Printable View
With a budget of about £200ish, which 4870 would be the one to get? More specifically, would it be preferable to get a 1GB card with a 3.6GHz mem clock or a 512MB card with a 4GHz mem clock?
I’m not likely to start overclocking after I get it, stock will do fine, but wondered if the rather large clock speed advantage of a 512MB card would outweigh the relative benefits of 1GB – the intended use is 1920x1200.
I'd just get the new GTX260, available on Ebuyer for £215, 896Mb RAM and faster than the 4870 (any version).
If you are going to insist on the 4870 wouldn't get either, just get the cheapest 512Mb version you can find, should be about £180.
Ta. An extra 512MB isn’t worth £20-£30 then?
I’m staying away from anything nVidia – had nothing but trouble with the cards I’ve had in the past. I do realise every company can and does produce bad eggs but I seem to have had more luck with ATI.
I would wait a bit longer until the new Nvidia cards come out in the next few weeks. The extra competition will probably cause price reductions in both Nvidia and ATI cards.
Oh you can also get a 1GB 4870 from Novatech for £190 you will find the 512MB version for ~£175 if you play at 1920*1200 the extra memory will be useful if you play at anything less then save yourself a bit of money and go with the 512MB card.
Cheers guys. I like the theory of waiting for a price war but, as daft as it sounds, I don't mind losing out [a little] financially as if I keep waiting, I could still be in this position next year! :)
It's to chuck pixels at a 24" TFT so, wherever possible, I'll be using 1920x1200.
I understand, I dont think you will lose that much if a price war does occur, maybe £20, £30 or so. Anyhow I would go for the 1gb ati 4870 or possibly gtx 260, both very very similar in performance.Quote:
Originally Posted by bandsaw
The HD4870 1gb will also have a better resale price than the 512mb version IMHO.
The extra memory in the 1GB only really kicks in at high resolutions, so unless you game at 1920x1200, the 512MB should be enough, but the 1GB would provide that extra boost.
At 1920x1200 go for a cheap 1gb one handy clicky
although for £160 the novatech card with aftermarket cooling is very tempting http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s....html?NOV-4870
Looks like 1GB it is, then. Cheers.
Everyone's forgetting when suggesting the 512MB one that games in future will need more memory.
1920x1200 may be fine with 512MB now but later this year I bet that 512MB won't be enough.
I think you're right going for the 1GB. The 10% difference in memory speed will only ever be noticed in benchmarks whilst going from 512MB to 1GB will be the difference between 10 FPS and 100 FPS on a game that in some areas needs more than 512MB.
Yes, that'll only be tiny parts of a small number of games, but believe me, when it happens you always wish you had gone for more memory.
This advice only relates to powerful cards like the 4870/GTX 260 etc. Smaller cards don;t have the processing power to use that kind of memory properly anyway as you need to turn the details down to make those kind of games playable.
I have an EVGA 8800 GTS Superclocked 320 MB.
All of the reviews put it as faster than a standard GTS 640 at 1680x1050 when I bought it. The only problem being that with everything up at max in the Expansion pack for fear and some other games, in some large areas it was unplayable.
Ive seen a sapphire 512mb for 159inc VAT + P&P and the 1GB variant for 169inc VAT + P&P.
It'd be foolish to not get the 1gb version (or would it?!), even if you dont play in resolutions above 1680/1920 - purely for the future as badass stated.
If you don't mind me asking, where might I find a 1GB beastie for £170?
I was thinking of a Sapphire 1GB job (this one) from Scan but this one is nearly £220... it's not that the £220 is putting me off, but if I can get my hands on pretty much the same thing for £170, that puts a whole different spin on things! :)
And don't say I never give you people presents :D
1GB £170 + P&P ~£10 :(
http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/1637...-gb-gddr5.html
512MB £160 Delivered :)
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s....html?NOV-4870
Nice prices!Quote:
Originally Posted by Webby