8800GT to 5850. Big deal? 5830 expected Feb.

[HedgeHocker]

So is a single ATI HD 5850 going to be a noticeable improvement over my current NVIDIA 8800GT?

I figure I'd buy one HD5850 and Crossfire when prices really drop. How is that for a strategy--what do you guys think? The 5830 will be out next month though...

 

[mfarrukh]

It will give you a huge performance boost from 8800GT
I would say you should go for 5770 in CrossFire for about $310 or so

It will out perform single 5850 and will give you performance close to $400 5870.

Otherwise, I would go with two 570 instead of one 5850. But as you said, you will crossfire 5850, You are good with this.

5830 will underperform 4890 and 275 but will add DirectX11 and EyeFinity at the same cost
or
may perform better for higher price

 

[wa1]

If u have the money and have enough power on PSU then why not?
just get it, go for single powerful card right now(HD5850) and u can add it later if the price drop...

 

[HedgeHocker]

Are there still scaleability problems and wierd little num-nums with SLI and Crossfire?

I suppose the 5850 will always outperform a 5830 and buying a 5850.. now will cost me a bit more than its launch, yeah, but the savings on the socond card should balance it out I hope. I haven't played this SLI/Crossfire second card purchase later in time game. Seems very risky if you do intend to Crossfire since the card may become unavailable. Damn that wouls suck. I would just need to check availability and prices regularly I guess.

I don't follow technology non stop like some of you nerds--lol. I have to do a crash course every time I need to upgrade.

 

[HedgeHocker]

Radeon HD 5830 specs according to Wikipedia:

40 nm
PCIe 2.1 x16
1024mb
650mhz Core
800mhz Memory
1280Sp(80x16):64:24
Textures: 41.6gt/s
Pixels: 15.6Gp/s
Bandwidth: 102.4gb/s
Memory: GDDR5
Interface: 256bit

 

[mfarrukh]

SLI and CrossFire works just fine.
I don't think they have any scaleability and e.t.c. problems
5850 will be a good card for you

 

[hell_storm2004]

8800GT to HD5850 would be from a Truck to a Prosche!

 

[mfarrukh]

8800GT to HD5850 would be from a Truck to a Prosche!

One heck of an example

 

[HedgeHocker]

So maybe a Chevy SS truck to ..Porche.

Got to choose a Quadcore if I determine 5850 in Crossfire will bottleneck my E8500 OC to 4GHz. I mean it will bottleneck it but I won't find any articles online telling me how much. Quad still doesnt do jack for a game not multi threaded for it does it?

But that's about CPU's...

 

[hell_storm2004]

If you are going for a HD5850x2, then better go for a HD5970. They are almost the same. But a single card runs cooler and requires much less power. An E8500 at 4GHz wont bottleneck a HD5850x2, but at stock it may! But yes its better if you get a quad!

 

[boonality]

Out of curiosity OP, is your 8800GT a G92 core or a G80 core?

G80 = 320MB or 640MB versions
G92 = 512MB version

I have a G92 8800GTS and I still really enjoy it... is my card really that weak compared to a 5850? I'm in the same boat as the OP as far as tech... I don't really follow it unless it's upgrade time and then I overwhelm myself.

 

[HedgeHocker]

About a $100.00 difference between HD5850 and a HD5970 though, at least the way I shop. I won't buy two HD5850 straight away. NVIDIA competition should lower ATI prices or Time will, sales. I'd be willing to be the HD5850 uses considerably less wattage also which is important to me.

I can get a HD5850 for $276.00 now (shipped) and likely another one later on for $230.00. $508.00

$650 is the cheapest HD5970 and we all know those top tier cards don't drop much in price until the next generation has arrived.

$144.00 difference at least.

HD5970 is a money hole.

HD5830 will likely be the wet spot.

 

[hallowed_dragon]

Out of curiosity OP, is your 8800GT a G92 core or a G80 core?

G80 = 320MB or 640MB versions
G92 = 512MB version

I have a G92 8800GTS and I still really enjoy it... is my card really that weak compared to a 5850? I'm in the same boat as the OP as far as tech... I don't really follow it unless it's upgrade time and then I overwhelm myself.

You are confusing the 8800GT with the 8800GTS, and yes your 8800 GTS 512MB is really that weak compared to the 5850.
The 8800GTS is comparable with the 9800GTX which you can see is no match for the 5850.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/HD_5850/30.html

 

[HedgeHocker]

Out of curiosity OP, is your 8800GT a G92 core or a G80 core?

G80 = 320MB or 640MB versions
G92 = 512MB version

I have a G92 8800GTS and I still really enjoy it... is my card really that weak compared to a 5850? I'm in the same boat as the OP as far as tech... I don't really follow it unless it's upgrade time and then I overwhelm myself.

I know right. I can't imagine anything faster until I get it. I can't say I have slow games right now. That is one reason I won't buy a new platform with the DDR3 yet.


edit: EVGA 8800GT SC

 

[HedgeHocker]

You are confusing the 8800GT with the 8800GTS, and yes your 8800 GTS 512MB is really that weak compared to the 5850.
The 8800GTS is comparable with the 9800GTX which you can see is no match for the 5850.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/HD_5850/30.html

Well dang. Almost 60% faster. I can see some Crossfire power going to waste with HD5850 and up. Maybe the 5830 will be perfect. Now seems like the perfect time to try a multi GPU setup with these power savings.

I'll just have to wait with the other frugal shoppers for the HD5830.

 

[hallowed_dragon]

Well dang. Almost 60% faster. I can see some Crossfire power going to waste with HD5850 and up. Maybe the 5830 will be perfect. Now seems like the perfect time to try a multi GPU setup with these power savings.

I'll just have to wait with the other frugal shoppers for the HD5830.

I am not sure where did you get the 60% more. From what I saw, the 5850 is considered to be at 100%... and the 9800GTX at about 40-50%. That means the 5850 has in comparison to the 9800GTX, double the power.

 

[rawsteel]

I went from 8800GT to 5850. GREAT difference, especially if you game on full HD.

Now I can crank all settings + AA/AF

Also on average 10-20 W LESS power, much quieter, DX11, OC like hell - 880/1250

Go for the 5850 if you can, dont wait on 5830. History shows that x850 cards are usually the most price/performance value cards.

Later (after a year or 2) you can put 2nd one and voila you have 5970
the cheapest price performance you can get

 

[HedgeHocker]

Perhaps I read it wrong.

60% would be enough for me to base a shopping descision on though, regardless.

 

[HedgeHocker]

Yeah I'm not sure rawsteel. It's only 2 weeks until 5830 reviews. Makes me nervous buying before knowing. HD5850 looks great though. I'd get an ASUS I think.

Good morning. Man, got to get some coffee. Up all night reading this tech stuff.

 

[boonality]

This makes me want to upgrade my computer.... SHAME ON ALL OF YOU

LOL.

 

[rawsteel]

Sure , wait for the 5830 reviews if you have time . But I doubt ATI will release more price/performance competitive cards at this moment while they are exploiting the Fermi delays.

I expect it to perform near 4890 and be probably $220, which is not very worth it if you can snatch a 5850 for 260

It also depends on how much it will OC , but it will be even lower clock than 5850 (I heard 650). I doubt it will reach 5870 speeds and it will have even less SPs and less ROPS and less texture units(while 5850 have only less SPs)

 

[HedgeHocker]

If I can find one for $260 I won't wait.