HD4870 - overclocked or 1GB?

[gdawg304]

Hi All,

I can't seem to find a discussion of this so thought I'd stick my oar in...

Powercolor have released details of two new HD4870 models. One, the PCS+ has 800MHz Core, Oc'd memory and a zerotherm cooler rated to run cooler and quieter than stock - I'm all for cards that come with a custom cooler! The second is a standard clocked, standard cooled card, with 1GB of DDR5.

Both are listed on Overclockers.co.uk but not yet in stock - haven't seen them listed anywhere else.

Asus are also releasing the EAH4870 TOP, clocked at 815MHz - but looks like a stock cooler.

So I'm curious as to the opinions of the experts - what's better, pre OC'd faster clock speeds, or the extra 512MB of memory?

I have to say my preference leans towards the PCS+ with 512MB and the aftermarket cooler - if only they did a 1GB with faster clocks and a better cooler! (OK I know I could just buy a 3rd party cooler, but I had enough fun with my CPU HSF and I've heard GPU coolers are trickier to fit...)

Also, I wish ATI would take a leaf out of nvidia's book on the understated black housing for their cards instead of bright red....

 

[haofeng]

well you could always o/c the 1gb model yourself, but obviously you'd be voiding the warranty and there would also be serious overheating problems.

 

[Xiler]

buy the 1gb versions + accelero S1 & a 120mm fan, then o/c it.

The S1 is really easy to fit, just take off the stock cooler, put some heat sinks on the mem, then screw 4 screw into the S1 around the gpu.

If u dont wana to o/c or deal with a 3rd party cooler, i would go for the pre-overclocked version unless you game at a really high res.

 

[Babylon5]

Hey Xiler, when you say "accelero S1 & a 120mm fan", do you mean the fan should connect onto the accelero S1? what are recommendations for the fan generally

 

[Xiler]

Hey Xiler, when you say "accelero S1 & a 120mm fan", do you mean the fan should connect onto the accelero S1? what are recommendations for the fan generally

you have to mount the fan onto of the S1 using cable ties or something else. Any fan with good air flow will do and if you want get a quiet one too. If you really want cooling you can use 2 fans but i found one to be enough.

Temps on my 4850 are at 31C idle and about 40C on load, at 700/1075 and it is silent.

I even get better temps than my bros watercooled 4850.

 

[GavX]

apparently these cards can max out the overclocking in the Catalyst Control centre no problem, the memory at 1100Mhz (4400 effective!) but can't do further due to the software not letting it, I say get the 1gb model, though beware the 2gb model of the 4850 was slower than the 512 one

 

[haofeng]

though beware the 2gb model of the 4850 was slower than the 512 one

really? is it because of driver probs?

 

[Xiler]

really? is it because of driver probs?

think its due to the lower memory clock speed.

full review of 2gb 4850 here: http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews.php?/gpu_displays/powercolor_hd_4850_pcs_2gb_pci-e/1

 

[zzhang]

Accelero S1 for the win it did wonders for my 8800gt you'll need to get some extra heatsinks for the ram and the power circuits as they can get a bit warm naked!

 

[Bruce Banner]

I would say OC it yourself, it's not hard

 

[Rastalovich]

I'd use the memory as a reflection of what size screen/resolution ur gonna use.

Up to 24" I think u get away with 512m. 24"+ I'd want more perhaps.

 

[PV5150]

I'd use the memory as a reflection of what size screen/resolution ur gonna use.

Up to 24" I think u get away with 512m. 24"+ I'd want more perhaps.

Yep agreed.