Tom's Hardware > Forum > Graphic & Displays > Graphics Cards > HD 4770 vs. HD 4850
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ironhorse_charlie   07-31-2009 at 05:41:22 AM

i know there have been many threads on this but my question wasn't answered.

i have a Acer 23" Widescreen. Does it matter which graphics card runs on it? Also, if 4850 is better at this resolution, then should i get the 512 mb or 1gb one?

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masterjaw   07-31-2009 at 05:56:59 AM
- -1 +

it would matter especially if you game with native resolution plus max settings.

if you use AA then go with 1gb, otherwise 512mb would do.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by masterjaw on 07-31-2009 at 05:57:45 AM
Reply to masterjaw
ironhorse_charlie   07-31-2009 at 06:05:22 AM
- 0 +

masterjaw wrote :

it would matter especially if you game with native resolution plus max settings.

if you use AA then go with 1gb, otherwise 512mb would do.




I'm just playing mainly RTS (World in Conflict, Supreme Commander) w/ medium to high settings.

So i should go for 4850?

Reply to ironhorse_charlie
masterjaw   07-31-2009 at 06:15:24 AM
- 0 +

What is your monitor resolution? If it is 1920 x 1080 and if you game with this resolution then it is underpowered.

Reply to masterjaw
ironhorse_charlie   07-31-2009 at 06:46:22 AM
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Yeah...this is my first build so i don't exactly know how it will look.

So what exactly do you mean? I can up my settings? or get a better graphics card...i'm kinda in the $100 range

Reply to ironhorse_charlie
ironhorse_charlie   07-31-2009 at 07:30:39 AM
- 0 +

was looking on Newegg and saw two Gigabyte 4850...both with zalman fans

one's 512 mb and the other is the OC'd 1gb
512mb has a $30 rebate which makes it more attractive even though i know i'll be able to play w/ better settings w/ the OC'd 1gb.

which one is better in a cost/performance ratio? again this is to play world in conflict/supreme commander on medium high settings on 1920 x 1080 resolution

Reply to ironhorse_charlie
masterjaw   07-31-2009 at 07:48:27 AM
- 0 +

ironhorse_charlie wrote :

and yeah..its' 1920 x 1080



If you plan on playing with that resolution in high settings then the 4850 is not up to the task. It is only good up to 1680x1050. Try looking for some 4870/gtx260 but it would costs you more than $100. Or you could still stick with 4850 without maximizing the graphic details.

Check out the latest article for best GPUs for the money. Best Graphics Cards For The Money: July '09 Check your resolution and see what GPU is fit for your needs.


Message edited by masterjaw on 07-31-2009 at 07:50:50 AM
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shubham1401   07-31-2009 at 07:54:56 AM
- 0 +

4850>4770 in performance.
And if you play on 1920X1080 then a good card will be GTX 260.
But if you want it to last a bit more then you can also consider a GTX 275.

Reply to shubham1401
one-shot   07-31-2009 at 09:20:36 AM
- 0 +

World in Conflict definitely likes CPU power as well. I have noticed a huge improvement with my i7 over my C2Duo I previously used. A GTX 260 C216 is great for 1920x1200. I game at the resolution and it plays everything great at max except Crysis, of course.

Message quoted 1 times
------------------------------ Antec P182, i7 920 3.7Ghz @ 1.3V, Xigmatek 1283, Asus P6T X58, 3 x 2048MB OCZ Plat DDR3 1600 RAM, 2 EVGA GTX260 Core 216 in SLI, WD 160gb,320GB 1TB WD Black. Corsair 750TX. Acer 24" Monitor. Vista x64 Home Premium.
 Reply to one-shot
shubham1401   07-31-2009 at 12:32:05 PM
- 0 +

one-shot wrote :

I game at the resolution and it plays everything great at max except Crysis, of course.




IS GTA4 also running at that reso?

Reply to shubham1401
stridervm   07-31-2009 at 02:44:43 PM
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GTA4 likes multiple cores/processors rather than video cards.

Reply to stridervm
invisik   07-31-2009 at 03:40:42 PM
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I would recommend a 4870 playing at that resolution. Normally i would tell you to go with a 1gig card but since your budget isn't that high get the 4870 512mb if you can. Even a 4850 1gig will struggle more then a 4870 512mb.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814131140


Message edited by invisik on 07-31-2009 at 03:41:13 PM
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Bronze Graphics badge JofaMang   07-31-2009 at 04:32:23 PM
- 0 +

When I built this rig I used a 4870 512 to game on my 1920x1080 monitor. It has performed beyond satisfactory even before OC, and I was pleasantly suprised by how wrong the naysayers were about required vram for my resolution.

Perhaps it is the 4870 itself that made up for the theoretical lack of ram, but either way, the hardline approach of "512 only good to 1680x1050" that so many self proclaimed experts take is silly.

------------------------------ http://valid.canardpc.com/cache/banner/822692.png
PhIIx3 710 @3.55ghz/1.5v w/ Scythe Samurai Zz HSF-24/49c ~ 4gb OCZ Gold XTC 5-6-6-18 @1092mhz ~ Sapphire 4870 512MB (795/1025)
 Reply to JofaMang
invisik   07-31-2009 at 04:39:55 PM
- 0 +

Try running crysis/farcry 2/gta 4 at max settings at 1920x1080 and let me no how it runs on a 512mb card.

Reply to invisik
shubham1401   07-31-2009 at 04:56:29 PM
- 0 +

@Jofamang
You may have run the game but on low settings.
I mean no AA and AF.

Reply to shubham1401
shubham1401   07-31-2009 at 04:58:55 PM
- 0 +

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814127429

I strongly recommend a GTX 275 for that resolution.
Even if 4870 runs good at that reso but this will last longer.

