Sapphire 4890 Vapor-X PCIe Graphics Card
Introduction
Published: 2nd June 2009 | Source: Sapphire | Price: T.B.C |
Introduction
Since ATI rejoined the fight to become champs of the graphics card market with the 4870 in June 2008 and the formidable 4870x2, time has pretty much stood still for the graphics card giant with a slowdown in releases. Unlike Nvidia with their re branding shenanigans, ATI only appear to release a GPU when they have something new to show off, not to shift stocks of GPU cores. The HD4890 is one such card, which while not being radically new, is certainly a cut above the already powerful HD4870 with some significant changes. We recently reviewed the stock Asus 4890 and an overclocked version from XFX, now it's Sapphire turn with the HD4890 Vapor-X.
Being a Tier 1 partner of ATI, Sapphire are no strangers to GPU production and are among the top producers of overclocked editions as well as stock clocked reference cards. Sapphire are also certified to ISO9001 and ISO14001 standards and as such each product is manufactured to the very highest standard and quality. Also, since 2001 Sapphire have been in partnership with ATI so it goes without saying what they don't know about ATI simply is not worth knowing. Drawing on the technical expertise offered by Sapphires own engineers have enabled Sapphire to produce the card we have today.
The Vapor-X line of GPU's is Sapphire's overclocked range which while not as speedy as the 'Toxic' versions is still faster than stock. The Vapor-X cooler is also radically different from the stock ATI heatsink in that a larger than standard fan is used and it's positioned centrally rather than at the furthest reaches of the PCB but that's just the beginning. I'll be examining the cooler in greater detail overleaf but rest assured, this card runs cool and quiet. The PCB is also a fetching blue rather than the stock red familiar with all reference ATI cards.
Here's what Sapphire had to say about their product:
The SAPPHIRE HD 4890 Vapor-X model is a new SAPPHIRE original design. It has SAPPHIRE’s Vapor-X cooling module on the GPU together with a heatsink and profiled fan venting heat out of the case. It is quieter and significantly faster than the standard reference model, with core clock speed of 870MHz and 1GB of DDR5 memory clocked at 1050MHz. Any two of the four output options can be used simultaneously, giving maximum flexibility for connection to different display types. An HDMI to DVI adaptor is also included for those who wish to use a pair of DVI monitors.
Specification
The following specification was taken directly from Sapphires product page:
I/O Output: Display Port+HDMI+DL-DVI+VGA
Core Clock: 870 MHz
Memory Clock: 1050 MHz, 4.2 Gbps
Interface: PCI Express 2.0 x16 bus interface
Memory Interface: 1024MB /256bit GDDR5
Cooling: Dual Slot Vapor-X Cooler
HD: HDMI compliant via dongle
Audio: 7.1 Audio Channel Support
DX Version: Microsoft® DirectX® 10.1 support
Shader model: Shader Model 4.1 support
Core Clock: 870 MHz
Memory Clock: 1050 MHz, 4.2 Gbps
Interface: PCI Express 2.0 x16 bus interface
Memory Interface: 1024MB /256bit GDDR5
Cooling: Dual Slot Vapor-X Cooler
HD: HDMI compliant via dongle
Audio: 7.1 Audio Channel Support
DX Version: Microsoft® DirectX® 10.1 support
Shader model: Shader Model 4.1 support
Most Recent Comments
WOW, what is wrong with the hd4770 and gts250 idle power consumption in your graph! They are bothe 40watts more that the gtx285!! And consume more power than the hd4890
CPU bottlenecking, which you will almost certainly have with 2 4890's at your current CPU & clockspeed, is the most likely culprit in why you are not seeing good FPS. You are also running with 4GB of DDR2 at a much slower speed than the test systems 6GB of DDR3 which is running 400MHz faster than yours. I don't wish to put your system down as it sounds like a sweet setup but our test setup is specifically designed not to bottleneck any product we throw at it and as such any product we review is done so under optimum conditions.
Looking at his goods (oh my), I don't think this is his problem.
Whilst using a superior cpu is always the better choice to put the emphasis on the gpu in real games, the cpu does however slant results from artificial benches, with the better exception being vantage (it doesn't seem to benefit as-much). But what can u do, u have to stick with a platform best for longevity of testing, and stay current.
I'd personally expect no bottleneck from the stuff he has due to the cpu. Imo he has something else going on.
