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Replacement for crossfired HD 4850s?

pontifex

pontifex

Lifer
I don't really think I need to upgrade yet as I can run most games at max or near max resolution with my system (haven't upgraded in a few years and its served me well). Just trying to get an idea on what to get next.

I'd like to keep it rather inexpensive and then maybe give one or both of my 4850s to my friend.

I'm wondering if i should stick with crossfire or just go to a single card? Crossfire certainly makes it more expensive though.
 
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/174?vs=164
That compares the HD4870X2 to a single HD5850, your Crossfire HD4850's would obviously be slower than the X2, so probably about the level of a single HD5850.

If you were to 'upgrade' you would need to go for something above the HD5850 level to actually get an upgrade, which means Overclocked GTX460 1GB/GTX470 or HD6870 or above really, and even then it wouldn't be much of an upgrade.
That puts you in ~$200~250 territory for more of a sidegrade, or $400+ (GTX480) for an upgrade, at which point HD6850 in Crossfire would make more sense (since you already have a Crossfire capable motherboard, and power requirements would be about the same) for a real upgrade at ~$360.
 
Lonyo said:
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/174?vs=164
That compares the HD4870X2 to a single HD5850, your Crossfire HD4850's would obviously be slower than the X2, so probably about the level of a single HD5850.

If you were to 'upgrade' you would need to go for something above the HD5850 level to actually get an upgrade, which means Overclocked GTX460 1GB/GTX470 or HD6870 or above really, and even then it wouldn't be much of an upgrade.
That puts you in ~$200~250 territory for more of a sidegrade, or $400+ (GTX480) for an upgrade, at which point HD6850 in Crossfire would make more sense (since you already have a Crossfire capable motherboard, and power requirements would be about the same) for a real upgrade at ~$360.
Click to expand...

i guess i'll just wait a bit then. I am still mostly happy with my current setup and can play pretty much anything out now very well.
 
pontifex said:
i guess i'll just wait a bit then. I am still mostly happy with my current setup and can play pretty much anything out now very well.
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Yes, at 1650x1050 you won't see much of an upgrade, even with a 5870.

Stick to what you have, it might be a good idea to get a quad core cpu though. If I were you that would be my next upgrade.
 
Going from HD4850s in CF to a HD5850/HD6850/HD6870/GTX460/GTX470 is pretty much a sidegrade. If you have an itch, I'd wait for the HD69xx to see what they offer performance-wise. And then make my choice between one of them and the GTX580.
 
happy medium said:
Yes, at 1650x1050 you won't see much of an upgrade, even with a 5870.

Stick to what you have, it might be a good idea to get a quad core cpu though. If I were you that would be my next upgrade.
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I'd have to upgrade mobo and memory too if I wanted anything higher than Core 2 Quad and I don't have the money for all that. Would it be worth it to get a core 2 quad now?
 
pontifex said:
I'd have to upgrade mobo and memory too if I wanted anything higher than Core 2 Quad and I don't have the money for all that. Would it be worth it to get a core 2 quad now?
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No you wouldn't, I don't think. if your motherboard runs a e8500 cpu it should run a quad core. I used to have a e8400 @ 3.6 and I did,

What is you motherboard model? I'll look it up for ya. 🙂

And yes its worth it. I should know. look at my system and I came from a e8400.
 
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and if u live in the vicinity of a microcenter u can get a q8300 for $90 right now... oc it to 3.3-5 and u will get even more out of those 4850's... you have no real reason to upgrade the vid cards unless you want dx11... i'm in the same position with 2 of my rigs... @ 1680 res 2 4850's and a 3.5ish quad is all you need...
 
happy medium said:
No you wouldn't, I don't think. if your motherboard runs a e8500 cpu it should run a quad core. I used to have a e8400 @ 3.6 and I did,

What is you motherboard model? I'll look it up for ya. 🙂

And yes its worth it. I should know. look at my system and I came from a e8400.
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It's a Asus P5Q Pro. i know it will do core 2 quad just fine. I said anything higher than core 2 quad, like going to I7 would require a new mobo and memory.

oh and can anyone tell me how to tell what version of the catalyst drivers I have? like the latest is 10.10. but when i look at help, then about, the version shows 2010.0930.2237.38732
 
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pontifex said:
It's a Asus P5Q Pro. i know it will do core 2 quad just fine. I said anything higher than core 2 quad, like going to I7 would require a new mobo and memory.
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Thats a great quad core overclocking board. A core i7 is only about 20% faster clock for clock then a q9550 quad core cpu like mine.

