Tom's Hardware > Forum > Graphic & Displays > Graphics Cards > Which to pick? 4870 512mb, 4850 512mb, 9800 GTX+512mb, 250 512mb

Which to pick? 4870 512mb, 4850 512mb, 9800 GTX+512mb, 250 512mb

Forum Graphic & Displays : Graphics Cards - Which to pick? 4870 512mb, 4850 512mb, 9800 GTX+512mb, 250 512mb

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Currently my 8800 GTS 512mb is dying and i'm having a hard time choosing which one to replace this card. I'd like to choose by the end of today. I'm having a hard time choosing because in some reviews and benchmarks some are about the same but I'm still not sure. I'm even just thinking of buying just another 8800 gts but i'd like better fps but I think my processor holds me back.

I need opinions badly =/. I think I can just barely fit a 9.5 inch card.

My currently build is
Mobo - MSI K9A2 Platinum
Graphics - EVGA 8800 GTS 512mb
Processor - AMD Phenom 9500 2.2gHz
Memory - 4GB OCZ Platinum
Power - 600W Enermax Noisetaker
Case - Apevia X-Cruiser Mid tower

Evga 9800 GTX+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130339

Evga 250
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130468

Sapphire 4850
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102833

Sapphire 4870
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130339

Message edited by darkpsycho on 07-25-2009 at 04:17:29 PM

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Your processor is going to choke them all. Upgrade both at the same time. X3 720 and a nice HD 4770

BTW - GTX+ and 250 are the same card

Message quoted 2 times
Message edited by PsychoSaysDie on 07-24-2009 at 09:18:50 PM

------------------------------ Core I7 920 D0 @ 4.2Ghz
MSI X58 Pro-E
32GB SSD, WD Blacks In R0
Sapphire HD 5870's In XFire
Reply to PsychoSaysDie

Well I don't think my parents will take very well to paying for a new processor as much as I think I need one. Not exactly sure I can get them to buy a video card and processor for me even if I say i'll pay for the processor.
But even if I were to buy a new processor I was thinking more along the lines of the Phenom 9950 black edition or the Phenom II X4 920

Nevertheless. Any other suggestions besides upgrading processor?

Reply to darkpsycho

PsychoSaysDie wrote :

Your processor is going to choke them all. Upgrade both at the same time. X3 720 and a nice HD 4770

BTW - GTX+ and 250 are the same card

Oh come on... it is not a great cpu but it isnt going to choke the cards..... Try to be a little more definitive when you offer advice.

A 4870 is the clear winner as far as performance goes, if you play at 1920*1200 or so I'd go with that. Otherwise a 4850 will tide you over fine, though it won't be a huge upgrade over an 8800, but broken is broken i suppsoe

The cpu will limit your fps a tad, specially at lower resolutions, but it won't be catastrophic. Realistically the 4850 is not a huge leap above the 8800gts, it won't be bottlenecked any worse.

Message quoted 1 times

you don't need to upgrade the CPU, its still serviceable. Get the 4870, I believe HIS makes one that is relatively short.

------------------------------ Recipient of multi-best answer awards and $3 power ball winner!!
Reply to ct1615

daedalus685 wrote :

Oh come on... it is not a great cpu but it isnt going to choke the cards..... Try to be a little more definitive when you offer advice.

its so easy to spend other people's money

I just reply to idiots who state upgrade everything with "can i send the invoice to you?

------------------------------ Recipient of multi-best answer awards and $3 power ball winner!!
Reply to ct1615

I normally play games at 1260x940 windowed i believe.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to darkpsycho

darkpsycho wrote :

I normally play games at 1260x940 windowed i believe.

In that case don't bother spending money on anything mroe than a 4850. Even that is not really required, but anything less expensive would be a downgrade from the 8800gts.

Just curious though. I might upgrade my processor in the future. Would my power supply be able to handle the 9950 or the Phenom II X4 920 with the 4870/4850?

Reply to darkpsycho

yes

------------------------------ Recipient of multi-best answer awards and $3 power ball winner!!
Reply to ct1615

Know what i love even more? When others whine about someone's opinion

------------------------------ Core I7 920 D0 @ 4.2Ghz
MSI X58 Pro-E
32GB SSD, WD Blacks In R0
Sapphire HD 5870's In XFire
Reply to PsychoSaysDie

PsychoSaysDie wrote :

BTW - GTX+ and 250 are the same card

Nope, the GTX+ has 512MB, all 250s have 1GB.

