4850 or 4870 then 512MB vs 1GB

[Flapper]

Hello all,

Lurker with a question. I'm retiring the x1950xtx dinosaur behemoth:

Is the 4870 vastly better than the 4850 or does it just have higher clocks? Is it worth paying considerably more for?

Also, I game at 1680 x 1050. Shall I reach for the (much pricier) 1Gb or will 512MB suffice.

Many thanks!

 

[kylew]

Get yourself a 5770.

4800s aren't worth looking at.

 

[Nexus18]

I agree with kyle. No point of getting 4xxx cards now.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-222-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1515

That should be a very good card for your resolution.

 

[kylew]

I agree with kyle. No point of getting 4xxx cards now.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-222-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1515

That should be a very good card for your resolution.

Over priced, you can get 5770s for £115.

 

[Flapper]

Thanks for the opinions guys. And I have mulled this over, but I don't think I can stretch into the £120 delivered budget. I'm looking at £60-£90 tops and the best option seems the 48-- series, whether new or second hand I think.

I guess I'll trawl the benchmarks for a bit.

 

[Owenb]

The 4870 512MB vs 4850 512MB is down to clock/mem speeds so the 4870 is ~25% faster. The 1GB version adds ~10-15% overall, but it's probably more important than that. Clock speeds usually mean that the average rate is X% higher nearly all of the time, while increased memory capacity can mean a huge different in frame rates at certain times which is more important IMO. Personally I have a 4850 512MB but if I was buying a card today I would certainly get a 1GB card.

 

[kylew]

Thanks for the opinions guys. And I have mulled this over, but I don't think I can stretch into the £120 delivered budget. I'm looking at £60-£90 tops and the best option seems the 48-- series, whether new or second hand I think.

I guess I'll trawl the benchmarks for a bit.

Either way, I would advise that you make sure you get a 1GB card as 512MB is cutting it fine, especially in the future.

 

[Flapper]

Thanks Owen - that's helpful [Edit: & Kyle]

1GB it is.

 

[han_solo]

Hi, just want to add, make sure you go for at least the 4870 version as it uses GDDR5 memory (4850 uses the slower gddr3). If you can get goo price second hand then see if you can nab a 4890, lower idle power consumption and better performance

 

[bhavv]

How about a 5750?