A few days ago we wrote about MSI's Radeon HD 3800 series, and back then it was the same old boring reference design/clocks. Back then we also noted that Diamond and OC editions should be just around the corner, since the Christmas shopping spree is coming, and as of today MSI has two factory OC-ed cards. We also wrote that MSI is preparing an in-house design for the 8800 GT and HD 3800 series but these won't be out until Q1 2008.

Unfortunately MSI has decided to stick with the reference cooler, and as far as the look goes, it's nothing new; the same "BORG" themed sticker placed over the reference cooler. Now, let's get to that "OC" label in the model name. The first one, branded RX3870-T2D512E-OC, comes clocked at 800MHz for the core, which is not that impressive, but that is the highest factory overclock so far. Powercolor's OC-ed HD 3870 goes to 800MHz, as well.

Interestingly, MSI decided not to change the memory clock which remained on the reference 2250MHz. Of course, it still uses 512MB of GDDR4 memory. The second card is branded RX3850-T2D256E-OC and it works at 690MHz, which is 20MHz above the reference clock. This one also comes with reference cooling and 256MB of GDDR3 memory clocked at the reference speed, 1660MHz.

The pictures on the site are the same ones as for the plain non-OC versions, and we can't be sure that they will look like that in retail, since MSI has a nice little sentence below the picture which states that it may differ from the actual product, just for cases like this. Anyway, it is nice to see that MSI went for a slight bump in clocks and we hope that price will share the same destiny, and that we won't have to pay a premium for the "OC" label.

Our favorite European price search engine, Geizhals, has these cards listed at €197,02 for the HD 3870 and €152,19 for the HD 3850. The HD 3870 is not in stock yet, but the HD 3850 OC version can be found in stock for €156,90. You can check out these two cards at MSI's website.