ATI Radeon 4890 and Nvidia GTX 275 Review @ DH

Zardon · Apr 2, 2009, 08:05 AM

Read The Review Here
______________________

For some time now ATI has been planning a refresh of their 4870 and today that product reaches us in the form of the Radeon 4890. The 4890 is now ATI’s fastest single GPU solution and many would think that Nvidia need a refresh of their top end card, the GTX 285, to compete with ATI. This is not the case though as Nvidia feel they have a great value competitor for the 4890 with their new GTX 275.

Today we will be putting a selection of 4890s up against the GTX 275 in the latest games at resolutions up to 2560x1600. We will also run each of the cards through a selection of GPU computing tasks as well as completing our test suite with some CrossFire tests and overclocking/thermal performance.

BlueMak · Apr 2, 2009, 09:01 AM

Good review.

I miss the days when graphics cards were almost always sold with a free game.
Kudos to XFX for continuing this.

The XFX seems to win this round. I like the 4890, but I doubt it will make owners of the 4870 want to upgrade to that. I wonder if there will be a 4890X2 soon.

lepel · Apr 2, 2009, 09:36 AM

Very nice and elaborate review. I really like the 275gtx, it looks like a solid performer (though I hope nVidia will resolve the issue with high temp).

It's also very nice to see XFX rapidly catching up and overcoming its competitors in the ATI market.

@Bluemak: I think it's only a matter of time before we'll see such a card.

Oh, and on a side note: I read a small typo on page 2: PCI=Express. Should that be PCI-Express? Otherwise perfect review.

***craig5320*** · Apr 2, 2009, 10:25 AM

Thanks Lepel. Fixed it.

Erroneus · Apr 2, 2009, 11:20 AM

Damn 4890 is one impressive card. Fast, cheap, good looking and a great clocker. *roOOaaaAArRRRR*

clanman · Apr 2, 2009, 11:29 AM

4890 is awesome. quite impressed with the 275 as well mind you.

Sapphire Oc'd 4890 is 901 core ! 1 more than XFX's

funny.

Mac Daddy · Apr 2, 2009, 12:45 PM

A great review as always Stu and the 4890 looks good I have been waiting for this review

The 4890 temps are really decent but a bit surprised on the GTX275 temps to be honest. Overall looking good on both genders of card and the NV card certainly is no slouch

Chaos · Apr 2, 2009, 03:26 PM

Nice review Stu for those wondering about North American pricing of the 4890 NewEgg.ca has several cards listed with an average price of $315 CAD or around $253 USD

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...on%20HD%204890

comp_ali · Apr 2, 2009, 07:51 PM

Good review guys, 2 hit with one

, thanx for the hard work.
Cuda seems very impressive especially vreveal software if it is like shown on the official site.

mike2h · Apr 2, 2009, 08:14 PM

great review guys. thx!! good to see that ati is getting crossfire dialed in.

Lelisevis · Apr 2, 2009, 08:27 PM

Great review but a few things i'd like to see mentioned. Firstly how did the voltage tweak affect temperatures on the asus card and I don't see any mention of cooling fan noise which normally gets a mention, is the 4890 the screamer i've heard rumours of?
Oh and why hasn't DH got a retail version GTX275 before release? That normally hints at cover up of an issue such as the temp issue mentioned in the review.

mike2h · Apr 2, 2009, 08:37 PM

cover up? if it has temp issues there is no way to cover that up. once peeps start reviewing it & buying it any temp problem will become imediatlely apparent.
good point on the fan noise, curious as to sound levels there myself.
will be intersting to see how a top binned retail 275 compares to same vers of 4890 once they r both rollin.

Lelisevis · Apr 2, 2009, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike2h

cover up? if it has temp issues there is no way to cover that up. once peeps start reviewing it & buying it any temp problem will become imediatlely apparent.
good point on the fan noise, curious as to sound levels there myself.
will be intersting to see how a top binned retail 275 compares to same vers of 4890 once they r both rollin.

