4870 1GB or 4850x2?

TheAscension · Feb 17, 2009, 01:24 AM

I'm having trouble deciding between the two. They are pretty close in price, but the biggest concern is my PSU. I'm not sure if it will handle the X2. Mfg suggests a 650W and I only have a 585W. Will it really draw that much power?

Is it really worth it to get the X2? The 4870 looks like an amazing card.

**Mousey** · Feb 17, 2009, 02:10 AM

To be honest with you mate i wouldn't trust that power supply with either or those cards, just done a quick google search so might have the wrong PSU here. Looks like a grey box to me, i'd upgrade to one from a known brand first if i were you

BlueMak · Feb 17, 2009, 02:24 AM

Depends on the resolutions you will play your games at. If at 1280x1024 then the 4870 will be fine.

As for the PSU, I don't know it or how good it might be. IF it is a good one then it should handle it just fine. IF...

TheAscension · Feb 17, 2009, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mousey

To be honest with you mate i wouldn't trust that power supply with either or those cards, just done a quick google search so might have the wrong PSU here. Looks like a grey box to me, i'd upgrade to one from a known brand first if i were you

Here is the link to the PSU:
Newegg.com - hec Orion XPOWER585 585W ATX12V 2.01 Power Supply - Power Supplies

I'm trying to find a high-end card that will not require me to upgrade the PSU. I'm already pushing my budget with the vid card alone. From the reviews on NewEgg it looks like others are running some pretty hefty equipment off of this supply without a problem.

From this review of the 4850x2, it only draws ~230W:
ATI Radeon HD 4850 X2 vs. Nvidia GeForce GTX 280: Decisive Battle (page 6) - X-bit labs

I would suspect the 4870 draws less.

All in all, I agree. I am a little worried about these types of cards and the PSU I have. Do I really risk frying my whole system if I push that PSU too hard?

TheAscension · Feb 17, 2009, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueMak

Depends on the resolutions you will play your games at. If at 1280x1024 then the 4870 will be fine.

As for the PSU, I don't know it or how good it might be. IF it is a good one then it should handle it just fine. IF...

I will be running games at 1680x1050

BlueMak · Feb 17, 2009, 03:06 AM

It just depends on other factors too. When is the next upgrade/new pc going to take place? A year from now, 2, more?

I think you would be ok with the 4870 for another 1.5 years if you want to play the latest and greatest games at that resolution at highest settings.

As for the PSU, the PSU says it costs $24....ARE YOU KIDDING ME? You are placing hundrends and perhaps thousand $ of equipment on a $24 PSU? I am sorry, but this is just stupid. Get the 4870 and with the money you save get a GOOD PSU.

OldBuzzard · Feb 17, 2009, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Pros: I plugged it in it worked fine. Cons: DOESN'T power my 9600 GT, on startup it says (your videocard doesn't have sufficient power so it has lowered its performance rating to a level that is safe)

That's just from the first review I saw on Newegg.

I wouldn't try running a 4870 with that PSU.

Chaos · Feb 17, 2009, 04:15 AM

keep in mind a PSU is one of the most critical components of any "STABLE" upper mid range to high end gaming rig so if you skimp out there the rest of your expensive hardware will suffer

For $100 @ NewEgg you could get a nice solid Corsair PSU like the one Grace reviewed

http://www.hardwareheaven.com/reviews/Corsair_TX650W/

anonemus · Feb 17, 2009, 04:32 AM

More than the wattage, also look at the 12V amper requirement of the videocard...

**kris23** · Feb 17, 2009, 04:48 AM

what anonemus said.... the amps of the PSU is important.

however, the PSU is so cheap and doesnt get good reviews.... id just get a better one...

also, id get the GTX 260 core 216 over the 4870 as its as fast to faster and the use of PhysX is excellent

a single powerful GPU core is better than two individuals in nearly all situations currently

tanka12345 · Feb 17, 2009, 07:07 AM

Firstly I'd go for the 4870 1GB as it looks like a solid performer at a reasonable price, and doesn't the 260 Core 216 cost more? I really think you should get a new PSU. I'd rather have a stable system by spending more on my PSU, than using my whole budget on a GFX Card which could fail (and possibly break) under an inadequate PSU. Maybe you could find a good PSU and buy a 4830 for gaming instead?

