ATi 4xxx Series Review

[lopri]

Just finished reading the Expreview review. Thanks a ton for the link, BFG.

This is so exciting. HD 4870 is beating the GTX 260 left and right, and getting dangerously close to GTX 280. Who would have thought? And I'm liking the UVD2 very much. It's just too good.

When does the card go on sale?

 

[Aberforth]

Power consumption is a little scary- especially with CF setup, anyway it's a good thing it crushes GTX 260.

 

[AmberClad]

Originally posted by: lopri
Just finished reading the Expreview review. Thanks a ton for the link, BFG.

This is so exciting. HD 4870 is beating the GTX 260 left and right, and getting dangerously close to GTX 280. Who would have thought? And I'm liking the UVD2 very much. It's just too good.

When does the card go on sale?

Well, the NDA lifts tomorrow. Fud is indicating that there'll likely be a shortage for a few weeks though. I wonder if we'll see the typical price gouging...

 

[Atreus21]

In theory, a 4870 crossfired to a 3870 would be faster than a single 4870, correct?

 

[HOOfan 1]

Originally posted by: Atreus21
In theory, a 4870 crossfired to a 3870 would be faster than a single 4870, correct?

Last article I read stated that HD3XXX series and HD4XXX series will not crossfire together.

 

[Qbah]

Can't wait for the 4870! That expertview review showed it performing exeptionally for the price it will retail at! So... let me get this right...

GTX280 (649$) > 4870 (299$) > GTX260 (449$) > 4850 (199$) > 9800GTX+ (229$)

I'm assuming that's how it will look, right? If so, ATi has clear winners with both cards!

 

[Atreus21]

Originally posted by: HOOfan 1

Originally posted by: Atreus21
In theory, a 4870 crossfired to a 3870 would be faster than a single 4870, correct?

Last article I read stated that HD3XXX series and HD4XXX series will not crossfire together.

Well SHIT!

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: Qbah
Can't wait for the 4870! That expertview review showed it performing exeptionally for the price it will retail at! So... let me get this right...

GTX280 (649$) > 4870 (299$) > GTX260 (449$) > 4850 (199$) > 9800GTX+ (229$)

I'm assuming that's how it will look, right? If so, ATi has clear winners with both cards!

That looks about right...except I would say the 9800gtx/+ pulls ahead of the 4850 for now, because of the OC ability. Maybe 4850 OCs just as well, but it needs a better cooling solution to beat a GTX @ 800 core imo.

 

[Xdreamer]

I wonder how just a little bit of dust would affect all those tiny little fins... have to dust all the time...... oh well
Small price to pay for single slot GianTX killer!

 

[HOOfan 1]

Originally posted by: Atreus21

Originally posted by: HOOfan 1

Originally posted by: Atreus21
In theory, a 4870 crossfired to a 3870 would be faster than a single 4870, correct?

Last article I read stated that HD3XXX series and HD4XXX series will not crossfire together.

Well SHIT!

This was from Fudzilla though..so you know grain of salt and all

 

[Kuzi]

Originally posted by: Ocguy31

Originally posted by: Qbah
Can't wait for the 4870! That expertview review showed it performing exeptionally for the price it will retail at! So... let me get this right...

GTX280 (649$) > 4870 (299$) > GTX260 (449$) > 4850 (199$) > 9800GTX+ (229$)

I'm assuming that's how it will look, right? If so, ATi has clear winners with both cards!

That looks about right...except I would say the 9800gtx/+ pulls ahead of the 4850 for now, because of the OC ability. Maybe 4850 OCs just as well, but it needs a better cooling solution to beat a GTX @ 800 core imo.

Not really, because OC versions of the HD4850 will release soon, with better coolers, and the 9800GTX+ won't be able to match the performance of those, especially when you use AA.

But right now, for people that own cards from the last generation, G80/G92/RV670 etc, the best upgrade for them would be the the HD4870, because of the amazing boost they get in performance for a great price. It's faster than the GTX260, and only 13% slower than the GTX280, while costing half the price. ATI engineers really overdid themsleves with the RV770 architecture.

If Nvidia wants the GTX260 to sell well, they have to price it a bit lower than the HD4870, say $280-$300 would be good. At the expected $400-$450 price, no one would buy the GTX260, only hardcore NV fanboys. Unles ATI prices the HD4870 $500

 

[AmberClad]

Originally posted by: HOOfan 1

Originally posted by: Atreus21
In theory, a 4870 crossfired to a 3870 would be faster than a single 4870, correct?

Last article I read stated that HD3XXX series and HD4XXX series will not crossfire together.

It appears that ATI did not integrate a driver lock or something else that would stop you from combining a 3870 card with a 4850 or with a 4870 model. Just keep in mind that these two cards need to include the same amount of memory. If you mix and match a 3850 with 256 MB of memory with a 4850 512 MB, the 4850 card will default to 256 MB. If you wonder whether you will be able to combine a 3870 X2 card with a 4850 board, our sources indicated that this scenario should work as well.

So Fud is saying one thing and TGDaily is saying something else.

 

[ddarko]

Anand's review of the 4870 should be up soon. It says in the final page of Anand's review of the 9800GTX+, which was posted today:

"In a little over 12 hours we'll be able to complete the story with a full look at AMD's RV770 GPU and the Radeon HD 4870, so for a full, detailed performance analysis come back then."

 

[Xdreamer]

4870 to defeat 260... according to expreview.

