(Help) Problems with my new Diamond 4870X2

Jerod77 · Oct 9, 2008, 11:33 PM

Just installed the new card in my Dell Dim E521. Honeslty it doesnt seem to do much more than my old 1600 ati card. I play warhammer online, and with the 1600 i had the graphics turned off to play at a pretty decent rate. Now with the graphics turned up i still play at the same rate small bits of lag when people are around. What could be the issue i havent done anything but adjusted my setting in the game. Shouldnt this card blow away warhammer, i mean i shouldnt have any frame lag should I??? Any help at all will be awsome. Very new to this crazy graphics card stuff.

sammorris · Oct 10, 2008, 07:00 PM

Warhammer online doesn't support crossfire. However, I tested the game on an X2 and it ran fine. If you're getting lag you may need more RAM.

OldBuzzard · Oct 10, 2008, 08:07 PM

The E521 can have a number of different processors. What CPU do you have in yours? The 4870 X2 needs a FAST CPU to be able to give good FPS.

Also, at the Dell site it appears that it has a 305W PSU ??? Take a look at the PSU and let us know what the rating is on the one you have. Dell has a history of using crappy PSU's. If there IS a 305W in your's, I'm suprized that it would even run with a 4870 X2 in it.

EDIT:

UH, just how the hell did you get that card IN that system any way?

From Hardocp's review of the Dell E531:

Quote:

...
With the poor gaming prowess of the 7300LE in mind, we explored the possibility of removing it and installing a card more up to the challenge of today’s titles. The real challenge, though, is if this system could handle the upgrade to an NVIDIA 8800 GTS or ATI X1950 XTX.

It’s not uncommon knowledge that you can usually build your own machine for significantly cheaper than if you bought it assembled. This generally holds true for all but the low-end Tier I systems, where the price points are very impressive. A common practice is to buy such a machine (which includes the bonus of a warranty and tech support) and slap some higher-end hardware in it to give it some teeth. We realize that the system we bought carries about as much interest to hardcore enthusiasts as trading Pokemon cards, but if it’s able to be upgraded, then it starts to look more appetizing.

To get right down to it, this machine was not able to run with either of the high-end cards. In fact, we didn’t even get to try running them because there were multiple structural issues that prevented actually installing them in the machine.

The first problem that we saw was that there was no 6-pin PCI-Express power dongle for the video cards. Fortunately, that issue is easily addressed by a 4-to-6 pin adapter. The next problem was that the cards wouldn’t quite fit under the BTX fan shroud because of a few useless plastic fins. That’s also somewhat easy to solve – just break or cut the plastic pieces off and you’re in business.
But there was one more issue that prevented installation. The PCI-E 16X slot corresponds to the top opening on the rear of the case. In other words, because of the BTX orientation of the card, the top half of the card with the vents is blocked by the chassis itself – not by a knock-out slot cover. This also prevented the securing bracket on the card from actually passing through the open slot on the rear. ...

Bold emphisis added.

Now, they are talking about an X1950XTX. I had an X1950, and I now have 3870 X2 which is almost exactly the same size as the 4870 X2, and it's a LOT bigger/longer than the X1950. If they couldn't get the X1950 in there, how the hell would one expect an even BIGGER card to fit?

Unless you can provide PICTURES...I'm calling BS on this whole "issue".

blibbax · Oct 10, 2008, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldBuzzard

The E521 can have a number of different processors. What CPU do you have in yours? The 4870 X2 needs a FAST CPU to be able to give good FPS.

Also, at the Dell site it appears that it has a 305W PSU ??? Take a look at the PSU and let us know what the rating is on the one you have. Dell has a history of using crappy PSU's. If there IS a 305W in your's, I'm suprized that it would even run with a 4870 X2 in it.

All very true.

I'd say that you'll be needing a 500W branded power supply, 2GB Ram and a Core 2 Duo to make full use of that card.