Many new games and upcomming games will use 4 cores , it will be a very good upgrade.

Spend 150$ on a core 2 quad and overclock it. You won't be sorry.

Intel will have new sockets and new cpu's comming out late next year. Until then a new quad core will be just fine for ya.
Thats what I'm doing. Don't waste your money on a whole new system that will be obsolete next year.
 
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pontifex said:
oh and can anyone tell me how to tell what version of the catalyst drivers I have? like the latest is 10.10. but when i look at help, then about, the version shows 2010.0930.2237.38732
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Go to the Information Center (in the same drop-down list as 3D, Display, Overdrive, etc). Look at "Catalyst Version".
 
happy medium said:
Thats a great quad core overclocking board. A core i7 is only about 20% faster clock for clock then a q9550 quad core cpu like mine.

Many new games and upcomming games will use 4 cores , it will be a very good upgrade.

Spend 150$ on a core 2 quad and overclock it. You won't be sorry.

Intel will have new sockets and new cpu's comming out late next year. Until then a new quad core will be just fine for ya.
Thats what I'm doing. Don't waste your money on a whole new system that will be obsolete next year.
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cheapest quad core i can find is the 8300 for $150 at NewEgg. Next up is the 8400 at $169. Would it be better to get one of the better core 2 quads to make it last as long as possible? looks like the 9550s is the best but thats like $340
 
pontifex said:
cheapest quad core i can find is the 8300 for $150 at NewEgg. Next up is the 8400 at $169. Would it be better to get one of the better core 2 quads to make it last as long as possible? looks like the 9550s is the best but thats like $340
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its better to buy a used q9xxx series for under 200$ and sell the e8400 for about 90$. thats what I did.
 
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happy medium said:
Hmmm my entire system is used (except the dvd burner) , and runs great for allmost a year now.
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I might do it if i personally knew the seller and knew he took good care of his stuff, but total stranger - no way.

i'm guessing right now i'm looking at the q8400 at $169 or the q9505 at $239
 
To replace 4850 Crossfire anything less than a GTX580 or Cayman Pro/XT is gonna be pretty much a sidegrade.The small eyecandy improvements from a DX11 card aren't a good enough reason to replace what you have at this point.
Stick with what you have and get a new CPU as has been suggested.
 
I just gone from a single hd4850 to a single gtx 460/768mb, in some games it's like 60-70 vs 45. a few it's twice but very few. so I don't think a single 460 can match a pair of hs4850. with that said, if you already got a xfire board, go for a single 6850 now. that card is very fast like the 460s and you can buy another later to xfire it. for now just take the 6850 and overclock it like 20% up and you'd be alright.
 
If you don't need the performance forego upgrading your processor. Don't spend money on overpriced Core 2 Quads. Just save that money for Sandy Bridge, or hell even Bulldozer, for an upgrade next year - when you'll need or want the extra performance, when DDR3 prices will fall, and when new platforms are released. You said your system plays games fine; don't buy something for "future-proofing" or "making it last longer", especially because C2Qs are generally overpriced. Now if you nab a C2Q for under $100, then it might be worth a consideration, but you're still upgrading when you don't need the performance.
 
Yeah OP, I basically have the same setup as you, e8400 at 3.8 and two 4850's in crossfire. These cards have been amazing! And seem to be able to churn thru any games thus far. I keep wanting to upgrade, but never have a good reason to.

I bought mine for $200 each on release day and they are now going on over two years! Best cards I've had so far.
 
Get back to us in March when Crysis 2 releases and tell us why you should have gotten a quad core. Crysis 2 will utilize 4 and up to 8 cores, good luck with 2. I would think every game from here on out worth buying will utilize 4 core at least.

I think a quad core at this point is a good investment, or you could wait for the next generation of Sanybridge /Bulldozer and pay a ton of money anyway for an upgrade.

Till then you will NOT be getting the best framerates from your e8400/4850x2 setup.
 
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