ATi 4xxx Series Review

[shamus8888]

Hi,

I am just wondering if I will get a better overall performance with two 4850s in Crossfire compared to a single GT280? (My mobo supports only CF).

Also, will my PSU have the adequate PCI-E power leads for both of them?

http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=695914 (this is direct link to my PSU)

I feel that two 4870s should be better but I reckon for CF, two 4850s are in my budget range.

Thanks for the input.

Merged in from another thread

-ViRGE

 

[error8]

Guru3d review of the 4850: http://www.guru3d.com/article/...force-3d--powercolor/1

I really, really like this card. :laugh:

 

[SlowSpyder]

Originally posted by: Wreckage

What damage control. They are dropping the price on their last gen card and providing a new driver and clock bump for it. This is pretty standard stuff. Where have you been? So now ATI finally releases a new card to compete in the last gen and you think that's news....

So when AMD released the 3870 Nvidia released an 8800GT+ with faster clocks, a new driver to increase performance, and dropped the price? No. The 8800GT performed more then well enough against the 3870 so they did none of that. The 4850 performs better then the 9800GTX so they are doing this. This will keep the 9800GTX as a viable option for some, if they left it at $269.99 and didn't tweak it the 4850 would probably almost completely displace it in the market.

 

[Munky]

Originally posted by: Wreckage
Who even mentioned the 260? You can't show me one even though you brought it up. Just admit to being a hypocrite. It's the first step for your recovery.

Who mentioned the 4870? This thread is about the 4850. Reading comprehension FTW.

It beats it? In every game? Please show that link.

Clutching at straws... It beats it in enough games that matter, at settings that matter.

It costs less? Please link to newegg how much a 4850 costs. You got nothin'.

Tell that to the several people on this forum who already bought the 4850

What damage control. They are dropping the price on their last gen card and providing a new driver and clock bump for it. This is pretty standard stuff. Where have you been? So now ATI finally releases a new card to compete in the last gen and you think that's news....

They have done none of the above, only spread rumors. The 9800gtx is still $260+ at gougeegg. And while you're so busy dismissing Nvidia's last gen cards, what has Nvidia released to replace those last gen cards? Those cards are all NV has at that price range, and will continue to make more rehashes of last gen for at least several months more.

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: AshPhoenix
Sapphire HD Radeon 4850 in stock for $189.99

Prices, they are a rising...

Now $197.99 + shipping.

Note they also offer a 4850 from VisionTek for $195 + shipping.

 

[Munky]

Originally posted by: Wreckage

You mentioned the 4870 prior to my mention of the 9800GTX+ and then you got in a huff about the 9800GTX+ not being available yet had not problem talking about the 4870.

Although I'm sure you know all this and don't want to admit to it.

Originally posted by: Wreckage
I think this will make the 4870 a tough sell, let alone the 4850 which already had competition at $70 cheaper.

Find me where I mentioned the 4870 prior to that

 

[ChronoReverse]

So far the "leaked" reviews indicate that a pair of 4850 can in fact match the GTX280.

 

[error8]

Come on, don't fight, there are enough videocards for everybody.

 

[ChronoReverse]

Considering the price was supposed to be $199MRSP it's merely rising to the proper price for now (if this card reviews as well as rumoured, it might sell out and rise in prices really quick).

 

[shamus8888]

thanks for the comment. I can't really find a good review comparing CFed 4850s. So tempted to order them as one company here in the UK is having them up for sale at a considerably cheap price. £139.59 for one. £279.18 for both while the cheapest GT280s here is around £430.

Just really thinking if I should go ahead ... ><

 

[MarcVenice]

You can complain about the review all you want, the only thing I noticed was the gtx280 getting an asswhooping by 2 HD4850's in crossfire. $400 worth of hardware outperforming $650 worth of hardware. In one of the last games crossfire scaled 100%, no longer CPU bound 1 HD4850 did 29fps, and 2 HD4850's did 58fps. Awesome. I thought I was getting a decent deal on a 8800gts 320mb for 280 euro's not even a year ago, but right now we're seeing HD4850's for 160 euro's !!! That's like 2/3rd of the price, for almost twice the performance? AMD is looking hot ... To bad the cards do run a little hot though, for CF you'll want some nice airflow in your case.

 

[tuteja1986]

A Gigbayte 800W PSU is really good model. When it was review , it was very expensive psu that was going for $320.

here is anandtech review on this PSU :

http://www.anandtech.com/casec...us/showdoc.aspx?i=3046

Your PSU will be able to handle 2x 4870 :: 2x GT 280. has 4xPCIE 8pin connector




Technically a crossfire 4850 can beat GT280 but driver profile reason its beats it some game and in some its tied and in some Crossfire doesn't kick in.

IF you do go with crossfire make sure you use vista as ATI driver team spent more time tweaking for it for crossfire and you will see around %10 performance increase.

Article on Nvidia and ATI driver in Vista vs XP :: 32bits vs 64bit = http://translate.google.com/tr...e&tl=en&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

 

[Wreckage]

Originally posted by: munky

Who mentioned the 4870? This thread is about the 4850. Reading comprehension FTW.