Hi all just passed this site for the review about vapor-X 4890
and i must say bilko is just right on somethings.
i did buy 2 xfx hd4870 in crossfire , they run 38a40 idle and 61a66 degrees fullload
i talk about the gpu diode memIO in everest because thats the one that become the hottest point
2 x - xfx hd4870 1gig crossfire with triplehead2go digital 5040x1050
gpu1a (diode displ) 34
gpu1b (diode Mem) 38 IDLE BUT FAN SET ON 50%
gpu1c (diode shader) 33
full load is highest mem temp 66
For both cards almost same temps 1 run little hotter about 2 a3 degrees
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1x sapphire hd4890 vapor-x with triplehead2go digital 5040x1050
gpu 1a = 50
gpu 1b = 58 IDLE BUT FAN SET ON 50%
gpu 1c = 48
edit: i forgot this temp is with memory set back to 900mhz duh
over the full load i do not wanna talk about the 4890 vapor-x (read vapor minus xtra) the memory was over the 87 deg
i go change it for an xfx4890 tomorrow grrrr
i think they play crysis and see that the guy be vaporized in the tree and the idea was born. a bag of baked air, and i never get used to this !!! lol
so i think its a blown up bagg of air and media hype, and please not say i have worst setup or airflow or bottlenecks
i just think this test was taken with a open pc with a big fan on it
my hd2900xt in crossfire where 67 and 71 degrees full load
q6600 @ 3200 39deg
Asus P5E 40deg
4gig corsair dominator at 1160 with cooler
wd 320 sataII 33deg
and i must say bilko is just right on somethings.
i did buy 2 xfx hd4870 in crossfire , they run 38a40 idle and 61a66 degrees fullload
i talk about the gpu diode memIO in everest because thats the one that become the hottest point
2 x - xfx hd4870 1gig crossfire with triplehead2go digital 5040x1050
gpu1a (diode displ) 34
gpu1b (diode Mem) 38 IDLE BUT FAN SET ON 50%
gpu1c (diode shader) 33
full load is highest mem temp 66
For both cards almost same temps 1 run little hotter about 2 a3 degrees
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1x sapphire hd4890 vapor-x with triplehead2go digital 5040x1050
gpu 1a = 50
gpu 1b = 58 IDLE BUT FAN SET ON 50%
gpu 1c = 48
edit: i forgot this temp is with memory set back to 900mhz duh
over the full load i do not wanna talk about the 4890 vapor-x (read vapor minus xtra) the memory was over the 87 deg
i go change it for an xfx4890 tomorrow grrrr
i think they play crysis and see that the guy be vaporized in the tree and the idea was born. a bag of baked air, and i never get used to this !!! lol
so i think its a blown up bagg of air and media hype, and please not say i have worst setup or airflow or bottlenecks
i just think this test was taken with a open pc with a big fan on it
my hd2900xt in crossfire where 67 and 71 degrees full load
q6600 @ 3200 39deg
Asus P5E 40deg
4gig corsair dominator at 1160 with cooler
wd 320 sataII 33deg
Well I went out and bought a bigger PSU. A Corsair TX850W.
Now my PC doesn't crash, but guess what... SURPRISE! it's just as hot, infact it can now reach new temps. After ½ Hr of CoD5 WaW online I reached a staggering 101 Celcius (room temp 23.5 Celcius FYI w3bbo).
That is at factory settings...God alone knows what would happen if I tried to overclock these cards coz I'm not trying it!
Now I might be able to live with that, if I bought 2 GPUs that had stock cooling but when they are heralded as the new messia this side of water cooling not just by Sapphire but also you guys. I expect something better.
Even on my slow, antiquated, bottlenecked rig.
While I'm sitting writing this my idle temp is 68 Celcius and fan speeds are at 50%. Again that is factory settings. nothing I have done. That isn't what I would call super-cool.
Now don't get all deffensive again, all I'm saying is be careful how you test/review components. In the real world we have closed cabinets and might not have this years kick-ass rig...I have last years.
Thanx for the heads up about maxfps cl0ck_ed, I had forgotten all about that, I can now see a difference albeit fluctuating:worship.
Bilko out.
Updated Sys Specs:- Q9550@3.2GHz with Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme cooler and Noctua NF-P12 fan. ASUS Maximus Formula Republic of Gamers motherboard with X38 chipset and 4 GHZ of Kingston HyperX PC9600 RAM @ 1207MHz being cooled with a Corsair Dominator Airflow Fan.
Corsair TX850W PSU.
Vista Ultimate 64 bit OS.
Samsung SpinPoint T166 HD501LJ 500 GB.
All incased in a Aerocool Hi-Tech 7 cabinette with a 40cm fan on the side and 2 x 12cm fans, one infront and one at the back.
Now my PC doesn't crash, but guess what... SURPRISE! it's just as hot, infact it can now reach new temps. After ½ Hr of CoD5 WaW online I reached a staggering 101 Celcius (room temp 23.5 Celcius FYI w3bbo).
