My HD 4850: 512mb vs. 1gb (results) - Overclock.net

sno.lcn · 11-04-08

First, I'd like to introduce my new baby.

Model-specific specs
Model: GV-R485MC-1GH
Stock clocks: 625mhz core, 1920mhz mem
Memory size: 1gb
Cooling: Gigabyte's Multi-Core™ Cooling Technology

The box hasn't changed, but to include mention of the upgraded heatsink on this card.

As we all know, the reference cooler on all of the original HD 4850's was poorly suited for overclocking.
This massive heatpipe cooler is the reason I asked for this card. It's meant to be passive,
so the heatsink is bigger, with much more surface area/plenty of fins.
Think what this passive cooler could do with a little airflow.
The only obvious issue is the lack of memory and pwm cooling.
As well as with Gigabyte's other GPU heatsink, there's little room for memory cooling.
I rarely use ram sinks, but when I'm dumping on the clocks, I usually have a high-cfm
fan throwing enough air across the chips to keep them cool. I'm not adding pwm sinks
for the shootout since it didn't come that way, but I will be for serious benching later.
Plus, looking at the pwm layout on this card, I'll end up cutting a heatsink down to custom sizes for them.
I'll add some pictures when I get them on.

The back. Everything's been moved around! That means no volt mod out
of the box like I was planning. It'll come soon enough though.

Sitting in a Gigabyte EP45-UD3P (still reviewing the board). They match perfectly.

To briefly test the cooler out, I set the core clock to 750mhz, and ran 3DMark 03
(the first 4 tests) and left rivatuner open to monitor core temps.
I hovered the mouse where the temps were the highest for the screenshot.
In case you can't tell, the one on the left is with no fan, the one on the right
is with a low-cfm 80mm fan resting against the heatsink. I haven't tested
for max clocks yet, but will add them to this post when I do.
Card clocks top out at 780/1200 on stock voltage, which is better than the 512mb did.

sno.lcn · 11-04-08

The cards

Both of these are Gigabyte.

Testing configuration
CPU: Intel e8600 @ 4.5ghz (8.5 x 530)
Mobo: Gigabyte EP45T-Extreme
RAM: OCZ Platinum DDR3 @ 707mhz, 5-5-5-15 2T
CPU Cooling: TR Ultra-120 Original
GPU Cooling for 512mb: AC Accelero S1
GPU Cooling for 1gb: Gigabyte Multi-Core Cooling
PSU: Gigabyte ODIN Pro 1200w
HDD: 36gb WD Raptor
Card clocks will be 640/1000 for the first round of testing, then 740/1170 for the second round.

To obtain a comparison as accurate as possible, I'm using very specific and identical settings and testing methods.
Core and mem clocks on both cards will be identical to each other. I'll be doing testing at close to stock, and at overclocked speeds.
Each card will have a brand new OS install, and all software and drivers installed identically, even in the same order.

Benchmarks
Unigine Tropics 3D, 1680x1050, DX10
Aquamark
3DMark 01
3DMark 03
3DMark 05
3DMark 06
3DMark Vantage Performance
Crysis High, 1680x1050, DX9, no AA
Crysis High, 2048x1536, DX9, 16xAA
Crysis High, 1900x1200, DX10, 16xAA
Crysis Very High, 1900x1200, DX10, no AA
Crysis Very High, 1900x1200, DX10, 16xAA
Devil May Cry bench: DX9, 1280x960, 8x AA, all other settings on highest

If you want to see any other benchmarks, let me know and I'll do my best to get them added.

512mb scores in red. 1gb scores in blue.

640/1000 Testing

Tropics bench
318 - 12.6 fps
Screenshot
547 - 21.7 fps
Screenshot

Aquamark
253,628
Screenshot
251,339
Screenshot

3DMark 01
62,316
Screenshot
62,015
Screenshot

3DMark03
40,120
Screenshot
44,718
Screenshot

3DMark05
24,265
Screenshot
24,320
Screenshot

3DMark06
13,510
Screenshot
13,642
Screenshot

3DMark Vantage
P7316
Screenshot
P7294
Screenshot

Crysis High 1680x1050, DX9, no AA
36.405 fps
Screenshot
36.52 fps
Screenshot

Crysis High, 2048x1536, DX9, 16xAA
25.62 fps
Screenshot
25.465 fps
Screenshot

Crysis High, 1900x1200, DX10, 16xAA
23.185 fps
Screenshot
23.87 fps
Screenshot

Crysis Very High, 1900x1200, DX10, no AA
15.825 fps
Screenshot
15.77 fps
Screenshot

