ATi 4xxx Series Review

[Sylvanas]

Asus 4870 pictured

 

[GoodToGo]

There is one aspect that somehow everyone is missing out on, the HDMI interface. Now if this can indeed output audio over the HDMI interface, then it is a real winner. That way you can pass the audio on to a receiver and save money on a sound card. My only question is whether it does this for all types of media played in a PC (aka via WMP, winamp etc) or only with selected sources (powerdvd or any other specific software)?

 

[tuteja1986]

Originally posted by: ChronoReverse
I have screenshots but you'll need to find me a place to host 2MB PNGs. If you want JPEG just let me know.

With that said, the difference between 4xAA and 8xAA isn't that big. I've always felt 4xAA was a sweet-spot especially with progressively higher resolutions.

Here's a peek at where the AA does make difference and how small that difference is.
http://img145.imageshack.us/im...756/4xaapreviewln0.png
http://img145.imageshack.us/im...299/8xaapreviewmb7.png
http://img80.imageshack.us/img...50/24xaapreviewbh2.png

Well if you have an hotmail account , then login to http://skydrive.live.com/

Then upload the pic on public shared folder. You can upload high res Bitmap pic

Or you can register to get free webspace hosting.

http://www.free-webhosts.com/free-php-webhosting.php

I use this :

http://www.awardspace.com/signup.html?gid=1111

 

[Kuzi]

This website has a Sapphire HD4870, the details have the Core @850Mhz (36% increase over HD4850), and DDR5 @3880MHz, price $330

If the core will really be 850MHz for the HD4870 cards, I believe it will easily offer higher performance than the GTX260 while being cheaper. I wonder how much more the 1GB DDR5 versions will cost, cause that's probably what I'll get

 

[LightningRider]

Probably like $100 difference like it was with the 8800GTS 320 and 640.

 

[Dkcode]

I am itching for the 4870X2. I really hope they can get it to scale well.

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: Kuzi
This website has a Sapphire HD4870, the details have the Core @850Mhz (36% increase over HD4850), and DDR5 @3880MHz, price $330

If the core will really be 850MHz for the HD4870 cards, I believe it will easily offer higher performance than the GTX260 while being cheaper. I wonder how much more the 1GB DDR5 versions will cost, cause that's probably what I'll get

are the shaders really clocked higher? I thought that were still the same as the core. also, it lists the memory as 1940. Those are nice-looking specs but they are out of line with what most sites have shown.

 

[Aberforth]

Well, here is the leaked benchmarks of Radeon 4870, scores 8096 in 3DMark Vantage and 13k in 3dmark 06.

 

[ChronoReverse]

Oh yeah, I completely forgot about Skydrive

http://cid-1b1908eb94064033.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Public

Here's three screenshots for now then.

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: Aberforth
Well, here is the leaked benchmarks of Radeon 4870, scores 8096 in 3DMark Vantage and 13k in 3dmark 06.

that sucks for ati that they have to use a phenom when doing official benchmarks...

 

[Kuzi]

Originally posted by: bryanW1995

Originally posted by: Kuzi
This website has a Sapphire HD4870, the details have the Core @850Mhz (36% increase over HD4850), and DDR5 @3880MHz, price $330

If the core will really be 850MHz for the HD4870 cards, I believe it will easily offer higher performance than the GTX260 while being cheaper. I wonder how much more the 1GB DDR5 versions will cost, cause that's probably what I'll get

are the shaders really clocked higher? I thought that were still the same as the core. also, it lists the memory as 1940. Those are nice-looking specs but they are out of line with what most sites have shown.

I don't know about the shaders yet, and even when I asked at XS, they didn't seem sure. I don't think the GPU-Z guy knows for sure yet. One thing seems sure is that R770 does have 800 Stream Processors. About the memory, just double that number to get the actual GDDR5 speed.

Also, if you notice at the link I posted, it says 32 TMUs, while some people are saying R770 has 40 TMUs. I think it is 800SPs/40TMUs, guessing from the performance of the HD4850.

EDIT: The tomshardware link shows 40 TMUs, but only 750MHz core speed

 

[ronnn]

Originally posted by: Sylvanas
Asus 4870 pictured

I want that one! The quiet, more efficient cooler ..

 

[Aberforth]

Originally posted by: bryanW1995

Originally posted by: Aberforth
Well, here is the leaked benchmarks of Radeon 4870, scores 8096 in 3DMark Vantage and 13k in 3dmark 06.

that sucks for ati that they have to use a phenom when doing official benchmarks...

Yes, phenom sucks...4870 should actually beat GTX 260.

 

[Kuzi]

I never pay attention to 3DMark numbers, it's games that matter in the end.

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: Kuzi

Originally posted by: bryanW1995

Originally posted by: Kuzi
This website has a Sapphire HD4870, the details have the Core @850Mhz (36% increase over HD4850), and DDR5 @3880MHz, price $330

If the core will really be 850MHz for the HD4870 cards, I believe it will easily offer higher performance than the GTX260 while being cheaper. I wonder how much more the 1GB DDR5 versions will cost, cause that's probably what I'll get

are the shaders really clocked higher? I thought that were still the same as the core. also, it lists the memory as 1940. Those are nice-looking specs but they are out of line with what most sites have shown.

I don't know about the shaders yet, and even when I asked at XS, they didn't seem sure. I don't think the GPU-Z guy knows for sure yet. One thing seems sure is that R770 does have 800 Stream Processors. About the memory, just double that number to get the actual GDDR5 speed.

Also, if you notice at the link I posted, it says 32 TMUs, while some people are saying R770 has 40 TMUs. I think it is 800SPs/40TMUs, guessing from the performance of the HD4850.

EDIT: The tomshardware link shows 40 TMUs, but only 750MHz core speed

actually, gddr5 is quad pumped, so it's 900mhz memory x4 = 3600 effective rate.

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: Kuzi
I never pay attention to 3DMark numbers, it's games that matter in the end.

one of the big knocks on r600 was that it pwned 3dmark06 but sucked everywhere else (in relation to 8800gtx). 3dmark vantage is supposed to be a better predictor of actual game performance, though only time will tell.

 

[Kuzi]

It's something like 2 channels each is dual pumped working symotaneously together (2x2=4). But at the link they had it @1940MHz, it could have been a typo, or the speed of only 1 channel. You are right, I think the minimum speed of the GDDR5 cards that will release soon will be 3600MHz.

 

[Aberforth]

Originally posted by: Kuzi
I never pay attention to 3DMark numbers, it's games that matter in the end.

Well, Vantage does use all the scenarios of real world gaming. It's quite different from 3dmark 06.

 

[ronnn]

Wonder if sales are slow? Prices keep falling with some brands coming with games. Or they just made a ton of them. Or maybe all those cheap 8800gt's have caused this overall price free fall.

 

[Cookie Monster]

I think theres no shader domain. I dont think ATi would risk implementing a relatively new feature to them on something important like the RV770. (Where as nVIDIA started using this little feature with the NV47)

 

[bryanW1995]

I think it's 2 things:
1. they made a ton of them
2. they want to get a lot of them in the channel quickly so that word of mouth sales can take over.

I think that 4850 is almost TOO good. What amd really needs is a 4850 @ $150, a 4860 @ $250, and a 4870 @ $350. The base 4850 is having to be cover too much area right now. Even though g92 is a dated architecture, it would be very tough to get a 4850 for $199 for most gamers with less than a 24" monitor if they could get an 8800gt for ~ $110 (which I have seen several times on hot deals if you don't mind mir's). I frankly don't see a realistic comparison of 4850 vs 9800gtx(+) because at the same price point you would be much better off with the superior architcture.


edit: keep in mind that 4850 is going to be compared by many shoppers against 8800gt, 8800gts,9800 gtx and 9800gtx+. I think that ati needs to quickly throw out some oc versions with good cooling solutions for that higher-end user and then focus on having the deals to entice the $130-$150 shoppers to step up a little bit.

 

[Hauk]

Not sure if this has already been posted, a hotfix for 48xx series:

Hotfix announcement

Says it includes CCC and driver. "Increase performance and stability.."

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: bryanW1995

Originally posted by: Kuzi

Originally posted by: bryanW1995

Originally posted by: Kuzi
This website has a Sapphire HD4870, the details have the Core @850Mhz (36% increase over HD4850), and DDR5 @3880MHz, price $330

If the core will really be 850MHz for the HD4870 cards, I believe it will easily offer higher performance than the GTX260 while being cheaper. I wonder how much more the 1GB DDR5 versions will cost, cause that's probably what I'll get

are the shaders really clocked higher? I thought that were still the same as the core. also, it lists the memory as 1940. Those are nice-looking specs but they are out of line with what most sites have shown.

I don't know about the shaders yet, and even when I asked at XS, they didn't seem sure. I don't think the GPU-Z guy knows for sure yet. One thing seems sure is that R770 does have 800 Stream Processors. About the memory, just double that number to get the actual GDDR5 speed.

Also, if you notice at the link I posted, it says 32 TMUs, while some people are saying R770 has 40 TMUs. I think it is 800SPs/40TMUs, guessing from the performance of the HD4850.

EDIT: The tomshardware link shows 40 TMUs, but only 750MHz core speed

actually, gddr5 is quad pumped, so it's 900mhz memory x4 = 3600 effective rate.

Double Data Rate 5 is quad-pumped? News to me...

 

[ShadowOfMyself]

Originally posted by: Ocguy31

Originally posted by: bryanW1995

Originally posted by: Kuzi

Originally posted by: bryanW1995

Originally posted by: Kuzi
This website has a Sapphire HD4870, the details have the Core @850Mhz (36% increase over HD4850), and DDR5 @3880MHz, price $330

If the core will really be 850MHz for the HD4870 cards, I believe it will easily offer higher performance than the GTX260 while being cheaper. I wonder how much more the 1GB DDR5 versions will cost, cause that's probably what I'll get

are the shaders really clocked higher? I thought that were still the same as the core. also, it lists the memory as 1940. Those are nice-looking specs but they are out of line with what most sites have shown.

I don't know about the shaders yet, and even when I asked at XS, they didn't seem sure. I don't think the GPU-Z guy knows for sure yet. One thing seems sure is that R770 does have 800 Stream Processors. About the memory, just double that number to get the actual GDDR5 speed.

Also, if you notice at the link I posted, it says 32 TMUs, while some people are saying R770 has 40 TMUs. I think it is 800SPs/40TMUs, guessing from the performance of the HD4850.

EDIT: The tomshardware link shows 40 TMUs, but only 750MHz core speed

actually, gddr5 is quad pumped, so it's 900mhz memory x4 = 3600 effective rate.

Double Data Rate 5 is quad-pumped? News to me...

Lol... Yeah it should have been named QDR, not DDR5

 

[bryanW1995]

yeah, it's pretty stupid to call it that, but there you are. that's why gddr3 to gddr4 isn't nearly as big a deal as going to gddr5.