Is 4870 worth $100 more than 4850?

[thilanliyan]

Thanks for all the responses...some good arguments in there. I think what I'll end up doing is waiting for the 1GB 4870 to come down in price....which hopefully happens when the new GTX 260 comes out.

Wasn't the 4850x2 supposed to come out already?

 

[Tempered81]

4850 x-fire is pretty damn fast for $299. almost as fast as gtx280 sli:
http://images.anandtech.com/gr...062408145208/17137.png

and, it's way faster than a single 4870:
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=21

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: jaredpace
4850 x-fire is pretty damn fast for $299. almost as fast as gtx280 sli:
http://images.anandtech.com/gr...062408145208/17137.png

and, it's way faster than a single 4870:
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=21

Damn that's pretty nice...but for 1920x1200 I don't think it'd be that much of a difference.

 

[Tempered81]

Originally posted by: thilan29

Originally posted by: jaredpace
4850 x-fire is pretty damn fast for $299. almost as fast as gtx280 sli:
http://images.anandtech.com/gr...062408145208/17137.png

and, it's way faster than a single 4870:
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=21

Damn that's pretty nice...but for 1920x1200 I don't think it'd be that much of a difference.

1920x1200:

Crysis:
4870: 35.6
CF 4850's: 38.2

Cod4:
4870: 82.4
CF 4850's: 130.6

Assasins creed:
4870: 55
CF 4850's: 52.6

Oblivion 4xAA
4870: 41.5
CF 4850's: 60

The Witcher:
4870: 48
CF 4850's: 66.5

Bioshock:
4870: 107
CF 4850's: 125

ET: quake wars 4xAA:
4870: 96.8
CF 4850's:82.7

 

[airhendrix13]

Originally posted by: error8

Originally posted by: QuixoticOne
x8 + x8 = great for XF if you choose that route.

I'll say --

512MB 4870 = not worth it due to your 19x12 resolution and shortage of VRAM.

1GB 4870 = good for your needs for almost any game in 19x12 at either max settings or at least playable settings with some compromises (crysis)

I really don't see why is 4870 1gb so much more, at 19x12 resolution, over the 4870 512 mb. Tests show only a marginal speed bump, but nothing spectacular that can justify the big price difference.

http://www.hardwarezone.com/ar...php?id=2684&cid=3&pg=8

The 1gb version is simply not worth it.

Agreed. If you really want 1GB of VRAM and don't want to spend $500 on a 4870X2, then the GTX 280 is the best buy, but it looks like you want to stick to ATI.

Here is some advice, the whole "buy one card now, then down the road buy another and xfire / SLI it" isn't the best advice IMO. By the time you decide it is time for an upgrade, there will be a much better single card option with more "must have" features and without the scaling issues.

IMO, only SLI / Xfire when you are going to buy both cards together, or within a very close time proximity.

This is based on first hand experience.

EDIT: Spelling

 

[Narynan]

So many reasons, so little answer.

No it's not worth 100 more dollars.