I agree with daedalus685 in the recommendation of the 4850. If you don't mind me asking, why are you playing at such a low res?

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to KyleSTL

My monitor is only 15" and its a old dell one. I haven't bought a new monitor yet otherwise I would be playing at a higher resolution.

Reply to darkpsycho

KyleSTL wrote :

Nope, the GTX+ has 512MB, all 250s have 1GB.

ummmm ALL 250s have 1GB?? 250s come in at both 512mb and 1GB.. the op just linked a 250 with 512mb GDDR3 on it.

cheaper 4850 here
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814161244

Message edited by 1tym on 07-25-2009 at 12:45:31 AM

Reply to 1tym

The 4870 is the best option, especially at current prices, and is really the only card you listed that would be an upgrade from your current card. The 9800GTX/GTX+ and the GTS250 are pretty much the same as the 8800GTS 512 just with a die shrink and slightly higher clock speeds. As for the 4850 it's pretty much on the same level as the 9800GTX/GTS250.

Its true that your CPU would bottleneck a 4870 a bit, but your motherboard is a pretty good overclocker so you may want to look into overclock your CPU a bit as well. Considering you have a crossfire board (with 4 slots at that) it doesn't really make sense for you to be looking at nvidia cards. Anyway you can always upgrade your CPU latter on and add another 4870 for more performance.

Ugh i'm going to get a headache between 4870 and 4850...

If I were to buy the 4870 which design would be better?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102769
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102810

And what is the length?

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to darkpsycho

4850 1gb, incase u decide to get another cardafter the initial purchace

------------------------------ "Envy is ignorance" - Henry Thoreau : Best quote ever.

http://www.pingtest.net/result/3022953.png

Reply to xaira

=/ I need to know the length and thickness and width. I'm worried if it's alot bigger then my 8800 gts it may not fit in my case correctly.

Reply to darkpsycho

i got a 9800gtx+ it cranks not a game a cant play on top gfx quality but i got a e8400 too water cooled.

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ XFX 780I
E8400 WITH ZALMAN9700NT
XFX 9800GTX+
G.SKILL2GB
Reply to im_just_jokin

Apparently on Amazon its 6.5 x 3.5 x 11.5 inches.. that is wayyy to big for my case.

Reply to darkpsycho

i had to take part of my case out for it to fit

------------------------------ XFX 780I
E8400 WITH ZALMAN9700NT
XFX 9800GTX+
G.SKILL2GB
Reply to im_just_jokin

I was talking about the Radeon 4870. I can't even find the dimensions of the Radeon 4850.. Sigh i was hoping to buying it today... but I spent the whole god dam time trying to find out the dimensions for both the 4870 and the 4850 with no luck. Stupid Sapphire doesn't put their dimensions anywhere and no one seems to want to put it in reviews or just on forums. Two different kinds of 4870s i'm looking at and a 4850 Vapor-x edition..

Please someone help me out here -.- Should I pick a different manufacturer then Sapphire? =/ I've never bought an Radeon so i'm not exactly sure which is the best.

Message edited by darkpsycho on 07-25-2009 at 07:07:43 AM

Reply to darkpsycho

go with the 4850 you wont see much or any difference with the 4870 and its more expensive.

Message edited by INSPECTOR71 on 07-25-2009 at 09:46:06 AM

Reply to INSPECTOR71

im_just_jokin wrote :

i got a 9800gtx+ it cranks not a game a cant play on top gfx quality but i got a e8400 too water cooled.

Are you bragging in the forum?????

Reply to INSPECTOR71

darkpsycho wrote :

Niether get the 4850 dude trust me.

Reply to INSPECTOR71

Your CPU isn't too bad. Don't fall into the trap of having to get the latest hardware.

GET THE GAMES THAT RUN GOOD ON YOUR SYSTEM. There are lots.

I recommend getting the HD4850 personally. It's a great value.

