Should i get the 4850 or 4870?

LW07

Golden Member
Feb 16, 2006
1,537
2
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My primary purpose is gaming(stuff like FPSs like Crysis as well as other games).

My current system is a X2 4800+ S939, 2 gigs of ram, and a X1900XT 512mb.

I was wondering if i should just spend ~$175 for a 4850 or get a 4870 for ~$260.

I plan to keep whatever i get for two years.
 

Butterbean

Banned
Oct 12, 2006
918
1
0
I dont know where you live but Best Buy has had the 4850 for $150 three times already in the last 6 weeks (and Circuit City will price match if one is near). If your using a 24" monitor you could use a 4870 otherwise I don't think you will gain much from it in actual play. I think I saw 37 fps vs 29 in Crysis - not exactly leaps and bounds difference. The 4850 does realy well in xfire if you want to add a card latter. If you get a 4870 you might as well get one with 1 gb ddr 5 since they dont cost much more (on Newegg an Asus version was like $265 with rebate).
 

pcslookout

Lifer
Mar 18, 2007
11,926
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I think a 4850 should suit you well sense that is not a very high resolution. Unless of course you want a little future proof.
 

LW07

Golden Member
Feb 16, 2006
1,537
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think i should get a new monitor along with the 4850(i think i'll go with that, benchmarks only show a ~7fps difference between that and the 4870, definitely not worth $100)?
 

dguy6789

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2002
8,558
3
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Differences between the 4850 and 4870 are variable depending on the application. You would probably be fine with the 4850. Go ahead and get a new monitor, those are always fun.
 

bunnyfubbles

Lifer
Sep 3, 2001
12,248
3
0
Using anything less than 1920x1200 (or 1920x1080 for a 16:9 screen or 1600x1200 for a 4:3) along with a 4870 is going to be a waste of money, the 4850 is going to be more than enough for other resolutions, especially 1440x900, which really is on the lower end of the spectrum.

Not only is your resolution too low for a 4870, the rest of the system is looking a little long in the tooth. Saving money should help towards future upgrades of any of the other components that would be struggling to keep even a 4850 happy.
 

firewolfsm

Golden Member
Oct 16, 2005
1,848
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A 9800GT can be fast enough at that resolution. Save the money now and upgrade more frequently. It's better that way in the long run.
 

LW07

Golden Member
Feb 16, 2006
1,537
2
81
yeah most of this system i've had since november 2005, the X1900XT i got in march 2006 and the 4800+ i got in November 2006
 

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
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I'd go with a 4850 at that res myself. You can easily find 4850s for less than 175 too, at least, in the US anyway.
 

nerp

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2005
9,866
105
106
Get a 4850. I got one for $149 after rebate recently. Shipped price was $169. Awesome card. I'm blown away in every game I try. Amazing performance.