That is at factory settings...God alone knows what would happen if I tried to overclock these cards coz I'm not trying it!
Now I might be able to live with that, if I bought 2 GPUs that had stock cooling but when they are heralded as the new messia this side of water cooling not just by Sapphire but also you guys. I expect something better.
Even on my slow, antiquated, bottlenecked rig.
While I'm sitting writing this my idle temp is 68 Celcius and fan speeds are at 50%. Again that is factory settings. nothing I have done. That isn't what I would call super-cool.
Now don't get all deffensive again, all I'm saying is be careful how you test/review components. In the real world we have closed cabinets and might not have this years kick-ass rig...I have last years.
Thanx for the heads up about maxfps cl0ck_ed, I had forgotten all about that, I can now see a difference albeit fluctuating:worship.
Bilko out.
Updated Sys Specs:- Q9550@3.2GHz with Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme cooler and Noctua NF-P12 fan. ASUS Maximus Formula Republic of Gamers motherboard with X38 chipset and 4 GHZ of Kingston HyperX PC9600 RAM @ 1207MHz being cooled with a Corsair Dominator Airflow Fan.
Corsair TX850W PSU.
Vista Ultimate 64 bit OS.
Samsung SpinPoint T166 HD501LJ 500 GB.
All incased in a Aerocool Hi-Tech 7 cabinette with a 40cm fan on the side and 2 x 12cm fans, one infront and one at the back.
No need to be this aggressive about the measured temps, I don't doubt the neutrality of w3bbo's measurements, even if they are taken in open air.
If I were you (both of you) I'd make a topic describing your case layout, preferably with a picture of it. This way we could advice on how to make it more effective, 3*120mm should be enough to keep it below 80*C at stock settings.
If I were you (both of you) I'd make a topic describing your case layout, preferably with a picture of it. This way we could advice on how to make it more effective, 3*120mm should be enough to keep it below 80*C at stock settings.
I don't know why you expected temperatures to drop because you bought a bigger PSU. My advice that it was likely down to a power issue was to resolve the crashing, which you blamed on temperatures. It seems I was correct on that occasion.
I could review items in closed quarters but then folk would complain that it is still not right because it is impossible to cater for all scenrio's. Temperatures I report should only be used as a comparison to other temperatures in the graphs I show, i.e 4890 vs GTX285 etc. What runs hotter for me will likely run hotter for you. You cannot compare the temps I got to what you have as they are two totally different setups in two totally different environments I'm afraid.
Have you tried just one GPU and see what temps that reports? I have a feeling that both cards are emitting too much heat for your case to cope with, heating up the case without the exhaust fans being able to keep up.
If your cards are sitting at almost 70c idle then you either have some serious airflow problems in your case or the cards are faulty. Another review site claimed load temps which were as near as dammit the same as I got so I don't believe it's a problem with the card.
As Monkey says, you would be better making a separate post in the hardware section so people here can help you with your problem. We are afterall, only trying to help you.
I could review items in closed quarters but then folk would complain that it is still not right because it is impossible to cater for all scenrio's. Temperatures I report should only be used as a comparison to other temperatures in the graphs I show, i.e 4890 vs GTX285 etc. What runs hotter for me will likely run hotter for you. You cannot compare the temps I got to what you have as they are two totally different setups in two totally different environments I'm afraid.
Have you tried just one GPU and see what temps that reports? I have a feeling that both cards are emitting too much heat for your case to cope with, heating up the case without the exhaust fans being able to keep up.
If your cards are sitting at almost 70c idle then you either have some serious airflow problems in your case or the cards are faulty. Another review site claimed load temps which were as near as dammit the same as I got so I don't believe it's a problem with the card.
As Monkey says, you would be better making a separate post in the hardware section so people here can help you with your problem. We are afterall, only trying to help you.
Excellent review w3bbo.
I think the moral of the story for some is to not just buy a product based on a review but to also consider one's own needs as well as considering their existing system specifications beforehand. It's also fair to say that every system even with the same specification is likely to perform a little differently and as such trying to hit the same frame rates achieved in a given review is a little unrealistic. What much of these benchmarks are good for are getting an idea of a graphics cards performance relative to another graphics card with the same testbed.
I think the moral of the story for some is to not just buy a product based on a review but to also consider one's own needs as well as considering their existing system specifications beforehand. It's also fair to say that every system even with the same specification is likely to perform a little differently and as such trying to hit the same frame rates achieved in a given review is a little unrealistic. What much of these benchmarks are good for are getting an idea of a graphics cards performance relative to another graphics card with the same testbed.
Looking at the cooler on this vapor-x card all the heat will be exhausted into the case. Whereas the stock cooler exhausts all hot air out the back. This is probably the reason why you are getting such different results. On an open test bed the cooler will be at an advatage as its exhausted heat will be quickly transmitted away from the card.