Crysis Very High, 1900x1200, DX10, 16xAA
12.52 fps
Screenshot
12.865 fps
Screenshot

Devil May Cry
512mb

1gb

740/1170 Testing

Tropics bench
359 - 14.2 fps
Screenshot
634 - 25.2 fps
Screenshot

Aquamark
260,768
Screenshot
261,172
Screenshot

3DMark 01
64,017
Screenshot
63,814
Screenshot

3DMark03
51,366
Screenshot
51,315
Screenshot

3DMark05
26,187
Screenshot
26,207
Screenshot

3DMark06
15,212
Screenshot
15,387
Screenshot

3DMark Vantage
P8275
Screenshot
P8298
Screenshot

Crysis High 1680x1050, DX9, no AA
41.495 fps

Screenshot
41.77 fps
Screenshot

Crysis High, 2048x1536, DX9, 16xAA
29.61 fps
Screenshot
29.565 fps
Screenshot

Crysis High, 1900x1200, DX10, 16xAA
26.22 fps
Screenshot
27.705 fps
Screenshot

Crysis Very High, 1900x1200, DX10, no AA
18.095 fps
Screenshot
18.17 fps
Screenshot

Crysis Very High, 1900x1200, DX10, 16xAA
14.325 fps
Screenshot
14.935 fps
Screenshot

Devil May Cry
512mb

1gb

sno.lcn · 11-04-08

While the 1gb only pulled WAY ahead in one bench, it did feel smoother while actually playing games. The big problem I have with that, is it's too perceptual. I could have just been expecting that, therefore experienced it that way. I would probably have noticed a bigger difference if I did any regular PC gaming

sandiegoskyline · 11-04-08

That is a really nice stock cooler...

MOCAMBO · 11-04-08

Looks solid! +rep to ur efforts!

ZealotKi11er · 11-04-08

Non reference design 4850 have more voltage on the core then normal 4850. I think its around same volts as 4870.

Acoma_Andy · 11-04-08

Nice review

Danbeme32 · 11-04-08

nice job on the benches. rep +

ZealotKi11er · 11-04-08

So basically You don't need to spend extra $ to get 1GB? BTW my super clocked 4850 get 48fps Crysis High 1680*1050 DX9

skugpezz · 11-04-08

that cooler looks sweet..+ rep

11-04-08	#1 (permalink)
sno.lcn Extreme Cooler Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Atlanta and Florida Posts: 163 Rep: 38 Unique Rep: 35 Hardware Reviews: 3 Trader Rating: 5	My HD 4850: 512mb vs. 1gb (results) First, I'd like to introduce my new baby. Model-specific specs Model: GV-R485MC-1GH Stock clocks: 625mhz core, 1920mhz mem Memory size: 1gb Cooling: Gigabyte's Multi-Core™ Cooling Technology The box hasn't changed, but to include mention of the upgraded heatsink on this card. As we all know, the reference cooler on all of the original HD 4850's was poorly suited for overclocking. This massive heatpipe cooler is the reason I asked for this card. It's meant to be passive, so the heatsink is bigger, with much more surface area/plenty of fins. Think what this passive cooler could do with a little airflow. The only obvious issue is the lack of memory and pwm cooling. As well as with Gigabyte's other GPU heatsink, there's little room for memory cooling. I rarely use ram sinks, but when I'm dumping on the clocks, I usually have a high-cfm fan throwing enough air across the chips to keep them cool. I'm not adding pwm sinks for the shootout since it didn't come that way, but I will be for serious benching later. Plus, looking at the pwm layout on this card, I'll end up cutting a heatsink down to custom sizes for them. I'll add some pictures when I get them on. The back. Everything's been moved around! That means no volt mod out of the box like I was planning. It'll come soon enough though. Sitting in a Gigabyte EP45-UD3P (still reviewing the board). They match perfectly. To briefly test the cooler out, I set the core clock to 750mhz, and ran 3DMark 03 (the first 4 tests) and left rivatuner open to monitor core temps. I hovered the mouse where the temps were the highest for the screenshot. In case you can't tell, the one on the left is with no fan, the one on the right is with a low-cfm 80mm fan resting against the heatsink. I haven't tested for max clocks yet, but will add them to this post when I do. Card clocks top out at 780/1200 on stock voltage, which is better than the 512mb did.

