space now.
Warranty
Again, much like the 3850, the Sapphire Radeon HD 3870 ULTIMATE is backed up by a two-year warranty. Claims in the first year are handled by the supplier from whom the card was purchased from. Claims after this period are handled by a U.K.-based service centre.
Summary
A decent bundle that's only compromised by the lack of a bundled game.
