Related Articles

Enough time has passed now that we are beginning to see some non-reference designs of the current top-dog, the HD 5870. In fact, today we will be looking at the very first non-reference design HD 5870. It is from Sapphire, and it is called the HD 5870 Vapor-X. 

The 'vapor' in the name comes from the custom cooler Sapphire designed. It is one of the same type that we have seen employed on many other models from prior generations from Sapphire. It utilizes the wonders of vapors to keep things cool. Certainly the HD 5870's seen so far do get hot sometimes, so we look forward to see what this cooler can do.

Right now, if there is one word that can sum up the state of the video card market right now, it would be: shortage. Many models are getting harder and harder to find. From a manufacturing and profit stand-point, the introduction of the HD 5000 series took the bottom out of many Nvidia models. Models such as the GTX 275 and GTX 260 (OC'ed) are able to keep up with the new new-gen new-comers, but are more expensive to put together than AMD's 40nm HD 5000 parts. Thus, there have been shortages of Nvidia parts, and many folks don't expect the supplies to be replenished soon, besides perhaps some key models, such as the still-strong GTX 285 and lower end old, old veteran, the now-labeled GTS 250 video card.

This also puts AMD in the enviable position of being able to keep prices somewhat static -- actually, the price of the HD 5850 and HD 5870 has reportedly raised in some markets, to reflect the fundamental state of the simple supply-and-demand balance. This entire situation has left gamers with an unusually difficult time to come by cards they sought after.

However Sapphire -- producing more cards than almost anyone -- will be trying their best to keep store shelves stocked with new models, such as the HD 5870 Vapor-X. Let's take a gander at what this card is all about on the next page.