buying new Graphics card, ATI 4870 or 4890?

So ive had my rig for a while now, and it has a 4670 in it. I got it becuase i didnt have enough money at that time to get a better graphics card but i wanted my comp to be finished. So now down the line i finally have some money saved up and ready to uprgrade my card.

My specs are

E8400

4Gb ram

Asus p5q pro

Windows 7 beta 64bit

750 watt corsair psu

22 inch monitor at 1680 X 1050 resolution

So now im trying to decide if i should go for the 4870 which i can get for $170 or the 4890 for $223

Im new to computer gaming so im pretty much looking to play all the new and current games that are out now and some older ones. Thats why ive come to you guys to help me out on which card would better fit my needs. AA isnt too important as long as i can run the games on high setting for at least the next year or two. Also i am thinking of doing cross fire down the road.

Any help is greatly apreciated :D

i would reccomend a 4870. the model i prefer is this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102825 . It's quite, powerful and amazing lloking

Do you plan on upgrading your monitor anytime soon? If not I would suggest the 4870, at that resolution it should be able to handle anything you want to throw at it for quite some time. If you are thinking about going to a 24" monitor then I would suggest the 4890 as then the extra oof would be worthwhile, IMO.

This monitor is pretty new, so no, i wont be uprgading monitor. Gonna keep my 22 for as long as i can.

I would go with the 4870 since its so much cheaper and not much worse performance wise.

well my decision is leaning towards the 4870. Any last thoughts before i order it? and would i be able to cross fire a 4870 with a 4890 down the road?

According to something I read on www.tomshardware.com The HD 4890 is roughly 10% better than the 4870 in most games. It's up to you to decide whether it's worth the extra money. Either way, they're both amazing cards.

I suggest the 4890 or GTX275.

I have a 22'' at 1680 x 1050. Get the HD4890. It's worth the extra cash. Get the XFX model, lifetime warrenty and a free HAWX game :P

i'd say wait for the next gen late this year, the 4670 still plays most stuff at med-high at that resolution.

man im split right down the middle with this choice. So does the 4890 perform that much better? I would also probably oc it and ive heard that the 4890 overclocks much better than the 4870

Since they both have a similar, almost an identical price, I'd say go with the HD 4890. Or, if you have a CF motherboard, then I recommend 2 HD4770 in CF. Beat the HD 4890 and the GTX 280, but they're way cheaper.

Since they both have a similar, almost an identical price, I'd say go with the HD 4890. Or, if you have a CF motherboard, then I recommend 2 HD4770 in CF. Beat the HD 4890 and the GTX 280, but they're way cheaper.

go-cizmek

man im split right down the middle with this choice. So does the 4890 perform that much better? I would also probably oc it and ive heard that the 4890 overclocks much better than the 4870

rikuna

From what I have seen there is about a 10 to 15% difference between the 4870 and 4890. For a 33% more than a 4870 I am not sure if it is worth it. Your call though. ;)

i had a 4870 512 mb and i got an 4890 OC edition, my fps almost doubledcostyssj4

[QUOTE="costyssj4"]i had a 4870 512 mb and i got an 4890 OC edition, my fps almost doubledjohnny27

QFT!!

Go and get the "SAPPHIRE HD 4890 ATOMIC EDITION". This card is a stout performer that puts a serious dent in the performance lead that Nvidia enjoys with the GTX 285. It's a awesome card and better than 4870. Here are the reviews of this card.:D

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/sapphire_hd4890_atomic/

[QUOTE="johnny27"][QUOTE="costyssj4"]i had a 4870 512 mb and i got an 4890 OC edition, my fps almost doubledTufelhunden

QFT!!

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3555&p=16

it possible to get double but only at 1.2Ghz and not within current benchmark tough so it would be hard to belief but 30fps becoming 50fps is possible specially if you're 4870 was 512meg and not a 1GB

The most only resolution in modern game you will see near double fps is 2560x1600 or Some other resolution bigger then 1920x1200 & 1680x1050 mostly it only get near of +100% boost it get alway at 50-85% Boost from sli / Crossfire maybe when Lucid hydra 100's that missing % will appear it rumour tough

but i do hope Lucid hydra 100's get is potential it say it more related to 3&4 GPU solution according what they state so it would give the % we gamer Desire to obtain the over 60fps performances 50fps is good but we want always higher then 60fps for Extreme Stability that leave no possibility to lag spike that are long Specially in Shooter game : Else most of the time ud barely make Difference of 50 FPS & 60FPS in the game Beside the When it drop at minimum fps and thus Create the Small Lag Performances that durate From 1-10 second in general of performance that we notice a lag in animation / Gameplay

but Server Lag is much more a Trouble :P and Will alway remain until we get the bandwidth 100x Superior then today and that for mr & mrs everyone ;)

id say Go 4890 From a good Brand if you can at 220-240$ and overclock it unless it cost way more then ur 4870 1GB and that you want to save money for buy ur self a 5870 when it release in september or later in the next year when it will drop the cost of the card it self

XFX allow modder Friendly Thus don't void Warranty if you change the Stock Cooler for a 4890 Cooler From ARtic Cooling or other such to perform the 1.2Ghz As it mostly a temperature too hot that would bottleneck you to perform that : MSI is working on it way to make it Cooler On it to obtain Stock 1.0Ghz 4890 Without Asking you to overclock it at home i heard so on techpower up

[QUOTE="costyssj4"]i had a 4870 512 mb and i got an 4890 OC edition, my fps almost doubledjohnny27

[QUOTE="johnny27"][QUOTE="costyssj4"]i had a 4870 512 mb and i got an 4890 OC edition, my fps almost doubledDaytona_178

Well I went ahead and ordered the 4890. Now just waiting to get it shipped to me ^_^