Tom's Hardware > Forum > Graphic & Displays > ATI > Hmmm 4850 or 4870

Hmmm 4850 or 4870

Forum Graphic & Displays : ATI - Hmmm 4850 or 4870

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So, i am currently looking to upgrade my single 4850 videocard. I've already made a choice that i definatly will, but i just checked some prices on newegg and figured out that a 4870 will just cost $20 or so more, which is not a really big deal for me. Now this is how i am thinking this through: 4850+4870 does not have a lead on a 4850cf, however a 4870 does have a good lead on a 4850. Now, i don't really know how many games don't support or just like crossfire, but in any of those cases a 4870 would beat just one of the 4850's running. Also, i am thinking of getting a 4870 1gig, because of some games that require you to have over 512 to put it on all out max (GTA4), so i could always just run the 4870 by itself and get the whole thing... so with the 4870+4850 config i am looking at on demand FPS when i need it, and on demand max quality with the loss of some fps. So,what do you guys think, am i missing something? Any input is appreciated, thankyou!

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E6600 @ 3.6, 2 X HD4850(680/1150), OCZ 4Gigz
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yes the HD4870 is faster and with the GDDR5 runs smoother at high res, but remeber apart in crossfire the hd4870 would downclock itself to match the 4850, so personally i would look into a 4890 and run it single, so you still have crossfiring as an option but rather having to rely on it less

Reply to rynoc

Bouncing in and out of CF is an interesting strategy. But what resolution do you play at?

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Reply to skora

currently 1440*900 but gettin a 1080 within 2 months

------------------------------ http://www.speedtest.net/result/511560750.png
E6600 @ 3.6, 2 X HD4850(680/1150), OCZ 4Gigz
Reply to xc0mmiex

Then a single 4890 would be good

Reply to meodowla

sell the 4850 and use the $$ from it to buy the 4890 instead of the 4870.

You might get better performance from a single 4890 than a cf 4870+4850 because not all games are optimized for cf...

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Reply to nocteratus
Tom's Hardware > Forum > Graphic & Displays > ATI > Hmmm 4850 or 4870
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