bit-tech News: First Look: Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 X2 2GB

[news 28]

Hi all,

 

We have just published a first look at how *Sapphire's Radeon HD 4850 X2

2GB *performs. If you could post a link on your site that would be very

much appreciated.

 

*Link:*

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2008/11/05/first-look-sapphire-radeon-hd-4850-x2-2gb/1

 

 

*Picture:*

http://images.bit-tech.net/content_images/2008/11/first-look-sapphire-radeon-hd-4850-x2-2gb/fp_img.jpg

 

 

*Quote:

*/There are some good things about the design too though -- the most

important one may not sound very important, but it really is. Despite it

being a physically bigger card than the 4870 X2, it's lighter and so

you're unlikely to encounter problems if you're transporting your system

(to LAN parties, for example) with everything assembled. We've seen a

couple of Radeon HD 4870 X2-based systems that have ripped the

PCI-Express x16 slot almost clean off the motherboard during shipping,

so this concern isn't unfounded -- for those of you with Radeon HD 4870

X2s installed, we'd recommend removing the card before transporting your

system if you're using the stock cooler.

 

The thing I personally like the most about this card though is the

inclusion of four dual-link DVI connectors -- it's enough to satisfy

even my multi-monitor cravings on just one graphics card. Multiple

monitors with multiple GPUs is no longer something that's exclusive to

AMD though, as Nvidia has now enabled multi-monitor support for SLI with

its latest release 180 series drivers, but it's still a great feature to

have on a single card. Nvidia's last dual-GPU card, the GeForce 9800

GX2, has only three digital outputs -- Sapphire's Radeon HD 4850 X2

offers four digital connections. There are, of course, very few people

who have a need for more than even two monitors, but Sapphire is

catering for that niche particularly well here -- two Sapphire Radeon HD

4850 X2s in CrossFire enables support for eight displays if you're crazy

enough.

 

In terms of pricing, the Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 X2 is expected to

retail at around £300, including VAT, which puts it in roughly the same

price bracket as Nvidia's GeForce GTX 280 -- it competes well with

Nvidia's flagship in scenarios where the drivers work and is often

faster. What's more, it's not that much slower than the Radeon HD 4870

X2 in many scenarios -- only when the resolution increases to 2,560 x

1,600 will you see a more distinct performance difference. This is good

-- especially when you consider that the Radeon HD 4870 X2 is retailing

at close to £370 (inc. VAT) and it makes the Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 X2

an attractive option.

 

We'd probably hold off until there is at least official driver support

from AMD, but what we've seen so far has impressed us./

*

 

*Cheers guys!

 

Tim Smalley

www.bit-tech.net