Today we shall review as many as five graphics cards from HIS: one from the IceQ lineup, three from the iCooler series (like IceQ but with coolers made by a different manufacturer), and a passive solution.

Design

HIS HD 5870 iCooler V Turbo X 1GB (256-bit) GDDR5
GPU: Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress) Interface: PCIe x16 GPU clock rate (ROPs/shaders): 900/900 MHz (the standard is 850/850 MHz) Memory clock rate, physical (effective): 1225 (4900) MHz (the standard is 1200 (4800) MHz) Bus: 256-bit Stream processors: 1600 TMUs: 80 (BLF/TLF) ROPs: 32 Size: 285x100x33 mm PCB color: blue RAMDACs/TDMS: integrated into GPU Outputs: 2 x Dual-Link DVI-I, DisplayPort, HDMI Multi-GPU mode: hardware CrossFire
HIS HD 5850 iCooler V Turbo 1GB (256-bit) GDDR5
GPU: Radeon HD 5850 (Cypress) Interface: PCIe x16 GPU clock rate (ROPs/shaders): 765/765 MHz (the standard is 725/725 MHz) Memory clock rate, physical (effective): 1125 (4500) MHz (the standard is 1000 (4000) MHz) Bus: 256-bit Stream processors: 1440 TMUs: 72 (BLF/TLF) ROPs: 32 Size: 260x100x33 mm PCB color: blue RAMDACs/TDMS: integrated into GPU Outputs: 2 x Dual-Link DVI-I, DisplayPort, HDMI Multi-GPU mode: hardware CrossFire
HIS HD 5830 iCooler V Turbo 1GB (256-bit) GDDR5
GPU: Radeon HD 5830 (Cypress) Interface: PCIe x16 GPU clock rate (ROPs/shaders): 840/840 MHz (the standard is 800/800 MHz) Memory clock rate, physical (effective): 1100 (4400) MHz (the standard is 1000 (4000) MHz) Bus: 256-bit Stream processors: 1120 TMUs: 64 (BLF/TLF) ROPs: 28 Size: 270x100x33 mm PCB color: blue RAMDACs/TDMS: integrated into GPU Outputs: 2 x Dual-Link DVI-I, DisplayPort, HDMI Multi-GPU mode: hardware CrossFire
HIS HD 5770 IceQ 5 Turbo 1GB (128-bit) GDDR5
GPU: Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper) Interface: PCIe x16 GPU clock rate (ROPs/shaders): 875/875 MHz (the standard is 850/850 MHz) Memory clock rate, physical (effective): 1250 (5000) MHz (the standard is 1200 (4800) MHz) Bus: 128-bit Stream processors: 800 TMUs: 40 (BLF/TLF) ROPs: 16 Size: 210x100x33 mm PCB color: blue RAMDACs/TDMS: integrated into GPU Outputs: 2 x Dual-Link DVI-I, DisplayPort, HDMI Multi-GPU mode: hardware CrossFire
HIS HD 5550 Silence 512MB (128-bit) GDDR5
GPU: Radeon HD 5570 (Redwood) Interface: PCIe x16 GPU clock rate (ROPs/shaders): 650/650 MHz (standard) Memory clock rate, physical (effective): 1000 (4000) MHz (the standard is 830 (1660) MHz) Bus: 128-bit Stream processors: 400 TMUs: 20 (BLF/TLF) ROPs: 8 Size: 170x100x30 mm PCB color: blue RAMDACs/TDMS: integrated into GPU Outputs: Dual-Link DVI-I, VGA, HDMI Multi-GPU mode: software CrossFire

Comparison with the reference design, front view
HIS HD 5870 iCooler V Turbo X 1GB (256-bit) GDDR5	Reference ATI Radeon HD 5870
HIS HD 5850 iCooler V Turbo 1GB (256-bit) GDDR5
HIS HD 5830 iCooler V Turbo 1GB (256-bit) GDDR5
HIS HD 5770 IceQ 5 Turbo 1GB (128-bit) GDDR5	Reference ATI Radeon HD 5770
HIS HD 5550 Silence 512MB (128-bit) GDDR5	Reference ATI Radeon HD 4670

Comparison with the reference design, rear view
HIS HD 5870 iCooler V Turbo X 1GB (256-bit) GDDR5	Reference ATI Radeon HD 5870
HIS HD 5850 iCooler V Turbo 1GB (256-bit) GDDR5
HIS HD 5830 iCooler V Turbo 1GB (256-bit) GDDR5
HIS HD 5770 IceQ 5 Turbo 1GB (128-bit) GDDR5	Reference ATI Radeon HD 5770
HIS HD 5550 Silence 512MB (128-bit) GDDR5	Reference ATI Radeon HD 4670

As you can see, all three Radeon HD 5830/5850/5870 graphics cards have essentially the same PCBs and cores, just core specifications and clock rates are different. While PCBs are based on the reference design, these solutions feature numerous changes to power supply units and memory circuitry. Let's hope this was done to improve stability. One drawback is that supplementary power connectors were moved from top to end, making cards even longer which isn't good.

Radeon HD 5770 is a custom solution, and only memory chips surrounding the GPU remind of reference layout. Its power supply unit was relocated closer to the bracket. This seems strange, because PSUs always create certain noise pickup and placing them close to output connectors isn't the best solution. Perhaps this was also done to improve stability.

Radeon HD 5570 is a regular inexpensive card with a 128-bit bus and simplified PSU. However, this modification features GDDR5 memory instead of GDDR3 one.

Radeon HD 5830/5850/5870 cards have two 6-pin supplementary power connectors, Radeon HD 5770 has one.

Maximum resolutions and frequencies:

• 240 Hz maximum refresh rate
• 2560 x 1600 @ 60Hz max. digital resolution
• 2048 x 1536 @ 85Hz max. VGA resolution

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