4870 or 4850 CF?

[Sam191]

I am building a new computer, and noticed that you could get two 4850 cards for the price of one 4870.

Which would be better to get? And what are the pros and cons of both?

 

[shening]

4850 CF would give you better results than a 4870, but your stuck with them.

Getting a 4870 will play any game maxed out ( besides crysis), work in older games that dont support CF(and future, but most, hopefully will support CF) and when the price drops in 6 months you can get a 2d.

I would get a 4870- also has dual slot cooler so all the heat gets dumped outside the case which makes a huge difference.

 

[Sam191]

I was thinking the same.

But would it be possible to pair this card up with a future ATI card? eg: the 4870X2 or anything that comes out, or is it generation based?

 

[arson94]

A 4870 will tri-crossfire with a 4870X2. Future generations I'm not sure about. I would expect it to be generation based as in you couldn't crossfire a 3870 and a 4870. I agree with shening in getting the 4870. But, if the prices are close enough, it would be worth waiting for the 1GB versions of the 4870 (or even the 4850 for that matter). The 4870 also uses GDDR5 as opposed to the 4850's GDDR3. The 1GB versions would really come in handy with higher resolutions and and higher AA and/or AF.

 

[Nik_I]

you should be able to pair it with a newer card, providing ati continues to support this. but personally i would always choose one more powerful card over 2 less powerful ones. firstly, you're guaranteed support in any game. secondly, it leaves you room to expand later on. and also, if you only ever plan on running one card, you can save money by buying a mobo without Xfire support and you could also get a less powerful psu as it may not be needed.

 

[Sam191]

Thanks for the help guys, the mobo I'm getting is ASUS P5Q, so i will have crossfire..

as for the 1gb version, will it really help me? My monitor goes 1680x1050 max.

 

[georgep001]

naw the 4870x2 for a monitor with 1680x1050 wont do a single thing you wont notice any difference i just bought 2 4870s to crossfire them and im happy as hell my monitor only does 1680x1050 i mean sure i could return them and get 1 4870x2 but why bother spending that money when in a month or 2 something better will come out stick with the crossfire a 4850 or a 4870 is fine for the resolution your running.

 

[Sam191]

Cool, I guess I will just drop in another gpu in a couple of months, hopefully the prices will go down by then

 

[georgep001]

yeah the 4870x2 isnt cheap my supplier gave me 2 sapphire 4870s in canada for about 500 bucks were as the 4870x2 goes for like 700 or something so but yeah in a couple months buy a 4870x2 drop it in and your good to go ill be getting rid of one of my 4870s in a couple months and dropping in a 4870x2 for my crossfire setup once the prices go down.

 

[mikeny]

Stupid question: Does it REALLY matter what monitor you have in conjunction with the cpu/video card that you have? I'm going to build another gaming system and I was looking at the 4870, 4870x2, and the 4850x2. I was going to pair it with a E8600 or Q9550 (FSX). My monitors native resolution is 1280x1084 (19" Viewsonic VX922). Right now I'm running my monitor on a E6300 and Saphire x1900xtx. I'm dying to go to the Penryns and I was thinking of either getting a 4870 and when the prices drop; get another. I want to build a new system and keep it a very long time (past when Nehalem is released).


(Games I play- Civ 4, Sims2, FSX, 18Wos: Haulin, Simcity 4, Simcity Societies, Wildlife Zoo, Zoo Tycoon 2, RollercoasterTycoon 3) Future Games that I will play: Sims3, Star Trek Online, APB, and probably go back to City of Heroes). My future list can change though. I don't play FPS's and I don't surf the net while Im playing a game. I think this year and beyond, I will be playing more MMORPG's.

Another stupid question and I promise this is the last one: If you build a system, then decide to build another, what do you guys do with your other system? I'm scratching my head on the person who built 3 computers, what do you do with the other 2. Ive been reading xbit and going through the forums and I've got the itch to build another Especially since the 4870 looks really good.