Jerod77 · Oct 10, 2008, 09:29 PM

Well lets see i have a athelon processor 4000 its a single duel. I have a 600w PSU. and 3 GB of ram. So i think i have what it takes to run this card decently. Just like i said doesnt seem like its doing much more than my crappy older ati card. Do i need to adust setting in my CCC now or what is the deal any help please. Btw for that guy who didnt believe me that i have that card in my system. lol why would i even be here wasting my time trying to get help for something that doesnt exist... sigh

OldBuzzard · Oct 10, 2008, 09:40 PM

once again:

Quote:

To get right down to it, this machine was not able to run with either of the high-end cards. In fact, we didn’t even get to try running them because there were multiple structural issues that prevented actually installing them in the machine.

Just what STRUCTUAL changes did you do that allowed you to put that video card in that chassis?

An explaination and/or PICTURES would be good.

Jerod77 · Oct 10, 2008, 10:07 PM

I removed the giant plastic pointless case covering my heat sink. turned the heat sink 180 degrees so it was going side to side not up and down, shaved a row off the smaller heat sink that sits in the middle of the card. And cut a opening in the back of the tower so that the exaust port had a spot to breathe. Dont have any pics cause when i was going to take one with my phone, it was night time and the didnt come out at all so ill wait for daytime to snap off some good ones.

TV addict#2 · Oct 12, 2008, 10:06 AM

maybe give 3d06 or vantage a run to get reference scores

Oct 9, 2008, 11:33 PM	#1
Jerod77 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 4 Rep Power: 0	(Help) Problems with my new Diamond 4870X2 Just installed the new card in my Dell Dim E521. Honeslty it doesnt seem to do much more than my old 1600 ati card. I play warhammer online, and with the 1600 i had the graphics turned off to play at a pretty decent rate. Now with the graphics turned up i still play at the same rate small bits of lag when people are around. What could be the issue i havent done anything but adjusted my setting in the game. Shouldnt this card blow away warhammer, i mean i shouldnt have any frame lag should I??? Any help at all will be awsome. Very new to this crazy graphics card stuff.

Oct 10, 2008, 09:29 PM	Thread Starter #5
Jerod77 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 4 Rep Power: 0	Re: (Help) Problems with my new Diamond 4870X2 Well lets see i have a athelon processor 4000 its a single duel. I have a 600w PSU. and 3 GB of ram. So i think i have what it takes to run this card decently. Just like i said doesnt seem like its doing much more than my crappy older ati card. Do i need to adust setting in my CCC now or what is the deal any help please. Btw for that guy who didnt believe me that i have that card in my system. lol why would i even be here wasting my time trying to get help for something that doesnt exist... sigh

Oct 10, 2008, 10:07 PM	Thread Starter #7
Jerod77 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 4 Rep Power: 0	Re: (Help) Problems with my new Diamond 4870X2 I removed the giant plastic pointless case covering my heat sink. turned the heat sink 180 degrees so it was going side to side not up and down, shaved a row off the smaller heat sink that sits in the middle of the card. And cut a opening in the back of the tower so that the exaust port had a spot to breathe. Dont have any pics cause when i was going to take one with my phone, it was night time and the didnt come out at all so ill wait for daytime to snap off some good ones.

Oct 12, 2008, 10:06 AM	#8
TV addict#2 DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 43 Rep Power: 0	Re: (Help) Problems with my new Diamond 4870X2 maybe give 3d06 or vantage a run to get reference scores __________________ time in time TR120EX/Q6600@3.4...AbitIP35Pro...4G GKX Firestixx...Diamond4870x2...74GRaptor...X-fi/680Z...Corsair1000w...ThermaltakeXIII...HP-LP3065...Vista x64sp1

Oct 10, 2008, 07:00 PM	#2
sammorris HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Brentwood or York, UK Posts: 178 Rep Power: 26 System Specs	Re: (Help) Problems with my new Diamond 4870X2 Warhammer online doesn't support crossfire. However, I tested the game on an X2 and it ran fine. If you're getting lag you may need more RAM. __________________ Speakers: Logitech Z-2300 & Philips MC-70 [homebrew surround via ATEN CS1782 KVAM] for HTPC. Logitech Z-5500 for gaming PC. I/O: Razer Diamondback Magma, MS Intellimouse Optical, MS Sidewinder X6, Saitek Eclipse II, Pertelian X2040 USB Display DVD: As little as Possible (LG GH20NS15) Networking: Netgear GS105, GS605, GS608, WRN2000, Linksys WRT54GL [Tomato], DrayTek Vigor 120, yards of CAT6