I know what your saying Mike but Nvidia and ATI seemed to be in a race to get their product onto the market first, looking at the temps of that 275GTX in the DH review it's going to take more than a fan tweak to get that temperature down. Like i've mentioned elsewhere im sure these cards are just filler and that real development is being focused on the DX11 cards which should be ready for the launch ofwin7 (which could be within 6 months or so if rumours are to be believed).

mike2h · Apr 2, 2009, 08:56 PM

while your point is probably correct & i agree with it in general, it is just as likely(&more probable imo) that a bios adjsut &/or better qc in the manafcture of these cards - heatsinks not seated properly poor or improperly applied thermal compound, etc,- are more to blame than anything else.
we will know for sure within the next 2 weeks

***Veridian3*** · Apr 2, 2009, 09:39 PM

Regarding the 4890 fan, not much different in noise to the 4870 really. I think I would be hard pushed to tell which was which, its that close.

On the 275 temp issue, I personally don't think there will be a problem with reference cards... its the same core that's used on the 260/280/285 after all and none of those cards have problems.

Judas · Apr 2, 2009, 09:42 PM

yeah i'm not going to make a huge judgement on a 275 until there is more cards out there based on it to pick from and get a better overall picture of how it runs....

**kris23** · Apr 2, 2009, 10:42 PM

GTX 275 at newegg, sadly none are in stock.

HD 4890 neweggs got plenty to go around

DJ BIG T · Apr 3, 2009, 12:33 AM

good review what im liking is the price for the 4890 and the 275GTX... blue i miss them days to i remeber when i got my 6800 ultra it came with 3 games i wish they would bring those deals back...

Mac Daddy · Apr 3, 2009, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veridian3

On the 275 temp issue, I personally don't think there will be a problem with reference cards... its the same core that's used on the 260/280/285 after all and none of those cards have problems.

I didn't either but thanks for the feedback

Bolletje · Apr 3, 2009, 11:57 AM

The nice thing about all this that the prices will drop even more with the GTX 260 and HD4870 cards

For example here in Holland, the new HD4890 costs ~220 euro. A HD4870 is about ~160. That's a lot of money

The GTX 275 is ~235 euro while the GTX 260 (192 SP) is 150 and the GTX 260 55nm (216 SP) is like 175 euro.

So I would consider a GTX 260 or a HD4870 over the new cards considering the price

They aren't so bad at all...

Zardon · Apr 3, 2009, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bolletje

The nice thing about all this that the prices will drop even more with the GTX 260 and HD4870 cards

For example here in Holland, the new HD4890 costs ~220 euro. A HD4870 is about ~160. That's a lot of money

The GTX 275 is ~235 euro while the GTX 260 (192 SP) is 150 and the GTX 260 55nm (216 SP) is like 175 euro.

So I would consider a GTX 260 or a HD4870 over the new cards considering the price

They aren't so bad at all...

Yeah its always a good thing and there is absolutely nothing wrong with a 4870 or 260 either, very capable cards. The 260 GTX in particular has been one of my personal favourite cards in the last year.

Cow_160483 · Apr 3, 2009, 03:20 PM

Nice review as always

vicsrealms · Apr 5, 2009, 08:10 PM

Good review, I especially liked to see the GTAIV benchmark as that is probably one of the most graphics intensive games I play (or try too with my 8800GT). Although as stated, the game can be a little random with trafffic at times. Nice timing on ATI/nVidia coming out with these cards as I have started to do research on a new card since my 8800GT is showing its age on me. Right now its just trying to decide between the ATI 4890 (will be my first ATI card) and the GTX 260 Core 216. The jump in temperature during load on the GTX 275 was a little unnerving to make it of interest.

