CF 4850s or 4870?

videogames101

Diamond Member
Aug 24, 2005
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Building a new rig, which is better bang/buck? I have the motherboard PSU for CF, so, is the extra $100 for the dual 4850s worth it over the 4870?
 

videogames101

Diamond Member
Aug 24, 2005
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Originally posted by: tallman45
No, then you block yourself out of a CF 4870 down the road

True, but with my limited cashflow, i doubt very much i'll be buying anything computer related for a long time after this.
 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
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With just the 4870 you can get a cheaper P35 or P43 motherboard with just 1 x16 slot, so you save more than $100. I paid $96 for my gigabyte P43 board.

I figure if the 4870 starts being too slow I'll replace it with a 4870x2 or whatever the better cards are by then.
 

Hauk

Platinum Member
Nov 22, 2001
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Originally posted by: videogames101
Building a new rig, which is better bang/buck? I have the motherboard PSU for CF, so, is the extra $100 for the dual 4850s worth it over the 4870?

What mobo do you have for CF? Less important, but what cpu will you be using?

 

videogames101

Diamond Member
Aug 24, 2005
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Originally posted by: SteelSix
Originally posted by: videogames101
Building a new rig, which is better bang/buck? I have the motherboard PSU for CF, so, is the extra $100 for the dual 4850s worth it over the 4870?

What mobo do you have for CF? Less important, but what cpu will you be using?

e8400, P5E deluxe (x48)

at least, thats the plan
 

Hauk

Platinum Member
Nov 22, 2001
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I have an Asus Rampage Forumla X48 and E8400 and 4850's crossfired are proving quite potent. You're making the best choice for CF anyway.

A single 4870 is a solid choice and obviously has advantages over CF 4850's. Can easily say it's a good choice as others have.

4850's in CF under good conditions will yield fantastic results; but it is Crossfire and with it comes considerations on heat, power, and scaling. Did I mention heat?? Excellent case exausting a must. If you choose to keep stock 4850 coolers installed you'll have to insure fanspeed fixes are in place, or upgrade the coolers. Sorry, I know y'all are prolly sick of seeing this pic.

I got the BB $150 deal so I still feel good about the overall cost including the Zalman's. The end of this month brings 4850's with improved cooling, ie Sapphire's Toxic HD 4850 pixellized
 

videogames101

Diamond Member
Aug 24, 2005
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Originally posted by: SteelSix
I have an Asus Rampage Forumla X48 and E8400 and 4850's crossfired are proving quite potent. You're making the best choice for CF anyway.

A single 4870 is a solid choice and obviously has advantages over CF 4850's. Can easily say it's a good choice as others have.

4850's in CF under good conditions will yield fantastic results; but it is Crossfire and with it comes considerations on heat, power, and scaling. Did I mention heat?? Excellent case exausting a must. If you choose to keep stock 4850 coolers installed you'll have to insure fanspeed fixes are in place, or upgrade the coolers. Sorry, I know y'all are prolly sick of seeing this pic.

I got the BB $150 deal so I still feel good about the overall cost including the Zalman's. The end of this month brings 4850's with improved cooling, ie Sapphire's Toxic HD 4850 pixellized

I'm getting the antec 1200, so airflow/exhaust is fine. cough8fanscough

Stock coolers are fine on %60 fan right?
 

shangshang

Senior member
May 17, 2008
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I'd say if you game on a 24" or lower, go with the 4870 1gb RAM over 4850 CF with 512mb RAM. Next year's game will probably utilitze 1 GB video RAM. If you go 4850 CF, you'd still be limited to 512mb ram, and CF does have its issues versus a single card.
 

videogames101

Diamond Member
Aug 24, 2005
6,783
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Originally posted by: shangshang
I'd say if you game on a 24" or lower, go with the 4870 1gb RAM over 4850 CF with 512mb RAM. Next year's game will probably utilitze 1 GB video RAM. If you go 4850 CF, you'd still be limited to 512mb ram, and CF does have its issues versus a single card.

please, link me a 4870 with 1gig ram.

I'd love to see it.
 

WaTaGuMp

Lifer
May 10, 2001
21,207
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Originally posted by: videogames101
Originally posted by: shangshang
I'd say if you game on a 24" or lower, go with the 4870 1gb RAM over 4850 CF with 512mb RAM. Next year's game will probably utilitze 1 GB video RAM. If you go 4850 CF, you'd still be limited to 512mb ram, and CF does have its issues versus a single card.

please, link me a 4870 with 1gig ram.

I'd love to see it.

Heh beat me to the punch.
 

videogames101

Diamond Member
Aug 24, 2005
6,783
27
91
Originally posted by: WaTaGuMp
Originally posted by: videogames101
Originally posted by: shangshang
I'd say if you game on a 24" or lower, go with the 4870 1gb RAM over 4850 CF with 512mb RAM. Next year's game will probably utilitze 1 GB video RAM. If you go 4850 CF, you'd still be limited to 512mb ram, and CF does have its issues versus a single card.

please, link me a 4870 with 1gig ram.

I'd love to see it.

Heh beat me to the punch.

I really want him to link one, like, badly.


I want one. :D
 

tallman45

Golden Member
May 27, 2003
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Originally posted by: shangshang
I'd say if you game on a 24" or lower, go with the 4870 1gb RAM over 4850 CF with 512mb RAM. Next year's game will probably utilitze 1 GB video RAM. If you go 4850 CF, you'd still be limited to 512mb ram, and CF does have its issues versus a single card.

What games even utilize 256mg right now ??
 

taltamir

Lifer
Mar 21, 2004
13,576
6
76
Originally posted by: videogames101
Originally posted by: WaTaGuMp
Originally posted by: videogames101
Originally posted by: shangshang
I'd say if you game on a 24" or lower, go with the 4870 1gb RAM over 4850 CF with 512mb RAM. Next year's game will probably utilitze 1 GB video RAM. If you go 4850 CF, you'd still be limited to 512mb ram, and CF does have its issues versus a single card.

please, link me a 4870 with 1gig ram.

I'd love to see it.

Heh beat me to the punch.

I really want him to link one, like, badly.


I want one. :D

There are supposedly pics of them leaked out, and they should be arriving soon... that is what I am told at least... I can't wait.
 

lopri

Elite Member
Jul 27, 2002
13,318
691
126
Originally posted by: tallman45
Originally posted by: shangshang
I'd say if you game on a 24" or lower, go with the 4870 1gb RAM over 4850 CF with 512mb RAM. Next year's game will probably utilitze 1 GB video RAM. If you go 4850 CF, you'd still be limited to 512mb ram, and CF does have its issues versus a single card.

What games even utilize 256mg right now ??
Not that I care much, but Crysis apparently does.
 

taltamir

Lifer
Mar 21, 2004
13,576
6
76
oblivion with the improved textures mod reaches 700+MB of vram use... i think it was 790MB even...