Connect3D HD 4870
For its basic Radeon HD 4870, Connect3D has been using its own design for some time and has completely abandoned the stock model. 2 versions are available:
HD 4870 512 MB: €220
HD 4870 1 GB: €240
We tested the 512 MB version which keeps the reference clocks of 750 MHz for the core and 900 MHz for memory.
The card
Connect3D’s Radeon HD 4870 uses the stock model’s PCB and only the cooling system is different. It has an aluminium heatsink with 3 copper heatpipes which are in direct contact with the GPU so as to optimise thermal exchange. There is also a fan and casing. Only the GPU is in contact with the heatsink. The memory chips have no separate heatsink but there is a small aluminium heatsink for the power supply.
In terms of how it all fits in, there are two things to note. The heatpipes stick out around 2 cm above the card and the casing around the fan makes the card slightly wider than a 2 slot, which can be problematic if the neighbouring slot is taken up.
It is only too wide by 2mm, which must either be a design fault or result from poor assembly. Overall, it looks a little cheap, especially as the cooling system is very light and nothing is in place to strengthen the card.
The bundle
Connect3D delivers its card with a small manual, a CD for the pilots, a TV S-video out cable, an analogue HDTV out cable, a DVI to VGA adaptor, a DVI to HDMI adaptor (for sound and image) and a CrossFire connector.
The card has a 2 year guarantee.
Infrared thermography
Graphics card at rest.
Graphics card in load.
System at rest.
System in load.
The Connect3D Radeon HD 4870 is pretty well cooled and doesn’t heat very much, above all at rest. In load, the power supply level heats up the most but without going to extremes.
Temperature and noise readings
The temperature taken behind the extraction grill is low, as is the flow of air, which means that the card doesn’t really expel much hot air out of the PC. The difference in terms of noise levels at rest and in load is quite small and we suppose that the fan speed is fixed. At rest the card is not silent but not especially noisy either. In load however, it is one of the quieter cards.
Our opinion
This Connect3D Radeon HD 4870 is pretty much a classic version with no major particularities. Compared to the reference card, it is quieter in load, but less so at rest. However, it maintains the GPU at a much lower temperature. Its cooling system however makes the card less robust and with a less impressive finish.