Apr 2, 2009, 08:05 AM	#1
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	ATI Radeon 4890 and Nvidia GTX 275 Review @ DH Read The Review Here ______________________ For some time now ATI has been planning a refresh of their 4870 and today that product reaches us in the form of the Radeon 4890. The 4890 is now ATI’s fastest single GPU solution and many would think that Nvidia need a refresh of their top end card, the GTX 285, to compete with ATI. This is not the case though as Nvidia feel they have a great value competitor for the 4890 with their new GTX 275. Today we will be putting a selection of 4890s up against the GTX 275 in the latest games at resolutions up to 2560x1600. We will also run each of the cards through a selection of GPU computing tasks as well as completing our test suite with some CrossFire tests and overclocking/thermal performance.

Apr 2, 2009, 09:01 AM	#2
BlueMak HH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 13,464 Rep Power: 349 System Specs	Re: ATI Radeon 4890 and Nvidia GTX 275 Review @ DH Good review. I miss the days when graphics cards were almost always sold with a free game. Kudos to XFX for continuing this. The XFX seems to win this round. I like the 4890, but I doubt it will make owners of the 4870 want to upgrade to that. I wonder if there will be a 4890X2 soon. __________________ 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.*

Apr 2, 2009, 09:36 AM	#3
lepel HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Belgium Posts: 552 Rep Power: 41 System Specs	Re: ATI Radeon 4890 and Nvidia GTX 275 Review @ DH Very nice and elaborate review. I really like the 275gtx, it looks like a solid performer (though I hope nVidia will resolve the issue with high temp). It's also very nice to see XFX rapidly catching up and overcoming its competitors in the ATI market. @Bluemak: I think it's only a matter of time before we'll see such a card. Oh, and on a side note: I read a small typo on page 2: PCI=Express. Should that be PCI-Express? Otherwise perfect review.

Apr 2, 2009, 10:25 AM	#4
*craig5320* HH Administrator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 8,565 Rep Power: 445 System Specs	Re: ATI Radeon 4890 and Nvidia GTX 275 Review @ DH Thanks Lepel. Fixed it. __________________ HardwareHeaven on Facebook

Apr 2, 2009, 11:20 AM	#5
Erroneus Get off my lawn! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Denmark Posts: 13,417 Rep Power: 119 System Specs	Re: ATI Radeon 4890 and Nvidia GTX 275 Review @ DH Damn 4890 is one impressive card. Fast, cheap, good looking and a great clocker. roOOaaaAArRRRR __________________

Apr 2, 2009, 11:29 AM	#6
clanman DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 152 Rep Power: 33	Re: ATI Radeon 4890 and Nvidia GTX 275 Review @ DH 4890 is awesome. quite impressed with the 275 as well mind you. Sapphire Oc'd 4890 is 901 core ! 1 more than XFX's funny.

Apr 2, 2009, 12:45 PM	#7
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 79 System Specs	Re: ATI Radeon 4890 and Nvidia GTX 275 Review @ DH A great review as always Stu and the 4890 looks good I have been waiting for this review The 4890 temps are really decent but a bit surprised on the GTX275 temps to be honest. Overall looking good on both genders of card and the NV card certainly is no slouch __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Apr 2, 2009, 03:26 PM	#8
Chaos Number Nine Join Date: May 2002 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 5,268 Rep Power: 167 System Specs	Re: ATI Radeon 4890 and Nvidia GTX 275 Review @ DH Nice review Stu for those wondering about North American pricing of the 4890 NewEgg.ca has several cards listed with an average price of $315 CAD or around $253 USD http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...on%20HD%204890

Apr 2, 2009, 07:51 PM	#9
comp_ali Sniper Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Egypt Posts: 10,469 Rep Power: 339 System Specs	Re: ATI Radeon 4890 and Nvidia GTX 275 Review @ DH Good review guys, 2 hit with one , thanx for the hard work. Cuda seems very impressive especially vreveal software if it is like shown on the official site. __________________

Apr 2, 2009, 08:14 PM	#10
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	Re: ATI Radeon 4890 and Nvidia GTX 275 Review @ DH great review guys. thx!! good to see that ati is getting crossfire dialed in. __________________

Apr 2, 2009, 08:27 PM	#11
Lelisevis Howlin at the moon Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,663 Rep Power: 0	Re: ATI Radeon 4890 and Nvidia GTX 275 Review @ DH Great review but a few things i'd like to see mentioned. Firstly how did the voltage tweak affect temperatures on the asus card and I don't see any mention of cooling fan noise which normally gets a mention, is the 4890 the screamer i've heard rumours of? Oh and why hasn't DH got a retail version GTX275 before release? That normally hints at cover up of an issue such as the temp issue mentioned in the review.

