PowerColor HD 4850 PCS 2GB PCI-E
Test Setup & Overclocking
Published: 16th August 2008 | Source: PowerColor | Price: TBA |
Test Setup
Having already explored the performance of the HD4850 in several of our previous GPU reviews, today we are going to be concentrating on a head-to-head comparison of the PowerColor HD 4850 PCS 2GB vs a stock AMD HD 4850 512mb card. As mentioned previously the PowerColor is already at a disadvantage in terms of memory clock speed, but can it make up for this with a full 1.5GB of additional frame buffer? The following table shows the test system used during the benchmarking of both cards:
The following list of games has also been chosen to test each of the cards on a number of popular game engines. Each game will be run at varying quality and AF settings at both low and high resolutions.
Quake Wars
1280x1024 / High / 4xAA
1600x1200 / High / 4xAA
1280x1024 / High / 4xAA
1600x1200 / High / 4xAA
1920x1200 / High / 4xAA
Unreal Tournament III
1280x1024 / DX10 / High
1600x1200 / DX10 / High
Unreal Tournament III
1280x1024 / DX10 / High
1600x1200 / DX10 / High
1920x1200 / DX10 / High
Call of Duty 4
1280x1024 / Max / 4xAA / 4xAF
Call of Duty 4
1280x1024 / Max / 4xAA / 4xAF
1600x1200 / Max / 4xAA / 4xAF
1920x1200 / Max / 4xAA / 4xAF
F.E.A.R
1920x1200 / Max / 4xAA / 4xAF
F.E.A.R
1280x1024 / Max / 4xAA
1600x1200 / Max / 4xAA
1920x1200 / Max / 4xAA
Crysis
1600x1200 / Max / 4xAA
1920x1200 / Max / 4xAA
Crysis
1280x1024 / DX10 / High / 0xAA / 0xAF
1600x1200 / DX10 / High / 0xAA / 0xAF
1920x1200 / DX10 / High / 0xAA / 0xAF
1600x1200 / DX10 / High / 0xAA / 0xAF
1920x1200 / DX10 / High / 0xAA / 0xAF
GRID
1280x1024 / DX10 / High / 4xAA
1600x1200 / DX10 / High / 4xAA
1920x1200 / DX10 / High / 4xAA
1600x1200 / DX10 / High / 4xAA
1920x1200 / DX10 / High / 4xAA
Overclocking
Using only the the ATI Overdrive™ facility built into the driver control panel, the maximum overclock we were able to obtain from the HD4850 PCS was 680mhz on the core and 1040mhz on the memory. The Overdrive facility did actually attempt to overclock the card higher than this using the "Auto-Tune" option, but unfortunately these settings proved to be unstable when attempting to run 3DMark Vantage.
The reasoning behind this poor result is more than likely due to the 2GB frame buffer. This is much like adding additional DDR memory to your system, or switching a 1GB memory module out for a 2GB one. While you may gain the benefit of extra system memory, the margin for overclocking is often reduced. Never-the-less this is quite a poor result from the 4850, especially considering it's "PCS" cooling system.
Now let's get on to the benchmarks...
Most Recent Comments
Nice review mate. Why oh why did they have to go and do that? I would have preferred some software (3DM06 etc) than extra memory that handicaps a card.
What a shame
...any word on the Powercolor HD 4870 PCS+ tho? clocked up to 800MHz on the core and with a Zerotherm cooler...OCuk have it for £182ish at the moment but I've seen no reviews anywhere yet.
Also Asus have the EAH4870 TOP with stock cooler but 815MHz core....
I've seen a few reviews of the overclocked 4850s but if i'm dropping money i'll pay the extra for a 4870 or GTX 280 (depending on the 55nm version getting good reviews and not being eye-wateringly pricey). Want consistency too much to go for a dual GPU option when the biggest monitor i'm ever likely to have is a 24"
Also Asus have the EAH4870 TOP with stock cooler but 815MHz core....
