Best card in the $200-$250 area?

[fuzzybabybunny]

The Sapphire 4850 X2 looks like the fastest card in the $200-$250 range, right? People say the GTX 285 is also comparable but it's in the $300+ range.

What's a normal operating temp for these 4850 cards? Someone's got a picture of it modified with two Zalman VF900's to reduce the noise but the thing's running at 80-90C?!

http://picasaweb.google.com/sk...nk#5288900967220611554

 

[Wreckage]

Here is a fairly recent review that shows the GTX 285 against the 4850x2 (includes the 280 and 260 as well).
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articl...geforce-gtx285ssc.html

I guess it depends on how much you want to spend, what resolution you run and whether you want to deal with dual GPU quirks or not.

 

[TidusZ]

The major quirk of dual gpu is that it runs faster. I'd go with the 4850x2.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: TidusZ
The major quirk of dual gpu is that it runs faster. I'd go with the 4870x2.

Did you look at where the OP says his budget is $200-250?

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
The Sapphire 4850 X2 looks like the fastest card in the $200-$250 range, right? People say the GTX 285 is also comparable but it's in the $300+ range.

What's a normal operating temp for these 4850 cards? Someone's got a picture of it modified with two Zalman VF900's to reduce the noise but the thing's running at 80-90C?!

http://picasaweb.google.com/sk...nk#5288900967220611554

Yeah, but at what speed is he operating the Zalmans?

 

[Denithor]

4850X2 in general kicks ass at the price point but is noisy as a leaf-blower from the several reviews I've read (xbitlabs, bit-tech.net, etc).

 

[Boobs McGee]

Originally posted by: Wreckage
Here is a fairly recent review that shows the GTX 285 against the 4850x2 (includes the 280 and 260 as well).

I guess it depends on how much you want to spend, what resolution you run and whether you want to deal with dual GPU quirks or not.

You forget a link?

 

[Wreckage]

Originally posted by: Boobs McGee

Originally posted by: Wreckage
Here is a fairly recent review that shows the GTX 285 against the 4850x2 (includes the 280 and 260 as well).

I guess it depends on how much you want to spend, what resolution you run and whether you want to deal with dual GPU quirks or not.

You forget a link?

Indeed I did.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articl...geforce-gtx285ssc.html

 

[TidusZ]

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

Originally posted by: TidusZ
The major quirk of dual gpu is that it runs faster. I'd go with the 4870x2.

Did you look at where the OP says his budget is $200-250?

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
The Sapphire 4850 X2 looks like the fastest card in the $200-$250 range, right? People say the GTX 285 is also comparable but it's in the $300+ range.

What's a normal operating temp for these 4850 cards? Someone's got a picture of it modified with two Zalman VF900's to reduce the noise but the thing's running at 80-90C?!

http://picasaweb.google.com/sk...nk#5288900967220611554

Yeah, but at what speed is he operating the Zalmans?

I sure did, but I put 4870 instead of 4850, which was included in the thread title. A mistake that I figured you'd be able to figure out but I guess not so here is the clarification. And yea, 4850x2 all the way.

 

[NoStateofMind]

Originally posted by: TidusZ
The major quirk of dual gpu is that it runs faster. I'd go with the 4850x2.

At its price point, nothing is faster. On par with the GTX285 SSC. A steal.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

qft, the 4850x2 is the best in that price range you offered. dont be afraid of the dual GPU, most, if not all problems have been solved and run problem free these days

 

[Leyawiin]

I would suggest checking the HD 4850 X2 on Newegg.com and look over the user reviews. Its seems like a good card in some respects, but it doesn't exhaust heat out of the case and the fans are very noisy at load. I'd get an HD 4870 1GB for 50 to 70 dollars less.

 

[NoStateofMind]

Looking at those pics though I noticed it says "1 RPM" for fan speed. Is this a glitch in FurMark? Or was he actually trying to run it without fans running?

EDIT: I'm dumb, there is two fan speed parts. Only one shows "1 RPM".

 

[Indyboy2]

stock cooler is obnoxious !!!Its one of the loudest coolers you will ever hear really!.The card is fast and preforms well but its loud at 20 percent its at least 4times louder than my his 4830

 

[manimal]

ive been tempted to get a 4850x2 and trifire it with one of my 4850s. Sad thing is I just cant justify it right now since my crossfired 4850s are cpu limited in some stuff already...especially when one could buy 2 4830s and crossfire them for 140 bones and get almost the same perf I payed 300 bucks for.

 

[spacecowboy9891]

I absolutly love my 4850 x2 2gb. I havent found any driver issues yet and I have played 10+ games since purchase. Oh and as far as the cooler being loud, this replaced a 8800gt and the 8800gt was much more obnixious with its high pitched whine. And my x1900xt was louder than the 4850x2. Just make sure you have plenty of case flow, because the cooler just dumps heat into the bottom of your case.