4870 Specs

[FallenSniper]

Hello everyone. I'm kind of a regular around here but I came across something that confused me quite a bit. I'm looking to just do a video card upgrade for my system right now, and I've settled with the 4870 (the only way I would get something different would be if I could get a higher performing card for the same price somehow). While I was browsing on newegg I noticed some differences among the specs of the cards. After picking out popular ones and a couple that I thought looked good, here's what the 'compare' page looks like: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048%201069633099%20106792627%201067940678&bop=And&ActiveSearchResult=True&CompareItemList=N82E16814102850%2CN82E16814129113%2CN82E16814102769%2CN82E16814150394%2CN82E16814102825%2CN82E16814121291

What has me the most confused is the memory clock speed. Two of the Sapphire cards are only running at '900MHz, 3.6Gbps'. I don't really understand this. Which one is it? And the XFX card has it's memory clock listed at 3600, while all the others are listed at 1800.

I'm pretty well versed in graphics cards but this has me perplexed.

Thanks for your help!! ^_^

 

[uncfan_2563]

that cards memory clock is not listed at 3600 MHz. If you payed attention it says Gigabits per second, referring to the memory bandwidth, which is the same across the board.

as for it saying 900MHz, GDDR5 has a double data rate so while 900 MHz is the clock speed, 1800 is the "effective" clock speed. The guys at sapphire just chose not to write the effective clock speed.

Conclusion : they're all running at the same speed

 

[dndhatcher]

They are all the same, just reported differently

The real difference are which connectors they have out the back, what cooling they have and what the companies support and warranty is like (XFX has a double lifetime warranty)

Saphire's web site says 900 MHz, 3.6Gbps even though newegg shows 1800.

On the bottom left of the newegg product page is a manufacturers info tab that gives a link to the manufacturers website. Generally that is more reliable than neweggs specs.

 

[FallenSniper]

Alright I get it now. Thanks ^_^