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Which 4850?

SqualidChimp

SqualidChimp

SqualidChimp

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Joined
20 Oct 2002
Posts
610
Location
Glasgow
Which Radeon HD 4850 should I get?

There are a variety of OC versions (dont really want OC if it makes it more noisy, i.e. by having a gigantor fan strapped on!), and 512mb, 1024mb versions

as well as all the various brands, such as Asus, Gigabyte, Sapphire, etc

Cheap is good. but most prices vary a tenner either way, so not so important.

Helps?

My default res on my monitor is 1400x900 so I know there isn't much of an issue that way, but I can see myself one day playing on 1920x1080. Or maybe even bigger.
 
Cheapest one you can get. If you don't mind stretching the budget to the cost of a 1GB one, then do it as it'll 'last' a lot longer when it comes to newer more demanding games.
 
cheers... I think I'll go buy the cheapest 1gb version. *runs away to check if wages are paid this week or next...* :D

If anyone else has an awesome recommendation, I'll check it out when I get back to the computer in a couple of hours.
 
Spyke_UK said:
I can recommend Gainward ATI Radeon HD 4870 "Golden Sample"
maybe not the cheapest but REALLY quiet, and look awesome if you have a windowed case, the heat pipes really finish it off nice!

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-079-GW&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=&name=Gainward%20ATI%20Radeon%20HD%204870%20%22Golden%20Sample%22%20512MB%20GDDR5%20TV-Out/Dual%20DVI/HDMI%20(PCI-Express)%20-%20Retail
Click to expand...

For only an extra £10 you can get the 1GB power color one.

It might be worth getting that power color HD 4870 1GB (£206) if it's in your budget, seeing if you're happy with the noise levels, and if you're not you could get aftermarket cooling for it?
 
Umm the OP asked about 4850's no 70's!

I've got a HIS one and am getting texture problems with it that i've yet to resolve.
 
hmm, yeah... the 1gb 4850's are only about £50 cheaper than a 1gb 4870...

yikes!

temptation.... but it really would be overkill on a 19" monitor :D (remember I was planning on maybe getting a bigger monitor soon though, or playing through my hdtv)

lastly I heard that powercolor were generally quite noisy with their 48xx series?
 
oops! sorry i linked to the 4870!
Looks like overclockers are out of stock of the golden sample 4850's!
Shame cos' they are the best looking 4850 cards i've seen and are SO quiet.
 
liquidex said:
Thought that was just with their 4870s as they use a different cooler on those. :confused:
Click to expand...

It was the 4850s - specifically the play edition and PCS editions of the powercolor range - that I'd heard were loud. It may just be a standard thing with those cards, being uber and all :) I think they were factory overclocked which means "strap on a bigger fan, lads"...
 
*sigh* indecision and uncertainty. Infinite money would solve all my problems. Now where did I put those life cheat codes...

ok I think it will probably be between the asus 4850 512mb @ ~120 (the 'basic' choice), a 1gb 4850 @ ~160 (the slightly overclocked, and memoried 'advanced' option), or the one recommended above (the £206 powercolor 4870 1gb 'extreme' option).

If I go for the basic option, it will serve me well for now since I only have a 19" monitor at the mo (though admittedly a 42" hdtv as well...)
If I go for the advanced version, I'll have more gigglebites to play with when I get a bigger monitor.
If I go for the extreme version, I will probably have to upgrade my PSU, currently a fairly 'good' - 30A on 12V rail - generic 600W PSU. Not sure that it would handle a 4870.

on the other hand it may turn out that I need to upgrade my PSU anyway for a 4850 (though I think I can get away with it...)
 
I guess it depends how soon you might get the bigger monitor....

Anything over a year or 2 and you will have much faster cards available then :D
 
Well, the powercolor 4870 I have is noisy as **** - but I do believe its faulty. I'll never know until its RMA'd though.
As for a choice on the B, A or Ex you have listed. I would go with the 1gb 4850.

What PSU have you got? Ive got an Antec Neo HE 430watt and its running my 4870 512mb fine.
My system comprises of:
E6600 def CLock
4gb Corsair pc6400
3 HDD's - 2 x 1 TB + 500GB
PCI soundcard
DVD-RAM drive

Edit: like siuko said, if you are going to be more than a year or 2 on the new monitor, then just get the cheapest one!
 
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