1GB HD4850 - Gimmick or Futureproof?

[division72]

I'd like to upgrade my 8800GTS 320MB and want to go for a HD4850 - I only game at 1280 x 1024 so anything more would be overkill.

Is it worth paying the extra for the 1GB Asus model to allow for some futureproofing - if games like Crysis are a taste of things to come then more memory than 512MB is going to be beneficial (particularly as the new GTX 260/280 have much more than 512MB).

 

[Final8y]

Future proof depending on the res you play at.

 

[Final8y]

by the time you properly use that memory, a much better prospect will be tempting you at half the price you paid.

additional memory has always been another spanner in the works for the consumer to feel they are getting something more from the deal.

on that card......................gimmick

I can max out 512MB card on my 30" 2560x1600 with little effort.

 

[Final8y]

lol

your using a 30" screen and a 4850?
are you scottish?

Im using 3 x 3870 512Mb as that's all there was at the time & its a problem if im not careful.

 

[synixx]

lol
are you scottish?

whats that supposed to mean?

 

[Dr_Fartypants]

I don't believe in 'future proofing' when dealing with video cards. The game industry moves slowly, whereas the computer hardware industry moves very rapidly.

For that reason, I say that a 1Gb 4850 is something of a gimmick. I would go for a 512mb 4870 in preference any day - trading increased memory volume for improved memory bandwidth is always a worthwhile move while you're not filling your memory.

 

[Greebo]

whats that supposed to mean?

That only a "frugal" scotsman would be a 30" screen and a 4850 to power it

 

[willhub]

Its a gimmick for the OP.

 

[AWPC]

Yep gimmick as ATI have superior texture management so 512MB is enough for up to 1920x1200 gaming.

 

[queamin]

At your res a 4850 with 512 ram is enough, 1gig will be a waste i would think

edit:yeah missed it

 

[wuyanxu]

but GDDR5 4870 1GB won't be a gimmick

and it'd be better value than gtx280

 

[Misiowiec]

I'd like to upgrade my 8800GTS 320MB and want to go for a HD4850 - I only game at 1280 x 1024 so anything more would be overkill.

Is it worth paying the extra for the 1GB Asus model to allow for some futureproofing - if games like Crysis are a taste of things to come then more memory than 512MB is going to be beneficial (particularly as the new GTX 260/280 have much more than 512MB).

It's a gimmick due to the memory bandwidth limitations of the DDR3 memory the 4850 has. 1Gb would quite possibly benefit a 4870 when applying a lot of AA / AF at 1920 x 1200 and higher resolutions though... though opinions are devided. No doubt that 1Gb would futureproof the 4870 though, and most certainly increase its appeal as 512Mb seems rather limited compared to what the green team has had with the 8800GTX and has with the new 200 range.

 

[neoboy]

Anyone know how much better (if at all) the custom fan is on the Asus 1GB 4850? I've a chance fo buy this for not much more than a standard 4850.