SAPPHIRE Announces AGP HD 3850

[Jimmy 2004]

SAPPHIRE Technology has just announced support for legacy PC systems using the AGP graphics bus with a new product in its HD 3000 series which brings the latest graphics architectures and features to this industry standard platform.

The SAPPHIRE HD 3850 AGP is available with 512MB of GDDR3 memory, running at 846MHz (1.7GHz effective) and has a core clock speed of 700MHz. It is a standard ATX format card, compatible with the industry standard AGP interface and with its slim fan assisted cooler the card occupies only a single expansion slot in the PC.

The SAPPHIRE HD 3850 AGP shares the 320 stream processors and 512-bit internal ring bus memory controller of the latest PCI-Express models together with multiple rendering units and a programmable tessellation unit. This new product's unified shader architecture with support for Shader Model 4.0 and the forthcoming DirectX 10.1 combine to deliver the most outstanding graphics performance ever available to AGP users.

Now manufactured in a new 55nm process technology, the GPU in the HD 3000 series delivers high performance with lower power consumption than previous generations. A new feature known as ATI PowerPlay actively reduces power consumption depending on loading. On the AGP model, additional power is required via the 8-pin PCI-Express connector fitted, which can be provided from a standard power supply with an adapter cable (supplied).

The SAPPHIRE HD 3850 AGP incorporates the latest ATI Avivo HD Technology for enhanced Video display and features a built in UVD (Unified Video decoder) for the hardware accelerated decoding of Blu-ray and HD DVD content for both VC-1 and H.264 codecs, considerably reducing CPU loading. Two independent display output controllers provide support for two dual link DVI displays as well as TV-out and HD TV options. HDCP is supported.

SAPPHIRE HD 3000 series graphics cards are Microsoft Windows Vista Premium certified and supported by the ATI Catalyst suite of software, ensuring customers have ongoing access to software updates for performance, stability and added features.

Specifications: SAPPHIRE HD 3850 AGP

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Namslas90]

I remember a few months ago when everybody said AGP was Dead...LOL.

Then they made 1950's, soon followed with 2XXX's and now the 3850's...WOOT!

 

[Cold Storm]

I remember a few months ago when everybody said AGP was Dead...LOL.

Then they made 1950's, soon followed with 2900's and now the 3850's...WOOT!

AGP will never be dead until they stop making the boards.. and they wont for another few years because they now have the combo mobos. Glad to see that something that started it all is still alive!

 

[erocker]

I must say that I'm totally happy with my x1950pro AGP. I must warn people that there is a good chance that you won't be able to use Vista with these cards and a NF3 chipset.

 

[Jimmy 2004]

I must say that I'm totally happy with my x1950pro AGP. I must warn people that there is a good chance that you won't be able to use Vista with these cards and a NF3 chipset.

What makes you think that?

 

[Cold Storm]

I must say that I'm totally happy with my x1950pro AGP. I must warn people that there is a good chance that you won't be able to use Vista with these cards and a NF3 chipset.

that is right.. good thoughts....

 

[DaMulta]

LOL AGP needs to DIE.

You can get a PCI-E system for cheap now.

 

[mikek75]

Also, ATI has announced that it is only going to update AGP drivers on a three monthly basis (and who knows for how much longer after that!)

 

[erocker]

Yeah, but if everything else you have is good and just need a card this is the way to go. But yeah, people need to change sometime....

 

[MilkyWay]

i think that prices of pci ex have fallen so low that you can get a system for soo cheap that will out do most agp systems not to mention that agp will eventually stop being made

IS such a thing as a am2 agp board coz thats another reason to get pci ex coz agp is done as far as boards and cpu goes

 

[rhythmeister]

Long live AGP

 

[suraswami]

I must say that I'm totally happy with my x1950pro AGP. I must warn people that there is a good chance that you won't be able to use Vista with these cards and a NF3 chipset.

Anyway Vista is crap. Why should I upgrade to a filthy product?

 

[JrRacinFan]

IS such a thing as a am2 agp board coz thats another reason to get pci ex coz agp is done as far as boards and cpu goes

Actually, I saw a DDR2/AM2/AGP 8X cpu motherboard combo on newegg from winodw browsing earlier today.


But.....

I know someone who is going to be thrilled ....

MORGOTH!!! He has been waiting to hear this for a long while now!

 

[Scrizz]

i got a ddr/775(e2180)/AGP(x1950GT) pc , and that pc works fine

 

[X-TeNDeR]

AGP needs to retire. pcie is cheaper and faster, and simply better. agp boards crumble slowly, like my k8n neo2 plat.. its classic, but its time to let go, R.I.P AGP

 

[wiak]

tose guys dont get HDMI out, atlest not with audio unless AGP magicly supports it, might be a spdif input on the 3850 AGP card it self you have to connect anyway, its good that AMD supports people with S939 + AGP platforms

 

[eidairaman1]

well first of all for those that say AGP should die, well it wont because people are still making upgrades to their machines despite what they can build, but its like this why bother spending over 2000 bux for a good machine when you can upgrade for less than that? Also the card makers are getting the money in to keep on producing such cards and make a profit, look at the X1950 Pro. Also there was a article on Graphical Performance of the AGP vs PCI e and both were equally matched.

 

[Morgoth]

hey this does even gets bether now lets wait for HIS hd3850 agp

 

[Morgoth]

 

[Waldoinsc]

Nice pic's Morgoth...any pricing yet for these...I have 3 systems still running AGP that my kids and I play Starcraft and C&C2 on..one 754 pin (3700+), one 939 pin (Opty 185) and a P4 (old 2.8GHz Dell) ...these new cards would be a great upgrade to my Radeon 9700 Pro and X800GTO.

 

[WarEagleAU]

Wow, more and more AGP.

 

[rhythmeister]

AGP needs to retire. pcie is cheaper and faster, and simply better. agp boards crumble slowly, like my k8n neo2 plat.. its classic, but its time to let go, R.I.P AGP

AGP is bottlenecked by the low wattage that the bus can supply it with (as far as I know), why don't manufacturers just speed these buggers upto PCI-E clock speeds then push the PSU requirements up a bit?

 

[erocker]

AGP is bottlenecked by the low wattage that the bus can supply it with (as far as I know), why don't manufacturers just speed these buggers upto PCI-E clock speeds then push the PSU requirements up a bit?

If you looka at AGP vs. PCI-E benchmarks there is no real bottleneck. My x1950pro agp and a x2 3800, was just as fast (faster actually) than my friends x1950pro pci-e and x2 3800 clock for clock.

 

[eidairaman1]

Mogoroth, nice Pic of the board, I think i will pick one up and sell one of the 1950 Pros, once i get both back from RMA (Hope New boards)

 

[eidairaman1]

By the way Provide Proof Please

Also, ATI has announced that it is only going to update AGP drivers on a three monthly basis (and who knows for how much longer after that!)