ALIENCULTIST.COM
HARDWARE ARCHIVES // COMPONENT RECORD

[ PCI EXPRESS GRAPHICS // IDENTIFIED COMPONENT ]

ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 1 GB

2 × RV670 XT, 2008. This record identifies the listed retail model/configuration; board-partner variations are called out separately.

Photograph of ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 1 GB
PHOTOGRAPH — Anandtech, CC BY-SA 4.0 · FILE ON WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

MODEL / VARIANT: Single-card HD 3870 X2 with two GPUs. The 1 GB total is split between GPUs and is not a single 1 GB framebuffer available to either processor.

Recorded specifications

Cataloged productATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 1 GB
GPU / architecture / launch2 × RV670 XT; 2008.
Core & memoryDual-GPU board with two RV670 processors (320 stream processors each); 1 GB total GDDR3 arranged as 512 MB per GPU, with each GPU using its own 256-bit memory interface; reference GPU clock 825 MHz.
Host interface & powerPCI Express 2.0 x16 host interface; reference power input is one 6-pin plus one 8-pin PCIe connector. About 197 W reference board-power class; dual-GPU load, heat and transient draw require suitable PSU capacity and case airflow.
Typical reference outputsReference class outputs include dual DVI and TV-out; exact panel, adapters and supported display combinations vary by card revision.
Board dimensionsReference board length is approximately 267 mm, with a two-slot cooler; partner/OEM revisions can differ. Verify the exact board drawing and slot clearance before installation.
Variant boundarySingle-card HD 3870 X2 with two GPUs. The 1 GB total is split between GPUs and is not a single 1 GB framebuffer available to either processor.

Compatibility, service & archival notes

Requires a PCIe x16 system and a driver stack with working multi-GPU support; application scaling is software-dependent. Allow for a long dual-slot cooler, strong case ventilation and both auxiliary power leads. Some legacy applications/drivers may expose only one GPU or show synchronization artifacts; test the target workload and retain known-good drivers.

  • Check the exact slot keying/signaling, board dimensions, auxiliary-power pinout, PSU guidance, airflow and display outputs for the specimen; connector appearance alone does not establish compatibility.
  • Install a driver supporting the recorded device ID and target OS. Preserve the original driver and firmware versions before making changes.
  • Record board partner, PCB and cooler revision, device/subsystem IDs, BIOS, adapter set and physical condition. Do not power a card with damage, corrosion, obstructed cooling or suspected shorts.

Manufacturer, model & standards sources

  1. ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 1 GB specifications — TechPowerUp GPU DatabaseIndependent model-level GPU, memory and interface reference; board revisions may vary.
  2. AMD legacy graphics drivers and support archiveManufacturer driver-support reference; select the product family, device ID and operating system that match the card.
  3. PCI-SIG PCI Express specificationsPCI Express host interface reference; multi-GPU driver/application support is a separate compatibility requirement.
  4. AMD product support and driver selectionAMD manufacturer support reference for identifying a compatible driver branch and operating system; availability depends on product age.
  5. Retro Hardware Review — Can Single HD 3870 Beat Its X2 Counterpart?Independent video review; treat as supplementary context, not primary manufacturer documentation.

GPU-family references do not supersede the card manufacturer’s manual, nameplate or board revision for a specific specimen.