EDIT: You can get a Powercolor HD 4830 for $100, and an Enermax Liberty 620W PSU for $135 at Newegg, which totals to around the same price as a 4870 1GB.

TheAscension · Feb 17, 2009, 08:03 AM

Ok, Ok, Ok. Easy guys

I know I asked you for advice on this, but I want you to think outside the box for a second. MAYBE, just maybe, there could be a PSU out there that is not a name brand, and is not $100 that could power these types of high end cards fine.

Now, looking at the specs on my PSU I see 20A and 19A on the 12V rails. That is not too shy from "Enermax Liberty 620W PSU" that has 22A. With 20A on a 12V rail I'm looking at 240W, which is plenty for that 4870 (I'm pretty sure).

Did you guys notice this guy on the Newegg reviews?:

Quote:

"GREAT !!! POWERING a SLI setup!!"
Pros: CHEAP,
LOTS of POWER!!!
Runs 7900GS`s in SLI !!!
Usally cheap power supplies are very light in weight, this power supply is the same weight as my CoolerMaster SLI 600 Watt power supply and has a good look and feel to it. I would NEVER say to go cheap on a power supply because if it burns-up it could take your whole system with it, but if you need a powerful good LOW COST power supply I would DEFINITELY recommend this one!!!!

Cons: NONE YET???
Could use acouple more molex connectors.
Only one pci-e adapter, but what do you want for $25.00 BUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Other Thoughts: First off all I ever buy are OCZ, ANTEC or COOLER MASTER power supplies,,USALLY,,, I had a bunch of GOOD parts to build another PC all I needed was a power supply. With the cost of a good 600watt running about $80 bucks it was more than I wanted to spent. So I saw the GREAT reviews on this HEC 585 and bought it. It has been powering a ABIT 590 AN9-32X mobo a AMD 3600 x 2 processor running at 2.95GHz a 500GB harddrive , Samsung dvd burner, 3 120mm led fans , a ramcooler fan and a Rosewill cpu cooler and TWO XFX 7900GS`s in SLI for about a month with NO PROBLEMS!!!! I did have to buy a Y connector for the molex connectors because I was a connector short for the PCI-E connector for the second 7900GS VC.

I know stability is also an issue, but maybe this thing is stable?

Let's discuss...

Dark Lord · Feb 17, 2009, 08:31 AM

i cant find a single good thing about that psu. from the few pictures ive seen of its internals, it looks like the cheapest piece of crap ive ever seen.

not to mention the lack of actual power ratings. im 99.9% positive thats being shown as peak load, on a good day, being heavily refrigerated. and while being rubbed by 4 leaf clovers. its the same as the 2000w speakers at walmart for 19.99. its just numbers to make it look good.

with power supplies, you get what you pay for. a good,quality 585w psu for 25 bucks? aint gonna happen. theres a reason my 550w psu ran me over 125 bucks.

tanka12345 · Feb 17, 2009, 08:47 AM

I agree with Dark. The numbers make the product seem good, while drawing attention away from the bad points. I think you should go for a brand name power supply (like the Enermax one I mentioned before) to power your rig. You could try your luck, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. Think of the money you could waste if your 4870 or 260 gets fried!

BlueMak · Feb 17, 2009, 12:04 PM

Save money now on the cheap PSU and you will pay for it later...

Neshi · Feb 17, 2009, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheAscension

Ok, Ok, Ok. Easy guys

I know I asked you for advice on this, but I want you to think outside the box for a second. MAYBE, just maybe, there could be a PSU out there that is not a name brand, and is not $100 that could power these types of high end cards fine.

