Archive notice: This article was originally published on January 15, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
As with the 3850 models, HIS is again increasing clock speeds for Radeon 3870 chipsets and also equipping the cards with the very powerful yet quiet IceQ3 cooler. Alongside the newly presented HIS HD3870 IceQ3 Turbo, the standard card is also being replaced by an IceQ3 version. The tuned cards are primarily aimed at gamers and enthusiasts who want high-resolution, detailed 3D graphics.
The latest HIS cards also offer extensive multimedia and HD-video functions, enabling users to send the PC image to the television in the best digital quality. HDMI support (connection through the supplied DVI/HDMI adapter) with 5.1 digital surround sound, Unified Video Decoder (UVD) for Blu-ray™ and HD DVD playback, and outstanding HD-video acceleration and HD image quality with AVIVO HD are integrated.
Quiet, fast, cool: HIS’s IceQ3 cooler is a highly capable dual-slot cooler that transports heated air from the graphics card directly out of the PC case. The air is guided directly over a high-quality copper heatsink with two integrated heat pipes to cool both GPU and memory optimally. As with all IceQ systems, air circulation throughout the PC case is optimized. Other components, such as the CPU and power supply, benefit as well. The IceQ3 cooler guarantees maximum graphics-card performance and a long service life.
