Force3D Radeon HD 4870: any different from the rest?

Review: Force3D Radeon HD 4870: any different from the rest?

Conclusion, certification and where to buy

The Force3D Radeon HD 4870 MiB is based on the reference design and everything that applies to it is also relevant for this card - performing, unsurprisingly, the same as every other Radeon HD 4870 512MiB out there.

The bundle contains everything you need, without including unwanted 'extras' that bump up the price, so it would certainly be worth considering, if you could buy it.

The card has no distinguishing features over the sea of reference cards fighting for your attention, so any recommendation comes wholly down to pricing and warranty support. If it's priced lower than other reference cards, it becomes a good buy, if it's priced higher, not so much. Priced at the same levels as other partner cards and it becomes simply one amongst many.

What we'd most like is a little more differentiation. With the high temperatures found on reference designs, we'd love a partner to improve cooling either via a BIOS fix to better modulate fan speeds, or by opting for an upgraded cooler.

With limited availability, and unknown pricing, there's nothing to spur us to recommend this card over any other reference design. As a new brand, Force3D really needs to stand out to establish itself with something different. Here, though, we see scant differentiation.

Muddying the waters further, the GeForce GTX 260 can now be purchased from around £190, just above the Radeon HD 4870's pricing, and it's a compelling alternative if you don't want to go down the red route.

Bottom line: a reference card that doesn't bring anything new to the table that the likes of Sapphire and PowerColor haven't. A sensible bet if you can find it at sub-£170, but merely average if it's any dearer.

HEXUS.certification

The Force3D Radeon HD 4870 512MiB receives the HEXUS.labs certification for successfully completing our benchmark suite without issue.

Force3D Radeon HD 4870 512MiB

HEXUS Where2Buy

The card can be purchased for £169.99 here.

HEXUS Right2Reply

At HEXUS.net, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any Force3D representatives choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.

HEXUS related reading

HEXUS.net- HEXUS.reviews :: AMD (ATI) Radeon HD 4850 and 4870: bloodying NVIDIA's profits
HEXUS.net- HEXUS.reviews :: BFG (NVIDIA) GeForce GTX 280: does it rock our world?
HEXUS.net- HEXUS.reviews :: NVIDIA (BFG) GeForce 9800 GTX. Got £200 for a graphics card? Read this
HEXUS.net - HEXUS.reviews :: ATI Radeon HD 3870 512MiB
HEXUS.net - HEXUS.reviews :: ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 1,024MiB
HEXUS.net - HEXUS.reviews :: NVIDIA (ZOTAC) GeForce 9800 GX2 - the champ is back!

Login with Forum Account

Don't have an account? Register today!

HEXUS
The card has no distinguishing features over the sea of reference cards fighting for your attention, so any recommendation comes wholly down to pricing and warranty support. If it's priced lower than other reference cards, it becomes a good buy, if it's priced higher, not so much. Priced at the same levels as other partner cards and it becomes simply one amongst many.

yeah, i do have to question the need for a full review of more than one reference card. at least it can be used as a driver comparison i suppose

Yup that or it could have been used to test new benchmarks - how are they coming along hexus guys?

Wow, i never knew it ran THAT hot! The GTX260 certainly does become more appealing now it has dropped in price, and has a tiny margin over the HD4870.

Personally, it would interesting to see a similar GTX260 review, to see how much it will OC in comparison.