Buy only if you have money.

Reply to shubham1401
ironhorse_charlie   07-31-2009 at 05:00:35 PM
- 0 +

thanks...i'm probably going for the 4870 512mb...
any recommendations on which brand i should get...or should i just find the cheapest one possible?

Reply to ironhorse_charlie
Bronze Graphics badge jyjjy   07-31-2009 at 05:09:52 PM
- 0 +

The cheapest one should be fine.

Reply to jyjjy
invisik   07-31-2009 at 05:35:03 PM
- 0 +

The one i recommend earlier is a good deal.

Reply to invisik
shubham1401   07-31-2009 at 07:03:12 PM
- 0 +

Cheaper brands perform the same and dont go boom as well.
So buy the cheapest one.

In fact I m also getting A brand new 9800GT from the nearby store tomorrow!

Reply to shubham1401
Bronze Graphics badge JofaMang   08-01-2009 at 10:43:03 PM
- 0 +

You are right, No AA no AF on crysis/Facry 2/GTA4 ... but the way you "gurus" talk about 512 cards may give the impression to newbs that a 512 card won't work at all... which is just not true. Those games you mentioned require more than just 1GB of video ram to perform well, and the card alone will not make the difference. GTA4 actually ran really well on my PII x3 @1920x1080 once I overclocked it past 3ghz. The 4870x2 made a very small difference on GTA4, TBH. But I am sure you gurus knew that it was so CPU dependent, thats why you mentioned it in response to a video card issue.

My point still stands, making absolute statements about these sort of things is inaccurate and misleading. That sort of advice could end up reducing the playable value to someone on a budget who is not as much of a hobbyist or a self-proclaimed expert.

------------------------------ http://valid.canardpc.com/cache/banner/822692.png
PhIIx3 710 @3.55ghz/1.5v w/ Scythe Samurai Zz HSF-24/49c ~ 4gb OCZ Gold XTC 5-6-6-18 @1092mhz ~ Sapphire 4870 512MB (795/1025)
 Reply to JofaMang
jaydeejohn   08-01-2009 at 11:33:07 PM
- 0 +

Vram is totally dependent per game or mod.

------------------------------ 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
masterjaw   08-03-2009 at 04:58:50 AM
- 0 +

Who said that a 512mb cards won't work? Come on jofamang. No one should bash those cards. I also use 4850 512mb because AA/AF is not my hype as it doesn't make a difference in my tiny lcd. Max settings include AA/AF at max and if you want to play in that setting, then you might need some more as AA/AF hugs more vram in some games. And the OP asks about 4850, not your 4870 512mb.

"Even a 4850 1gig will struggle more then a 4870 512mb. "

Maybe you've misunderstood this line eh that's why your so furious? It is simply 4850 1gb < 4870 512mb. :)

Btw, I want a 4870 512 too but my tiny lcd won't allow me to do so. Someday, I'm gonna kick his butt out. :p

Reply to masterjaw
Bronze Graphics badge JofaMang   08-04-2009 at 05:18:01 PM
- 0 +

The common quick response to these type of questions is: "512mb only good to 1680x1050, get a 1gb card if you want to run a higher resolution" which can be very misleading to the uninitiated. I mentioned my card as a reference point, that amount of Vram alone is not a dependable variable when chosing a card.

I apologize if I came off as "furious" to you, just trying to be clear about a trend that I have observed here regarding this issue. When I was a newb about these things, I was suckered into buying products that didn't suit my needs, because of my ignorance of the multitude of variables, that are dramatically altered based on a person's needs.

Message quoted 1 times
------------------------------ http://valid.canardpc.com/cache/banner/822692.png
PhIIx3 710 @3.55ghz/1.5v w/ Scythe Samurai Zz HSF-24/49c ~ 4gb OCZ Gold XTC 5-6-6-18 @1092mhz ~ Sapphire 4870 512MB (795/1025)
 Reply to JofaMang
Anonymous   09-19-2009 at 10:51:50 PM
- 0 +

JofaMang wrote :

The common quick response to these type of questions is: "512mb only good to 1680x1050, get a 1gb card if you want to run a higher resolution" which can be very misleading to the uninitiated. I mentioned my card as a reference point, that amount of Vram alone is not a dependable variable when chosing a card.

I apologize if I came off as "furious" to you, just trying to be clear about a trend that I have observed here regarding this issue. When I was a newb about these things, I was suckered into buying products that didn't suit my needs, because of my ignorance of the multitude of variables, that are dramatically altered based on a person's needs.


Reply to Anonymous
Anonymous   09-19-2009 at 10:57:46 PM
- 0 +

I am also debating this decision. Atm I have a 4670 that is beginning to struggle with my new monitor's 1680 res. Far Cry 2 causes lots of HDD access and Rivatuner reports that all 521 MB of vid memory is in use for much of the time.

Would the 4770's quad 128-bit bus coope better, or should I just go for a 1GB 4850? PSU will soon be a 500W Blue Storm.


Regards,

Mark.

Reply to Anonymous
PsychoSaysDie   09-19-2009 at 11:39:52 PM
- 0 +

I wouldn't waste my money on the 4850's old tech. The 4770 can easily be overclocked past 1Ghz core with a voltage bump and upgraded cooling


Message edited by PsychoSaysDie on 09-19-2009 at 11:40:23 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
Bluescreendeath   09-20-2009 at 12:10:25 AM
- 0 +

The 4850 performs slightly better than the 4770, and is slightly cheaper. The 4770 can be OCed to 4850's performance.

Get whatever is cheaper.

Reply to Bluescreendeath
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