It's not without a reason we're trying to dissuade you from buying a cheap PSU. With power supply's it's really a fact that you get what you pay for, and 25 bucks for a quality PSU isn't gonna happen.

lepel · Feb 17, 2009, 01:52 PM

After all, you don't want that PSU to fry your newly bought card, do you?

TheAscension · Feb 17, 2009, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Lord

...not to mention the lack of actual power ratings. im 99.9% positive thats being shown as peak load

Shouldn't the specs of all supplies be peak load? If the specs say 12v @ 20A, that would be max current draw (20A load) at 12 volts which would equal 240W maximum power draw on that rail. Should be the same for any PSU.

Well, thanks for the advice all. I don't think I'm going to buy anything now. I'm certainly not going to buy a 4830 and a new PSU then be dissatisfied with the 4830 soon. I need something (somewhat) future-proof because I'm not going to upgrade video cards for a long time. This is my one shot. That is why it's either a 4870 or a 4850x2, or nothing.

I don't have the money for one of those nice cards and a new "bad-ass" PSU.

Dark Lord · Feb 17, 2009, 07:56 PM

theres a difference between rated power, and peak power. peak just means that if it actually hits those numbers, its dangerously close to passing its limits of operations, or the unit nukes its self to actually pull those numbers for just a moment.

BlueMak · Feb 17, 2009, 08:30 PM

So what's the price difference between the 4870 and the 4870X2? Can't you use the difference to get a better PSU? No one said to buy a bad ass PSU, but to buy a $26 is just asking for trouble.

TheAscension · Feb 17, 2009, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueMak

So what's the price difference between the 4870 and the 4870X2? Can't you use the difference to get a better PSU? No one said to buy a bad ass PSU, but to buy a $26 is just asking for trouble.

The difference between the 4870 and 4850X2 (not a 4870X2) is $25. The thing is, maybe I didn't explain this correctly, I already own that PSU. It came with my case. I've been running my Phenom system with it for over 6 months.

BlueMak · Feb 17, 2009, 09:35 PM

I am sorry, but, although I don't know you, I can't possibly suggest you run ANY system with a $26 PSU. yes, it is possible that it will work fine and that the PSU will live for another 10 years, there is no way to know for sure though. It is possible that it will not be able to handle the new graphics card and just not power up, in which case you will have to either buy a new PSU or put back your old graphics card. The major problem is with the PSU failing and ruining all or part of your computer. Are you willing to risk this? If not, then find money for another PSU. If yes, from the bottom of my heart good luck.

OldBuzzard · Feb 18, 2009, 01:02 AM

I've linked to this video before, and I guess it's worth doing it again:

Welcome to Corsair :: Corsair Cinema

THAT is why you don't buy a cheap PSU.

There is no "industry standard' for PSU rating, so the makers/providers are free to use pretty much anything that they want. Some will rate theirs as peak power at 25c and others, like CORSAIR will rate theirs as maximun continious at 50c. There is a BIG difference between the two. 'peak power' is generally what it can reach just before it dies. ALso, the temperature is important as well, and as the temperature rises, the maximun power that a PSU will be capable of drops. I can't remember just how much, but for every 10c it's pretty substantial. Rating at 25c is a joke, as there are going to be very few, if any, PSUs that are going to be that cool internally, even outside the case.

Another thing that the higher quality PSUs give you is better energy efficency. They will cost you less to operate over a period of time, so their higher initial cost is somewhat offset in the long run.

Nobody here is trying to "bust your chops' over the PSU choice you made. We are just offering some advice (some of us from personal experience

) they just may keep you from destroying a new video card, and wasting your hard earned $$.

I can appreciate your "pushing the budget" comment as I'm on a fixed income (social security cause I'm an OLD FART). I have to save for awhile for most of my upgrades as well, and know how it is to lust for the latest and greatest component, but knowing that I can't get it "right now".