I think testing temps of the cards on an open test bed isn't a good idea as for the majority of people it will not give a good indication of gfx card temperatures. I think you sound choose a popular case like the antec 300.
I think testing temps of the cards on an open test bed isn't a good idea as for the majority of people it will not give a good indication of gfx card temperatures. I think you sound choose a popular case like the antec 300.
Hi all ;-)
at first place was it not an attack on you but forme to the vapor-x
so sorry for that if feels so, you did write good review thats for sure.
i know cost lot time and sweat and tears to make all work okay
and write, make pictures ect
and i did not buy it on your review i just did buy it some hours earlier,
nothing to blame you, if i did also not
so well done job there of course :worship: , i for sure would do it not better :nono:
and i am not here complaining the review.
but my pc case is very cool but noisy
2x 25cm front and side
2x 12 cm out back and psu
fan set on memory dominator
zalman copper on processor
if i say temps 67 and 71 fullload hd2900xt crossfire,1 had an artic cooling triplefan (standard 2 heatpipes was first type was to hot to), that was 67 but the fans almost never go rotate only auto at 70 degrees,other was a new type standard with 3 heatpipes-15degrees less then 1th in begin, so i think you can see my case is very cool for that card i think.
but something is right here its an open cooler also, so not all heat go out, also a lot heat come in pc case, they claim its produced so it go out, but it always will go out ofcourse ;-)
so thats the point for now all run hot on idle because fan go to slow,under 1000 on start point, but when go to power mode its also very loud .and it also blow lot VERY HOT AIR in the pc case.
so my opinion , the cooler looks greater then the funtion it have.
maybe they look to much to try win performance but better win in less power and less heat also .
so for my opinion i think the cooler vapor-x as better cooling isnt a well done job.
also not the noise from the fan , thats also more at 40% then the xfx4870 s in crossfire on 60%
my card is 53 degrees now stock but the memory is 64 , so your temps indication are right if not look at the memory
my temps are ok then but memory go 10a15 higher look in everest it gave 3 temps 53gpu 64mem 51environment
also the clocks of memory not go back in idle mode only core go to 240.
so for me its ok so i will keep the fan noise for now better then the hot part
i did not change it because i did change already this for 2 hd4870
so i hope you understand all was not attack but just an uncontrolled impulsive reaction on the hottemps instead the review lol
have fun all nice weekend
at first place was it not an attack on you but forme to the vapor-x
so sorry for that if feels so, you did write good review thats for sure.
i know cost lot time and sweat and tears to make all work okay
and write, make pictures ect
and i did not buy it on your review i just did buy it some hours earlier,
nothing to blame you, if i did also not
so well done job there of course :worship: , i for sure would do it not better :nono:
and i am not here complaining the review.
but my pc case is very cool but noisy
2x 25cm front and side
2x 12 cm out back and psu
fan set on memory dominator
zalman copper on processor
if i say temps 67 and 71 fullload hd2900xt crossfire,1 had an artic cooling triplefan (standard 2 heatpipes was first type was to hot to), that was 67 but the fans almost never go rotate only auto at 70 degrees,other was a new type standard with 3 heatpipes-15degrees less then 1th in begin, so i think you can see my case is very cool for that card i think.
but something is right here its an open cooler also, so not all heat go out, also a lot heat come in pc case, they claim its produced so it go out, but it always will go out ofcourse ;-)
so thats the point for now all run hot on idle because fan go to slow,under 1000 on start point, but when go to power mode its also very loud .and it also blow lot VERY HOT AIR in the pc case.
so my opinion , the cooler looks greater then the funtion it have.
maybe they look to much to try win performance but better win in less power and less heat also .
so for my opinion i think the cooler vapor-x as better cooling isnt a well done job.
also not the noise from the fan , thats also more at 40% then the xfx4870 s in crossfire on 60%
my card is 53 degrees now stock but the memory is 64 , so your temps indication are right if not look at the memory
my temps are ok then but memory go 10a15 higher look in everest it gave 3 temps 53gpu 64mem 51environment
also the clocks of memory not go back in idle mode only core go to 240.
so for me its ok so i will keep the fan noise for now better then the hot part
i did not change it because i did change already this for 2 hd4870
so i hope you understand all was not attack but just an uncontrolled impulsive reaction on the hottemps instead the review lol
have fun all nice weekend
To avoid total offtopicness, I've taken the freedom of posting a new topic for you:
http://forum.overclock3d.net/showthread.php?p=336381#post336381
http://forum.overclock3d.net/showthread.php?p=336381#post336381
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