4870 X2 vs. 58x0... Price/Performance

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
W

Warren21

Member
Jan 4, 2006
118
0
0
Hello everyone!

I find there is no better place to get better input than here on AT, so I bring you my dilemma:

You can see my rig in my signature: 4850 512's in CF. I've noticed recently on games like STALKER, BFBC2 (albeit beta) et al that the 512MB frame buffer is starting to get a little long in the tooth for higher settings + eye candy at 1920 x 1200.

I realize with games like BFBC2 a lot of my grief is CPU-related (I'm grabbing a Q9550 soon...). That aside, I'm tired of the stuttering caused by texture swapping on a setup that otherwise kicks out nice and high max frames... So it's time to upgrade.

I have a friend who's willing to give me 160 CAD for both 4850s (not too shabby). I can source a 4870 X2 for about 300/350 (Used/New) and according to benches, it most often beats the 400+ 5870. This puts the 4870 X2 in more of a 5850 price range and so here comes the big question...

4870 X2: 300-350
5850: 300-330
5870: 400-430

The 4870 X2 is fastest overall, 5870 roughly same with better min FPS/DX11 BUT ~130 more. 5850 Same price range as 4870 X2 yet slower even than the 5870... Advice please!

I'm looking for smooth frames, features yes (I do intend to play Dirt 2 and STALKER CoP.. both DX11) but most importantly bang for buck! Which is my best bet?
 
crisium

crisium

Platinum Member
Aug 19, 2001
2,643
615
136
You seem to have a pretty good grasp on the situation.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the 5850 is pretty overclockable. From 725/1000 you should be able to approach, if not exceed, 5870 levels of 850/1200 (only a little slower performance due to less shaders on the 5850). You can overclock a 4870X2, of course, but you won't get the same relative performance boost. So a 5850 OC'd will be decently close to 4870X2 performance, and with all the benefits of 1 card and DX11.

Also keep in mind the 4870X2 is a dead end for future upgrades - I doubt you'd want 3 way Crossfire 4870s (though you could). But if you get one 5850 now, you can add another in the future for a noticeable performance boost.

I'd go with a 5850.
 
zerocool84

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
happy medium said:
I see your board supports crossfire.
Best bang for your buck is 2 5770's in crossfire for about 300$

Copied and pasted from another thread.

5770 in crossfire @ 1920x1080 8x aa
Beating 5850's in crossfire in Far Cry 2..
http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon...-review-test/5

Tied a 5870 in Anno 1404
http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon...-review-test/6

Beating a gtx 295 and wooping a 5870 in Call of duty 5 WAW @ 1920x1080 4x aa
http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon...-review-test/7

Beating a gtx 295 and 5870 easily in Hawx @ max settings.
http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon...-review-test/8


Tied a 5850 and losing to a 5870 in Crysis Warhead @1900x1080
http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon...-review-test/9

Woopen a 5870 and beating a gtx295 in Fallout 3 @ 1920x1080 ultra detail.
http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon...review-test/10

Beating both the 5870 and gtx 295 in Brothers in Arms @ 1920x1080 High settings.
http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon...review-test/11

Beating a 5870 in Resident Evil 5 @ 1920x1080 and 2560 x1600..
http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon...review-test/12

Beating a 5870 in Mass Effect @ 1920x1080 max detail
http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon...-crossfirex/17

Wins in modern warefare 2... @1920x1080
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/vid...0_8.html#sect1

Wins in Left for Dead 2..@1920x1080
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/vid...0_9.html#sect0

Wins in WOlfinstein...@1920x1080
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/vid...0_9.html#sect0

Wins in Street Fighter 4 @1920x1080
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/vid..._10.html#sect1

Wins in World in Conflict @ 1920x1080
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/vid..._13.html#sect1

DID I MISS ANY GAMES!

All that (stock) performance for under 310$ shipped (under 300$ with rebate) at the Egg when you buy 2.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161317

Oh you wanna talk minimum framerates??? The 5770 crossfired is better in most cases!!! In fact a 5770 and 5750 is equal to a 5870.
Take a look at this review of a frankenfired 5770 with a 5750.
Some of the results also gives minimum framerates.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/vid...0_8.html#sect1
Click to expand...

Hate to break it to you as you spent some time on getting the links but none of them work.
 
D

dflynchimp

Senior member
Apr 11, 2007
468
0
71
Warren21 said:
Hello everyone!

I find there is no better place to get better input than here on AT, so I bring you my dilemma:

You can see my rig in my signature: 4850 512's in CF. I've noticed recently on games like STALKER, BFBC2 (albeit beta) et al that the 512MB frame buffer is starting to get a little long in the tooth for higher settings + eye candy at 1920 x 1200.

I realize with games like BFBC2 a lot of my grief is CPU-related (I'm grabbing a Q9550 soon...). That aside, I'm tired of the stuttering caused by texture swapping on a setup that otherwise kicks out nice and high max frames... So it's time to upgrade.

I have a friend who's willing to give me 160 CAD for both 4850s (not too shabby). I can source a 4870 X2 for about 300/350 (Used/New) and according to benches, it most often beats the 400+ 5870. This puts the 4870 X2 in more of a 5850 price range and so here comes the big question...

4870 X2: 300-350
5850: 300-330
5870: 400-430

The 4870 X2 is fastest overall, 5870 roughly same with better min FPS/DX11 BUT ~130 more. 5850 Same price range as 4870 X2 yet slower even than the 5870... Advice please!

I'm looking for smooth frames, features yes (I do intend to play Dirt 2 and STALKER CoP.. both DX11) but most importantly bang for buck! Which is my best bet?
Click to expand...

I got my 4870X2 for $355 US off of ebay in Feb 09. There is no reason that you couldn't find a deal for way under that, a whole year having passed.

4870X2 is a power hog tho, just to warn you, and once DX11 and tesselation starts getting all the devs behind them then you'd wish you bought into the 5XXX's or GTX4XX's
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom