Best version of HD 4850 512mb?

[Johnny Joaozinhe]

Hi guys

I'm planning on getting 2x hd 4850 for CF setup, and after reading reviews at Newegg I noticed a number of people have issues with cooling with this card (especially on Crossfire).

So my question is which of these do you think would have better cooling?
Sapphire: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102824&cm_re=hd_4850-_-14-102-824-_-Product
Powercolor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131162&cm_re=hd_4850-_-14-131-162-_-Product
XFX: http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10009919&prodlist=froogle

I'm especially curious about the XFX one since Newegg doesn't have it at the moment (512mb version), so I couldn't find much comments on its cooling performance.

Thanks!

 

[Bluescreendeath]

The main problem is some of the models dump heat back in the case instead of outside through the 2nd slot. If you have at least 3x 120mm fans in your case, you should be fine.

 

[jyjjy]

You might want to consider the HD5750 instead if you are going for crossfire. It will cost a bit more but the card runs much cooler and uses much less power. It's also slightly more powerful and DX11.

 

[Onus]

I have a HIS HD4850 with the IceQ4 cooler that exhausts its heat. Of the ones you've listed, only the XFX appears to also exhaust the heat, so that's the one I'd choose. Like jyjjy said though, look into the HD5750.

 

[hundredislandsboy]

Go with XFX for the lifetime or double lifetime warranty.

 

[Johnny Joaozinhe]

Thanks for the replies guys, I decided to go for this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161316&cm_re=hd_5750-_-14-161-316-_-Product

It's the only one with blower style cooling, just like my current x850xt!
I have a midtower with only 1 case fan (and can't install any more) so the more cooling the better.

If you think I could get a better version let me know!

 

[jj555298]

I've had my sapphire 4850 for over a year, it idles at 38c (37% fan speed) and I rarely see it pass 60c under heavy load.

 

[jyjjy]

Thanks for the replies guys, I decided to go for this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161316&cm_re=hd_5750-_-14-161-316-_-Product

It's the only one with blower style cooling, just like my current x850xt!
I have a midtower with only 1 case fan (and can't install any more) so the more cooling the better.

If you think I could get a better version let me know!

For the same price(before rebate) you can get an HD5770 instead;
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161317
Honestly I wouldn't worry too much about cooling with these cards as they are 40nm and very power efficient.

 

[jyjjy]

Forgot you said you were looking to crossfire. If your case airflow is that bad you may want to forget about crossfire altogether to be honest.
What exactly is the native resolution of your monitor? On HD5770 may be just fine for you.

 

[jundaboy]

Always go sapphire if u getting an ATI card.
I have never had problems with them.
A 4850 vapor-x CF will do u well.
awesome cooling as well

 

[jyjjy]

Actually the cards from different manufacturers are usually exactly the same apart from the fan/heatsink and the occasional factory overclock.

 

[Johnny Joaozinhe]

I have a 23" monitor at 1920x1080 res. Yeah I guess one 5770 would be just fine.

I'm wondering if my system would bottleneck the 5770 at all:

MB: Intel p965T-A (09/15/2006-P965-ICH8-6A79LE1CC-00)
CPU: Core 2 duo E6420 @ 2.13 ghz (planning to OC)
Ram: 3x 1Gb sticks DDR2

I know my MB supports Crossfire up to the 4870 ( http://ati.amd.com/technology/crossfire/charts.html ), but for models after that I don't know. I'd like to find out in case I want to get another 5770 on sale a long time from now.

Also do you know if my MB will support 64-bit OS? I'm now running Vista Ultimate 32-bit but would like to get Win 7 64-bit.

Thanks!

 

[jyjjy]

Unfortunately I don't believe most Intel motherboards allow for overclocking and that processor is quite weak at stock settings so it will likely be a bottleneck in a lot of games. A shame really as that processor should OC rather well, probably up 3 ghz fairly easily. The board should handle crossfiring HD5770s though.

 

[jyjjy]

Should be fine for 64 bit windows as well.

 

[Johnny Joaozinhe]

Unfortunately I don't believe most Intel motherboards allow for overclocking and that processor is quite weak at stock settings so it will likely be a bottleneck in a lot of games. A shame really as that processor should OC rather well, probably up 3 ghz fairly easily. The board should handle crossfiring HD5770s though.

It's funny you say that, because I got this system from a guy and he said he Oc'ed the CPU (came with the aftermarket CPU cooler and everything) but he reset it back to stock to sell it. I can't quite remember but I think he mentioned being at least at 2.5 ghz if not more.

If anyone else would shed some light on this issue I'd be much appreciated, since this will be the the key factor determining if it's worth to get the 5770 or not.

 

[jyjjy]

Alright, I just looked up the board. It's not an Intel board it's made by ECS so overclocking should be an option.

 

[Johnny Joaozinhe]

Oh sorry about that, I just meant intel chipset. Good news then, I should be all set! Do you have any idea of how far I could go safely in Ghz? I don't even know exactly how to do it. I thought I would look at some guide online or something. It's not that hard is it?

Thanks

 

[anonymousdude]

Oh sorry about that, I just meant intel chipset. Good news then, I should be all set! Do you have any idea of how far I could go safely in Ghz? I don't even know exactly how to do it. I thought I would look at some guide online or something. It's not that hard is it?

Thanks

How far you can overclock depends on your particular chip, but a you should be able to get to 3 Ghz fairly easily and probably be able to get higher.

 

[Johnny Joaozinhe]

What I meant was: What is the safest bet? I'm not trying to kill the CPU too soon or anything like that.
That's if there is such a risk, I don't even know about that.

 

[Johnny Joaozinhe]

I do have an aftermarket heatsink and fan, but I don't know what brand name/model it is because it came with the PC when I got it.
All I know is that its Big with a big red fan blowing air into the case fan in the back.
So if I can go up to 3gzh safely with stock HSF how further could I get with the one I have?
Do you know any good free software I can use to monitor my temps?

Thanks!

 

[jyjjy]

What kind of speeds you get depends on your specific cpu, your fan/heatsink, motherboard and also in some ways your ram. You wont know until you try it.

 

[Johnny Joaozinhe]

I took a look at my HSF, it reads "ZLX" in the middle of the fan, with a big Z and smaller LX. Don't know what that means though.

Thanks for the speedfan link

 

[Johnny Joaozinhe]

Best answer selected by Johnny Joaozinhe.