Sapphire HD 4890 Toxic / Vapor-X

[newtekie1]

1% is what W1z got on his with stock voltage. He was able to push it to 1000MHz after upping the voltage, but even at 1000MHz I don't think the HD4890 can compete with an overclocked GTX275...

[intel igent]

^^ here in the land of IGLOO's a 275 is on average $80+ more than a 4890 so if you wanna give me some extra cash, like $100 or so (maybe more) i'll return my 4890 and buy a 275 to make everybody happy

not everybody is in the US and as such we don't get the same pricing as you guy's

[newtekie1]

Originally Posted by intel igent

^^ here in the land of IGLOO's a 275 is on average $80+ more than a 4890 so if you wanna give me some extra cash, like $100 or so (maybe more) i'll return my 4890 and buy a 275 to make everybody happy

not everybody is in the US and as such we don't get the same pricing as you guy's

This site talks about US dollars, and more importantly so does this review. If you don't like it we can talk about Canadian prices, but obviously prices vary from country to country.

Show me where the HD4890 Toxic is $80 cheaper than the $240 the GTX275 goes for. In fact, I'm guessing you can't even show me any HD4890 that is $80 cheaper than the $240 GTX275.

[Tatty_One]

Originally Posted by newtekie1

1% is what W1z got on his with stock voltage. He was able to push it to 1000MHz after upping the voltage, but even at 1000MHz I don't think the HD4890 can compete with an overclocked GTX275...

Most reviews show that a 1000mhz 4890 can equal a stock GTX285 in a couple of things, it loses out a little in many but betters it in a couple, there are plenty of reviews out there of the Sapphire Atomic, so I suppose you could say, for someone that dont overclock, perhaps the high end 4890's with good factory overclocks may just be the better buy, if you overclock perhaps not, again as you mentioned, it's down to cost, would I pay a premium over a GTX275? probably not. It's the luck of the draw on how these things will overclock out of the box, thing is, before I got this card to compliment my GTX275 which is in my Yorkfield rig, I read 5 reviews on the Toxic, every one got the core to at least 1020mhz, I spose I got lucky at 1050mhz, W1z's sample obviously wasnt so lucky!

The thing is, W1z on his first review of the "standard" 4890 clearly said, when you cut through the initial ATi hype, most 4890's wont actually hit 1000mhz, at least not without lots of ugly volts being put through them and it was clear to me all along that in stock guise a 4890 was a bit slower than a GTX275 which is why I got the 275, but if you can get them to 1000mhz, baring in mind there are no voltage increase options for the 275, then you do have one fast single GPU on your hands, here is one of those reviews of the Atomic at stock 1000mhz and overclocked, mixed results.

http://www.overclockersclub.com/revi..._atomic/13.htm

[MrAlex]

Originally Posted by newtekie1

1% is what W1z got on his with stock voltage. He was able to push it to 1000MHz after upping the voltage, but even at 1000MHz I don't think the HD4890 can compete with an overclocked GTX275...

OK, how bout the Atomic? Core at 1000MHz and Memory at 4200MHz effective. It competes with the GTX 285 and is CHEAPER than the GTX 285. Hell in the UK, the 4870X2 is cheaper!!

Originally Posted by btarunr

GTX 275 wins this round. All this card manages is a 1% overclock (in the review), and ends up providing 1.7% performance boost with it. Compare that to say a Zotac GTX 275 AMP. AMD partners shouldn't be putting in so much of development, only to end up matching a GTX 275 at its stock speed. Spend the same $270 on a Zotac 275 AMP, EVGA 275 SSC, BFG 275 OC2, etc. instead. Or you could give this a look.

Give this a look:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...04890%20atomic
Performs on par with GTX 285, cheapest is:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814133256

[btarunr]

I'm yet to read a review that suggests it's as fast as a GTX 285. Even then, it's on par with a stock GTX 285. keyword "stock". For $15 more, you potentially have 15~20% boost with the overclocking headroom of GTX 285.

[newtekie1]

Originally Posted by MrAlex

OK, how bout the Atomic? Core at 1000MHz and Memory at 4200MHz effective. It competes with the GTX 285 and is CHEAPER than the GTX 285. Hell in the UK, the 4870X2 is cheaper!!

This review, and discussion thread of the review is not about the Atomic. I'm talking about the Toxic, and the Toxic only.

[Tatty_One]

Originally Posted by btarunr

I'm yet to read a review that suggests it's as fast as a GTX 285. Even then, it's on par with a stock GTX 285. keyword "stock". For $15 more, you potentially have 15~20% boost with the overclocking headroom of GTX 285.

