Better to go lower series # or version?

[jmwpom3]

This may have been asked before, prolly has, but I'm trying to figure this out.

When looking at gpus which is more important, the series (ati 4xxx or nv 9xxx) or the card version in that series? (ati 4850, or 4770, 4350 etc. or nv 9800, 9600,9500, etc.)

In other words, when trying to get the most bang for buck, which is more important? Staying in the newer series or being higher up in whatever series you're looking at? Because I've seen benchmarks that seem to make the issue a bit muddy. If one can't afford a 4890 would they be better served dropping down in the 4xxx series or going with a 3850 instead of say a 4350? I hope you see what I'm getting at here.

I'm guessing the main issue is that I don't have the proper knowledge of what exaclty the series numbers indicate. I had kinda thought is was newer architecture and the other numbers being less memory or clock speed in that architecture. I didn't see any sticky's regarding this, and maybe I'm just looking for a black/white answer to a question that isn't.


But I've seen benchmarks for 8800s doing better than 9800s or maybe a 9600, or things along those lines: lower series cards at the high end of that series outperforming cards in the newer series.

Thanks in advance everyone,

 

[Kakkoii]

You look at the core count and RAM speed/size and compare with other cards to see what is the best bang for buck.

(core count across only a single brand, not between ATI and Nvidia, because their architectures are different.)

And then read reviews for comparing between ATI and Nvidia once you've narrowed it down.

 

[RussianSensation]

1. The first number tends to represent the major generation (usually a brand new GPU).

For example 4850 is 1 step above 3850 all things being equal (640 vs. 320 shaders). The next card to come from ATI will be 5xxx series. Generally, every increment in the first number indicates major generational leap (so at least 50% performance boost, except from GeForce 8800GTX to GeForce 9800GTX series recently). A generational leap may be a brand new architecture for the GPU such as the jump from GeForce 7900GTX to GeForce 8800GTX or it may simply be a result of process improvement such as from ATI X800XT to X1800XT or from ATI 3850 to 4850.

However, don't just assume that the first number is always a generational leap (especially not for mobile GPUs). For instance, this is not true for 9800GT is it is just a rebranded 8800GT with a die shrink on the GPU. So you have to be careful. In addition, GTS250 is just a rebadged 9800GTX + and is not the same GPU as is used in GTX 260/275/280/285/295 cards.

2. The second and third numbers (in order) usually indicate how fast the card is.

For example, GeForce 280 should be faster than 260, Radeon 4850 will be faster than 4670 and Radeon 4870 will be faster than Radeon 4850. However, this is also not always true as 4770 outperforms 4830.

3. My suggestion is to decide how much you are willing to spend and then compare the cards in the same price range based on benchmarks.

For instance:

$80 - 4850 512mb
$100 - GTS 250 512mb
$125 - 4870 512mb
$145-$150 - 4870 1GB OR GTX 260 896mb
$180 - $200 - 4890 OR GTX 275
$220-240 - GTX 280 OR 4850 X2 2GB (dual-gpu) OR 4770 in Crossfire
$285 - GTX 285 vs. 4870 1GB x2 in Crossfire
$350 - 4870 X2 2GB (dual-gpu)
$530 - GTX 295 (dual-gpu)

Just remember, pick your price point and see the reviews. Makes things easier

If you have a choice between:

(1) getting a $500 card today and keeping it for 4 years
OR
(2) getting $150 card every 16 months over the same 4 years

Imo it is almost always better to buy 3 $150 graphics cards since performance speed generally doubles every 18 months. So in the 1st case you will have the fastest card during the first 18 months but slower in the remaining 30 months while in the 2nd case you will have a slower card for 18 months and faster for the remaining 30 months (likely).

Generally, I would say $200 is the sweetspot and going above produces marginal performance increases until you land into multiple-gpu card territory.

 

[jmwpom3]

Yeah, that's what I've been doing. Thanks for the response though. But, I'm not looking for help choosing what to buy, just more general info re: the number schemes of the cards.

I guess I'm just looking for some free education here. I'm not 100% sure what the numbers on these cards signify. I was hoping someone would be able to pass some knowledge about what bumping the series number means as opposed to what upping or lowering the other numbers in a given series mean. Or maybe it's not a standard thing.

Anyone else care to drop some knowledge on me?

 

[brblx]

basically, they don't signify anything. you want help choosing what to buy, because there's rarely any science to naming schemes and you simply need to 'know' which cards are faster.

for ati, it's 4650, 4670, 4830, 4770, 4850, 4870, 4890, 4850x2, 4870x2. nvidia's current gen is more straightfoward- 9600, 9800, gts250, gts260, on up the line.

 

[jmwpom3]

Thanks guys. That's pretty much what I was looking for.

 

[TheMeanestGuest]

Also, I'm not entirely sure if this was clearly mentioned, but the higher end card of a previous generation is almost always better than a lower end card of a new generation. For instance, a 3850 will be better than a 4350. There are some exceptions, such as the 4670, which is pretty much equal to a 3850.