Apr 2, 2009, 08:37 PM	#12
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	Re: ATI Radeon 4890 and Nvidia GTX 275 Review @ DH cover up? if it has temp issues there is no way to cover that up. once peeps start reviewing it & buying it any temp problem will become imediatlely apparent. good point on the fan noise, curious as to sound levels there myself. will be intersting to see how a top binned retail 275 compares to same vers of 4890 once they r both rollin. __________________

Apr 2, 2009, 08:56 PM	#14
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	Re: ATI Radeon 4890 and Nvidia GTX 275 Review @ DH while your point is probably correct & i agree with it in general, it is just as likely(&more probable imo) that a bios adjsut &/or better qc in the manafcture of these cards - heatsinks not seated properly poor or improperly applied thermal compound, etc,- are more to blame than anything else. we will know for sure within the next 2 weeks __________________

Apr 2, 2009, 09:39 PM	#15
*Veridian3* Administrator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cloaked Posts: 5,026 Rep Power: 181	Re: ATI Radeon 4890 and Nvidia GTX 275 Review @ DH Regarding the 4890 fan, not much different in noise to the 4870 really. I think I would be hard pushed to tell which was which, its that close. On the 275 temp issue, I personally don't think there will be a problem with reference cards... its the same core that's used on the 260/280/285 after all and none of those cards have problems.

Apr 2, 2009, 10:42 PM	#17
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,017 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	Re: ATI Radeon 4890 and Nvidia GTX 275 Review @ DH GTX 275 at newegg, sadly none are in stock. HD 4890 neweggs got plenty to go around __________________ 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!

Apr 3, 2009, 12:33 AM	#18
DJ BIG T DH FaN BoY Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: ORLANDO,FL Posts: 930 Rep Power: 69 System Specs	Re: ATI Radeon 4890 and Nvidia GTX 275 Review @ DH good review what im liking is the price for the 4890 and the 275GTX... blue i miss them days to i remeber when i got my 6800 ultra it came with 3 games i wish they would bring those deals back... __________________

Apr 3, 2009, 11:57 AM	#20
Bolletje HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,224 Rep Power: 79 System Specs	Re: ATI Radeon 4890 and Nvidia GTX 275 Review @ DH The nice thing about all this that the prices will drop even more with the GTX 260 and HD4870 cards For example here in Holland, the new HD4890 costs ~220 euro. A HD4870 is about ~160. That's a lot of money The GTX 275 is ~235 euro while the GTX 260 (192 SP) is 150 and the GTX 260 55nm (216 SP) is like 175 euro. So I would consider a GTX 260 or a HD4870 over the new cards considering the price They aren't so bad at all...

Apr 3, 2009, 03:20 PM	#22
Cow_160483 HH's only cow moooooo... Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: BOTSWANA Posts: 6,813 Rep Power: 299 System Specs	Re: ATI Radeon 4890 and Nvidia GTX 275 Review @ DH Nice review as always __________________ Decode! Muhahahahah!

Apr 5, 2009, 08:10 PM	#23
vicsrealms DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Texas, US Posts: 58 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: ATI Radeon 4890 and Nvidia GTX 275 Review @ DH Good review, I especially liked to see the GTAIV benchmark as that is probably one of the most graphics intensive games I play (or try too with my 8800GT). Although as stated, the game can be a little random with trafffic at times. Nice timing on ATI/nVidia coming out with these cards as I have started to do research on a new card since my 8800GT is showing its age on me. Right now its just trying to decide between the ATI 4890 (will be my first ATI card) and the GTX 260 Core 216. The jump in temperature during load on the GTX 275 was a little unnerving to make it of interest.