I agree, hence you will note my fairly careful wording in my post regarding the 285, however, the key thing is that in most things it beats the GTX275 (but thats probably at stock and the 275 will have more headroom for an OC over an atomic already at 1000mhz) however I would like to test that for myself because I am not so sure, now I have both cards maybe I will when I have a little time, of course I can only test them on the games I play but I am sure that some will say I am the most biased unbiased reviewer of all time!

I dont really care which is the faster as I have both, I just sometimes get a little sick of the bickering

[Easo]

One question, why Catalyst 9.1? i thought 4890 got support with 9.5 (or was it 9.6). At the time of 9.1 card was still in making.

[W1zzard]

the driver used was 9.5 or 9.6 indeed

[totalz]

SO, what's the max voltage limit for RV790?

[Tatty_One]

Originally Posted by totalz

SO, what's the max voltage limit for RV790?

OCP/OVP kicks in on anything above 1.45V I beleive but you can get around that. As for absolute max..... I have not yet been stupid enough (or drunk enough) to try 1.5V yet.

[UrbanX]

Does anyone know anywhere that has this card in stock? I can't find one anywhere? Thanks.

[Tatty_One]

Originally Posted by UrbanX

Does anyone know anywhere that has this card in stock? I can't find one anywhere? Thanks.

That very much depends on where you live really.

[UrbanX]

Originally Posted by Tatty_One

That very much depends on where you live really.

Ah, yes, good point! Sorry.

I'm in Merry Old England (UK).

[Tatty_One]

OK, are you talking about the better Toxic or the vaporX?

[UrbanX]

Originally Posted by Tatty_One

OK, are you talking about the better Toxic or the vaporX?

Vapor-X. I'm looking for some pretty decent power, at a reasonable price (£150-£180), but as quiet as possible. Happy to take alternate suggestions if this card is no longer available. Thanks.

[Tatty_One]

Originally Posted by UrbanX

Vapor-X. I'm looking for some pretty decent power, at a reasonable price (£150-£180), but as quiet as possible. Happy to take alternate suggestions if this card is no longer available. Thanks.

The toxic is better, it has an IMPROVED VaporX cooling solution (with additional heatpipes) and stocks at 90mhz higher at 960mhz as opposed to the VaporX's 870Mhz

But if you want the VaporX..............

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/p...0-05-231R.html

Or the 2GB version...........

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/3154...por-x-2-g.html

[UrbanX]

Originally Posted by Tatty_One

The toxic is better, it has an IMPROVED VaporX cooling solution (with additional heatpipes) and stocks at 90mhz higher at 960mhz as opposed to the VaporX's 870Mhz

Yeah, I'd finally decided to go for the card shown in this review http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/S...Toxic_Vapor-X/ but can't find anywhere that stocks it.

I saw another comment somewhere else that said it had a really small production run, so I'm thinking it may be impossible to find now.

[Tatty_One]

Originally Posted by UrbanX

Yeah, I'd finally decided to go for the card shown in this review http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/S...Toxic_Vapor-X/ but can't find anywhere that stocks it.

I saw another comment somewhere else that said it had a really small production run, so I'm thinking it may be impossible to find now.

look at my amended post

[UrbanX]

Originally Posted by Tatty_One

look at my amended post

Wow. Nice price on the 2Gb version (even if the extra gig isn't supposed to add much).

I think I'll go for that, unless you think the Toxic version is still available anywhere?

Thanks for your help with this. Much appreciated.

[Tatty_One]

Originally Posted by UrbanX

Wow. Nice price on the 2Gb version (even if the extra gig isn't supposed to add much).

I think I'll go for that, unless you think the Toxic version is still available anywhere?

Thanks for your help with this. Much appreciated.

No, it seems it's not, i have even tried my "secret" suppliers, i got my Toxic which clocks at 1050mhz comfortably for £170 when they were first released and your welcome! The VaporX's generally dont clock as well but even at 900 - 950 they will be screaming. i wouldnt bother with the 2Gig version though unless your gaming at high res as in 19XX or above. Crysis however may well use more than 1Gig of texture memory.

[UrbanX]

Originally Posted by Tatty_One

No, it seems it's not, i have even tried my "secret" suppliers.

Ah well, you win some, you lose some.

I think I'll get the 2Gb version as it's only £4 more expensive.

Thanks again Tatty_One.