My personal advice is to use the money that you are wanting to spend on the new video card for a good PSU, and then start saving for a new card. I've been saving for a 4870 X2 myself, and am getting close, but I may still hold off, as I think that the 5xxx series are "just around the corner", and I'm betting that they will have DX11 support as well.

TheAscension · Feb 18, 2009, 01:11 AM

Thank you for the thoughts. I will consider them all. However, still nobody has told me what they think is the better card...

Anyone?

Mac Daddy · Feb 18, 2009, 01:29 AM

Looked around Bro and they are pretty darn close in performance. Having not used either of those cards here I really can't give you a definitive answer ...

BlueMak · Feb 18, 2009, 03:49 AM

I would go for the 4870.

Chaos · Feb 18, 2009, 04:14 AM

because the 4850X2 is not mainstream drivers may be an issue but in theory it should be slightly faster overall at high resolutions. If possible get the 2GB version of the 4850X2

Cow_160483 · Feb 18, 2009, 09:20 AM

i would suggest you go for the 4870 rather than the 4850 X2! and a 1GB version if you can.
Just to reiterate what every one has been saying get a better PSU (sorry if am beating a dead horse)

tanka12345 · Feb 18, 2009, 09:43 AM

I think the 4870 1GB is the best choice as it has a great price to performance ratio. You also will have a wide variety of 4870 manufacturers and pricing. The 4850X2 is an OK card, but the 4870 is easily better value for money. Correct me if I'm wrong, isn't Sapphire the only maker of the 4850X2 so far? If they are, you will have no choice,and no pricing options.

In conclusion: Get a 4870 1GB. This has been mentioned many times before: get a new PSU to power your new video card!!!! (I cannot stress this enough)

TheAscension · Feb 18, 2009, 07:32 PM

Cool, thanks for the replies. I was leaning more toward the 4870 anyway as it seems like a more efficient card (better performance with less power draw). As opposed to the X2 which seems like more of a "brute force" approach.

However, these benchmarks have me a bit concerned with it's performance:

ATI Radeon HD 4850 X2 vs. Nvidia GeForce GTX 280: Decisive Battle (page 10) - X-bit labs

Look at the 4870 1GB vs. the 4850X2

Feb 17, 2009, 01:24 AM	#1
TheAscension DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Milwaukie, OR Posts: 94 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	4870 1GB or 4850x2? I'm having trouble deciding between the two. They are pretty close in price, but the biggest concern is my PSU. I'm not sure if it will handle the X2. Mfg suggests a 650W and I only have a 585W. Will it really draw that much power? Is it really worth it to get the X2? The 4870 looks like an amazing card.

Feb 17, 2009, 02:10 AM	#2
Mousey Synth's Long Lost Bro Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Web Design Hell Posts: 7,156 Rep Power: 243 System Specs	Re: 4870 1GB or 4850x2? To be honest with you mate i wouldn't trust that power supply with either or those cards, just done a quick google search so might have the wrong PSU here. Looks like a grey box to me, i'd upgrade to one from a known brand first if i were you __________________

Feb 17, 2009, 02:24 AM	#3
BlueMak HH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 13,247 Rep Power: 326 System Specs	Re: 4870 1GB or 4850x2? Depends on the resolutions you will play your games at. If at 1280x1024 then the 4870 will be fine. As for the PSU, I don't know it or how good it might be. IF it is a good one then it should handle it just fine. IF... __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*

Feb 17, 2009, 03:06 AM	#6
BlueMak HH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 13,247 Rep Power: 326 System Specs	Re: 4870 1GB or 4850x2? It just depends on other factors too. When is the next upgrade/new pc going to take place? A year from now, 2, more? I think you would be ok with the 4870 for another 1.5 years if you want to play the latest and greatest games at that resolution at highest settings. As for the PSU, the PSU says it costs $24....ARE YOU KIDDING ME? You are placing hundrends and perhaps thousand $ of equipment on a $24 PSU? I am sorry, but this is just stupid. Get the 4870 and with the money you save get a GOOD PSU. __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*