As for 48XX and 38XX. Just gotta try that one out for yourself

 

[allies]

Originally posted by: BFG10K
There's already a 4870 review linked in the OP:

http://www.expreview.com/topic...4/1214282167d9273.html

Note the great 8xAA performance, sometimes a bit faster than the GTX280!

Wow... for $300 the 4870 512MB is an infinitely better value than GTX280. What a win for AMD.

This is IF the review is legit. It certainly looks so. Tomorrow morning AT's review will be up with the 4870, looking forward to it.

 

[allies]

Originally posted by: Aberforth
Power consumption is a little scary- especially with CF setup, anyway it's a good thing it crushes GTX 260.

Power consumption does look scary... but ATs review of the 4850 put it ~50w lower than the 9800GTX, whereas the expreview only has the 4850 ~10w lower than the 9800GTX. We'll see when more 4870 reviews come in...

 

[HumblePie]

Well, right now I'm REALLY happy with my crossfire'd 4850's and am looking forward to getting a good deal on some 4870's. Bet your backside I'll hop all over some 4870 CF goodness, maybe some 4870x2 CF goodness MMMMmmmmMMMmmm Okay, I'm possibly dreaming because chances are these 4850's are going to be good enough for me for a year or two to come. I like upgrading in huge leaps at the best possible price to performance ratio I can get.

Okay, a bit over kill but Crysis might finally be playable at the extreme range! (not that I intend to)

I've been happy with my 8800GTX I had overclocked for the last 10 months at 670/2100 I picked up for $240. I was using an x850xtpe before that and up until then, I hadn't needed the upgrade.

Personally, I've always preferred ATI cards. Thinking back I remember each and every card I've purchased.

Matrox 2
Banshee 32
Obsidian (2x Voodoo 2's in SLI on one card)
Savage 3D
TNT2 Ultra
TI4200
9500 pro
9800 pro AIW
x850xtpe
8800 GTX

and now my 4850's in CF

 

[GundamSonicZeroX]

I'm definitely getting a 4870. There's only one problem: I don't know diddly about AMD card manufacturers. What brand is the best or the AT favorite? The only one that I could really find any information on their warranty is VisionTek.

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: BFG10K
There's already a 4870 review linked in the OP:

http://www.expreview.com/topic...4/1214282167d9273.html

Note the great 8xAA performance, sometimes a bit faster than the GTX280!

I will not buy a 4870...I will not buy a 4870...ok, maybe...no, I won't...

I'm waiting for nvidia to release the 9800gtXXX to compete in the $300 market...maybe they could have jenna jamison on the box...

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: HOOfan 1

Originally posted by: Atreus21

Originally posted by: HOOfan 1

Originally posted by: Atreus21
In theory, a 4870 crossfired to a 3870 would be faster than a single 4870, correct?

Last article I read stated that HD3XXX series and HD4XXX series will not crossfire together.

Well SHIT!

This was from Fudzilla though..so you know grain of salt and all

I've read on a couple of different sites that 3xxx and 4xxx xfire is not officially supported but that it is actually possible to do it. I wouldn't recommend it unless you're very knowledgeable about video cards, specifically rv670 and/or crossfire. I've been thinking about getting a 4850 once the dual slot/oc units come out if I can get a good deal on one. If I do I'll be sure to post some apoppin-fire results!

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: Qbah
Can't wait for the 4870! That expertview review showed it performing exeptionally for the price it will retail at! So... let me get this right...

GTX280 (649$) > 4870 (299$) > GTX260 (449$) > 4850 (199$) > 9800GTX+ (229$)

I'm assuming that's how it will look, right? If so, ATi has clear winners with both cards!

well, that's sort of accurate. The 4870 and gtx 260 are pretty even, the only reason anybody's getting excited about a ~ 5% advantage for 4870 is that it's so much cheaper. nvidia can and will fix that when gtx 260 sales suck. 9800gtx+ vs 4850 is a little trickier, the + is faster with no AA, they're about even with 4xAA, and the 4850 is faster with 8xAA. overall those cards are very evenly matched imho, with perhaps a very slight performance nod going to the +. Of course, a $229 4850 with dual slot cooling and a decent OC should wipe the floor with a 9800gtx +, forcing nvidia to pull out their super-secret, never before whispered about, 9800gtx ++. It will be clocked around 800 core, 2000 shader, 2200 memory, but they'll only build 37 for sale in the entire world. All 37 of them will go to review sites, who will then auction them off on ebay for $1,000's of dollars.

I'm definitely getting a 4870. There's only one problem: I don't know diddly about AMD card manufacturers. What brand is the best or the AT favorite? The only one that I could really find any information on their warranty is VisionTek.

visiontek is the only one that has a lifetime warranty. iirc all the others are only 1 year, at least that was the case with 3xxx.

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: bryanW1995
I'm waiting for nvidia to release the 9800gtXXX to compete in the $300 market...maybe they could have jenna jamison on the box...

...or is that Jenna Jamison's box on the box?

:evil:

Maybe that would drive up sales of video cards (to adolescent boys, anyway).

 

[theqat]

Can anyone tell me whether the 4850/4870 will support playing 4:3 games mapped 1:1 on a widescreen monitor? I definitely want one if so because I bought an 8800GTS before I got a widescreen monitor, thus getting unintentionally burned by the poor overscan implementation on said nVidia card.

 

[ChronoReverse]

ATI has had fixed (and working!) aspect ratio scaling for a while now.

I can confirm that on the Hotfix Drivers with a 4850, the scaling works.

 

[bryanW1995]

I thought that g92 had fixed aspect ratio scaling, too?