Sapphire HD4850x2 vs. BFG gtx 260 OCX MAXCORE

[gsymeoni]

thanks for the additional replies you've given me a new look of things now! @ sykozis: not worrying about bottlenecking, im completely overhauling my system, adding an i7, new mb etc. soon!

so anyway, from what i understand, a 260 is a better choice becuase of more reliable and consistent drivers and less chances for problems happening since it is 1 gpu? (opposed to 2)

even so, is the performance margin between the 2 cards (comparison with the specific 260 mode in mind) big enough to compensate for those issues?

[sykozis]

Performance wise, an HD4850X2 is the faster card....but that depends on the driver actually working properly so that 1 GPU isn't disabled. As far as the drivers being reliable...I run a single HD4850 and I've had no driver issues at all. Driver issues only really seem to appear for those hell-bent on "tweaking" their systems and using software like driversweeper when updating ATI drivers.

[goodald]

let your games choose your card..

whatever games you will be playing, check their support forums and see what 'issues' people are having.

You may find that your favorite game has lots of nvidia or ati users complaining about performance or sli/crossfire issues.

[gsymeoni]

recently, i have found a bfg gtx 280 oc2 (OC'd version) to be 190eu compared to the HD4850x2 and the gtx260 which which are both around 260eu!! thats around 70eu less!! it is also a much better candidate up against the HD4850x2 than the gtx 260, and now i have completely no idea on what im going to buy

should i go for the HD4850x2? it is after all the "gtx 280 killer"

also a question: if a game doesnt support CF do i play it with the power of one hd4850?

[kapu]

HD4850X2 is faster, and better AA performace.

[gsymeoni]

sure, i understand that, but since i found the gtx 280 much cheaper, its becoming more and more logical to opt for it instead of the HD4850x2. also, does the HD4850x2 have an integrated physics api? or will have the ability through some kind of driver update?

[LedHed]

Putting a GTX 280 with a P4 is so ass backwards, why put a $300 GPU on a $150 CPU/RAM/Mobo? Invest in at least a cheap C2D/DDR2/Mobo (easily under $300) and then look at a new GPU.

[cr1515]

Personally, If I had to do it again I'd have bought a 280 over a 4870x2. My Ati's been more stable than the 9800gtx it replaced (nv used to give me some bluescreens) but the performance and driver support for multi gpu cards is hit or miss. I don't feel that I'm getting $500's worth.

I'd go with the 260 and keep it simple.

Same feelings mate. My next upgrade will definitely be nvidia and when dx 11 crops up

[kapu]

I Wouldnt treat PhysX as something valuable ... imo its just not, same as DX 10.1

[Krazy Fox]

Originally Posted by gsymeoni

which card is the best at a quite low resolution say, 1280x1024? having in mind that every setting will be maxed out and full AA etc.. or is the resolution too low for a lot of gpu ram to be required? (2gb!) generally, the only things in the hd4850x2 holding me back from the gtx 260 are:

1.) the 2gb of RAM (too much or actually needed?)
2.) 2 x 800 stream processors (compared to 216 in the gtx 260, huge difference in numbers! do they matter in terms of visible performance?)
3.) dx10.1 (more "futureproof"?)

tell me what you think. are these trivial factors to be taken into consideration when deciding between the 2? or what? and please dont tell me that they are a waste of money for the resolution im aiming at ;p ive only got a choice in getting one of those two as a present :0 my questions also apply for other resolutions others might be interested in ;p

link for gtx 260: http://www.bfgtech.com/bfgrgtx260mc896ocxe.aspx
link for hd4850x2:http://www.sapphiretech.com/ce/produ...gpid=265&grp=3 (check the specs on the side bar)

My rig was built May 2008.
I have 2- HD3870's in CrossfireX. Yes! Encountered both ATI Catalyst and Driver problems depending on version they release.
It's messed up and been mad about using one Catalyst version while having to roll back my driver.

I would not buy the HD4850's (not as good as 4870)or 4870's because of heat dissappation issues.
Also alot of complaints on the VISTA 64-bit OS front too using 4870's.
I have Vista Ultimate x86 (32bit) but they, 3870's run alright.

I think, my opinion, would of bought a single GTX-280.
But with the Gigabyte GA-X48T-DQ6 mobo only supports Crossfire.
Wished I waited for the X58 mobo's.

If you seriously have the money and with the i7's why not go for the
Nvidia GTX 295.

As for venders BFG and Visiontek they hadn't in the past worked out as I expected but Sapphire has done well with the ATI brand.

[gsymeoni]

led hed, as i stated before i will be getting an i7 setup soon ;p anyways, im starting to think about getting a 280 and then go sli with another one in future once games star getting more demanding (it will also be cheaper by then) since sli is supported with many x58 setups not requiring an nvidia board (or am i wrong?). then again, i could probably do the same with the 4850x2, and have 4 of those cards instead of two 280s (performance of 2xhd4850x2 vs 280 sli?)

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Krazy Fox

My rig was built May 2008.
I have 2- HD3870's in CrossfireX. Yes! Encountered both ATI Catalyst and Driver problems depending on version they release.
It's messed up and been mad about using one Catalyst version while having to roll back my driver.

I would not buy the HD4850's (not as good as 4870)or 4870's because of heat dissappation issues.
Also alot of complaints on the VISTA 64-bit OS front too using 4870's.
I have Vista Ultimate x86 (32bit) but they, 3870's run alright.

I think, my opinion, would of bought a single GTX-280.
But with the Gigabyte GA-X48T-DQ6 mobo only supports Crossfire.
Wished I waited for the X58 mobo's.

If you seriously have the money and with the i7's why not go for the
Nvidia GTX 295.

As for venders BFG and Visiontek they hadn't in the past worked out as I expected but Sapphire has done well with the ATI brand.

hes already said his wallet isnt sli-friendly now, and two people have said why use a high end card with a p4.. why dont people read the thread theyre posting in?

[Iarwain]

Originally Posted by gsymeoni

sure, i understand that, but since i found the gtx 280 much cheaper, its becoming more and more logical to opt for it instead of the HD4850x2. also, does the HD4850x2 have an integrated physics api? or will have the ability through some kind of driver update?

Physics API means nothing. So few games use it, and it only adds a little eye candy, which is mostly not noticeable above regular game physics. Go watch some video comparisons.

4850x2 mops the floor with the GTX 260, and beats the GTX 280. You can go along with these people who claim that crossfire has all these weird driver issues but I can tell you it is simply not true. Crossfire really has no more issues than a single card, anyone telling you differently doesn't have a crossfire or SLI platform. I have a crossfire setup, one you would assume would be extremely problematic (3870+3850) and I can fire up any new game, Far Cry 2, Left 4 Dead, and max the settings out. The reason crossfire gets a bad rap is people who buy the dual cards, install them, and treat them like they're single cards. If there's an issue, they automatically blame the drivers, always, when more than likely, it is an issue on their system. The only crossfire problem I have -ever- had, was Crysis, which is notoriously Nvidia biased.

If you can really find the GTX 280 at that price, I definitely recommend it, but if you can find the 4850x2 for around the same, I definitely recommend that.

[twtaylor]

Originally Posted by gsymeoni

what if im gaming at 1280x1024?

If you only plan on gaming at 12x10 why waste your money on either of those cards? You could get a single 4850 and max it out at that rez or even a 4830 for that matter if ATI is the way you want to go. Either a 9800GT or 9600GT would fit the bill on the nVidia side. Both the 4850x2 and the GTX260 Maxcore are suited for higher resolutions when maxed out.

[alphaphotek]

Originally Posted by twtaylor

If you only plan on gaming at 12x10 why waste your money on either of those cards? You could get a single 4850 and max it out at that rez or even a 4830 for that matter if ATI is the way you want to go. Either a 9800GT or 9600GT would fit the bill on the nVidia side. Both the 4850x2 and the GTX260 Maxcore are suited for higher resolutions when maxed out.

I am all with this guy. For that resolution I would not waste money on a x2 or a gtx.

[macdaddy]

just get the nvidia one. Too many issues with CF.