Then why did you bring up the 260?

Clutching at straws... It beats it in enough games that matter, at settings that matter.

It does?

Tell that to the several people on this forum who already bought the 4850

I must have missed it, where is the link to newegg or zipzoomfly so I can see the price and specs. Thanks. :roll:

They have done none of the above, only spread rumors. The 9800gtx is still $260+ at gougeegg.

How much is the 4850 at Newegg?

And while you're so busy dismissing Nvidia's last gen cards, what has Nvidia released to replace those last gen cards?

The GT200 series. Where have you been?

Those cards are all NV has at that price range, and will continue to make more rehashes of last gen for at least several months more.

Like the 4800 series, which is not even out yet.

Look we are just going in circles here. I will just agree to disagree.

 

[chewietobbacca]

CF reviews:

http://www.guru3d.com/article/...-force-3d--powercolor/

http://www.tweaktown.com/artic...ire_at_4ghz/index.html

Thats just two of em but I think theres more out there I havent seen

 

[MarcVenice]

I don't see any reason to purchase a £430 gtx280 if you can get 2 HD4850's for £280, that outperform the gtx280 most of the time. Your PSU will be just fine btw.

 

[mhouck]

Originally posted by: shamus8888
thanks for the comment. I can't really find a good review comparing CFed 4850s. So tempted to order them as one company here in the UK is having them up for sale at a considerably cheap price. £139.59 for one. £279.18 for both while the cheapest GT280s here is around £430.

Just really thinking if I should go ahead ... ><

CrossFired 4850 Review at Tweaktown Enjoy

 

[ShadowOfMyself]

Yeah I dont know why everyones criticizing the Guru3d review It shows the 4850 ass kicking the competition, as do the other sites, so they seem in line Its only a shame that Crossfire is still a bit hit or miss... I hope they fix that quick

 

[bryanW1995]

yeah, I could see 4850 going for over $200 pretty quickly. of course, nvidia has done a great job in putting a plan in place for this eventuality. I know that we're all pissed that they were deliberately down-clocking the 9800gtx, but we've known this all along, right? It is the same basic architecture as 8800gts but has a better cooler and runs at higher voltage... I read a little while ago that the 9800gtx+ is going to be 733 core, combined with the driver updates that should be very nice imho.

I still have problems with both 4850 and 9800gtx, of course. 9800gtx is too loud, closing in on 2900xt loud in fact. 4850 is the NEW 8800gt; ie, great price/perf, MUCH better performance than most people expected, 800 shader/40 tmu- nuff said, etc etc, but it also has the same crappy single slot cooler design from 8800gt, so it either runs hot or you'll have to crank the fan up to undesirable levels. +1 to amd for the great product, but as mentioned I wouldn't want a card that isn't dual slot for noise and thermal reasons.

 

[Aberforth]

Can't believe it scales 100% in CF, now I only hope 4870 destroys 260.

 

[ajaidevsingh]

I got two 4850 for CF over a P35 m/b not working rite now but asap will give a review...

 

[mhouck]

Originally posted by: chewietobbacca
CF reviews:

http://www.guru3d.com/article/...-force-3d--powercolor/

http://www.tweaktown.com/artic...ire_at_4ghz/index.html

Thats just two of em but I think theres more out there I havent seen

Beat me to it between linking and refresh :| I've been bested. Good job sir

 

[HurleyBird]

Based on what we've been seeing, that is most likely.

 

[shamus8888]

Originally posted by: tuteja1986


IF you do go with crossfire make sure you use vista as ATI driver team spent more time tweaking for it for crossfire and you will see around %10 performance increase.

Article on Nvidia and ATI driver in Vista vs XP :: 32bits vs 64bit = http://translate.google.com/tr...e&tl=en&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

Thanks for all the kind advices. However, I am a bit worried here. I really don't fancy using Vista. I am using WinXP Pro SP3 atm and I am loving it. I use this rig mainly for gaming but I do some folding and some video editing.

Let's say the games I play ranges from WoW (I know it doesn't require much but sometimes I struggle to push over 25fps in crowded areas) to AoC (Age of Conan) and the likes of Need for Speed Pro Street etc. I also like a lot of RTS games like World in Conflict etc.

Will I be able to enjoy these games to the max with WinXP Pro and Crossfire?

p/s: Also I am currently using a 328MB 8800GTS on my 2nd rig but the weird thing is that its running very hot on stock (its XFX edition). GPU-Z reads idle temp of 55oC.

p/s/s : Anyone in UK know where I can get a 4850 bar AWD-IT.co.uk?

 

[ShadowOfMyself]

Originally posted by: Aberforth
Can't believe it scales 100% in CF, now I only hope 4870 destroys 260.

Now that you mention it, its true... In about every game in which CF works, it scales 100% :shocked: In COD4 it even scales more than 100% LOL?

32 fps vs 67 fps... Way to go AMD

 

[chewietobbacca]

Yeah the 4850 in CF will provide excellent improvement over your current rig even in Windows XP