GPU/Build Advice! (4870vs4890)

Hey everyone! I haven't posted in here forever, well, since I got 15 pages of advice for my PC which I STILL use now and is still working perfectly.

But I was thinking of upgrading the GPU since a 3850 doesn't really cut it with newer games now, I knew I'd have to upgrade soon when it struggled with fallout 3 (max resolution on ultra I got like 30fps but wasn't stable at all)

So my current build is -

C2D 2.66GHz
2GB Corsair Memory
Gigabyte HD3850 Pro 512MB
19" Samsung Syncmaster
450w Corsair PSU

And what I'm looking to upgrade to is

either this - http://www.ebuyer.com/product/158512 (HIS HD 4870 IceQ 4+ Turbo 512MB) for £205
or this - http://www.ebuyer.com/product/160942 (XFX HD 4890 1GB) also for £205

And on top of the card I'd need a new PSU since 450w will struggle.

so I was looking for a 600-800w for around £40-65 so the total price would be around £260

I was thinking of this http://www.ebuyer.com/product/150310 - Powwa 800W 14cm Fan >80% Efficiency

Since it has lots of connections.

And maybe if I have enough money to top it all off some nice OCZ Reaper Ram - http://www.ebuyer.com/product/141930

But would the card fit in my Akasa Zen case? I measured 25cm for a 4870 and that would fit fine but I don't know the dimensions of a 4890...

so basically to dumb it all down (tl;dr version)

HIS IceQ 4+ Turbo 4870 512MB
or
XFX HD 4890 1GB

And does the power supply look nice?

Thanks - Sam

 

That PSU is positively lethal. Spend much more on getting a quality PSU, and don't buy an overpriced GPU.
Get one of these:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/151334
and this:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/114945

 

Haha, thanks for the heads up about the PSU.

I was actually going to get a 4870 I just decided that a 4890 would be better since it the clocks are really flexible, and overall I just want to play every game on the highest setting and get at least 60fps.

But I'll definitely be able to afford a PSU like that with the GPU at a lower cost.

One things for sure, I'm going to miss my HD3850. What an amazing card.

Thanks - Sam

 

The reason I recommended an HD4870 vs the HD4890 is because it is cheaper. The HD4890 is about 25% more expensive for perhaps 10-15% more performance.

 

even with the ability to overclock from 900mhz - 1000mhz? Of course if the 4870's are good to overclock then I'll go for them, if I have a nice £40 left over I'll get a 4890.

 

The 4870s will go from 750 to 850 pretty easily, perhaps higher.

 

that's all good then, no point to go for the overkill eh?

when it gets weak I can always buy another one and Crossfire it.

What power supply would be good for Crossfire? I've never really researched them...

 

I usually tend to advise people against planning on adding a second card later down the line, because when they finally get around to it, it's usually much better to buy a single new card to replace the old one. It's less power, heat and sometimes better value for the performance, especially if you ebay the old card.

If you do want to crossfire two 4870s or 4890s, I'd recommend one of these:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/134677

 

Yeah I probably will not crossfire but I was just making sure what I'd need, plus that power supply is only £20 more so I might as well buy that instead of the 520w, since I'll probably end up upgrading my PC in a few months and I'll have more money for other things..

Thanks for the advice.

edit -

also, I own a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3 board (Not DS3L or DS3R , just P35-DS3)

Is it worth Upgrading it?

 

For reference, the PSU is better value as it is non-modular, single-rail, and noisier than the HX. It is still a good unit though.
Your board is fine for your current purposes, the only gain to upgrading it would be slightly better overclocking ability.

 

ah I see, well I'll probably upgrade it in the future to something that accepts DDR3 sticks and other things.

One last question, RivaTuner is the best program for GPU Overclocking right? Because I'm going to overclock my HD3850 until I get my 4870 and just wondered.

thanks

 

Usually it is. It's a bit problematic in Vista64, but fine otherwise.

 

Thanks for the advice

sam

 

Ah, and another question arises...

is it worth buying one of these http://www.ebuyer.com/product/147765 ?

since the 4870s run at a high temperature my friend told me it would be a good idea.

(And If I'm overclocking then..)

thanks

 

The Vortexx will probably do worse than the card's original cooler. The cooling is a non-issue for 4800 graphics cards. People presume there's an issue because the temperatures are high, but some other cards, particularly nvidia ones run even hotter and have no problems. The stock cooler for the 4870 is fine.

 

haha, nice. Good to know that.

I'm starting to doubt my friends' skill with video cards now. He's always on about GPUs and etc. he's got a 4850x2 and he claims his pc cost him 3 1/2 Grand. (pounds), he gets 1000fps on CSS (everything low qual, looking at a wall on awp_lego) I think he has a 19" screen.

But anyway, thanks for the advice..I find it funny how every time I post something in "Building a PC" you're always the one who actually replies.

+1 dugg for that.

thanks

 

A single HD4850X2 is between 200 and 280 quid. Considering the Graphics card should be the 1st or 2nd most expensive component in a gaming PC, not sure what he did.
It is impossible to get 1000fps in CS:S as the source engine is capped at 299 frames per second.
Agreed, however, A 4850X2 is ten times as powerful as the hardware necessary to run CS:S at 1440x900, if not twenty for smaller maps.

 

if you type fps_max <value> in console then the cap changes.

I don't really see the point in buying an X2 tbh I only see the point in buying a card that runs everything at 60 frames + at a reasonable resolution because buying something that just destroys everything at 900fps and costs £900 is stupid when you can just buy one that can play it as smooth as possible for lets say £200, then a year later another £200, then a year later another £200.

Kind of like finance.

 

Ah, interesting, I always wondered if that was removable.
There is no £900 GPU, the HD4870X2 is only £330, and I actually only paid £530 for my pair. When you use a 19" monitor there is indeed no point in an X2, but trust me, when you use a 30", the extra grunt is welcome.

 

haha yeah I over exaggerate things often.

If I had a job and I could save money I would indeed buy a big screen and a powerhouse just to see how amazing games look on it.