HD 4850 Previews

[wideband]

Wait a minute, does this mean I need to have two 16x pci-e lanes for a HD4850 crossfire setup to perform to its fullest???

The answer is yes m8, if you require high resolutions and play games like Crysis and Flight Sim. Only realised this myself over the past week after alot of googling. The other solution is to aquire an x2 card

Below is an example of the information you can pickup.

Intel P45 Vs. X48 Crossfire Performance
Final Thoughts

This is really a very interesting article and is something people need to be taking note of. The first thing you need to be checking is if you're reading a review where Crossfire is being tested. Make sure that the board there using is a x16 / x16 motherboard. The results really do speak for themselves and it’s clear that there is a performance difference between a x16 / x16 configuration which the X48 offers, and the x8/x8 one on the P45.

If you’re really thinking about going down the Crossfire path, we would be highly recommending that you spend the extra money to go to an X38 or X48 based motherboard over the P45. Of course, if you’re not then it doesn’t really matter. With one card the P45 runs at x16, which is exactly what you want.

The thing is, the X48-DQ6 is only about 10% more expensive, so you could easily say that you should just spend the extra money and get that. You may in future go Crossfire without knowing it yet, but admittedly the P45-DQ6 does have some very cool features such as the new ICH10R controller, loads of SATA ports and just some really funky new add-ons like the power buttons on board. Of course, we will cover all these in more detail in our full motherboard review at a later date.

Before you rush out and buy that P45 board thinking that x8 / x8 will be just fine, sit back and have a think if you’re really aiming to go down the Crossfire path in the near future.

Full article here:
http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/14...nce/index.html

[eric66]

The answer is yes m8, if you require high resolutions and play games like Crysis and Flight Sim. Only realised this myself over the past week after alot of googling. The other solution is to aquire an x2 card

Below is an example of the information you can pickup.

oh my god what a difference nice find

[Unbornchild]

X38 also has 2 x 16x.

The article is x45 (mainstream) vs. x48 (performance).
Same as x35 (mainstream) vs. x38 (performance).

Between x38 and x48 there is no noticeable difference in performance, only some features.
So, buy yourself a Maximus Formula, for instance, and be on top.

[flopper]

The answer is yes m8, if you require high resolutions and play games like Crysis and Flight Sim. Only realised this myself over the past week after alot of googling. The other solution is to aquire an x2 card

Below is an example of the information you can pickup.

the crossfire on x8 P45 chips are missleading, some games they tested they got better results with p45 than x48. was that a fluke since they didnt mention that?

if you play at insane resolutions then its a given with x48 but that market its no that big.

[Bandwidth]

From the Anandtech 4850 review:
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3338&p=13

Below is the performance difference between the GTX260 and HD4850 @1920x1200 resolution:

Crysis 1920x1200 :
GTX260 : 28.6 +19.1%
HD 4850: 24

Call of Duty 1920x1200:
GTX260 : 74.3 +11.8%
HD 4850: 66.5

Quake Wars 1920x1200:
GTX260 : 84.2 +11.6%
HD 4850: 75.4

Assassins Creed 1920x1200:
GTX260 : 50.2 +7.7%
HD 4850: 46.6

Oblivion 1920x1200:
GTX260 : 43 +23.5%
HD 4850: 34.8

The Witcher 1920x1200:
GTX260 : 46.1 +33.6%
HD 4850: 34.5

Bioshock 1920x1200:
GTX260 : 50.4 -10.3%
HD 4850: 55.6

-------------------
Average gain over 4850: +13.8%

HD4850 performance is not bad for a card that costs half the price ($200 vs. $400).

And if we take into account the fact that HD 4870 will be at least 20% faster than the 4850, we can assume it will beat the GTX260 in most cases. It's good for us because this will only mean a price war, and both the GTX260 and HD 4870 should be great cards

[Kai Robinson]

From the Anandtech 4850 review:
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3338&p=13

Below is the performance difference between the GTX260 and HD4850 @1920x1200 resolution:

Crysis 1920x1200 :
9800GTX : 28.6 +19.1%
HD 4850: 24

Call of Duty 1920x1200:
9800GTX : 74.3 +11.8%
HD 4850: 66.5

Quake Wars 1920x1200:
9800GTX : 84.2 +11.6%
HD 4850: 75.4

Assassins Creed 1920x1200:
9800GTX : 50.2 +7.7%
HD 4850: 46.6

Oblivion 1920x1200:
9800GTX : 43 +23.5%
HD 4850: 34.8

The Witcher 1920x1200:
9800GTX : 46.1 +33.6%
HD 4850: 34.5

Bioshock 1920x1200:
9800GTX : 50.4 -10.3%
HD 4850: 55.6

-------------------
Average gain over 4850: +13.8%

Not bad for a card that costs half the price ($200 vs. $400). If we take into account the fact that HD 4870 will be at least 20% faster than the 4850, we can assume it will beat the GTX260 in most cases. It's good for us because this will only mean a price war, and both the GTX260 and HD 4870 should be great cards

Please clarify your quote, you start off talking about the GTX260 and then the figures you quote are for the 9800GTX....what exactly are you trying to say, that the HD4850 is slower than the 9800GTX, the GTX260, the 9800GX2, the GTX280 - what? BE CLEARER.

[Bandwidth]

Please clarify your quote, you start off talking about the GTX260 and then the figures you quote are for the 9800GTX....what exactly are you trying to say, that the HD4850 is slower than the 9800GTX, the GTX260, the 9800GX2, the GTX280 - what? BE CLEARER.

Sorry, those were the GTX260 numbers. Fixed now.

[Xoulz]

From the Anandtech 4850 review:
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3338&p=13

Below is the performance difference between the GTX260 and HD4850 @1920x1200 resolution:

Crysis 1920x1200 :
GTX260 : 28.6 +19.1%
HD 4850: 24

Call of Duty 1920x1200:
GTX260 : 74.3 +11.8%
HD 4850: 66.5

Quake Wars 1920x1200:
GTX260 : 84.2 +11.6%
HD 4850: 75.4

Assassins Creed 1920x1200:
GTX260 : 50.2 +7.7%
HD 4850: 46.6

Oblivion 1920x1200:
GTX260 : 43 +23.5%
HD 4850: 34.8

The Witcher 1920x1200:
GTX260 : 46.1 +33.6%
HD 4850: 34.5

Bioshock 1920x1200:
GTX260 : 50.4 -10.3%
HD 4850: 55.6

-------------------
Average gain over 4850: +13.8%

HD4850 performance is not bad for a card that costs half the price ($200 vs. $400).

And if we take into account the fact that HD 4870 will be at least 20% faster than the 4850, we can assume it will beat the GTX260 in most cases. It's good for us because this will only mean a price war, and both the GTX260 and HD 4870 should be great cards

+10

Many people are forgetting we are talking about a $199 card. In which, 8 months from now, will be considered budget!