GDDR3 vs GDDR5 Video Cards

[TripleAAA]

I'm not really familiar with the aforementioned GDDR stuff. What does that exactly refer to? Is it just the onboard type of memory of the video card?

More specifically the 4850 vs. the 4870 is about $100 difference depending on where you're looking. What gives?

 

[AzN]

Gddr5 actually does 2x per clock as gddr3. Gddr5 is twice the bandwidth as Gddr3 is definitely worth it. GDDr4 was same as gddr3 with slower latencies and higher clocks.

 

[taltamir]

it is an engineering decision, it provides greater bandwidth and takes less electricity. (but overall the 4850 takes less electricity)
Forget the differences between it and look at the difference between individual cards in benchmarks. The 4870 is about 25% faster then 4850 if I remember correctly... at 300 vs 200$. WHY it is faster is really an irrelevant academic discussion.

 

[TripleAAA]

Good stuff guys thanks.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: Azn
GDDr4 was same as gddr3 with slower latencies and higher clocks.

Didn't GDDR4 also use less power than GDDR3, though only marginally?

 

[hans007]

well if you are paying $100 more for a 4870 (and since theer seem to be deals with rebates for the 4850 and not the 4870) its effectively twice as much.

i think an crossfire setup for 2 4850s for a bit more than 4870 would be an even better choice. or just get one 4850 now.

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: hans007
well if you are paying $100 more for a 4870 (and since theer seem to be deals with rebates for the 4850 and not the 4870) its effectively twice as much.

i think an crossfire setup for 2 4850s for a bit more than 4870 would be an even better choice. or just get one 4850 now.

assuming you have the PSU, motherboard, and airflow to support such a setup.
And you incur increase operation costs due to electricity and heat.

Still, if you meet the requirements, it is a better deal.

 

[amenx]

Increasing memory bandwidth can be achieved by 2 approaches, faster GDDR mem (ATI's approach) or a wider mem bus (Nvidia). Good article on the topic:

http://www.tomshardware.com/re...on-hd-4870,1964-2.html