Feb 17, 2009, 04:15 AM	#8
Chaos Number Nine Join Date: May 2002 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 5,269 Rep Power: 165 System Specs	Re: 4870 1GB or 4850x2? keep in mind a PSU is one of the most critical components of any "STABLE" upper mid range to high end gaming rig so if you skimp out there the rest of your expensive hardware will suffer For $100 @ NewEgg you could get a nice solid Corsair PSU like the one Grace reviewed http://www.hardwareheaven.com/reviews/Corsair_TX650W/ Last edited by Chaos; Feb 17, 2009 at 04:21 AM.

Feb 17, 2009, 04:32 AM	#9
anonemus 80 Plus Certified Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Philippines Posts: 989 Rep Power: 90 System Specs	Re: 4870 1GB or 4850x2? More than the wattage, also look at the 12V amper requirement of the videocard...

Feb 17, 2009, 04:48 AM	#10
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,990 Rep Power: 121 System Specs	Re: 4870 1GB or 4850x2? what anonemus said.... the amps of the PSU is important. however, the PSU is so cheap and doesnt get good reviews.... id just get a better one... also, id get the GTX 260 core 216 over the 4870 as its as fast to faster and the use of PhysX is excellent a single powerful GPU core is better than two individuals in nearly all situations currently __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Feb 17, 2009, 07:07 AM	#11
tanka12345 HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 441 Rep Power: 30 System Specs	Re: 4870 1GB or 4850x2? Firstly I'd go for the 4870 1GB as it looks like a solid performer at a reasonable price, and doesn't the 260 Core 216 cost more? I really think you should get a new PSU. I'd rather have a stable system by spending more on my PSU, than using my whole budget on a GFX Card which could fail (and possibly break) under an inadequate PSU. Maybe you could find a good PSU and buy a 4830 for gaming instead? EDIT: You can get a Powercolor HD 4830 for $100, and an Enermax Liberty 620W PSU for $135 at Newegg, which totals to around the same price as a 4870 1GB. __________________ My New Rig - Windows 7 RC Build 7100 Intel Core i7 920 OCed to 3.2GHz \| CoolerMaster V8 \| Patriot Viper 3x2GB DDR3-1333MHz \| MSI Eclipse X58 \| LG W2261V 22" 16:9 \| Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB \| MSI ATI 4870 1GB \| Enermax Revolution 85+ 1050W PSU \| CoolerMaster HAF 932 \| ASUS DRW-22B1LT Lightscribe \| Creative SB X-Fi Xtreme \| Logitech X-540 \| Razer Carcharias \| Razer Lachesis \| Razer Destructor/ Razer Goliathus Speed/ Fnatic SteelSeries Qck+ XL \| OCZ Alchemy Elixir Last edited by tanka12345; Feb 17, 2009 at 07:15 AM.

Feb 17, 2009, 08:31 AM	#13
Dark Lord HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 5,945 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	Re: 4870 1GB or 4850x2? i cant find a single good thing about that psu. from the few pictures ive seen of its internals, it looks like the cheapest piece of crap ive ever seen. not to mention the lack of actual power ratings. im 99.9% positive thats being shown as peak load, on a good day, being heavily refrigerated. and while being rubbed by 4 leaf clovers. its the same as the 2000w speakers at walmart for 19.99. its just numbers to make it look good. with power supplies, you get what you pay for. a good,quality 585w psu for 25 bucks? aint gonna happen. theres a reason my 550w psu ran me over 125 bucks. __________________

Feb 17, 2009, 08:47 AM	#14
tanka12345 HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 441 Rep Power: 30 System Specs	Re: 4870 1GB or 4850x2? I agree with Dark. The numbers make the product seem good, while drawing attention away from the bad points. I think you should go for a brand name power supply (like the Enermax one I mentioned before) to power your rig. You could try your luck, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. Think of the money you could waste if your 4870 or 260 gets fried! __________________ My New Rig - Windows 7 RC Build 7100 Intel Core i7 920 OCed to 3.2GHz \| CoolerMaster V8 \| Patriot Viper 3x2GB DDR3-1333MHz \| MSI Eclipse X58 \| LG W2261V 22" 16:9 \| Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB \| MSI ATI 4870 1GB \| Enermax Revolution 85+ 1050W PSU \| CoolerMaster HAF 932 \| ASUS DRW-22B1LT Lightscribe \| Creative SB X-Fi Xtreme \| Logitech X-540 \| Razer Carcharias \| Razer Lachesis \| Razer Destructor/ Razer Goliathus Speed/ Fnatic SteelSeries Qck+ XL \| OCZ Alchemy Elixir

Feb 17, 2009, 12:04 PM	#15
BlueMak HH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 13,247 Rep Power: 326 System Specs	Re: 4870 1GB or 4850x2? Save money now on the cheap PSU and you will pay for it later... __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*

Feb 17, 2009, 01:52 PM	#17
lepel HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Belgium Posts: 552 Rep Power: 39 System Specs	Re: 4870 1GB or 4850x2? After all, you don't want that PSU to fry your newly bought card, do you?

Feb 17, 2009, 07:56 PM	#19
Dark Lord HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 5,945 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	Re: 4870 1GB or 4850x2? theres a difference between rated power, and peak power. peak just means that if it actually hits those numbers, its dangerously close to passing its limits of operations, or the unit nukes its self to actually pull those numbers for just a moment. __________________

Feb 17, 2009, 08:30 PM	#20
BlueMak HH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 13,247 Rep Power: 326 System Specs	Re: 4870 1GB or 4850x2? So what's the price difference between the 4870 and the 4870X2? Can't you use the difference to get a better PSU? No one said to buy a bad ass PSU, but to buy a $26 is just asking for trouble. __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*

Feb 17, 2009, 09:35 PM	#22
BlueMak HH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 13,247 Rep Power: 326 System Specs	Re: 4870 1GB or 4850x2? I am sorry, but, although I don't know you, I can't possibly suggest you run ANY system with a $26 PSU. yes, it is possible that it will work fine and that the PSU will live for another 10 years, there is no way to know for sure though. It is possible that it will not be able to handle the new graphics card and just not power up, in which case you will have to either buy a new PSU or put back your old graphics card. The major problem is with the PSU failing and ruining all or part of your computer. Are you willing to risk this? If not, then find money for another PSU. If yes, from the bottom of my heart good luck. __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*

Feb 18, 2009, 01:02 AM	#23
OldBuzzard DH's oldest Geek Join Date: May 2003 Location: Oberlin, OH Posts: 2,781 Rep Power: 141 System Specs	Re: 4870 1GB or 4850x2? I've linked to this video before, and I guess it's worth doing it again: Welcome to Corsair :: Corsair Cinema THAT is why you don't buy a cheap PSU. There is no "industry standard' for PSU rating, so the makers/providers are free to use pretty much anything that they want. Some will rate theirs as peak power at 25c and others, like CORSAIR will rate theirs as maximun continious at 50c. There is a BIG difference between the two. 'peak power' is generally what it can reach just before it dies. ALso, the temperature is important as well, and as the temperature rises, the maximun power that a PSU will be capable of drops. I can't remember just how much, but for every 10c it's pretty substantial. Rating at 25c is a joke, as there are going to be very few, if any, PSUs that are going to be that cool internally, even outside the case. Another thing that the higher quality PSUs give you is better energy efficency. They will cost you less to operate over a period of time, so their higher initial cost is somewhat offset in the long run. Nobody here is trying to "bust your chops' over the PSU choice you made. We are just offering some advice (some of us from personal experience ) they just may keep you from destroying a new video card, and wasting your hard earned $$. I can appreciate your "pushing the budget" comment as I'm on a fixed income (social security cause I'm an OLD FART). I have to save for awhile for most of my upgrades as well, and know how it is to lust for the latest and greatest component, but knowing that I can't get it "right now". My personal advice is to use the money that you are wanting to spend on the new video card for a good PSU, and then start saving for a new card. I've been saving for a 4870 X2 myself, and am getting close, but I may still hold off, as I think that the 5xxx series are "just around the corner", and I'm betting that they will have DX11 support as well. __________________ When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY

Feb 18, 2009, 01:11 AM	Thread Starter #24
TheAscension DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Milwaukie, OR Posts: 94 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: 4870 1GB or 4850x2? Thank you for the thoughts. I will consider them all. However, still nobody has told me what they think is the better card... Anyone?

Feb 18, 2009, 01:29 AM	#25
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 78 System Specs	Re: 4870 1GB or 4850x2? Looked around Bro and they are pretty darn close in performance. Having not used either of those cards here I really can't give you a definitive answer ... __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Feb 18, 2009, 03:49 AM	#26
BlueMak HH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 13,247 Rep Power: 326 System Specs	Re: 4870 1GB or 4850x2? I would go for the 4870. __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*

Feb 18, 2009, 04:14 AM	#27
Chaos Number Nine Join Date: May 2002 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 5,269 Rep Power: 165 System Specs	Re: 4870 1GB or 4850x2? because the 4850X2 is not mainstream drivers may be an issue but in theory it should be slightly faster overall at high resolutions. If possible get the 2GB version of the 4850X2 Last edited by Chaos; Feb 18, 2009 at 04:28 AM.

Feb 18, 2009, 09:20 AM	#28
Cow_160483 HH's only cow moooooo... Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: BOTSWANA Posts: 6,687 Rep Power: 280 System Specs	Re: 4870 1GB or 4850x2? i would suggest you go for the 4870 rather than the 4850 X2! and a 1GB version if you can. Just to reiterate what every one has been saying get a better PSU (sorry if am beating a dead horse) __________________ Decode! Muhahahahah!

Feb 18, 2009, 09:43 AM	#29
tanka12345 HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 441 Rep Power: 30 System Specs	Re: 4870 1GB or 4850x2? I think the 4870 1GB is the best choice as it has a great price to performance ratio. You also will have a wide variety of 4870 manufacturers and pricing. The 4850X2 is an OK card, but the 4870 is easily better value for money. Correct me if I'm wrong, isn't Sapphire the only maker of the 4850X2 so far? If they are, you will have no choice,and no pricing options. In conclusion: Get a 4870 1GB. This has been mentioned many times before: get a new PSU to power your new video card!!!! (I cannot stress this enough) __________________ My New Rig - Windows 7 RC Build 7100 Intel Core i7 920 OCed to 3.2GHz \| CoolerMaster V8 \| Patriot Viper 3x2GB DDR3-1333MHz \| MSI Eclipse X58 \| LG W2261V 22" 16:9 \| Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB \| MSI ATI 4870 1GB \| Enermax Revolution 85+ 1050W PSU \| CoolerMaster HAF 932 \| ASUS DRW-22B1LT Lightscribe \| Creative SB X-Fi Xtreme \| Logitech X-540 \| Razer Carcharias \| Razer Lachesis \| Razer Destructor/ Razer Goliathus Speed/ Fnatic SteelSeries Qck+ XL \| OCZ Alchemy Elixir

Feb 18, 2009, 07:32 PM	Thread Starter #30
TheAscension DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Milwaukie, OR Posts: 94 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: 4870 1GB or 4850x2? Cool, thanks for the replies. I was leaning more toward the 4870 anyway as it seems like a more efficient card (better performance with less power draw). As opposed to the X2 which seems like more of a "brute force" approach. However, these benchmarks have me a bit concerned with it's performance: ATI Radeon HD 4850 X2 vs. Nvidia GeForce GTX 280: Decisive Battle (page 10) - X-bit labs Look at the 4870 1GB vs. the 4850X2