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Hd4870 vs hd4850

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ok, ok i know this question has been asked like a million times already but i just wanted some help on my decision.

here are my options:

xfx hd4870: http://www.playtech.co.nz/product. [...] il&id=7954

xfx hd4850: http://www.playtech.co.nz/product. [...] il&id=7942

prices are in NZD

the main thing that is bugging me about the 4870 is the non-reference cooler, does anyone know how it performs? and also price, is $60 more for the 4870 a steal or does the 4850 have a better price/performance?
i will be gaming on a 22" 1680 x 1050 monitor.

other specs:
phenom II x4 b50 processor @3.1ghz
OCZ 4gb ddr3 1600 cl7
gigabyte ma770t-ud3p motherboard

thanks.

Add a reply

The HD 4870 is the best option...It is faster than the 4850...
And as for the cooler, make sure you have good ventilated case as it would blow the hot air back inside the case...SO if you have good air flow, then there wont be any problems...
But you can check out these cards too...These have 1GB vRAM for the same price...
http://pcpacific.net/product_info.php?products_id=5005
http://pcpacific.net/product_info.php?products_id=5760
http://www.extremepc.co.nz/index.p [...] ts_id=3335

Reply to gkay09

thanks for the reply, i think i'll get the 4870. i think i'll stick to the xfx 4870 because of their support and warranty, and i also live close to playtech which is a bonus as i can walk right in and not have to worry about multiple retailers. about the vram, i've read that it doesn't make too much difference between 1gb and 512mb at lower resolutions and i guess you could call my res low.

Reply to rawirig

^ No for your resolution when you turn ON AA and AF in demanding games, the extra vRAM would be advantageous...And yours is not a low resolution...

Reply to gkay09

lol, i'm stuck, theres no xfx hd4850 1gb at playtech and i'm budget limited and wanna get the xfx4870

Reply to rawirig

Its OK...Get that HD 4870 itself...But just make sure you have good airflow inside the case...

Reply to gkay09

ok thanks, i think i have good airflow, i have a cooler master elite 331 with 1*120mm exhaust, 2*120mm intakes 2*80mm side fans, 1 for cpu, 1 for video card i also have good cable management with all cords hidden behind hdd cage

Reply to rawirig

^ Then it should be fine...
But I forgot to ask the main thing - PSU...What PSU do you have ? Make sure it can power that HD 4870...

Reply to gkay09

oh yeh lol my psu will be fine, i've got a corsair tx650w

Reply to rawirig

I agree with everything gkay said. 4870 for sure, and also I agree with the 1GB of RAM. I myself am using a 4870 at that same res, it works beautifully.

Reply to FallenSniper

EDIT : Dint refresh...

^ Oh cool...then you are good to go... You can actually crossfire 2 4870s with that PSU but sad your mobo doesnt support it...
You already have the PSU are going to buy that one?

Message edited by gkay09 on 09-18-2009 at 08:52:01 AM

Reply to gkay09

lol i already have it i got it incase i got a new mobo and needed crossfire or sli and it was only like $10 more than 550w. i may be able to get the 1 gig but it's a bit of a stretch since i was origanally planning a 4850, will a 512mb 4870 be good enuf for most modern games at my res?

except maybe gta 4 and crysis

Reply to rawirig

^ Yes... Looking at the prices of other graphic cards in that store, this is the best option...
But again I would like to say that having 1GB would help more with higher settings...So browse more, check if there are any other stores nearby and see if they have a good deal on the 1GB...

Reply to gkay09

http://www.extremepc.co.nz/index.p [...] ts_id=3912
this looks like a VERY attractive option as it has a big non ref cooler and is cheaper. and 1gb. courier is only $5 so it will be a saving lol with that cooler i amy have some overclocking headroom

Reply to rawirig

^ That is a good one...
But check about the warranty and support...those may not be as good as the XFX...

Reply to gkay09

i'm not sure about the support but i think they have a 2 year warranty on their cards vs xfx's double lifetime warranty.. would it be worth getting the powercolor? the hsf looks alot nicer. the powercolor 1gb in total is $260 and the xfx is $280

Reply to rawirig

The reference cooler of the 4870 is a piece of junk. The only think with some of these you have to worry about is all the heat put into the case, but if you have some good fans that is no big deal and your card will run cooler.

XFX has the best warranty but if you want the best cooler Sapphires Vapor-X is one of the best, the toxic is also good to and got a somewhat okay overclock on it from the factory.

Both are also cheaper then the one your looking at.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] _-14102815

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] _-14102826

Reply to darkvine

lol prices are in NZD, but still, when converted the TOXIC edition is only $270 i wish newegg was in new zealand, everything would be cheaper and prices would be more up to date. lol some sites you see still have 8800gt's at like $500

Reply to rawirig

Ah, sorry about that, it's like 3 in the morning here and I hadn't been paying much attention but now you say it I actually noticed the price of the powercolor is more then they should be.

Well as to the warranty it really just depends on you. I like XFX as a company better, though I have never really tried Power Color. Either which should be good but also note that the resell on the XFX will be higher as they are a more notable brand.

Reply to darkvine

so as it stands i have 2 options:

xfx hd4870 512mb: http://www.playtech.co.nz/product. [...] il&id=7954

powercolor hd4870 1gb: http://www.extremepc.co.nz/index.p [...] ts_id=3912

with the poworcolor being $10 more but; not as good support, lesser warranty and apparently worse resale value.

i'm leaning towards the xfx atm

Reply to rawirig

Actually the Powercolor is one of the companies that release ATI cards exclusively...
And frankly if you ask me I wouldn't worry about the resale value now...
Any good card would go for a dirt cheap price because there are always newer cards coming out...
But I would slightly be concerned about the warranty though...Atleast 3 years would be good...

Message edited by gkay09 on 09-18-2009 at 11:49:01 AM

Reply to gkay09

hmm, i think 2 years would be plenty for me. the big pros of the powercolor is that it has 1gb memory and a better hsf on the card. xfx does have a pretty black pcb though

Reply to rawirig

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRVG9ajWfWI

lol this doesnt look good, i'm having second thoughts on the powercolor now

Reply to rawirig

^ If you have second thoughts, then play safe and get the XFX...

Reply to gkay09

thanks, i think i will go for the xfx 4870 512mb, it should be plenty for my needs anyway. thanks for all your help in choosing my graphics card. how do i do the best answer thing?lol

Reply to rawirig

^ Lolz have not started a thread yet ...So its the same here even I dont know
Maybe there are any check boxes are button related to a post ?

Message edited by gkay09 on 09-18-2009 at 01:32:40 PM

Reply to gkay09

Haha you have to wait a certain amount of time (not sure how long) and then the option will become available ^^

Reply to FallenSniper

^ Thanks ... Even I dint know

Reply to gkay09

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