Video Card to Replace ATI Raedon 4850

[choliscott]

Hi Folks,

I am looking for a replacement for my Raedon 4850, that is roughly around $100-$125 (or cheaper). I do play some games & do some video editing.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[cusideabelincoln]

The Radeon HD 5770 and Geforce GTS 450 are the best in that price range. They would be a very mild upgrade in performance. But they are good options if you're replacing a broken card.

The Radeon HD 5750 is the best option, without sacrificing performance, just below that price range. If you go any cheaper the card you get would most likely be slower than a 4850.

If rebates are a consideration, then the Galaxy GTX 460 is also an option, but its up front cost is $140+.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

If you use Premiere Pro CS5 at all for video editing you should definitely go for an nVidia card for the incredible CUDA enhanced features (and if you don't, you might want to look in to in )

If you can stomach the higher initial cost (rebates can bring the final cost to below $100) a GTX460 (even the 768MB model) would be your best bet

 

[choliscott]

I can handle rebates, as long as they are from a place that actually sends them out (I've only had one issue where they rejected it).

How much of an improvement will it be, going from what I currently have to a GTX460 ?

If you use Premiere Pro CS5 at all for video editing you should definitely go for an nVidia card for the incredible CUDA enhanced features (and if you don't, you might want to look in to in )

If you can stomach the higher initial cost (rebates can bring the final cost to below $100) a GTX460 (even the 768MB model) would be your best bet

 

[Qbah]

For CS5 CUDA support, the Mercury Playback Engine requires the NVIDIA video card to have at least 896 megs memory or more.. Adobe's list of officially supported cards is very limited, but a very simple .ini file edit allows you to add any recent nVidia card, provided it meets the above requirement. Hence a GTX460 768MB won't work for this (provided you actually use CS5 at all ). If you're not using CS5, then this is a great card. Highly recommended.

For speed difference:

1GB model: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/177?vs=180
768MB model: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/177?vs=156

It's distinctively faster, up to x2 the speed. This is provided you have a decent CPU and can find one that meets your price criteria. If you can't find one, go for a GTX550Ti I'd say. A bit slower and cheaper than a GTX460. If that's too much, there's also a GTS 450, has 1GB of RAM and is still faster than your HD4850. Plenty of models for ~$100. For a similar performing Radeon card, look at HD5750/HD6750 or the slightly faster HD5770/HD6770. They had their name change recently and are part of the 6-series, but you can find the "old" 5-series models (which are pretty much identical) on sale, like this $95 AR HD5770:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-873-_-Product

Speed difference:
HD5750: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/177?vs=173
HD5770: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/177?vs=172

 

[choliscott]

I don't use CS5, but doesn't mean I won't later on. I did look at the price of the GTX460 & it's a little out of my price range. However I noticed a few at Newegg come with Photoshop elements (Is that the full version of the program? I assume so).

Also While I know ATI & NVida are chip manufactuers, are there any certain companies (who name is on the box) that I should stay away from?

For CS5 CUDA support, the Mercury Playback Engine requires the NVIDIA video card to have at least 896 megs memory or more.. Adobe's list of officially supported cards is very limited, but a very simple .ini file edit allows you to add any recent nVidia card, provided it meets the above requirement. Hence a GTX460 768MB won't work for this (provided you actually use CS5 at all ). If you're not using CS5, then this is a great card. Highly recommended.

For speed difference:

1GB model: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/177?vs=180
768MB model: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/177?vs=156

It's distinctively faster, up to x2 the speed. This is provided you have a decent CPU and can find one that meets your price criteria. If you can't find one, go for a GTX550Ti I'd say. A bit slower and cheaper than a GTX460. If that's too much, there's also a GTS 450, has 1GB of RAM and is still faster than your HD4850. Plenty of models for ~$100. For a similar performing Radeon card, look at HD5750/HD6750 or the slightly faster HD5770/HD6770. They had their name change recently and are part of the 6-series, but you can find the "old" 5-series models (which are pretty much identical) on sale, like this $95 AR HD5770:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-873-_-Product

Speed difference:
HD5750: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/177?vs=173
HD5770: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/177?vs=172

 

[Qbah]

I don't use CS5, but doesn't mean I won't later on. I did look at the price of the GTX460 & it's a little out of my price range. However I noticed a few at Newegg come with Photoshop elements (Is that the full version of the program? I assume so).

Also While I know ATI & NVida are chip manufactuers, are there any certain companies (who name is on the box) that I should stay away from?

No idea about the software that comes with the cards, but the Adobe suite is quite expensive. I don't think you get a full version for such things (though you may want to wait for someone else to confirm or contact the manufacturer).

As for brands, check the card, look up its review (most have one) and look for what's important for you. In my case it's noise, as the performance difference between the same chip comes down to a factory OC'ed vs stock one.

If the GTX460 is too expensive for you, look for a GTS450 imo. It offers performance between a HD5750 and a HD5770. A GTX550Ti is pretty much the same card, just with higher clocks, offering performance on par with a HD5770 but being ~30% more expensive (vs a GTS450).

 

[choliscott]

Wasn't talking about the Suite, but just Photoshop Elements, like in this example below. I know Elements isn't the full version of Photoshop (the more commerical features are removed), I was just curious is the free offering is a stripped down version of Elements itself.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130611

No idea about the software that comes with the cards, but the Adobe suite is quite expensive. I don't think you get a full version for such things (though you may want to wait for someone else to confirm or contact the manufacturer).

As for brands, check the card, look up its review (most have one) and look for what's important for you. In my case it's noise, as the performance difference between the same chip comes down to a factory OC'ed vs stock one.

If the GTX460 is too expensive for you, look for a GTS450 imo. It offers performance between a HD5750 and a HD5770. A GTX550Ti is pretty much the same card, just with higher clocks, offering performance on par with a HD5770 but being ~30% more expensive (vs a GTS450).

 

[OCGuy]

Save up for something more substantial.

 

[Cerb]

Save up for something more substantial.

This. $100-125 basically gets you 4850 performance today, just with less heat and noise. Even going to $150 w/ MIR would give a major boost (GTX 460 1GB, HD 5850), and it only gets better from there, up to around $250 (around $200, I would start looking only at 2GB cards, as well). The 4850 has aged very well.

Also, relevant comparisons, using moderate budget-friendly cards:
v. HD 5850: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/177?vs=164
v. GTX 460 1GB: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/177?vs=180
v. HD 4870: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/177?vs=176
Now, with the HD 4870's differences in mind, since the 2011 benches don't include the 4850:
4870 v. 5770: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/304?vs=296 (nearly identical)
4870 v. GTS 450: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/304?vs=316 (slight edge to the 450)
4870 v. 6850: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/304?vs=291

So, OK, you can beat the 4850 for $100, but not by enough to matter.

 

[Jionix]

What program do you use to edit? I believe Cuda acceleration is only used in Premier Pro right now.

http://www.lafcpug.org/reviews/review_cs5_mercury

If you use After Effects, I don't believe you'll get any benefit from Cuda.

 

[wrangler]

This. $100-125 basically gets you 4850 performance today, just with less heat and noise. Even going to $150 w/ MIR would give a major boost (GTX 460 1GB, HD 5850), and it only gets better from there, up to around $250 (around $200, I would start looking only at 2GB cards, as well). The 4850 has aged very well.

I approve this post.


Also, just a thought but, I have seen 5850's in the FS/FT section of the forum in the 130's with no rebate to worry about. Many good people in the community to get a good working card from and keep the cycle alive. (be sure to check Heat/References)

 

[nyker96]

I got a gtx460 replacing my old hd4850, that thing is pretty OCable, all in all, I saw a 25-75% fps jump in various games, also I get to play dx11 now. I think just buy a gtx460-1gb or hd6850 at 125AR or so you should be fine. You need to wait for one to go on sale then buy it. otherwise the regular price is like 150AR.

 

[Qbah]

Replacement is not the same as an upgrade. OP, are you replacing your current card (cause it died or something?). Or do you want to upgrade? Cause if you're looking for an upgrade, HD6850 / GTX460 is the minimum to go with, as other wrote. Maybe find a good deal on a HD5850, as stated too (faster than either a HD6850 or a GTX460). I was writing about a replacement, something that would offer you a similar performance to your current HD4850 for the price point you specified.

 

[choliscott]

I was looking for a card to update my 4850. I apologize for using the wrong word. I ended up picking up a GTX550TI 1Gig (EVGA Model 01g-p3-1556-kr). It was on sale for $100 after rebate & most of the reviews on newegg liked it.

Anybody see any issue with the card I purchased?

Thanks

Replacement is not the same as an upgrade. OP, are you replacing your current card (cause it died or something?). Or do you want to upgrade? Cause if you're looking for an upgrade, HD6850 / GTX460 is the minimum to go with, as other wrote. Maybe find a good deal on a HD5850, as stated too (faster than either a HD6850 or a GTX460). I was writing about a replacement, something that would offer you a similar performance to your current HD4850 for the price point you specified.

 

[happy medium]

A gtx550 is a good choice for 100$.

 

[Qbah]

You gained roughly 35-40% more performance when going from a HD4850 to a GTX550Ti. If it's worth $100 for you to get that much more for that price then yeah, it was a good choice. It's up to you to decide in the end

 

[choliscott]

If you were upgrading from a 4850, what would you get, where the performance is more then what you said below? I have this hunch that I'm probably going to spend a couple hundred at minimum.

I haven't opened the box yet & not sure if I want to keep it for the type of % increase you mentioned.

Thanks

You gained roughly 35-40% more performance when going from a HD4850 to a GTX550Ti. If it's worth $100 for you to get that much more for that price then yeah, it was a good choice. It's up to you to decide in the end

 

[Modular]

Well, my experience was going from a 4850 to a 5850. My opinion is that it's as big of a boost as when I went from my 6600gt to the 4850 - night and day!

 

[choliscott]

I found out that I was charged the wrong amount for the card I bought & the rebate was less then advertised, so I'm bringing back the Gtx550 I just bought. I'll take a look at the pricing for the 5850's. I thought I had seen one cheaper then the out the door price I paid for the video card.

Well, my experience was going from a 4850 to a 5850. My opinion is that it's as big of a boost as when I went from my 6600gt to the 4850 - night and day!

 

[happy medium]

Grab a cheap gtx 460 768mb and overclock it. 80%+ improvment.

Thats your best option.

 

[hdfxst]

EVGA has a B-stock 460 768 FPB for 90 dollars http://www.evga.com/products/prodlist.asp?switch=20

 

[aphelion02]

Here's a Galaxy gtx460 768mb for $100 after MIR. Best deal at this price range imo.

 

[drizek]

No, don't get the Galaxy, people say it is loud. My MSI 768MB is very quiet and a big upgrade from my 4830. I would say get the B-stock EVGA or the MSI if you can find it.

 

[choliscott]

I'm looking at the list of cards the link brought up. I want to make sure I'm looking at the card you referred to. Part # 768-P3-1360-RX

EVGA has a B-stock 460 768 FPB for 90 dollars http://www.evga.com/products/prodlist.asp?switch=20