ATI Radeon HD 4650 and 4670 Benchmark Results

[jmke]

Chinese based website IT168 got their hands on with RV730, the upcoming HD 4670/4650. Initial test shows that HD 4670 is really close to HD 3850 512MB，which is only $100 in newegg. The core RV730 is a 55mm chip, running at 600MHz/750MHz(4650/4670), memory @ 700MHz/1000MHz(4650/4670), shader count is 320, the same with RV670. But memory interface is only 128bit, which sounds very low end… In benchmarks 3DMark Vantage shows HD 4670 still can not easily catches up with HD 3850 512MB. But in actual games like HL2EP2 and COD4, the card performs very well, only a few FPS less than 3850. (source)

You can wade through the 20+ pages in Chinese here ... or save some time, all benchmark results in one chart:

[Sentential]

Very interesting, definatly appears that it has a much better GPU core, which I'm not suprised by since it does have 2x the TMU of the HD3850 but it appears to stall out @ higher resolutions because it lacks enough bandwith to keep up past 1600/1200

If AMD was smart they'd have a DDR5 version as there's a good chance that would match / beat the 9600GT/8800GT

[Bobsama]

Nice. Those RV730 optimizations over RV670 must be quite something--it basically matches a 3850 512 but has 128-bit memory. ATI seriously needs to upgrade that--256-bit for midrange, 512-bit for highend.

[Sentential]

Nice. Those RV730 optimizations over RV670 must be quite something--it basically matches a 3850 512 but has 128-bit memory. ATI seriously needs to upgrade that--256-bit for midrange, 512-bit for highend.

RV770s all had 256bit controllers you're thinking of the initial R600s. Either way you're absolutely correct, just a smidge more bandwidth and they could be utterly devastating to nVidia.

[Macadamia]

I've uttered those comments before. ^^

Anyway AMD will wait until Q1 2009 to release the ultimate midrange card. RV740. Probably even more shaders on 40nm, but GDDR5 is a definite.

As is now, this gives the 9500GT absolutely no room to live in the $50+ market. It's gonna go below, which is kinda sad.

[Spectrobozo]

what is this "8" on rv635, rv730 and 16 on rv670? ROPs?
only 8 ROPs?

[inCore]

It was good until I realized that it wasn't compared to the 4850, but the 3850.

[Sentential]

It was good until I realized that it wasn't compared to the 4850, but the 3850.

You do realize the card is less than $100 right?

[jmke]

for the HD 4670 to be competitive its price should be $100 or less, with the HD 4550 coming it at $50-60 not much room left in the $50-100 price bracket as the HD 4650 has to fit in there somewhere too...

[Macadamia]

HD4650- $70-$80
HD4670- $90-$100

This is MSRP. We haven't talked about mail in rebates and the like yet. They'll phase out 3850 (discontinued) so no big harm. Of course pricing should be right, though.

[jmke]

yup; an interesting price point, if they can pull of a 3D card which can run most games HQ at 1600x1200 (without AA) this will be a very popular product

[[XC] hipno650]

man if they only had a 256bit bus! it's so close. the sad thing is that the 9600gt is only $10-$20 more and beats the 3870 let alone the 4670. but if they move the price down to the $70 range it would be a smash hit! Crysis at 1680x1050 on medium settings and 39FPS for $70 would be sweet!

[clonez]

lets hope rv740 fixed those problems (imo the 128bit bus will stay, and probably will in the next couple years)

[Calmatory]

Very interesting, definatly appears that it has a much better GPU core, which I'm not suprised by since it does have 2x the TMU of the HD3850 but it appears to stall out @ higher resolutions because it lacks enough bandwith to keep up past 1600/1200

If AMD was smart they'd have a DDR5 version as there's a good chance that would match / beat the 9600GT/8800GT

Seems that they are smarter than you at least. Guess why? It's called HD4850. Beisdes GDDR5 won't fit to this card really as it is intended to be cheap as hell. Though, very welcomefor Palit etc. to create their own cards. Sonic model with GDDR5.. :drool:

[eXa]

Oh, if it wherent that bandwith limited. it would have beaten the 3850 easily... i bet it clocks good too.

[Mathos]

Oh, if it wherent that bandwith limited. it would have beaten the 3850 easily... i bet it clocks good too.

Me thinks if it were running on a 256bit bus the 4650 would of beat the 3850, and the 4670 would of edged out the 3870, as they would essentially be the same cards. I'll think we'll very likely see GDDR4 versions of the cards, kinda like there were DDR4 versions of the 2600xt that performed slightly better than the DDR3 versions. Granted if these things have any OCing head room, that could change the picture a bit.

The other big question is, are they hybrid crossfire capable?

[hurleybird]

As soon as a GDDR5 version is cheap enough, I'm sure AMD will make one. Otherwise, I have no clue why they would stick to 128-bit controller.

[Jowy Atreides]

wow, the 4670 looks great to make a cheap TF2 lan box

the 4670 is still enough for all modern games (cept a certain beach setting simulator)

[y2kbos]

It doesnt need external power!!

Thats huge, I am also pretty sure thats the reason they didnt go 256bit.

[Calmatory]

Granted if these things have any OCing head room, that could change the picture a bit.

The other big question is, are they hybrid crossfire capable?

They don't OC well. TDP is near (if not) 70W and PCIe bus gives out 75W. ...5W can be eaten by higher RPM(catalyst profile mod/rivatuner etc.) cooler, for example.

AFAIK Only x4xx series cards support Hybrid CF.

Actually my main concern is the overclocking. Will there be non ref PCB cards with power connectors and/or GDDR5? If not, then there is no overclocking this card, let alone OC'ing with vMods...

[y2kbos]

Actually my main concern is the overclocking. Will there be non ref PCB cards with power connectors and/or GDDR5? If not, then there is no overclocking this card, let alone OC'ing with vMods...

But these are not aimed at you, any guy with a good psu will get a similar priced HD3850/8800gs.These are for the dells, hp's, fujitsu's etc.

This card is class imo, its way ahead of cards that dont need external power like this.

It kills its nearest challenger the 9500gt and can play COD4 on Very High @ 1280 x 1024 at 50fps, Crysis on medium the same.Anyone that owns a 225watt Dell with low core 2 duo can now game at decent settings.The industry needs cards like this and with GTA 4 and Warhead out soon this card could do very well.

[Calmatory]

These cards are aimed at ME, as I will not buy a card which costs more than 100 euros or has a power connector. I will rather have very good deal wiuth mid range hardware than having to pay all I got for high end card.

Besides, Palit introduced GDDR3 version of 7300GT, as well as of 7600GT. Same cards were meant for OEMs and low budget systems. I wouldn't be surprised if they introduced GDDR4/5 version of this card, especially when this card really begs for bandwidth.

[XSAlliN]

No they won't, GDDR 4 and GDDR5 is to expensive for low-end cards, even for mainstream models.

[y2kbos]

@ Calmatory : Gddr5 needs alot more power, they wont be able to get that card to work without a pci e cable imo.

Any place you now in the EU that are selling these?

[initialised]

Very interesting, definatly appears that it has a much better GPU core, which I'm not suprised by since it does have 2x the TMU of the HD3850 but it appears to stall out @ higher resolutions because it lacks enough bandwith to keep up past 1600/1200

If AMD was smart they'd have a DDR5 version as there's a good chance that would match / beat the 9600GT/8800GT

and tread on the toes of the 4850