Any recommendations?(4850 vs 4870) - Page 2 - Overclock.net

Anqt31 · 07-16-08

Get an X38 and a 4870. Here's a new "secret equation"

X38 + 4870 = [perfect]
X38 + 2 x (4870) = [heaven]

Ratface · 07-16-08

Just forgot something, power supply. I was going to get a corsair 650w, but would I need a bigger one?
http://www.corsairmemory.com/products/tx.aspx
It only has 2pcie plugs, I'd need the 750w if I wanted to do crossfire 4870s, right?

**Robilar** · 07-16-08

The corsair TX750w would be a better choice is you are planning HD4870 in crossfire down the road.

chessmyantidrug · 07-16-08

If you plan on getting a 24"+ monitor down the road, then I recommend the 4870 over the 4850. Otherwise, I recommend the 4850 for 1680x1050 and below. Regardless of which card you ultimately choose, I recommend either a X38 or X48 mobo. The P45 chipset will bottleneck CrossFire performance with both PCI-e 2.0 slots running at x8 speeds whereas the X38/X48 runs them at x16.

**Mootsfox** · 07-18-08

I'm loving my HD4850 at 1920x1200, it's got no problems running at that resolution.

This is running off a PCI-e 1.1 slot too, not a PCI-e 2.0 slot.

Ratface · 07-18-08

Well, I was reading review for crossfire, and it seems the 4850 and 4870 in crossfire were pretty damn close at every resolution, so this is bugging me again now, thinking maybe I should just save the money and get the 4850. Also heard that soon there should be different versions with dual slot coolers like the 4870 and 1gb of memory, I'm thinking I'll wait on reviews for those, see if any are much better than the regular one, if there's any 4870 variations, decide then.

Should anything the 4870 has over the 4850 make it age much better than the 4850? Because they're both doing pretty damn good it seems in anything out now, just wondering if in a year or 2 the 4870 would overtake it too much, or if drivers should make the difference more pronounced.

BlackWS6 · 07-18-08

The memory bandwidth of the 70 vs the 50 is where it's at man. My 4870's overclocked are cranking just over 140GB/s EACH vs 63.6GB/s (STOCK) from the 4850. GPU's are the same, just lower voltage on the ol 50, hence the lower frequency and single-slot cooler.

chessmyantidrug · 07-18-08

The differences you'll see with a 1GB 4870 will come at higher resolutions and CrossFire performance. Cards in CrossFire don't double their memory, they "share" it. Two 1GB 4870s should perform quite a bit better than two 512MB 4870s.

The 4870's GDDR5 memory is why it's a better video card. If the 4850 had GDDR5 memory, it would be pretty close to the 4870. If you can find a great deal on a 4850, go for it. You get an additional $15 off using the VGA71615 coupon code for a total of $143.24 after MIR.

Personally, I plan on getting some 4870 variant, probably the 1GB version. The doubled frame buffer should make a hefty difference.

BlackWS6 · 07-18-08

But like you said... at HIGHER resolutions. What resolution(s) are you referring to? My quadfire setup (twin 3870x2's) were 512 each, and the 4870 alone kills it, let alone twin 4870's. I play @ 1680x1050.

BlackWS6 · 07-18-08

Guessing you're referring to resolutions such as 1900x1200, 2560x1600 (although I've never seen anyone running that)?

07-16-08	#11 (permalink)
Anqt31 AMD Overclocker Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 739 Rep: 60 Unique Rep: 56 Trader Rating: 1	Get an X38 and a 4870. Here's a new "secret equation" X38 + 4870 = [perfect] X38 + 2 x (4870) = [heaven] __________________ SOCKET 939 APPRECIATION CLUB

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Any recommendations?(4850 vs 4870)

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