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sparkie7

macrumors 68030
Original poster
They both cost about the same. Wondering if anyone know's which setup is better?

Seems the 3870's are good for Pro Apps, but have noise/fan issues. I'm thinking of getting the 4870 if its just as fast as getting two 3870s

How is the 4870 for Pro Apps?
 
Graphics cards don't "combine" power when you have more than one. You would get no benefit from having two 3870 except the ability to run four monitors.
 
They both cost about the same. Wondering if anyone know's which setup is better?

Seems the 3870's are good for Pro Apps, but have noise/fan issues. I'm thinking of getting the 4870 if its just as fast as getting two 3870s

How is the 4870 for Pro Apps?

Getting two 3870s doesn't make your graphics faster, it just gives you more outputs. If you only need 2 outputs, get the 4870 since it's faster than the 3870.

EDIT: Tallest beat me to it.
 
for Gaming yes, but Not for Pro Apps and Cor Image tasks it seems (on a MP 2008)

http://www.barefeats.com/nehal06.html

I don't hope you base your assumptions on a difference of 1 frame per second between the Radeon HD 3870 and the Radeon HD 4870 or the Geforce 8800 GT.

In time the Radeon HD 4870 will surely be the better overall choice.

For it to make sense we have to see more benchmarks than the two presented here.
 
I don't hope you base your assumptions on a difference of 1 frame per second between the Radeon HD 3870 and the Radeon HD 4870 or the Geforce 8800 GT.

In time the Radeon HD 4870 will surely be the better overall choice.

For it to make sense we have to see more benchmarks than the two presented here.

ATI Radeon HD 4870 could have better drivers, though.
 
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