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[Solved] 5870 vs 5850 but different usage

Forum Graphic & Displays : ATI - [Solved] 5870 vs 5850 but different usage

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sticky_wicket   11-11-2009 at 08:21:31 PM

Hey so Ive read the other 5870 vs 5850 threads but I have a bit different usage than those guys (plus the replies are allll over the map on the existing threads)

I am not a hardcore gamer, I update my system rarely and try and do a skip a generation on CPU but do a graphics refresh part way through. I play cod4 and hardcore racing sims on 3 monitors, plus photoshop etc. I will not shed a tear if I cant play Crysis 2 or whatever at full res a few years down the line.
For a little reference I have a P4 3ghz AGP which I bought in '03 and upgraded from x850 to x1950 two years ago; its getting a little long in the tooth.

So my plan is to upgrade to a i7-860 and 5850/5870, then push the OC and add a second graphics card when things bog down and the prices drop in a few years. I dont quite understand what you get for your extra $150; cant you basically OC the 5850 to get near 5870 levels of performance? Isnt it the same hardware? I have the same question about the i7-860/870 too, truth be told.

thanks

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Best answer from jay2tall
Here this chart shows the differences: http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3650

 

THe 5870 has more texture units and streaming processors. The GPU and Memory is also clocked higher. Chances are the memory and GPU are binned higher for the 5870 as well. Chances are you can OC the 5850 to the same speed as the 5870, but you are still working with less texture units and streaming processors at the same clock speed. The 5870 should also clock higher than the 5850.

 

You are paying $150 more for the higher end card even though it is not horribly faster, though it IS faster. It also has a bigger cooler.

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rescawen   11-11-2009 at 08:25:10 PM

depends what games u play, for example if u wanna do eyefinity or crysis, then 5870 is worth the money, but i don't see y u cant save some bucks for perhaps few new games or a new mouse and keyboard and i7860 is overkill, get i5 750 instead.

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sticky_wicket   11-12-2009 at 09:35:12 PM

>depends what games u play, for example if u wanna do eyefinity
Yeah that was all in the OP. 5850 does eyefinity too.

5870 vs 5850, why isnt a 5850 overclocked comparable to a 5870 when the hardware is so similar?

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Bronze Graphics badge jay2tall   11-12-2009 at 09:54:36 PM
Best answer

Here this chart shows the differences: http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3650

 

THe 5870 has more texture units and streaming processors. The GPU and Memory is also clocked higher. Chances are the memory and GPU are binned higher for the 5870 as well. Chances are you can OC the 5850 to the same speed as the 5870, but you are still working with less texture units and streaming processors at the same clock speed. The 5870 should also clock higher than the 5850.

 

You are paying $150 more for the higher end card even though it is not horribly faster, though it IS faster. It also has a bigger cooler.


Message edited by jay2tall on 11-12-2009 at 09:55:08 PM
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sticky_wicket   11-13-2009 at 01:41:10 AM

Thanks jay2tall, that answered my question. Probably not worth it to me for the incremental performance gains.

Any idea if the same is true about the intel 860/870 CPU difference? I dont see any physical differences http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipse [...] spx?i=3641

And a more basic question behind that issue: why would the OC potential be different if only the stock voltages are different?

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Bronze Graphics badge jay2tall   11-13-2009 at 02:10:57 AM

The 860 and 870 are probably binned differently. And the multipliers are different. Other than that, they are identical.

The 5850 and 5870 are at least different. The 5850 is the better bang for the buck, but if you want faster, you will pay for the 5870.

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sticky_wicket   11-13-2009 at 02:14:59 AM

>The 860 and 870 are probably binned differently. And the multipliers are
> different.

um... what?
:) thanks

Reply to sticky_wicket
Bronze Graphics badge jay2tall   11-13-2009 at 02:28:09 AM

CPU's of the same model are all made at the same time. They test the CPU and see what it's max clock is, then they place them in "bins". The lower clocked ones are usually used for the slower CPU's and higher clocked for higher clocked CPU's. They set the multiplier on then to lock that in and they stamp it with the model, 860 or 870.

THe 860 multiplier would be 21. 21 x 133Mhz (the speed of the bus) = 2,793MHZ (2.8GHz)
THe 870 multiplier would be 22. 22 x 133= 2,926MHz (2.93GHZ)

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sticky_wicket   11-13-2009 at 05:55:23 AM

ah, thanks that was a really clear explanation.

Reply to sticky_wicket
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