ATI 4770 questions

[dawgtuff]

I've been researching this vid card for a while, and I've found something strange. The first card was a 2 slot design,and the reference cards are one slot. The 2 slot design had twice as many caps on it than the reference cards......why? And why is the 2 slot not available?
Also, has the GPU manufacturer taken care of the supposed leakage problem?

 

[cbn]

XFX is making a dual slot 4770 that has the same delta fan cooler as the cards shipped to reviewers. So far it appears Mwave is carrying it @$99. I'm not sure if has twice as many caps though.

Now as far as the ugly reference cooler we see on most retail cards apparently it works well. ASUS TOP 4770 uses it and with included Voltage Tweak BIOS it will supposedly do 971 MHZ (core) and 4600 MHz (memory). I'm not sure if it has twice as many caps as others? (maybe someone else knows this)

 

[dawgtuff]

Just Learning- Thanks for your reply. I found the media edition XFX4770 @ mwave, but they're sold out. I found a website..en.expreview.com...that had pics of the media and retail cards. The media card had 8 more caps and 4 more VRM's. It looks like XFX has gone to the better design and the others opted for the cheaper design.
As soon as it's available, I'm going to get the XFX card to update my old 7600GT. As a gamer, it will probably put off a new build that I was planning for quite a while! Way to go XFX!

 

[B3rCik]

From what I know, AMD/ATI have a 2 version of HD4770. First is a one slot construction, and the second is a two slot.
So far , in shops only this first "poorer" version is available, but i.a XFX planning to distribute his own one 2 slot - version asap.

 

[nyker96]

You need to wait a bit for each manufactures to design custom coolers. 4770 is still new and many manufactures are just using ati reference designs. wait a bit, the custom coolers will be much better, they are coming up. probably most will need dual slots.

 

[cbn]

Originally posted by: dawgtuff
Just Learning- Thanks for your reply. I found the media edition XFX4770 @ mwave, but they're sold out. I found a website..en.expreview.com...that had pics of the media and retail cards. The media card had 8 more caps and 4 more VRM's. It looks like XFX has gone to the better design and the others opted for the cheaper design.
As soon as it's available, I'm going to get the XFX card to update my old 7600GT. As a gamer, it will probably put off a new build that I was planning for quite a while! Way to go XFX!

So that XFX dual slot version does have a stronger design? (4 more VRMs and 8 more caps)

I wonder when they will release a version of that card then with a OC/Voltage BIOS?

Supposedly ASUS has a TOP version of 4770 using the single slot design that will do 971 Mhz (core) and 4600 Mhz memory. The problem is ATI won't let them release it because it would be faster than any overclocked 4850.

 

[wlee15]

Both version are in fact dual-slot coolers.

 

[Griswold]

This german site compared the "original" review sample AMD handed out to the actual retail model with its el-cheapo looking fan:

http://ht4u.net/reviews/2009/sapphire_radeon_hd_4770/

To sum it up, they both overclock almost equally, at least withing a range you can expect from different samples, despite missing caps and mosfet. The retail version actually runs a bit cooler than the review sample. Noise is about the same.

Theres really no need to wait for a two-slot model (yes, both are two slots actually), its only going to cost more...

 

[Stoneburner]

This card is tiny BTW. I couldn't believe the box it came in.

 

[jphoto801]

Keep in mind this is not a very hot GPU, so waiting for the ultimate cooler isn't really critical.

 

[Creig]

Originally posted by: Griswold
This german site compared the "original" review sample AMD handed out to the actual retail model with its el-cheapo looking fan:

http://ht4u.net/reviews/2009/sapphire_radeon_hd_4770/

To sum it up, they both overclock almost equally, at least withing a range you can expect from different samples, despite missing caps and mosfet. The retail version actually runs a bit cooler than the review sample. Noise is about the same.

Theres really no need to wait for a two-slot model (yes, both are two slots actually), its only going to cost more...

I pretty much guessed that this was going to be the result between the two, but I could've been wrong. Thanks for that link.

Retail video cards and motherboards almost always have empty pads for caps, VRMs, mosfets, etc. From what I can tell, engineers put the components on their engineering samples to ensure complete stability. After all, they're trying to eliminate as many variables as possible when perfecting a new design. After they have the board/video card operating the way they want, they decide which components can be safely eliminated without sacrificing stability or performance. Thus the production motherboards and video cards invariably have extra spots for components that were never installed at the factory because they were used for testing purposes only.

Personally, however, if the price between the two was the same, I would choose the dual slot cooler. It takes whatever waste heat the card produces and throws it outside the case instead of recirculating it inside and raising overall interior temps.

 

[Spicedaddy]

the only problem with the cheap cooler is that it dumps all the heat inside your case.

if you're gonna take up 2 slots, might as well exhaust out the back, even if it's a relatively cool card.

 

[hans007]

the xfx one has a PWMM 4 pin fan. I noticed that the more common one is a 2-pin.

On some cards this means the fan is noisier. I know on 4670s basically all retail units are 2 pin and noisier, and the 4 pin units were only for reviews, or sold by Dell and such.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Hell I'd like to see newer models with better coolers show up just because the one we've seen so far is just FUGLY. I know it's on the inside of my case and invisible the whole time, but on the rare occasion that I open my computer, I'd like to feel proud of my graphics card, not sickened by it!

 

[dawgtuff]

Creig-So, the extra caps and VRM's were for stability? Would it be favorable to have them if you OC'd the card?
hans007- Do you mean the rear exhaust version has a 4 pin fan?

In my case, which has the side panel off and a 120mm fan on my Sunbeam copper pipe CPU cooler and behind it the exhaust 120mm fan, things are kept really cool. The ram sticks and Southbridge are also cooled down by the 120mm fan. I have to air blast more often, but it's easy since the panel is off. In other words, cooling won't be a problem for me with either versions. I'd like to SLI 2 of these, but my Asus A8N-e doesn't support it.
Overall, this looks like a very nice cheap card for those with an older or lower/midrange system. From what I've researched, it's only drawback is too much idle power consumption and possible driver issues.......Thanks for everyones input......Dawgtuff.

 

[hans007]

Originally posted by: dawgtuff
Creig-So, the extra caps and VRM's were for stability? Would it be favorable to have them if you OC'd the card?
hans007- Do you mean the rear exhaust version has a 4 pin fan?

In my case, which has the side panel off and a 120mm fan on my Sunbeam copper pipe CPU cooler and behind it the exhaust 120mm fan, things are kept really cool. The ram sticks and Southbridge are also cooled down by the 120mm fan. I have to air blast more often, but it's easy since the panel is off. In other words, cooling won't be a problem for me with either versions. I'd like to SLI 2 of these, but my Asus A8N-e doesn't support it.
Overall, this looks like a very nice cheap card for those with an older or lower/midrange system.......Thanks for everyones input......Dawgtuff.

yeah the rear exhaust "nicer" version is 4pin in all the pictures.