ATi 4xxx Series Review

[JPB]

Jetway HD 4870 product page.


* Chipset : ATI Radeon HD 4870
* System Interface : PCI-Express2.0 x16
* CLK/MLK : 750MHz /900*4MHz
* Memory Size : DDR5 512MB / 256-bit
* RAMDAC : 400MHz
* Connector : HDTV, dual DVI-I DVI w/HDCP (HDMI adaptor)


Highlight

* RADEON HD 4870pro GPU
* PCI Express® 2.0 ¡V Support the most demanding graphics applications thanks to PCI Express® 2.0 support, which allows up to twice the throughput of current PCI Express® cards.
* 32-bit floating point texture filtering.
* Lossless Z Compression & Fast Z-Buffer Clear.
* Hierarchical Z-buffer with Early Z test.
* Support for Microsoft DirectX® 10.1 & Shader Model4.1.
* Complete feature set also supported in OpenGL® 2.1 .
* HDMI output support

Main Features

* <<480 stream processors ¡V More than enough horsepower to support the most demanding graphics applications.
* Texture Fill Rate 27 Billion texels per second .
* ATI PowerPlay? Technolog .
* ATI Avivo? HD Video & Display Technology .
* ATI CrossFireX ¡V Upgrade to even greater 3D performance quickly and easily thanks to plug-and-play ATI CrossFireX multi-GPU technology .
* Accelerated MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX, WMV9, VC-1, and H.264 decoding and transcoding .
* Motion compensation, IDCT, DCT and color space conversion .
* Fully distributed design with 256-bit internal ring bus for memory reads and writes.
Driver & Support
* WindowsXP / Vista
* Linux Compatible
* Microsoft DirectX® 10.1 Compatible
* Support for OpenGL® 2.1

 

[Hauk]

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

Hotfix announcement

Includes CCC and driver. "Increases performance and stability." For what it's worth, a modest gain in Vantage:

8.6 Beta Vantage Performance Score
8.6 Hotfix Vantage Performance Score

8.6 Beta Vantage Xtreme Score
8.6 Hotfix Vantage Xtreme Score

 

[ChronoReverse]

Playing Bioshock a bit shows that Anand's results for the 4850 is right about it. Easily 80-90 in the Medical Pavilion and more often than not over a hundred.

1680x1050, DX10, everything maxed.

 

[GlacierFreeze]

Originally posted by: Ocguy31
Double Data Rate 5 is quad-pumped? News to me...

You're bolding the wrong part. You should be bolding the "5." And yes DDR5 quad pumps.

 

[Joeydubbs]

A lot of buzz with this new card. I never bought an ATI card but am seriously considering it now...was about to buy a 8800gt for my new rig but now my whole rig is on hold...

 

[BigMoosey74]

Hey mods...when can new threads open up? This one is getting gnarly.

My bad, I see there are new ones floating around. Cheers.

 

[ChronoReverse]

I've added screenshots for HL2:Ep2 to the SkyDrive. The penalty for AA is still unbelievably low.

http://cid-1b1908eb94064033.sk...e.com/self.aspx/Public

 

[Tempered81]

Originally posted by: ChronoReverse

http://cid-1b1908eb94064033.sk...e.com/self.aspx/Public

HL2:ep2
84 FPS 1650 noAA
72 FPS 1650 8xAA


only taking a 14% Hit using 8xAA is purty sweet

 

[BFG10K]

Crysis 4870 benchmarks (includes CF):

http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=292315

 

[Hauk]

4850's in CF are fast as hell. Check out some of these framerates in Assassin's Creed @ 1920 x 1200 all settings maxed:

184 fps
173 fps
162 fps
76 fps

4870's in CF and 4870 X2 will be monsters...

 

[Hauk]

Originally posted by: BFG10K
Crysis 4870 benchmarks (includes CF):

http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=292315

Looks pretty damn good. I can't wait to read AT's technical on this gpu..

 

[ChaosDivine]

Originally posted by: BFG10K
Crysis 4870 benchmarks (includes CF):
http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=292315

Dayum! :shocked: What is that - $300 vs. $650 and $600 vs. $1300?!?!?!

 

[Aberforth]

Do you guys think NV will lower 260 prices?

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: Aberforth
Do you guys think NV will lower 260 prices?

Maybe. Who do you think has better drivers?

 

[Aberforth]

Originally posted by: pcslookout

Originally posted by: Aberforth
Do you guys think NV will lower 260 prices?

Maybe. Who do you think has better drivers?

I dunno about ATI but NV definitely has worse drivers, they haven't completely resolved Vista driver issues since Jan 2007.

 

[LightningRider]

Do you guys think NV will lower 260 prices?

Probably once the HD4870 releases. Maybe earlier.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: Aberforth

Originally posted by: pcslookout

Originally posted by: Aberforth
Do you guys think NV will lower 260 prices?

Maybe. Who do you think has better drivers?

I dunno about ATI but NV definitely has worse drivers, they haven't completely resolved Vista driver issues since Jan 2007.

What issues are you referring to?

 

[SickBeast]

When does the NDA on the 4870 expire?

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: SickBeast
When does the NDA on the 4870 expire?

I think sometime in July.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: pcslookout

Originally posted by: SickBeast
When does the NDA on the 4870 expire?

I think sometime in July.

Aren't the reviews on the 4870 coming out this week?

 

[bryanW1995]

nda on 4870 expires on 6/25. they were originally going to hold back 4850 until then but too many partners were already selling the cards and benchies were leaking left and right.

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: LightningRider

Do you guys think NV will lower 260 prices?

Probably once the HD4870 releases. Maybe earlier.

if 9800gtx+ is any indication, I think that nvidia will immediately drop gtx 260 to $299 unless availability is VERY low.

 

[Quiksilver]

4870 Product Page Up. (Thanks to Jetway)

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: Quiksilver
4870 Product Page Up. (Thanks to Jetway)

Thanks. Look nice.

 

[ronnn]

Originally posted by: BFG10K
Crysis 4870 benchmarks (includes CF):

http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=292315

look ok, but is there any reason to think they are accurate?