FYI, Diablo 3 and Starcraft 2 will run great on your system with an HD4850. Many other games will too. There will always be games that require the latest and greatest hardware.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to photonboy

Alright thanks guys.. but I still need to know the size for the SAPPHIRE Vapor-x 4850. My case is the Apevia X-Cruiser.. its not very big

Reply to darkpsycho

Get this its a lot cheaper.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814161244

That case i believe is a mid-tower should fit a 4850 fine.

Reply to invisik

photonboy wrote :

That is what I plan on getting when they come out but atm I play Fallout 3, WoW and heroes of newerth.
And I just ordered the HIS Radeon 4850 instead of the Sapphire. Thanks all for your help

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by darkpsycho on 07-25-2009 at 04:17:07 PM

Reply to darkpsycho

darkpsycho wrote :

That is what I plan on getting when they come out but atm I play Fallout 3, WoW and heroes of newerth.
And I just ordered the HIS Radeon 4850 instead of the Sapphire. Thanks all for your help

great choice darkpsycho.... :bounce:

Reply to INSPECTOR71

Just as a reference should anyone need to know.. the 4850 and 4870 from Sapphire is 9 inchs long, 5 inchs high, and .5 inches wide. >.> Not sure if my case could fit that but I got the HIS which should fit.

Reply to darkpsycho

Do not waste your money on the 4850 because:
4850 = 9800GTX+
9800GTX+ = 8800GTS OC
It is like you change you card for another a similar card, that is not upgrade it is sidegrate!

A good upgrade for the 8800GTS is 4870 and up, but with your AMD Phenom 9500 2.2gHz and 1260x940 the 4870 is a waste.

So don’t upgrade now, save your money for a future upgrade.

Message edited by michaelmk86 on 07-28-2009 at 11:50:35 AM

Reply to michaelmk86

Hey Michaelmk86 i thought we already discussed in this forum earlier that 4870 is no better than the 4850. The 4850 is the better choice for the price.And the 4870's performance is barely different if any. Dont twist the guys desicion.

Message edited by INSPECTOR71 on 07-28-2009 at 11:55:07 AM

Reply to INSPECTOR71

And we discussed that I needed a new card because my 8800 GTS died. Besides.. i just got my 4850 ICEQ4 today. Thanks for everyones help again.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to darkpsycho

Your PARENTS won't appreciate paying for a new CPU? Duuuuude...The Sky Is The Limit! :pt1cable:

But just one thing...come back and ask WHEN YOU CAN BUY YOUR OWN! :fou:

Reply to tripperdude

I can pay for it myself but its using their credit card.. i don't need them to start complaining more

Reply to darkpsycho

darkpsycho wrote :

And we discussed that I needed a new card because my 8800 GTS died. Besides.. i just got my 4850 ICEQ4 today. Thanks for everyones help again.

So how do you like your 4850?

Reply to INSPECTOR71

A 4850 should be fine for him, particularly with the resolution he's playing at. If I were him, my next upgrade would not be a CPU, it would be an upgrade over the dinky 15" monitor. I mean ouch. You are really missing out visually on what games have to offer. What you can do is go to best buy and look for a decent 22" monitor and just pay with cash and take it home. No need to rely on mom and dad's credit card then.

Message edited by vjcsmoke on 07-29-2009 at 05:05:05 AM

Reply to vjcsmoke

I like it alot. It is alot silenter then the 8800 gts. I don't see much of a difference in raids for WoW just a tiny bit

Reply to darkpsycho

I am glad to hear you like it. Yeah i just bought my second 4850 today from my friend for $40 for my upcoming build.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to INSPECTOR71

The ICEQ4 looks like a pretty sharp model from what ive seen in the pics.

Reply to INSPECTOR71

INSPECTOR71 wrote :

I am glad to hear you like it. Yeah i just bought my second 4850 today from my friend for $40 for my upcoming build.

you can never have enough of them 4850's hahaha

------------------------------

http://www.speedtest.net/result/511560750.png

E6600 @ 3.6, 2 X HD4850(680/1150), OCZ 4Gigz
Reply to xc0mmiex

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Which to pick? 4870 512mb, 4850 512mb, 9800 GTX+512mb, 250 512mb

Forum Graphic & Displays : Graphics Cards - Which to pick? 4870 512mb, 4850 512mb, 9800 GTX+512mb, 250 512mb