Guru3d: Radeon HD 4850 2 GB GDDR3 review

[richardginn]

http://guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-...gddr3-review/1

I do not think we had a post up for a review of this video card.

It actually beat a 512 meg card a couple of times.

[PointlesS]

if you crossfire these and run 32-bit windows then what happens to your available memory?

[stang10001]

u get f'd

[Frraksurred]

This would have been a decent idea on a factory OC'ed 4870 (that could take advantage of the crazy AA this size buffer would enable), but it seems kind of a waste on the 4850... especially since they had to lower the clock speed to utilize it.

It is too bad they cannot figure out a way for Windows to recognize the memory buffer of both cards in a Crossfire / SLI setup. Then the 2g on the "X2" models would be perfect.

[Nater]

That amount of frame buffer seems like a complete waste on a card that really doesn't have the horsepower for high-resolutions. I honestly can't see that the king of the hill R700 card will really use all of it's 2x1GB frame buffer. It might make some sense there however, since I believe that all textures must be stored in the memory of both GPUs since there is little in the way of communication between the two chips.

[Reign]

it has no effect whatsoever. The differences are so small that would you get them by doing the test twice with the same card.

[Kero-chan]

if you crossfire these and run 32-bit windows then what happens to your available memory?

full protonic reversal.

[Reign]

full protonic reversal.

haha, and then your avatar with the ghost busters :P that's classic

[anubis44]

full protonic reversal.

Or a complete inversion of the time/space continuum. One or the other.

Seriously though, the reduction of memory speed is terribly unacceptable on this PowerColor card. The main thing that really separates the 4850 from the 4870 is memory bandwidth (yes, and a bit higher core speed on the 4870, but really, the R770 is much more memory bandwidth starved than anything else). If you threw, say 1Gb of 2500MHz-3000MHz (effective) DDR3 onto an overclocked 4850 card, THEN you'd have something worth paying a little more money for, and would close the gap somewhat more on the 4870.

[iamsostupid]

3000mhz gddr3? puff puff pass, man.

[James]

Maybe he meant GDDR5?

[anubis44]

3000mhz gddr3? puff puff pass, man.

No, I did mean GDDR3. I know it doesn't currently exist, and I was speaking hypothetically. I was positing a custom or O/C'd version of the 4850 that WOULD make sense to pay a little extra for.

If you pair GDDR5 with an RV770 chip, you're just making a 4870 card.

[iamsostupid]

so, GDDR3 is going to experience a 50% jolt in performance even though it's technically at its manufacturing limits? or this is your "dream 4850 card" that will end up costing more than a 4870 X2 to manufacture...

[anubis44]

so, GDDR3 is going to experience a 50% jolt in performance even though it's technically at its manufacturing limits? or this is your "dream 4850 card" that will end up costing more than a 4870 X2 to manufacture...

Your title notwithstanding, it would be nice if you'd stop acting like an a$$ yourself (since you seem to be enamoured with donkeys) and lurking in every thread on this forum just looking for an opportunity to mindlessly attack me. If you're angling for the title of 'MegaTroll', you've certainly got my vote already. In fact, you're beginning to temp me into forging several fake IDs so I can vote several times over for you for this position.

In case you don't know what the word 'hypothetical' means, here's a definition:
"hy·po·thet·i·cal haɪpəˈθɛtɪkəl/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[hahy-puh-thet-i-kuhl]

–adjective

1. assumed by hypothesis; supposed: a hypothetical case.
2. of, pertaining to, involving, or characterized by hypothesis: hypothetical reasoning.
3. given to making hypotheses.
4. Logic. a. (of a proposition) highly conjectural; not well supported by available evidence.
b. (of a proposition or syllogism) conditional.

–noun 5. a hypothetical situation, instance, etc.: The Secretary of Defense refused to discuss hypotheticals with the reporters.

Also, hy·po·thet·ic (for defs. 1–4).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Origin: 1580–90; < Gk hypothetik(&#243;s) supposed (hypo- hypo- + the- put (base of tith&#233;nai to put, do1) + -tikos -tic) + -al1]


So my point wasn't that GDDR3 exists at 2500-3000MHz, or even that it ever will. Rather, I was pointing out that even 2Gb of ram clocked at 1800MHz will hurt the performance of that card so much that I don't think it's worthwhile. If you don't like me saying this, well, nobody asked you anyhow. The other point I'm making is that 2500MHz-WORTH of DDR3 speed is the KIND of speed improvement I'd like to see if I were to spend extra money on a 4850 card. Unless, of course, there's a way to use some other type of ram to get equivalent or better throughput without resorting to GDDR5, like the 4870 has. Have I spelled it out simply enough for you to comprehend now?

If you haven't got anything better to do than to hound my every post on the Sharky Forums, that's pretty sad. Judging by your ~4,500 posts, it would appear I may be correct. Some people have a little bit TOO much time on their hands, and it tends to drive them kinda stark raving mad. I'm all for enthusiastic participation, but... unless you're a moderator on here, there's a limit, man.

[iamsostupid]

you said it would make sense to pay for it. didn't know what you meant.