Help! 4890 vs 5770 --> =5850

[AstonM89]

So I'm currently finishing off my new computer and am in a bit of a situation regarding graphics cards. Here's my system specs:

Antec 300 Illusion (3x120mm, 1x140mm)
Phenom II X4 945
4GB (2x2GB) Corsair XMS3 1333
WD Hard drives (500 blue and a 1.5tb green)
OCZ modxstream 500w
9800gt Eco

I want to upgrade my video card as I know it's holding everything back. I can get a 4890 for $160 or a 5770 for $140AR and was thinking of using the physx hack to use my 9800gt as well. Worried about my PSU as the 4890 uses an absurd amount of power and I don't know if it can take it. And if it can't, would a 5770 be a decent upgrade for me? Thanks for the help!

 

[MagickMan]

Yeah, get the 5770 over the 4890, less power and similar performance in most games. Plus, you save money and get DX11. It's an easy choice.

 

[Powermoloch]

5770 is cheaper, quieter and cooler. And is similar performance.

 

[melek-taus]

I had the same dilemma. but i went for a 4890 1gb vaporx as it was 30 bucks cheaper. But even if it was more expensive i would have gone with the 4890 1gb.

Sure it eats more power but preformance wise it beats the 5770 hands down. so simular performance is wrong check out benchmarks and search the threads here. As performance wise a 4890 1gb has almost if not more perfomance as a 5830. The only benefit a 5770 has is dx11. But when dx11 becomes mainstream 5770 wont even be able to make much use of it.

The 4890 should be able to run on 500 watt easy. If you are going to use both vga cards then even going for a 4890 or 5770 you will need a stronger psu. So power isnt a problem if you are going single card.

Get the 4890 1gb. And the noise depends on the version. the vaporx is a very quiet card. Makes less noise then my old 3850. But most of the 4890 version are quit load.

But its al up to you. I can just say i play any game on the highest settings without problems or lag at al. 24 inc screen ftw.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/2935/5

http://www.anandtech.com/show/2848/4

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/vid...0_6.html#sect2

 

[MagickMan]

Meh, can't see spending $160 for old tech. The 5770 is a great card for $140 and it overclocks like a fiend.

 

[Arglebargle]

The age old question: What's your monitor resolution, etc? What are your main useages/games?

--And dang that old tech, so what if it works as well or better than newer tech. It is just so old....

 

[TemjinGold]

melek: Those are really old reviews. The newer ATi drivers have since gave the 5770 much more of a boost such that performance is now indeed rather similar.

 

[happy medium]

Well here is a recent review of the 5830 (10% faster then the 5770) losing to a 4890 and gtx 275. The 5770 is no where near = to a 4890. It's more = to a 4870 which you can get for 115$ nowadays.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/xfx-radeon-hd5830_15.html#sect1

A 4890 should be about 20% faster then the 5770 and they both overclock well.

If you can get the 5770 for cheap it's worth it. Don't always depend on rebates.

 

[AstonM89]

Thanks for the replies guys. I think I'm leaning more towards the 5770 at this point. Also res is 1920x1200, play a lot of company of heroes, Batman: AA, maybe some starcraft, crysis.

 

[zerocool84]

Thanks for the replies guys. I think I'm leaning more towards the 5770 at this point. Also res is 1920x1200, play a lot of company of heroes, Batman: AA, maybe some starcraft, crysis.

A 4890 will be better for Batman and Crysis.

 

[MisterDonut]

No to old tech! . Just get a 5770.

 

[AstonM89]

Would it be worth it to just get a xfx 5850 for $285? Is the extra money worth the jump in performance? I figure at this point if i got the 4890 I would spend the difference on a power supply anyways.

 

[BD231]

There's a reason the 5770 is a value part, start cranking up the eye candy and the 4890 has a clear advantage with its 256bit bus. Recommending a first gen DX11 value part makes no sense as he'd be paying for something he won't really be using and sacrificing performance for it as well (DX11).

I vote 4890. If not the 4890 then get anything BUT the 5770.

 

[flx89]

i think the 4890 it's better , this is what i would pick

 

[nOOky]

Would it be worth it to just get a xfx 5850 for $285? Is the extra money worth the jump in performance? I figure at this point if i got the 4890 I would spend the difference on a power supply anyways.

If you can swing it the 5850 would be simply awesome and a better choice than the others you listed.

 

[RussianSensation]

melek: Those are really old reviews. The newer ATi drivers have since gave the 5770 much more of a boost such that performance is now indeed rather similar.

5770 is still slower than 4890 even on 10.3 drivers in popular games like Crysis, Mass Effect 2, Far Cry 2: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/xfx-radeon-hd5830_6.html#sect1

Although with 5770 you get lower power consumption, cheaper price and lower noise levels. So it's a toss up really.

 

[AstonM89]

Thanks for all the help guys, I just bit the bullet though and got a xfx 5850 for $275. Figure with this my computer will not need an upgrade for ~2 years (at least I hope!).

 

[tweakboy]

If you want DX11 games then choose 5770. gl

 

[Moonzi]

Thanks for all the help guys, I just bit the bullet though and got a xfx 5850 for $275. Figure with this my computer will not need an upgrade for ~2 years (at least I hope!).

where'd you get it for 275!?

 

[AstonM89]

Sorry, $276. Go to ewiz.com, click the xfx 5850 for $299.99 reference cooler (allows for voltage mod), use coupon MAGIC15 for $15 off. I also used Bing Cashback for $9. Total = $284.99 - $9 BCB. Also ended up making a second account to reuse the coupon (different payment / address) and getting the Cooler Master Hyper 212+ CPU cooler for $22.

EDIT: When on bing.com, go to shopping, cashback stores, superbiiz.com (same site)

 

[hans030390]

Meh, can't see spending $160 for old tech. The 5770 is a great card for $140 and it overclocks like a fiend.

Mine barely overclocks before becoming unstable.

 

[GotNoRice]

The newer ATi drivers have since gave the 5770 much more of a boost such that performance is now indeed rather similar.

The architecture of the 5xxx cards and the 4xxx cards are very similar, almost all of the improvements to the 5xxx series also apply to the 4xxx series. Performance between a 5870 and 4870x2 is very similar and that has not changed from the time the 5870 was released to now. I have not seen any evidence that the 5770 performs any better compared to 4870/4890 than before either.

DX11 is a non-issue unless you really love Tessellation. DirectX11 has built-in compatibility with older hardware such that a DirectX11 game will run directly on DirectX10 and 10.1 hardware. There will never be a situation where you won't be able to play a DirectX11 game because you "only" have DirectX10.1, it will always work you will just be playing without Tessellation and using Shader Model 4.1 instead of 5, etc.

And quite frankly, features like Tessellation are like HBAO in BC2, where I'd be more likely to just disable it and enjoy the free performance boost for not using a feature I barely notice anyway.

 

[Attic]

5850 is a solid choice, especially for gaming down the road at 1920res.

 

[MagickMan]

Mine barely overclocks before becoming unstable.

There's always 1 or 2 in every batch.

 

[MagickMan]

Thanks for all the help guys, I just bit the bullet though and got a xfx 5850 for $275. Figure with this my computer will not need an upgrade for ~2 years (at least I hope!).

Excellent choice, I thought about telling you to just shell out for a 5850, but even on sale it's quite a bit outside the price range you gave. You'll love the speed.