[rico2001]

Sapphire 4890 vs. Sapphire 4850 X2

Since the release of the HD4890, there has been some debate on weather or not the HD4890 competes or even beats the HD4850 X2. Well I'm a proud new owner of a Sapphire HD4890 base model, and today we will find out. Heads up, mano-e-mano, fight to the death, winner takes all, battle between the "ATI's overclocking King" HD4890 and "ATI's little dual gpu Giant" HD4850 X2. Let the battle begin.

Testbed:
E8300 @ 3.8G
ASUS P5Q-PRO
6GB DDR2
ATI Catalyst 9.8
SAPPHIRE Radeon 4890 1GB (Stock)
SAPPHIRE Radeon 4890 1GB (Overclocked at 965 mhz gpu/1100 mhz mem)
SAPPHIRE Radeon 4890 1GB (Overclocked at 1000 mhz gpu/1125 mhz mem)
SAPPHIRE Radeon 4850 X2 2GB (Stock)

Graphics Software info
Driver Packaging Version 8.641-090730a1-086800E-ATI
Catalyst™ Version 09.8
Provider ATI Technologies Inc.
2D Driver Version 8.01.01.934
2D Driver File Path /REGISTRY/MACHINE/SYSTEM/ControlSet001/Control
/CLASS/{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}/0013
Direct3D Version 8.14.10.0685
OpenGL Version 6.14.10.8874
Catalyst™ Control Center Version 2009.0730.58.43017

Testing
3DMark Vantage
Call of Duty: World at War
Call of Juarez
Crysis
Devil May Cry 4
Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars see part 2
FarCry 2 see part 2
Furmark see part 2
Left 4 Dead see part 2
Resident Evil 5 see part 2
Sanctuary see part 3
Street Fight IV see part 3
S.T.A.L.K.E.R Clear Sky see part 3
X3 Terran Conflict see part 3

3Dmark Vantage: Performance
4890 = P9598
4890 OC = P10445
4890 1Ghz = P10508
4850 X2 = P10789

Call of Duty: World at War
1680 x 1050, 4xAA, 16xAF, DX9, Maximum Detail
4890 = 109 fps avg.
4890 OC = 121 fps avg.
4890 1Ghz = 124 fps avg.
4850 X2 = 135 fps avg.

1920 x 1080, 4xAA, 16xAF, DX9, Maximum Detail
4890 = 98 fps avg.
4890 OC = 110 fps avg.
4890 1Ghz = 113 fps avg.
4850 X2 = 126 fps avg.

Call of Juarez:
1920 x 1080, 4xAA, DX10, Highest Quality Settings
4890 = 41 fps avg.
4890 OC = 47 fps avg.
4890 1Ghz = 48 fps avg.
4850 X2 = 56 fps avg.

Crysis:
1600 x 1200, DX10, 64 bit, Very High, 0xAA
4890 = 28 fps avg.
4890 OC = 32 fps avg.
4890 1Ghz = 32 fps avg.
4850 X2 = 34 fps avg.

1900 x 1200, DX10, 64 bit, Very High, 0xAA
4890 = 24 fps avg.
4890 OC = 27 fps avg.
4890 1Ghz = 27 fps avg.
4850 X2 = 29 fps avg.

Devil May Cry 4:
1600 x 1200, DX10, 8xAA, 16xAF, Highest Quality Settings
4890 = 123 fps avg.
4890 OC = 137 fps avg.
4890 1Ghz = 146 fps avg.
4850 X2 = 157 fps avg.

 

[rico2001]

Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars
1600 x 1200, DX10, 16xAF, 4xAA, Highest Quality Settings
4890 = 85 fps avg.
4890 OC = 98 fps avg.
4890 1Ghz = 102 fps avg.
4850 X2 = 97 fps avg.

1920 x 1080, DX10, 16xAF, 4xAA, Highest Quality Settings
4890 = 80 fps avg.
4890 OC = 89 fps avg.
4890 1Ghz = 92 fps avg.
4850 X2 = 89 fps avg.

FARCRY 2:
1680 x 1050, DX10, Ultra High Settings, 16xAF, 4xAA
4890 = 49 fps avg.
4890 OC = 55 fps avg.
4890 1Ghz = 56 fps avg.
4850 X2 = 64 fps avg.

1920 x 1080, DX10, Ultra high settings, 16xAF, 4xAA
4890 = 45 fps avg.
4890 OC = 51 fps avg.
4890 1Ghz = 52 fps avg.
4850 X2 = 58 fps avg.

Furmark:
1680 x 1050, OpenGL, 8xAA
4890 = 30 fps avg.
4890 OC = 34 fps avg.
4890 1Ghz = 34 fps avg.
4850 X2 = 34 fps avg.

1920 x 1080, OpenGL, 8xAA
4890 = 29 fps avg.
4890 OC = 32 fps avg.
4890 1Ghz = 33 fps avg.
4850 X2 = 32 fps avg.

Left 4 Dead:
1920 x 1080, DX9, 16xAF, 8xAA, Highest Quality Settings
Difficulty: Expert
Campaign: No Mercy
Mission: 1: apartments
FRAPS settings: 300 seconds
4890 = 116 fps avg.
4890 OC = 134 fps avg.
4890 1Ghz = 138 fps avg.
4850 X2 = 138 fps avg.

Resident Evil 5:
1680 x 1050, DX10, 16xAF, 8xAA, Highest Quality Settings, Motion Blur Enabled
4890 = 44 fps avg.
4890 OC = 50 fps avg.
4890 1Ghz = 52 fps avg.
4850 X2 = 53 fps avg.