11-04-08	#3 (permalink)
sno.lcn Extreme Cooler Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Atlanta and Florida Posts: 163 Rep: 38 Unique Rep: 35 Hardware Reviews: 3 Trader Rating: 5	While the 1gb only pulled WAY ahead in one bench, it did feel smoother while actually playing games. The big problem I have with that, is it's too perceptual. I could have just been expecting that, therefore experienced it that way. I would probably have noticed a bigger difference if I did any regular PC gaming Last edited by sno.lcn : 11-04-08 at 05:10 PM

		Overclock.net - Overclocking.net > Graphics Cards > ATI
My HD 4850: 512mb vs. 1gb (results)

11-04-08	#2 (permalink)
sno.lcn Extreme Cooler Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Atlanta and Florida Posts: 163 Rep: 38 Unique Rep: 35 Hardware Reviews: 3 Trader Rating: 5	The cards Both of these are Gigabyte. Testing configuration CPU: Intel e8600 @ 4.5ghz (8.5 x 530) Mobo: Gigabyte EP45T-Extreme RAM: OCZ Platinum DDR3 @ 707mhz, 5-5-5-15 2T CPU Cooling: TR Ultra-120 Original GPU Cooling for 512mb: AC Accelero S1 GPU Cooling for 1gb: Gigabyte Multi-Core Cooling PSU: Gigabyte ODIN Pro 1200w HDD: 36gb WD Raptor Card clocks will be 640/1000 for the first round of testing, then 740/1170 for the second round. To obtain a comparison as accurate as possible, I'm using very specific and identical settings and testing methods. Core and mem clocks on both cards will be identical to each other. I'll be doing testing at close to stock, and at overclocked speeds. Each card will have a brand new OS install, and all software and drivers installed identically, even in the same order. Benchmarks Unigine Tropics 3D, 1680x1050, DX10 Aquamark 3DMark 01 3DMark 03 3DMark 05 3DMark 06 3DMark Vantage Performance Crysis High, 1680x1050, DX9, no AA Crysis High, 2048x1536, DX9, 16xAA Crysis High, 1900x1200, DX10, 16xAA Crysis Very High, 1900x1200, DX10, no AA Crysis Very High, 1900x1200, DX10, 16xAA Devil May Cry bench: DX9, 1280x960, 8x AA, all other settings on highest If you want to see any other benchmarks, let me know and I'll do my best to get them added. 512mb scores in red. 1gb scores in blue. 640/1000 Testing Tropics bench 318 - 12.6 fps Screenshot 547 - 21.7 fps Screenshot Aquamark 253,628 Screenshot 251,339 Screenshot 3DMark 01 62,316 Screenshot 62,015 Screenshot 3DMark03 40,120 Screenshot 44,718 Screenshot 3DMark05 24,265 Screenshot 24,320 Screenshot 3DMark06 13,510 Screenshot 13,642 Screenshot 3DMark Vantage P7316 Screenshot P7294 Screenshot Crysis High 1680x1050, DX9, no AA 36.405 fps Screenshot 36.52 fps Screenshot Crysis High, 2048x1536, DX9, 16xAA 25.62 fps Screenshot 25.465 fps Screenshot Crysis High, 1900x1200, DX10, 16xAA 23.185 fps Screenshot 23.87 fps Screenshot Crysis Very High, 1900x1200, DX10, no AA 15.825 fps Screenshot 15.77 fps Screenshot Crysis Very High, 1900x1200, DX10, 16xAA 12.52 fps Screenshot 12.865 fps Screenshot Devil May Cry 512mb 1gb 740/1170 Testing Tropics bench 359 - 14.2 fps Screenshot 634 - 25.2 fps Screenshot Aquamark 260,768 Screenshot 261,172 Screenshot 3DMark 01 64,017 Screenshot 63,814 Screenshot 3DMark03 51,366 Screenshot 51,315 Screenshot 3DMark05 26,187 Screenshot 26,207 Screenshot 3DMark06 15,212 Screenshot 15,387 Screenshot 3DMark Vantage P8275 Screenshot P8298 Screenshot Crysis High 1680x1050, DX9, no AA 41.495 fps Screenshot 41.77 fps Screenshot Crysis High, 2048x1536, DX9, 16xAA 29.61 fps Screenshot 29.565 fps Screenshot Crysis High, 1900x1200, DX10, 16xAA 26.22 fps Screenshot 27.705 fps Screenshot Crysis Very High, 1900x1200, DX10, no AA 18.095 fps Screenshot 18.17 fps Screenshot Crysis Very High, 1900x1200, DX10, 16xAA 14.325 fps Screenshot 14.935 fps Screenshot Devil May Cry 512mb 1gb

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)