512mb 3850 or 3870?

[manic111]

Does the extra speed of the 3870 justify spending the extra money on it? The OCUK 512mb 3850 is only £111, while the cheapest 3870 is £158. I am on a tight budget, is the difference in performance worth it?

 

[manic111]

Im running at 1400x900, and my system is clocked to 2.8ghz with the RAM at 800mhz 4-4-4-12

 

[manic111]

Given the price difference vs performance difference it certainly isn't worth it.

Techpowerup have just reviewed two 3850 512mb models and they both perform within a few frames of the 3870. (the results below are for the powercolor 512mb model which is clocked at 720/1800 but can be had for under 120 pounds - I know this as I have one )

Crysis 1280 x1024 2xAA 8xAF
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Powercolor/HD_3850_Xtreme/images/crysis_1280_1024.gif

Quake wars 1280 x1024 2xAA 8xAF
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Powercolor/HD_3850_Xtreme/images/etqw_1280_1024.gif

UT3 1280 x1024 0xAA 8xAF
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Powercolor/HD_3850_Xtreme/images/ut3_1280_1024.gif

The performance gap shown in the above (1280x1024 is roughly equivilant to 1440x900 albeit not widescreen) is minimal considering the extra outlay.

Please note I have taken these benchmarks at random but only focussed on a resolution close to the ops.

Nice to know-cheers for that!