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  1. 2009-04-02 22:46 #1
    Alishe
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    Difference between Asus and Saphire 1gig HD4870?

    Other than the 60$ price difference, is there anything truly better about the Asus? They are both 1gig and appear to have same speeds as far as I can tell. If anyone could help me I'd greatly appreciate it I am about to order one of the two before I fall asleep, it's the last piece of hardware my new desktop needs! Goodbye GeForce FX 5200!
  2. 2009-04-02 23:50 #2
    Epical
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    Sometimes they install a third party cooler (which on the 4870 wouldn't be a bad thing) and up the price. If it has the same cooling unit then it just might be manufacturing costs that create the difference.
  3. 2009-04-03 00:43 #3
    mootsfox
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    Get the HD4890, it's better and only $5 more.

    Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100269SR Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

    The difference is just in a brand name/warranty/bundled items/etc.

    Again, buy the HD4890, it's better.
  4. 2009-04-03 01:32 #4
    Alishe
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    Ordered the 4890!
  5. 2009-04-03 01:53 #5
    Epical
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    Excellent choice.
  6. 2009-04-03 03:51 #6
    Kryssan
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    Shame the memory interface is still only 256 bit though. x.x


    Generally speaking, the only 'difference' between brands of a card with the same specifications is quality of the product and whether or not it has any aftermarket-esqe modifications done to it. Some brands factory overclock, some put on their own heatsinc, all of them throw on their own logos/etc, BFG has been known to make some stock watercooled video cards, etcetra.
  7. 2009-04-03 04:25 #7
    geno
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    Oh man I just started reading reviews of the 4890... makes me want to sell my 4870 512mb, especially because of the ridiculous overclocks people are getting on that card lol.
  8. 2009-04-03 08:37 #8
    levish
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    i just got one :s

    was thinking of getting the 4870 1GB for a long time just for the better performance at high resolutions but the new chip seals the deal. seems to run cool as well :D
  9. 2009-04-03 14:45 #9
    mootsfox
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kryssan View Post
    Shame the memory interface is still only 256 bit though.
    It doesn't matter. With GDDR5 it's not a bottleneck.

    A wider bus means more traces required. More traces means more layers of PCB. More PCB/traces costs more to produce and decreases yield (somewhat). Nvidia just passes those expenses onto the consumer.

    ATI has done a 512bit bus before. It was an expensive piece of crap, also know as the HD2900XT.
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