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4870 512 vs 1 gb

Forum Graphic & Displays : Graphics Cards - 4870 512 vs 1 gb

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A4x4Junky   09-19-2008 at 03:10:23 AM

I am lookig at a 4870 for my build. I see a 1gb card out there, is it worth it compared to the 512? Problems, speed concerns, waste of time, or a nice upgrade?

Also, how much of a difference is there in brands for these cards?

Thanks,

Anthony

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clownbaby   09-19-2008 at 03:24:02 AM
- 1 +

I haven't seen any benchmarks, but the 1gb would probably only benefit in hi res, 19x12 and up, and probably by only a fraction. It may, however, be worthwhile if you plan to crossfire in the future.

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A4x4Junky   09-19-2008 at 03:31:17 AM
- 0 +

clownbaby wrote :

I haven't seen any benchmarks, but the 1gb would probably only benefit in hi res, 19x12 and up, and probably by only a fraction. It may, however, be worthwhile if you plan to crossfire in the future.




Im running a 24" Acer at 1920x1200 now, and that is my preferred settings on the couple games I play. I read somewhere that some 768mb cards used inferior technology compared to their 512 cards of the same model...not sure if its true, just what I heard.

Im not even sure at what point I would want/need crossfire to be honest. New to this whole computer building thing...but reading a ton and trying to absorb at least a little.

Thanks,

Anthony

Message quoted 1 times
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4745454b   09-19-2008 at 03:35:38 AM
- 0 +

If your at 19x12, the 1GB model is a good idea. Sometimes cards with more memory on them have slower memory installed. For example, the 8500/8600s that have 1GB instead of 256/512 often have slower DDR2 instead of DDR3. As long as the 4870 your getting has DDR3DDR5, you should be fine. It might be clocked a hair slower then the 512MB card, as long as its not to much its fine. You need lots of memory when your at 19x12, so don't be afraid to get the 1GB card.

Edited for correction. (oops!)

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by 4745454b on 09-19-2008 at 04:11:08 AM
------------------------------ The voice of REASON
Do NOT feed the TROLLS!
Always a DEMON!
 Reply to 4745454b
dagger   09-19-2008 at 03:37:39 AM
- 0 +

A4x4Junky wrote :

Im running a 24" Acer at 1920x1200 now, and that is my preferred settings on the couple games I play. I read somewhere that some 768mb cards used inferior technology compared to their 512 cards of the same model...not sure if its true, just what I heard.

Im not even sure at what point I would want/need crossfire to be honest. New to this whole computer building thing...but reading a ton and trying to absorb at least a little.

Thanks,

Anthony



768mb? Did you mean g80 vs g92 variants of 8800gts? Those use different gpus. G80 may have more ram, but the core is what does the actual work, and it's slower than g92. It's Nvidia naming scheme.

512mb vs 1gb 4870 use the same gpu. That does not apply here.

1gb will not help until very high resolutions. I haven't seen benchmarks of 1gb vs 512mb versions of 4870. But there are ones of 4870x2(1gb per core) and dual 4870 (512mb per core). And from them, it's clear it'll take far larger than 1920x1200 resolution for 512mb to not be enough.

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Message edited by dagger on 09-19-2008 at 03:39:22 AM
------------------------------ Q6600@3.6ghz, GA-EX38-DS4 motherboard, 8gb 800mhz ddr2 4-3-3-12, 8800GTS(g92)@780mhz, 1TB + 1.5TB hdds, 850watt psu
 Reply to dagger
A4x4Junky   09-19-2008 at 03:50:53 AM
- 0 +

4745454b wrote :

If your at 19x12, the 1GB model is a good idea. Sometimes cards with more memory on them have slower memory installed. For example, the 8500/8600s that have 1GB instead of 256/512 often have slower DDR2 instead of DDR3. As long as the 4870 your getting has DDR3, you should be fine. It might be clocked a hair slower then the 512MB card, as long as its not to much its fine. You need lots of memory when your at 19x12, so don't be afraid to get the 1GB card.



According to Newegg site, the one Im looking at is DDR5?

HIS Hightech H487F1GP Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

Anthony

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to A4x4Junky
dagger   09-19-2008 at 03:55:03 AM
- 0 +

A4x4Junky wrote :

According to Newegg site, the one Im looking at is DDR5?

HIS Hightech H487F1GP Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

Anthony



4870s are all ddr5, 512mb or 1gb versions.

------------------------------ Q6600@3.6ghz, GA-EX38-DS4 motherboard, 8gb 800mhz ddr2 4-3-3-12, 8800GTS(g92)@780mhz, 1TB + 1.5TB hdds, 850watt psu
 Reply to dagger
jaydeejohn   09-19-2008 at 04:03:04 AM
- 0 +

Every once in awhile, add a mod, or cerain games benefit from 1Gig. Higher res of course itll help.

------------------------------ I went drifting, thru the capitols of tin, where men cant walk and cant freely talk, and sons turn their fathers in
 Reply to jaydeejohn
lameness   09-19-2008 at 01:39:35 PM
- 0 +

I dont think its worth going to the 1gb imo. All the nechmarks ive seen show there to be no difference up to and including 1920x1200 with filters. Only crysis seems to suffer from the 512mb and thats only when at 1920x1200 (with filters) or higher. Sure in future games will want more memory, but they will also need more shader power than the 4870 could provide.

Reply to lameness
jaydeejohn   09-19-2008 at 01:51:10 PM
- 0 +

Try oblivion with a few mods, youd be surprised

------------------------------ I went drifting, thru the capitols of tin, where men cant walk and cant freely talk, and sons turn their fathers in
 Reply to jaydeejohn
homerdog   09-19-2008 at 02:02:00 PM
- 0 +

^Yup, those uncompressed normal maps and distant buildings can eat a 512MB card for breakfast.

 

The 1GB cards only carry a $25 premium on Newegg. If you plan on keeping the card for a while I think that would be money well spent.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by homerdog on 09-19-2008 at 02:05:00 PM
Reply to homerdog
dagger   09-19-2008 at 03:58:41 PM
- 0 +

homerdog wrote :

^Yup, those uncompressed normal maps and distant buildings can eat a 512MB card for breakfast.

The 1GB cards only carry a $25 premium on Newegg. If you plan on keeping the card for a while I think that would be money well spent.



Wow, ucompressed... who does that those days? That's one bad game. Force it in driver. :D

------------------------------ Q6600@3.6ghz, GA-EX38-DS4 motherboard, 8gb 800mhz ddr2 4-3-3-12, 8800GTS(g92)@780mhz, 1TB + 1.5TB hdds, 850watt psu
 Reply to dagger
homerdog   09-19-2008 at 08:53:05 PM
- 0 +

^They aren't in the game, it's a mod. Unfortunately the normal map compression in Oblivion is not very good so the uncompressed stuff actually looks noticeably better. Otherwise I would never recommend using uncompressed textures of any sort.

Reply to homerdog
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