Discussion Thread for Ibrin's Radeon 5870 Review

[skipclarke]

Discussion thread for this review:

http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/wiki/index.php/ATI_Radeon_5870_1GB_-_Featured_Review

[Xfinity]

I liked the review, it highlighted parts of Eyefinity that ATI/AMD can do better but at the same time gives them credit what they done to the widescreengaming-community!

In most parts I think ATI/AMD have made a such great thing with Eyefinity that I have sold my TH2Go and bought myself a HD5870-card. Might upgrade later to a 2GB card ;).

I hope they will support and evolve the Eyefinity-technology beyond my wildest imagination.

// X

[Anprionsa]

Most of your views were what I also find lacking and needing the 5870, so for me you were spot on. :mrgreen:

2GB Version and more DP inputs would be the ideal card for me. That is the reason I really want to know more about the Eyefinity edition card.

Please have 2GB! My u2410's need them.

[suiken_2mieu]

I think you really hit everything on the nail. I really do hate nonidentical connections. It becomes a pain to setup the colors on monitors even if they are the same model.

[skipclarke]

Thanks for the feedback. I do think that ATI has done a great thing with EF, but I think it is our responsibility as the community to point out where we see areas for improvement. Other sites like HardOCP and whatnot are not going to focus on EF like we will, so we have to be that loud voice.

I wanted to put out an honest review - good and bad, warts and all. I want the user community to see that we are honest and can be hard hitting. I hope it didn't come across as too negative. I really do like the card and like Eyefinity.

Dave Baumann's sign in the forum says ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series Graphics Cards – Designed by the Community. He only found this community after the 5870 launched, so I want to be part of that design process going forward.

I think you really hit everything on the nail. I really do hate nonidentical connections. It becomes a pain to setup the colors on monitors even if they are the same model.

After talking with Dave, I understand why those decisions were made. They needed to make the initial card launch hit as big of a market as possible. It's not what I would want as a multi-monitor enthusiast, but the fixes to those wants are in the pipeline.

[McKie]

I wanted to put out an honest review - good and bad, warts and all. I want the user community to see that we are honest and can be hard hitting. I hope it didn't come across as too negative. I really do like the card and like Eyefinity.

Excellent review. I didn't think it was coming across too negative.

Constructive criticism is good. Its a win win situation. As long as the other side is receptive.

[Clutch Cargo]

Thanks for the review. While I am pretty sure the Eyefinity will be my next card, one of the main reasons I am holding off is the lack of bezel management. I find it a bit odd the ATI would put out a card in today's gaming world and not offer this feature right from the get go. For me and my flight simulation, this is a "must have" requirement. So I am waiting to see if how serious they are on implementing this. Who knows, by then Nvidia may offer something similar.

Ho-Ho-Ho!

[Dave Baumann]

Everything takes time to develop - would you have held back Eyefinity for the sake of having bezel management? Given the number of people that are enjoying the feature / capability I think its the right decision not to.

As we've stated, bezel mangement is being developed and will be in an upcoming driver.

[Paradigm Shifter]

Everything takes time to develop - would you have held back Eyefinity for the sake of having bezel management? Given the number of people that are enjoying the feature / capability I think its the right decision not to.

As we've stated, bezel mangement is being developed and will be in an upcoming driver.

Given that Matrox didn't have bezel management early in the TH2Go lifecycle, I fail to understand why the lack of bezel management right now in EyeFinity is such a negative... it'll come. If we still lack bezel management in six months to a year, then is the time to start complaining. ;)

[DaFox]

Given that Matrox didn't have bezel management early in the TH2Go lifecycle, I fail to understand why the lack of bezel management right now in EyeFinity is such a negative... it'll come. If we still lack bezel management in six months to a year, then is the time to start complaining. ;)

I think its a fair complaint, we are not early in the surround lifecycle anymore. Its kind of like saying "The first cars didn't have seatbelts, so it doesn't really matter that these new electric sports cars don't have them."

I mean its obviously not that bad, but I can see their point. It's a new technology moving into an existing market without a feature that people are accustom to having.

[direwolf]

What is bezel management?

[McKie]

this explains it well

http://www.matrox.com/graphics/surroundgaming/en/product/bezel/

http://www.matrox.com/graphics/surroundgaming/media/en/pdf/Matrox_Monitor_Bezel_Management_White_Paper.pdf

[direwolf]

Ahh, ok. Looks like a nice feature to have. I'll look forward when it's released for Eyefinity.

[Gilly]

Very good review Ibrin, I will echo what everyone else has said. I think personally that (although, you could call me an ATi fanboy in the pixel pushing department), interacting with the community is fantastic.

[Gunja]

As we've stated, bezel mangement is being developed and will be in an upcoming driver.

Very happy to read this :mrgreen:
I've stripped my screens and they are really slim now (11 mm. bezel).
I hope B.M. comes soon so there will be no need to tuck them any more.
You guys are doing a great job. Keep it up.
Cheers and happy holidays!

[skipclarke]

I've stripped my screens and they are really slim now (11 mm. bezel).

OT - Would love to see a new thread on this.

[KryptoNyte]

[quote]As we've stated, bezel mangement is being developed and will be in an upcoming driver.

Very happy to read this :mrgreen:
I've stripped my screens and they are really slim now (11 mm. bezel).
I hope B.M. comes soon so there will be no need to tuck them any more.
You guys are doing a great job. Keep it up.
Cheers and happy holidays!

Yes, a new thread, with pics, please!

[Gunja]

[quote]I've stripped my screens and they are really slim now (11 mm. bezel).

OT - Would love to see a new thread on this.

Yes, a new thread, with pics, please!

:D http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&p=178398#p178398

[Tallon29]

Coming into this late I'm seeing lots of conflicting information, so I'd like to verify something. In the ATI HD 5870 review here on the site it says:

Unfortunately ATI was not able to implement support for custom resolutions (needed for 5040x1050) in the Catalyst software for the Radeon 5800. In speaking with our ATI rep, both the hardware and software were built new from the ground up. It wasn't an issue of carrying over an existing feature in a "software" upgrade, but in prioritizing resources within the new Catalyst build. You can utilize the TH2Go up to 3840x1024, but not on higher resolutions. Thus, the Radeon 5870 is not a valid upgrade path for most TH2Go users.

Is it still true today that an ATI 5870 HD cannot run at 4320x900 in Windows 7 with a TripleHead2Go? I just ordered a new system with a 5870 in it and I'm going to be very unhappy if I have to choose between triplehead gaming and using my 4th monitor. From what I understand from the article, the 5870 supports using 3 monitors at 4320x900 via Eyefinity but no way to connect my 4th monitor (only 3 outputs may be used at once) and it does not support using my TH2G at 4320x900 with a 4th monitor connected to the 2nd DVI output as I do right now with my 4870.

Is this true? Here is a blurry pic of my setup for reference:

[suiken_2mieu]

Tallon29: You have to use a EDID Mask to get Custom Resolutions to Work Properly. Only put the Resolution you want to use and make sure that the Triplehead2go can display it as well.

URL: http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=17635