Price Point / Performance Winners at $300 or less

Razorfist

Member
Apr 21, 2008
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There are currently 2 new worthwhile gaming offerings from AMD.

AMD Radeon 4870, released around June 25, price $300.

AMD Radeon 4850, released around June 19, price $200.

These can be compared to current offerings from NVIDIA (until the release of these offerings, NVIDIA was the clearcut victor for price to performance).

NVIDIA offers 3 products with relatively close prices. These are:

NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT, price $150.

NVIDIA GeForce 9800GTX+, price $230.

NVIDIA GeForce 9800GTX, price $200.

NVIDIA also offers two new products, the GTX260 and the GTX280, however these two new products are priced at 400 - 700 dollars, which is outside the range of my perspective. However if you are into expensive cards and have the money, I will consult you (for a fee).

Only two of the companies' offerings are at the same price point. The 9800GTX and the 4850. However at the same price point, the 4850 delivers better performance the majority of the time. So the 9800GTX will not even be considered in my comparison below.



Looking at this from a price point perspective, here are some ideas.

If you had $XXX.XX - you should buy:

$150
GeForce 8800GT (only option)

$200
Radeon 4850 (single 4850 better than single 8800GT)

$230
Radeon 4850 (save your $30 for some beer, the 4850 beats the 9800GTX+ half the time)

$300
OPTION 1 - GeForce 8800GT X2 (SLI)
OPTION 2 - Radeon 4870

For the $300 price point, IF you can go SLI, you should. For the same cost, the dual 8800GT will give you better performance. If you cannot do SLI, then the Radeon 4870 is the best price/performance at that point.

NOTE: If you are able to buy the cards mentioned here with a rebate, or discount, or you know a guy... then don't trust this outline, because things may change for your circumstance. In fact, don't make a purchase decision based on this. Let this be a starting point for you investigation into the current market.
 

Denithor

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2004
6,300
23
81
Or if you were quick (like I was) you checked at your local BB last week and picked up a VisionTek 4850 for $199 - 25% = $150 ($160 out the door). Best deal on a video card I've gotten since the 9800 Pro I used for several years.
 

BadRobot

Senior member
May 25, 2007
547
0
0
this is dumb, everyone who is buying a video card should spend $1400 on two 280gtx immediately. if you don't you are dumb and wastin monies NAO! NAO!!!!
 

Quiksilver

Diamond Member
Jul 3, 2005
4,726
0
71
Originally posted by: Razorfist
$230
Radeon 4850 (save your $30 for some beer, the 4850 beats the 9800GTX+ half the time)

:confused:

Since when? Almost all reviews show that 80% of the time the 9800GTX+ out-performs the 4850, even after AA/AF is accounted for.

The only way for this to be true, is when ATI's vendors put out their revised cards, which better coolers and factory overclocks. or If you do all that yourself with an aftermarket heatsink.
 

Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
21,939
6
81
Originally posted by: BadRobot
this is dumb, everyone who is buying a video card should spend $1400 on two 280gtx immediately. if you don't you are dumb and wastin monies NAO! NAO!!!!

Shutup fanboy. It's GTX 280, and they're only $1300 for SLI.














:)P)
 

bryanW1995

Lifer
May 22, 2007
11,144
32
91
will we still be able to claim those rebates from newegg even though they're no longer listed on the site?
 

Qbah

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 2005
3,754
10
81
Here at my place:
8800GT 1100DKK (220$)
4850 1200DKK (240$)
9800GTX 1600DKK (320$)

Talk about owned :shocked: Waiting for the 4870 to show up though :) Should be sub 2k (400$) :shocked:
 

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
2
81
Originally posted by: Quiksilver
The only way for this to be true, is when ATI's vendors put out their revised cards, which better coolers and factory overclocks.

That would be my concern with the 4850. Sure, performance is up there, however the 9800GTX(+) dual slot coolers are just so much more effective. The talk in the video forum here and at HardForums reminds me of the talk during the launch of the 8800GT, with people finding that some of the stock coolers weren't up to snuff.
 

allies

Platinum Member
Jun 18, 2002
2,572
0
71
Originally posted by: Denithor
Or if you were quick (like I was) you checked at your local BB last week and picked up a VisionTek 4850 for $199 - 25% = $150 ($160 out the door). Best deal on a video card I've gotten since the 9800 Pro I used for several years.

Or if you waited, you get a 4850 for $150 shipped AR :p
 

Chilli911

Junior Member
Jun 3, 2008
23
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aNy1 know if the Physix Support on the 9800gtx is gonna push it past what the 4850 can dish out. Since the new drivers enable that and the CUDA CPU support thingy

 

Sylvanas

Diamond Member
Jan 20, 2004
3,752
0
0
Originally posted by: Chilli911
aNy1 know if the Physix Support on the 9800gtx is gonna push it past what the 4850 can dish out. Since the new drivers enable that and the CUDA CPU support thingy

No, Phys X does not even 'improve' current titles by much if anything at all- but Nvidia would like you to think it does :p.
 

Chilli911

Junior Member
Jun 3, 2008
23
0
0
damn stupid confusing stuff LOL

oh well looks like ill get a 4850, seems to be getting lower in price quicker than a 9800gtx in aussie too. Geez we get ripped off sometimes
 

Mgz

Member
Sep 21, 2004
70
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is the NVIDIA GeForce 9800GTX+, price $230 even on sale yet ? I checked newegg and it only shows the old overclocked 9800 XXX/Super Clock, etc
 

Sylvanas

Diamond Member
Jan 20, 2004
3,752
0
0
Originally posted by: Chilli911
damn stupid confusing stuff LOL

oh well looks like ill get a 4850, seems to be getting lower in price quicker than a 9800gtx in aussie too. Geez we get ripped off sometimes

$226 is cheapest on shopbot also Pccasegear.com.au have Pre-order for the 4870 @ $339 AUD- good to see another Aussie on here.
 

Chilli911

Junior Member
Jun 3, 2008
23
0
0
I hadnt even thought of getting a 4870 but they are cheap...so cheap.

Seriously how can they sell a 4850 for 300 at centre com when you can get a 4870 for 40 more bucks.

I think i might wait for a few better brands to join in though. I dont know if i trust GeCube
 

Sylvanas

Diamond Member
Jan 20, 2004
3,752
0
0
Originally posted by: Chilli911
I hadnt even thought of getting a 4870 but they are cheap...so cheap.

Seriously how can they sell a 4850 for 300 at centre com when you can get a 4870 for 40 more bucks.

I think i might wait for a few better brands to join in though. I dont know if i trust GeCube

I had a Gecube 9600pro back in the day and that soldiered on for many years. In general the big manufacturers for ATI cards and Sapphire, Powercolor, Gecube and Visontek- as bryanW1995 points out regularly Visontek have a lifetime warranty so they would probably be the best bet (no idea if that still applies downunder though).
 

Chilli911

Junior Member
Jun 3, 2008
23
0
0
oh really,

Ive been stuck using nvidia since forever and really wanted to go a asus or gigabyte coz i know they are quite decent.

Maybe i was getting sapphire confused with sparkle