Radeon HD 3870 PCIe 2.0 overheating and loud fan problem fixed?

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Level 1

100 points

Radeon HD 3870 PCIe 2.0 overheating and loud fan problem fixed?

Hello everybody.
I just wanted to know if anybody on here has bought an 3870 lately and still has the overheating/constant loud fan issue. I have been told by Macsales that this issue has been fixed on the new cards? Is that correct? I am still shopping for a card for my MacPro 2007 1,1. Don't really have the money to buy the 4870 and the only other option I have is the 3870. Pretty sad that there are no other ones in that $200 (or less) price range. Every other card for that Mac version is in the $350-$450 range.
Anyway, just wanted to know if these 3870 issues have been fixed.
Thanks.

Mac Pro Dual 2.66 Ghz, 10 GB Ram, Logic Studio, WD 500GB/16 Mb Int. HD SATA, Mac OS X (10.6.2), Kontakt 2, GPO , PreSonus Firebox, Unitor 8 Midi Patch

Posted on Dec 24, 2009 9:25 AM

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Answer 1

Wolfi228 Author

Level 1

100 points

Dec 24, 2009 10:58 AM in response to Wolfi228

Well, I talked to them about this issue about a week ago. Today I called them to see if they still have any in stock, turns out they don't sell these anymore, at all? Any specific reason I wonder? The sales rep did not know why it is discontinued, so he said.

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Answer 2

Dec 24, 2009 4:52 PM in response to Wolfi228

Why not just put a third party fan setup on it and be done with it?

I see video cards all the time on ebay, including some nVidia 800GT for the 1st Gen Mac Pro. In the $200 range.

I feel for you, it ***** that there are so few options for the early Pro users.

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Answer 3

Dec 25, 2009 4:09 AM in response to Wolfi228

My experience with the 3870: I have 2 of them for 2 computers and have never got the fan issues reported all over this site. I dont think it applies too ALL 3870s'. They have been pretty much silent or close too. Its a great card with Motion and maybe I was tripping, but it seemed to make the interface a bit more snappy.

Having said that, I have removed them now and replaced them with the 8800, due to Snow leopard and support for Open CL (FYI 3870 does not support Open CL, which is a shame, why? baffles me!) not that apps support that yet, but soon.

<Edited by Host>

good luck

BKT

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Answer 4

Wolfi228 Author

Level 1

100 points

Dec 25, 2009 9:17 AM in response to BROOKLYNTREEZ

Well, I finally gave in and ordered the 4870,....forking out $375 bucks is a OUTCH! I hope it works well.
Thanks guys.

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Answer 5

Jan 1, 2010 1:29 PM in response to Wolfi228

Lucky you! I had to fork out (2 days ago) 450USD for my ATI 4870.

Apple is making really some big bucks on the european market!

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Answer 6

Mar 29, 2010 4:51 PM in response to Wolfi228

The update to Mac OS X 10.6.3 solved the ATI Radeon HD 3870 fan noise issue for me.

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Answer 7

sjøgren

Level 1

57 points

May 2, 2010 2:14 PM in response to Stephen Downs

Stephen. Are you using a Radeon 3870 with Snow Leopard ?
I ask because my Mac Pro is running 10.5.8 and wants to update to Snow
but many have told me it isn't possible with Radeon 3870.

Can you give me a answer there buddy ? Thx

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Answer 8

May 3, 2010 3:47 PM in response to sjøgren

FWIW, I have been running Snow Leopard in a Mac Pro 1.1 with a Radeon 3870 since the day Snow Leopard was released with no problems at all.

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Answer 9

May 17, 2010 11:48 AM in response to sjøgren

Yes I'm running Mac OS X 10.6.3 on a first gen Mac Pro xeon with an ATI Radeon HD 3870 as the only graphics card, running two displays. Again, the card runs more quiet than it did under Mac OS X 10.5.x, but it still likes to whirr up and down a lot, which is not ideal.

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