1920 x 1080, DX10, 16xAF, 8xAA, Highest Quality Settings, Motion Blur Enabled
4890 = 40 fps avg.
4890 OC = 44 fps avg.
4890 1Ghz = 46 fps avg.
4850 X2 = 47 fps avg.

 

[rico2001]

Sanctuary:
1680 x 1050, DX10, 16xAF, 8xAA
4890 = 74 fps avg.
4890 OC = 84 fps avg.
4850 X2 = 101 fps avg.

1920 x 1080, DX10, 16xAF, 8xAA
4890 = 67 fps avg.
4890 OC = 76 fps avg.
4850 X2 = 91 fps avg.

Street Fighter IV:
1680 x 1050, DX9, 16xAF 8xAA, Highest Quality Settings
4890 = 118 fps avg.
4890 OC = 132 fps avg.
4850 X2 = 143 fps avg.

1920 x 1080, DX9, 16xAF 8xAA, Highest Quality Settings
4890 = 107 fps avg.
4890 OC = 121 fps avg.
4850 X2 = 136 fps avg.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky:
1680 x 1050, DX10.1, 16xAF, 0xAA, Preset: Ultra
4890 = 44 fps avg.
4890 OC = 49 fps avg.
4850 X2 = 55 fps avg.

1920 x 1080, DX10.1, 16xAF, 0xAA, Preset: Ultra
4890 = 38 fps avg.
4890 OC = 43 fps avg.
4850 X2 = 50 fps avg.

X3 Terran Conflict:
1680 x 1050, DX10, 16xAF, 8xAA, Highest Quality Settings
4890 = 91 fps avg.
4890 OC = 94 fps avg.
4850 X2 = 95 fps avg.

1920 x 1080, DX10, 16xAF, 8xAA, Highest Quality Settings
4890 = 85 fps avg.
4890 OC = 89 fps avg.
4850 X2 = 89 fps avg.

Conclusion:
No conclusion this time around, results are self explanatory. This was more of a battle not a review. Again, hope you enjoyed.

 

[criminal]

Very nice.

Guess I made the wrong decision.

 

[tipsycoma]

Compare it to an OC'd Atomic 4890 and it'd be a much different story

 

[rico2001]

The 4890 is a still a great gpu. Either one equals happiness.

 

[tipsycoma]

Nice benches though rep +

 

[rico2001]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tipsycoma Compare it to an OC'd Atomic 4890 and it'd be a much different story

Even at 1050-1100 mhz, I believe you would only beat a 4850 X2 in a handful of games. But who knows, I'll buy an atomic in a month or two when they are dirt cheap.

 

[d3v0]

Rico I am jealous hehe

 

[tipsycoma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rico2001 Even at 1050-1100 mhz, I believe you would only beat a 4850 X2 in a handful of games. But who knows, I'll buy an atomic in a month or two when they are dirt cheap.

Do it! I'd love to see benches on an Atomic 4890. I doubt they'll be dirt cheap, probably still in the 200 dollar range even with the 5000 series cards. Just because new numbers are being released, doesn't mean ATI's best gaming GPU is going to be dirt cheap!

 

[gunzkevin1]

Very nice my firend, very very nice. That must have taken a while to do all those tests. Gunna rep you. This is great work. Unfortunately I went to newegg halfway through this thread to see what the prices are like, only to find they don't sell them anymore. Is this the same for other stores too?

 

[rico2001]

Quote:

Originally Posted by d3v0 Rico I am jealous hehe

Don't be, I'm sick, broke and have an addiction.

Just need the 4830 to complete the 4800 family.

 

[tipsycoma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunzkevin1 Very nice my firend, very very nice. That must have taken a while to do all those tests. Gunna rep you. This is great work. Unfortunately I went to newegg halfway through this thread to see what the prices are like, only to find they don't sell them anymore. Is this the same for other stores too?

You can CF 4850's with very very similar results for very cheap, probably less than 150 bucks.

 

[gunzkevin1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tipsycoma You can CF 4850's with very very similar results for very cheap, probably less than 150 bucks.

But don't cf'd cards get less performance than a dual chip card? I remember reading that somewhere. But yea I may just have to do that, already got 1, just need the other.

 

[gunzkevin1]

Oh yea btw, in the beginning of this when you are listing the graphics cards, you say 4870x2.

 

[gunzkevin1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rico2001 Sapphire 4890 vs. Sapphire 4850 X2 Since the release of the HD4890, there has been some debate on weather or not the HD4890 competes or even beats the HD4850 X2. Well I’m a proud new owner of a Sapphire HD4890 base model, and today we will find out. Heads up, mano-e-mano, fight to the death, winner takes all, battle between the “ATI’s overclocking King†HD4890 and “ATI’s little dual gpu Giant†HD4850 X2. Let the battle begin. Testbed: E8300 @ 3.8G ASUS P5Q-PRO 6GB DDR2 ATI Catalyst 9.8 SAPPHIRE Radeon 4890 1GB (Stock) SAPPHIRE Radeon 4890 1GB (Overclocked at 965 mhz gpu/1100 mhz mem) SAPPHIRE Radeon 4870 X2 2GB (Stock)

You meant to say 4850 right? Or did I read the review wrong?

 

[ZealotKi11er]

You can also OC the 4850X2 and that will make it a faster card then any OC a 4890 can get.

 

[tehmaggot]

I'd still prefer a single GPU, even if I had to "suffer" a ~30 FPS loss. I replaced my 3870x2 with a 9800GTX+ just because the microstutter was so noticeable. The 9800GTX+ only produced about 60% of the framerates, but it looked infinitely smoother.

 

[Gexx]

Very nice to see that the 4850x2 is a good card.

 

[gunzkevin1]

Didn't see how I missed this one.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102809
225$ without shipping.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161276
190$ Shipped with a rebate.