Urgent :) 4890 vs 5830 which?

[phait]

Having done my research (I was initially gonna go with 5850 but I need to save money right now), so I see a HIS 5830 for $215 but only one XFX 4890 at $190 on Newegg... I guess the 4890 is being phased out. In addition a couple bad reviews on that particular 4890 card and XFX's RMA process

But I tend to read good things about HIS.

So I guess the motivating factor here is how the manufacturer will handle a DOA or issues if they do crop up. I've read a lot of "avoid 5830" because it's kind of an unnecessary balance between 5770/5850 when you can just go to 4890.

I'm kinda lost now! But I'm orderin' within a couple days so I gotta know. Thanks so much!

 

[phait]

I guess the answer is obvious from this shot... then my concern is RMA/Warranty treatment.

 

[f4phantom2500]

4 eggs with 151 ratings is pretty good. unless you care about the benefits of the 5000 series over the 4000 series, lower power, dx11 support, eyefinity, etc...i'd say go with the 4890.

if i were in your situation though i'd strongly consider getting a used 4870. you should be able to find one for about $100 or so. you won't be sacrificing very much in ways of performance, and you won't be spending $200 on old tech. this way, the 4870 could tide you over until the better 5800 series cards (or successors) come down in price, and that $100 you would have saved over buying a 4890 could go toward that purchase. or, who knows, maybe you'll be satisfied with the 4870. it's a great card in its own right.

that's really what it all comes down to; all of the 5000 series cards under the 5850 have a 4000 series equivalent (in terms of raw gaming performance). you're compromising on the feature set, but you'll find yourself getting much more gaming performance for your dollar (especially if you buy on the fs/ft forum here), and the 4000 series is overall solid in its own right. if your motherboard can do crossfire, then you'll get a way better deal out of the 4000 series. when 4870's are going for about $100 each, and the 4850's are going for $70~$80 each, you can get a crossfire setup of those cards for about the price of a single 5830 or 5770, respectively.

 

[FragKrag]

I would go with the HD5830. Sure you lose a bit of performance, but there are areas where the 5830 does win, the card should run cooler, and suck about the same amount of power.

Especially with the mail in rebate that brings the price down to $200. It seems like the better deal overall imho.

 

[phait]

I don't want to buy used, warranty matters a lot to me.

I think I will just bite the 4890 and I'll probably upgrade to 5850 down the road

 

[RussianSensation]

Just get a double life time warranty XFX 5770 or 4870: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-436-_-Product

You may consider spending $140-$145 for those cards and pocketing the $50 savings towards your next upgrade.

Between the 5830 and 4890, I'd probably pick the 5830 at $10 price differential.

 

[phait]

I think even those are pushing a bit lower than my threshold, due to 128-bit interface.

My primary concern is Splinter Cell Conviction (I've seen it run well on 4890)... not interested in any Crysis but I will be trying the demo again for kicks... everything else I'm sure will run fine (Far Cry 2, Stalker (original.. .MAYBE Clear Sky), Batman AA, Mirror's Edge, COD:MW, Ghostbusters...)

 

[RussianSensation]

I think even those are pushing a bit lower than my threshold, due to 128-bit interface.

My primary concern is Splinter Cell Conviction (I've seen it run well on 4890)...

Benches for SCC:
http://www.guruht.com/2010/05/splinter-cell-conviction-ati-vs-nvidia.html

 

[phait]

Alot I've read says the 4890 is faster than 5770, even if by a few frames... I know that'd matter to me when it usually wouldn't because these are lower end cards - I don't wanna go below 30 frames. http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/HD_5770/21.html esp at 1680x1050 whenever I get a bigger monitor.

 

[Avalon]

Newcastle says a 5770 is fine.

 

[phait]

This pretty much concludes I gotta go 4890. Compare to 5770.

http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/5700_101209230406/20444.png

Again I don't intend to play Crysis but I know how demanding it is so I like to look at it's benchmarks. And I never run things ultra high, just high. I don't use AA either. 1440x900 for now.

 

[AndroidVageta]

Alot I've read says the 4890 is faster than 5770, even if by a few frames... I know that'd matter to me when it usually wouldn't because these are lower end cards - I don't wanna go below 30 frames. http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/HD_5770/21.html esp at 1680x1050 whenever I get a bigger monitor.

4890 is a good bit faster than the 5770.

 

[RussianSensation]

4890 is a good bit faster than the 5770.

That's true. http://www.techspot.com/review/263-nvidia-geforce-gtx-480/page7.html

5830 is about the same performance as the 4890 with better idle power consumption.

 

[phait]

Okay here's where I usually get a little lost.

I've got an Antec 650W Earthwatts at $75 with the following specs.. the card requires 500W minimum...

+12V Rails: 3
Input Current: 10A @ 115V, 5A @ 230V

Output: +3.3V@25A, +5V@25A, +12V1@22A, +12V2@22A, +12V3@25A, -12V@0.5A, +5VSB@2.5A

Good to go? The whole rail split thing is what I've always been confused about. I did read the PSU sticky and figured at least it seems better go with minimum 2 rails. Currently browsing XFX's site for an answer about the amperage

 

[RussianSensation]

Oh you are safe. That PSU will probably be able to support 2 x 4890s or 5830s. I've seen a Core i7 + dual 4890s on a Corsair 520 Watt.

 

[phait]

Cool. Well I've got a gut feeling on going with the 4890 for now and all your replies have helped. Thanks!

 

[Will Robinson]

No use buying a last generation card....the 5830 would be better.
And no AA in games?
Yikes...Battlefield looks diabolical with no AA.....try it(AA+AF)...you'll like it.

 

[Spikesoldier]

heres another vote for 4890. great card. had mine for about a year now, and im eyeing a second one for CF.

 

[phait]

No use buying a last generation card....the 5830 would be better.
And no AA in games?
Yikes...Battlefield looks diabolical with no AA.....try it(AA+AF)...you'll like it.

The difference is marginal to me, plus I don't care about DX11. I'd rather save what I can now and spring for 5850/5870.

 

[f4phantom2500]

The difference is marginal to me, plus I don't care about DX11. I'd rather save what I can now and spring for 5850/5870.

why dont you just wait til you can scrounge another $100 and get a 5850

 

[phait]

Because I won't have a PC until this is built. And it's been rough finding work.

 

[blanketyblank]

I wouldn't go for the 4890 at that price though. It's too close to the newer 5830 which could be used in CF with a 5850/5870 once those come down in price. If you can find one for about 150 or 160 then it's a good buy.

 

[phait]

Yeah I can't find one that cheap anywhere, this is likely Newegg's last stock of it.

 

[phait]

It's so weird/confusing that in this article (UK) they mention the 4890 priced at 200 pounds, and the 5850 being only 25 pounds more in cost.

While here in the states... you're paying at least $100 more...

what gives?

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc...aphics-cards/xfx-radeon-hd-4890-694438/review

 

[happy medium]

Whether you pick a 5830 or 4890 the next logical upgrade would be crossfired 5830/4890 or a 5970. A 5870 is not much of a upgrade from these cards.
With that in mind I'd go for a 5830, because you have the option of crossfiring them later.
I don't think you want 2 4890's by the time you upgrade again. Direct x 11 will be mainstream.

You also have to account the resale value of a 4890. In a few months they will go for 100$ used. On the other hand the 5830 will hold it's value better.

I'd go 5830 for 200$.