Powercolor HD3850 Extreme PCS - AMD 3850 Performance explored
Conclusion
Published: 15th November 2007 | Source: Powercolor | Price: £135 |
AMD/ATI have brought out a card that totally re-writes the books as far as mid-range gaming goes. At a price of around £135 (currently only available from OCUK), this card really enters the market at a very aggressive price point.
Gaming on the Powercolor HD3850 was smooth and fun and the card enabled me to play at a very high resolution with very high detail. The HD3850 kept pace with cards ranging from just about twice the price to those almost four times as expensive.
The cooler Powercolor have used for the HD3850 is both cool and quiet. Couple this with the fact that it looks great and the card only consumes 90watts at full load and you're onto a winner for sure.
Whilst the Powercolor HD3850 isn't as exciting as rumors led us to believe, this is a mid to high level card that is so cheap you may as well buy two for an awesome budget crossfire rig (and you do NOT hear me say that often).
I'm reluctant to give out some more awards as the 8800GT had a few accolade's passed it's way, but sometimes needs must...
I'm awarding a well-deserved "Value for Money" Award, coupled with an "Editors Choice" Award to the Powercolor HD3850.
The Good
+ Awesome value
+ Great cooler
+ Quiet fan
+ Good looking
+ Great performance per £
The Mediocre
* Not so good for benching
The Bad
- True DirectX 10 performance (Crysis) tough on the card
Thanks to Powercolor for the review sample
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Most Recent Comments
Nice review Kemp. Performance was a little underwhelming but it all depends on the price point really. I think on the first page hard should be harm.
Cheers mate. Performance was pretty damn good if you ask me, £135 for a card that nearly performs as well as an 8800GT?
Nice review there, I really thought I would have to be canceling my 8800gt order! But not quite. I've never had an Ati card, but I take it the price will be around £130 and up for pre oc'ed cards. Is the powercolor a reasonably middle of the road brand for Ati?
The cooler looks pretty decent, found a link to manufactures of them:
http://www.zerotherm.net/eng/product/GX815.asp
Nice one
The cooler looks pretty decent, found a link to manufactures of them:
http://www.zerotherm.net/eng/product/GX815.asp
Nice one
looks awsome
performs medeocre - reasonable
not bad i guess
performs medeocre - reasonable
not bad i guess
ATI are back in the game, well sort of. I wonder when places will get them in stock.
For a stock clocked 8800gt you can get it for 250 at zipzoomfly.com right now its out of stock but if anything its less. I do love the fact that ati is cutting down on power consumtion and higher temps.
Review a 3870? CF?
Review was decent though
Review was decent though
Yep they will be forthcoming, didn't get a 3870 initially but I'll be sure to get one in soon
For £139 in the UK and $140 in the US it's a bargain card that performs almost as well as an 8800GT.
For £139 in the UK and $140 in the US it's a bargain card that performs almost as well as an 8800GT.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='Kempez'
Yep they will be forthcoming, didn't get a 3870 initially but I'll be sure to get one in soon
For £139 in the UK and $140 in the US it's a bargain card that performs almost as well as an 8800GT. |
I love the direct conversion from $ to £... Import ftw!
Tried not to bump too old a thread, but I`ve just noticed that PowerColor/Radeon/Sapphire are making an AGP 8x of the 3850.
Interesting for those holding onto 939 boards with their teeth.
Gotta get some decent results from that.
Interesting for those holding onto 939 boards with their teeth.
Gotta get some decent results from that.
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