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Can't decide - 4890 or a GTX275 ?

Soldato
Joined
20 Aug 2006
Posts
9,799
I've been trying to decide last few nights

tempted to toss a coin ! lol

game at 1900x1200 - and I do like my FSAA

playing a lot of Arma 2, Blackshark, and sometimes FSX

some of hte bugs with FSX seem to have been now fixed on the ATI cards

cheers, Mark.
 
I'm in a similar dilemma - I'd be tempted to go for the ati but reports of the noise levels are really putting me off. Are the gtx 275 (or even 285) much quieter as I don't want to sit next to a PC that sounds like a hoover due to a noisy graphics card, and I'm unwilling to void the warranty on a new card by fitting an aftermarket cooler.
 
I'd already bought a 285 - but sent it back under DRS (sealed) as I decided that it wasn't worth the 60 over a 275 - frame rates seemed hardly anything off the 285 for the 275
 
boldenc,

A good card for sure but, to save money and fit a 3rd party cooler and to release it on rrp they did away with the volterra controlers !!!

"PowerColor has made some changes to the voltage regulation circuitry. Instead of dual Volterra controllers, they use a single OnSemi NCP5388. It does not have an I2C interface so software voltage control will not be possible" also they don't really clock well at all ;)

Seems there are at least 3 designs of pcb for the 4890, 2 red pcb's and then either blue or black

The way to spot the different pcb designs on the ati red designs are easy enough

Rev1 the 2x6 pin connectors are set back from the corner of the pcb as there is a hole up in the corner of the pcb

Rev 2 the 2x6 pin connectors are snug up to the corner of the pcb, meaning the volterra control has been swapped for a cheaper ... single OnSemi NCP5388

If you want decent oc'ing, got for the xfx ht (or rev 1 boards) or the asus which has the sw to allow voltage tweaking ;)

Then i shall call rev3 the blue or black pcb which has 1x6 pin 1x8 pin (these pcb's seem to be slightly longer than the ref designs (to me) and as said don't have 2x6 pin connectors)
 
Jedi,

Do it, do it now !!!! You know deep inside you want to and 99% you know you Need To :-P

I am in love with these in crossfire (was a virgin crossfirer though ;) )

These in x-fire just amaze me :)
 
GTX275 > 4890 > GTX260 > 4870

p.s. it's always better to get one faster card than 2 slower cards in Sli/crossfire. So get a GTX285 if you are thinking of 2 cards.
 
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yeah but 2 x 4890's in Crossfire both fans at 50% = 100% no? :p





.....i have 2 4890's btw, no complaints so far :)

No, with sound, there has to be a change by a factor of 10 for there the be any perceivable difference in sound levels.

50+50 most definitely doens't = 100 in the horrible world of logrithms.
 
GTX275 > 4890 >4870 1GB> GTX260 > 4870 512MB

p.s. it's always better to get one faster card than 2 slower cards in Sli/crossfire. So get a GTX285 if you are thinking of 2 cards.

FIXED

GTX285 = waste of money when you can get far more performance for the same monies.

Even if a game scales poorly, say about 50%, a 4870 will still be quite a bit faster than a GTX285.

It makes no sense to get one if you're remotely interested in value for money.

As for which card, if you want to spend around £150 or less, then it's between a GTX275 and 4890. They perform the same
 
I think the GTX285 is still the fastest single card out there, worth the extra? All depends where your startpoint is. I would argue if you have the money to buy a GTX295 then a £120 cheapar card in the series below is fine. Afterall we're talking here about cards that will soon look dated and powerhungry, Just a case of filling in the gap until dx11 cards arrive on the scene.
 
Ive just got a Asus GTX275 and this thing is really impressive for the money.
Ive always preffered nVidia cards . . .
 
With my ATi card, and me running at 1920x1200, I find that I get a lot of Tearing problems with FSX while panning around the cockpit. I'd do a little research with the ATi card before investing, as it really does ruin the gameplay. However, the 4890 does look like a very good deal for the price.
 
With my ATi card, and me running at 1920x1200, I find that I get a lot of Tearing problems with FSX while panning around the cockpit. I'd do a little research with the ATi card before investing, as it really does ruin the gameplay. However, the 4890 does look like a very good deal for the price.

You didn't get tearing at the same res & with a NV card in that game ?
 
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one for you lot pleas e(thanks for all replies so far)

the Palit/Gainward GTX275s - does the non-reference design help or hinder ?

I've heard some places that state they're superb overclockers (getting to 720 odd on hte core) and other places the exact opposite !

any reason to get one over a reference Asus GTX275 ?

thanks, Mark.
 
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