XFX HD 4890 XXX 1GB PCIe Graphics Card

Conclusion

Pre-Overclocked cards rarely impress me as the benefits they give are not something I value and are also usually no different than a stock card apart from the BIOS clocks. This is true to some extent of the XFX card, a 50MHz increase in GPU speed from a stock 850MHz is certainly nothing to shout from the rooftops about but when you consider that this card is no more expensive than a reference card from one of the traditional ATI top tier partners AND it includes a fresh new quality game it becomes a no brainer about which card the money should go on.

The packaging of the XFX 4890XXX, while frustrating to open up, was very original and sets itself apart from the plain old rectangular packages we are all familiar with. The contents were secure though and should reach you in perfect condition. I would like to see some foam padding as an extra safety measure for the card but this is a minor issue that can easily be resolved.

The card is of a reference design, simply with an XFX sticker placed on the GPU cooler, over the top of the reference sticker. Obviously the BIOS has been tweaked but other than that there are no differences between this card and a card from any other manufacturer basing their product on the ATI reference design. This is perhaps my major gripe with the XFX card in that I would like something a little different, something to separate the card from all the others that are soon to hit the shelves. Maybe a black PCB, or maybe use a (shock) different colour cooler. Anything to distinguish a XXX card from a bog standard card would be better appreciated.

Nit picking aside, there is no doubting that the XFX 4890XXX is a step in the right direction for ATI and a damn fine example from XFX.  While it may struggle to take the single GPU crown from the GTX285,  it will certainly provide some stiff competition to the GTX275, the card it is inevitably going to be compared against. £10 more expensive than a reference card is small change when you consider you are getting a decent game and a pre-overclocked card. So, for someone looking to mix it with the big boys at a wallet friendly price then the XFX 4890XXX fits the bill very nicely.

The Good

– Overclocking performance
– Pre overclocked card
– Included Game (HAWX)
– Comprehensive accessories

The Mediocre

– No difference in looks from a stock card

The Bad
– Fan noise

Thanks to XFX for providing the HD4890XXX card for todays review. Discuss in our forums.