Hmm, I have a Q8200 + 4GB of RAM ... and while I know I will be getting better performance from a 5850, do you think it's worth upgrading from a 4850 512MB? I don't plan on heading the i7 road until next year so ...
512MB is not much if you play graphics intensive games. If the 512MB video memory fills up with textures and other graphics data and it runs out of memory then it needs to "borrow" from system memory (i.e. your conventional RAM). That causes a significant performance penalty. If you have games that are pushing that limit (and a lot of the latest and greatest do with high quality settings (no matter your resolution)) then upgrading to a 1GB card will improve performance. So, I think your games will get a boost from the 5850 and they will get an extra boost once you upgrade the CPU.
I was testing the performance of the three AA modes of the 5850 using the Far Cry 2 benchmark. It turns out there is no significant difference in performance when using "Multi-sample AA" and "Adaptive Multi-sample AA". Obviously performance does take a hit when you use "Super-sample AA". Settings: Demo(Ranch Long), 1600x1200 (60Hz), D3D9, Fixed Time Step(No), Disable Artificial Intelligence(No), Full Screen, Anti-Aliasing(4x), VSync(No), Overall Quality(Custom), Vegetation(Very High), Shading(Ultra High), Terrain(Ultra High), Geometry(Ultra High), Post FX(High), Texture(Ultra High), Shadow(Very High), Ambient(High), Hdr(Yes), Bloom(Yes), Fire(High), Physics(High), RealTrees(High) Range Long (average of 3 runs - "Super-sample AA"): Average Framerate: 45.15 Max. Framerate: 79.66 Min. Framerate: 19.92 Range Long (average of 3 runs - "Adaptive Multi-sample AA"): Average Framerate: 58.23 Max. Framerate: 106.65 Min. Framerate: 25.79 Range Long (average of 3 runs - "Multi-sample AA"): Average Framerate: 58.58 Max. Framerate: 107.36 Min. Framerate: 26.35 Compare this with the same benchmark settings of my 4870X2 in the same machine. Range Long (average of 3 runs - 4870X2 "Quality setting"): Average Framerate: 70,84 Max. Framerate: 160,14 Min. Framerate: 37,15 No doubt a 5850 in Crossfire will improve that. And here is something strange... I thought that the screen tearing I saw in that benchmark was caused by the Crossfire of my 4870X2. It didn't happen often, though. It was rare. If so then this should be called micro-stuttering (you cannot tell the difference between that and screen tearing). It turns out that a single 5850 has the same issue. I checked it on a 4890 and it happens with that one too. Again it doesn't happen frequently. It seems to be related to AA. It makes sense, because it takes some time for the GPU to apply the AA for a single frame. If it takes longer than the refresh rate then screen tearing occurs. It makes sense, but it got me confused and I thought it was the Crossfire that caused it. Turns out out I was wrong. The screen tearing occurs more frequently with "Super-sample AA". In other modes it is (like I said) rare.
I'm trying to see what Sapphire's policy is for overclocking the 5850...can't say that they aren't that bad about how far you take it, but don't want to take any chances if their warranty is really that easy to void in the process.
This is my max core @ stock V-GPU in vantage: Tomorrow I'll be checking out how much volts I need for 1GHz
eat this CPU: Q6600@3,33Ghz Risen 2048*1152 , all max 725/1000 45fps 775/1125 48fps 850/1175 52fps 900/1175 54fps 950/1175 56fps 1000/1175 59fps ___________________ 3DMark Vantage GPU Score 725/1000 (stock) 13175 850/1200 14970 900/1200 15589 950/1200 16102 1000/1200 16490 __________________________ Crysis 2048*1152 8*aa , very high idle 157/300 122w 725/1000 1,088v 29fps 270w 775/1125 1,088(ccc max) 31-32fps 280w 820/1200 1,088 33-34fps 285w 850/1220 1,1 34fps 294w 900/1220 1,2v 35fps 325w 950/1220 1,2v 36fps 330w 1000/1220 1,3v 37fps 370w _______________ FarCry2 2048*1152,DX10,all max 8*aa 725/1000 Average Framerate: 44,68 Max. Framerate: 72,00 Min. Framerate: 27,68 850/1175 Average Framerate: 51,04 Max. Framerate: 92,66 Min. Framerate: 32,06 ______________________ NFS Shift 2048*1152 ,all max , 8*aa 725/1000 77fps 850/1175 83fps 1000/1175 88fps ______________________________________________ Call of Juarez 2 2048*1152 , all max 725/1000 134fps 850/1175 155fps 1000/1175 168fps ____________________________ L4D 2048*1152 ,all max , 8*aa ,16*af 725/1000 150fps 850/1175 170fps _________________________________ Trackmania Nations Forever 2048*1152 , all max , 8*aa 725/1000 56fps 850/1175 62fps 1000/1175 65fps __________________________________ RaceDriver Grid 2048*1152 , all max , 8*aa 725/1000 118fps 850/1175 136fps 1000/1175 149fps ________________________ Resident Evil 5 2048*1152 DX10, all max , 8*aa 725/1000 82fps 850/1175 92fps 1000/1175 100fps __________________________________ BattleForge 2048*1152 , all max , 8*aa 725/1000 27,4fps 800/1175 30,9fps 950/1175 33,4fps _______________________ Anno 1404 2048*1152 , all max , 8*aa 725/1000 34fps 850/1175 40fps 1000/1175 45fps _______________________ Stalker 2048*1152 , all max , 8*aa 725/1000 66fps 850/1175 77fps 1000/1175 85fps
Thanks for the info MadGizmo. And yeah, since I do run at a higher resolution, I'm guessing the extra VRAM will make everything buttery smooth.
Well put... Much the reason why I did what I did...upgrading from an old Phenom I 9550 to a Phenom II 955 BE and getting a Sapphire 5850 was an easy choice over just upgrading to a 5870. I mean, both upgrade solutions just about break even pricewise, from what I understand. However, seeing as tho I'm recycling my old AM2+ M3N78 PRO, that has me concerned if sticking with a DDR2-based motherboard will cut down on performance, as opposed to going to a DDR3/AM3 motherboard using that same setup.
I would post all my benches I worked on and stats here as well Kylzer if I'm not excluded as I have a 5870 unless you guys have already seen them.. Make just a link then. near the bottom of this page. 5870 only though.. they are pretty close in performance i think. Glen,Kylzer and chispy had an amazing run in 3dmark vantage. http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=305813&page=11
Asus 5850 is on its way. Should have it by the end of the week. I'm hoping I have better luck with that card than I did my MSI 5850. That one ended up being defective.
I wish you luck since I'm in same god damn roller coaster. Although I know ASUS will rule. Seeing the benchmarks etc etc gonna be one hell of an OC experience/ment c1: :biggun: