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4850x2 vs 4870x2

ev0styLe

ev0styLe

ev0styLe

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Joined
7 Dec 2008
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144
Location
Brighton
Hi, im have trouble deciding what GFX card to go for as the performance increase of the 4870x2 over the 4850x2 isnt massive according to benchmarks. However, compare the single 4850 to the 4870 and the performance increase is visible.

So would it not make sense to purchase the cheaper 4850x2 over the 4870x2 seeing as though they both perform quite similar?

Benchmarks:
www.firingsquad.com/hardware/sapphire_radeon_4850_x2_review/default.asp

www.cluboc.net/reviews/video/sapphire/hd4850x2/page1.asp
 
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Thanx for your input, but do u not think its weird how the 4850x2 and 4870x2 perform similar, but as single chips the 4870 is clearly better. Could this be a CPU bottleneck? But then again the review by FiringSquad uses a 965 Extreme i7 chip?
 
ev0styLe said:
Thanx for your input, but do u not think its weird how the 4850x2 and 4870x2 perform similar, but as single chips the 4870 is clearly better. Could this be a CPU bottleneck? But then again the review by FiringSquad uses a 965 Extreme i7 chip?
Click to expand...

Partially a driver issue, limitation of the split screen modes or some sort of holdup with the 4870 I'd imagine, I know under the right circumstances 2x 4870 1GB are faster in crossfire than a 4870X2, so could be related. The sideport not being enabled has been bandied around a few times, but in reality increasing the core communication bandwidth may not make a huge difference, gameplay wise.
 
ev0styLe said:
Thanx for your input, but do u not think its weird how the 4850x2 and 4870x2 perform similar, but as single chips the 4870 is clearly better. Could this be a CPU bottleneck? But then again the review by FiringSquad uses a 965 Extreme i7 chip?
Click to expand...

The only difference between the single cards is clock speed and memory bandwidth: the actual chips are identical in construction.

The 4850 is limited by memory bandwidth once clock speed is ramped up nicely, so sticking it into a 4850x2 configuration might help in that regard by serving up improved memory bandwidth.
 
I actually don't agree that the performance of the 4850X2 and 4870X2 are similar.

The 4870X2 dominates the 4850X2.

I'm not saying the 4850X2 is a bad card but there is no doubt in my opinion that the 4870X2 performs consistently better, and will be better placed to handle more demanding games in the future.

But, for £100 difference there is clearly a decision to be made.
 
mrthingyx said:
The only difference between the single cards is clock speed and memory bandwidth: the actual chips are identical in construction.

The 4850 is limited by memory bandwidth once clock speed is ramped up nicely, so sticking it into a 4850x2 configuration might help in that regard by serving up improved memory bandwidth.
Click to expand...

Yeh this is true and may explain why the 2GB 4850x2 performs so closely to the 4870x2.

spitzoid said:
I actually don't agree that the performance of the 4850X2 and 4870X2 are similar.

The 4870X2 dominates the 4850X2.

I'm not saying the 4850X2 is a bad card but there is no doubt in my opinion that the 4870X2 performs consistently better, and will be better placed to handle more demanding games in the future.

But, for £100 difference there is clearly a decision to be made.
Click to expand...

Did u not have a look at the benchmarks?
But there could be some truth in that for the future of these cards, its been said ATi and nVidia have a concept of "unleashing" their cards to out do each other as competition. In other words unlock more power or capability with a driver release. So if im right, the 4850x2 was released to combat the GTX280, what if ATi unleashed the 4850x2 to pretty much all its potential to accomplish a better card than nVidia? What if their still holding back on the 4870x2 to combat nVidia in their newer cards such as the GTX295? Theres where the difference may lie.
 
I'm not sure what you're getting at here Mr ev0styLe.

These are both performance cards. They are both expensive. The 4870x2 IS faster - you just have to decide whether the price/performance ratio is for you or not.

It's your choice.

Fin.
 
I am trying to figure out whether the 4870x2 warrants the extra cost given the performance over the 4850x2 isnt that great. Until i see benchmarks clearly showing why the 4870x2 should be in a different price range, the 4850x2 seems to do pretty well for itself. The reason i created this thread is to get other opinions on the matter or am i stating the obvious?
 
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spitzoid said:
On the second link you have posted the 4870X2 comes out on top in every benchmark test. That is what I term domination. How would you define it?
Click to expand...

Of course it comes out on top its clocked as the faster card, but referring to the graphs u were looking at, only on average by 10 fps. I struggle to class this as domination especially with the extra £50+ price tag. So for people like myself who budget, the most important thing is bang for buck.

Heretic1322 said:
what res do you game at and do you have a crossfire mb?
Click to expand...

1920x1080 and yes although i wouldnt need a CrossFire board for the 4850x2 but im thinking it would be handy to throw another one in there for another performance boost :D
 
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