I've seen a few reviews of the overclocked 4850s but if i'm dropping money i'll pay the extra for a 4870 or GTX 280 (depending on the 55nm version getting good reviews and not being eye-wateringly pricey). Want consistency too much to go for a dual GPU option when the biggest monitor i'm ever likely to have is a 24"
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='gdawg304'
...any word on the Powercolor HD 4870 PCS+ tho? clocked up to 800MHz on the core and with a Zerotherm cooler...OCuk have it for £182ish at the moment but I've seen no reviews anywhere yet.
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Ah well - that's a shame. Thought the pre-OC'd 4870 would be a hot one to review considering the fuss over the standard card....I shall have to keep my eyes open I guess!
(Not to mention comparing non-standard cooling given the issues in reviews over the temps on the stock cooler). Still - there are only so many hours in the day for reviewing!
The one on the 4870 is a different design than the 4850 so I wonder how they compare.
(Not to mention comparing non-standard cooling given the issues in reviews over the temps on the stock cooler). Still - there are only so many hours in the day for reviewing!
The one on the 4870 is a different design than the 4850 so I wonder how they compare.
ATI were doing so well
the 4850 2gb and 4850x2 will keep profits down
those cards shouldnt have been bothered with
the main 3 cards are the ones everyone wants and where the honey is for a company that wasnt doing so well. I think they should have kept it simple.
the 4850 2gb and 4850x2 will keep profits down
those cards shouldnt have been bothered with
the main 3 cards are the ones everyone wants and where the honey is for a company that wasnt doing so well. I think they should have kept it simple.
without wanting to pimp other websites - for anyone interested there's a review of an overclocked Diamond 4870 on Tweaktown
http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/155...ion/index.html
much higher memory speed than the powercolor oc'd version...but stock cooler.
Not sure about their method of testing noise with a sensor 2cm from the fan - would rather have a subjective test of what it sounds from inside a case under a desk! Conflicting noise reports have put me off the GTX 280 so far (since the price drop, at least). That and the threat of 55nm parts from nvidia....maybe i'll just wait for the next gen when a card might be released to play crysis on very high....lol
http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/155...ion/index.html
much higher memory speed than the powercolor oc'd version...but stock cooler.
Not sure about their method of testing noise with a sensor 2cm from the fan - would rather have a subjective test of what it sounds from inside a case under a desk! Conflicting noise reports have put me off the GTX 280 so far (since the price drop, at least). That and the threat of 55nm parts from nvidia....maybe i'll just wait for the next gen when a card might be released to play crysis on very high....lol
what a waste.....
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='tinytomlogan'
ATI were doing so well
the 4850 2gb and 4850x2 will keep profits down those cards shouldnt have been bothered with the main 3 cards are the ones everyone wants and where the honey is for a company that wasnt doing so well. I think they should have kept it simple. |
But yeah the 4850 2GB is a bit pointless.
As part of our review procedure, all manufacturers are given the right to reply to any issues that arise or comments we make during the course of the review. PowerColor have chosen to excersize this right and have replied with the following statement:
This is an engineer sample in early stage of this model and we still try hard to make it performance well and then provide to customers the best product; based on the feedback produced by the Overclock3D review of our HD 4850 2GB, we have decided to make some alterations to the product before it enters the retail market. The card will now feature the same memory speed as a reference 4850 512MB giving it the same performance in games that do not make use of the 2GB frame buffer, and greater performance in games that do. The retail product will have higher clocked memory to get great performance with games.
This is an engineer sample in early stage of this model and we still try hard to make it performance well and then provide to customers the best product; based on the feedback produced by the Overclock3D review of our HD 4850 2GB, we have decided to make some alterations to the product before it enters the retail market. The card will now feature the same memory speed as a reference 4850 512MB giving it the same performance in games that do not make use of the 2GB frame buffer, and greater performance in games that do. The retail product will have higher clocked memory to get great performance with games.
That's great stuff.... Fair play to them for listening to the feedback and actually acting on it.
Really impressed.
Really impressed.
Fair play from Powercolor, they're always on the case
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PowerColor HD 4850 PCS 2GB Review