Thoughts on new XFX 4890

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GMcDougal

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anyone have any thoughts on the new custom cooled xfx 4890? cant find any reviews of this new card. Also, whats the diff between the regular xfx 4890's and the bestbuy one? xfx website has this model exclusive to best buy.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/XFX+-+A...6025.p?id=1218125775469&skuId=9566025&st=4890

ADDON* upon investigation there is something strange going on with xfx 4890 cards. newegg has a diff model that looks the same, but the memory is a 900mhz. This card at bbmemory runs at 975. Not sure whats going on....
 
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Haven't seen a review, but I have seen people complaining about the card not overclocking as well as other 4890s (be it XFX or not). Be it due to the core not being as good on the card or lower quality parts on it.
 
Lower quality parts.

Id stay away from XFX 4890s unless you happen to find a new/used reference ati version. Basically XFX with their non reference version cut as many corners as possible in pcb / pcb electrical components cost in order to save money. Result is shit overclocking card with questionable life expectancy.
 
DeadSkull said:
Lower quality parts.

Id stay away from XFX 4890s unless you happen to find a new/used reference ati version. Basically XFX with their non reference version cut as many corners as possible in pcb / pcb electrical components cost in order to save money. Result is shit overclocking card with questionable life expectancy.
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Four exceptions. The GUARANTEED reference based design XFX 4890 with high quality parts, and 6+8pin connectors have these model numbers;

HD-489A-ZDBC (Black Edition)
HD-489A-ZDB7 (Black Edition)
HD-489A-ZDDC (XXX Edition)
HD-489A-ZDD7 (XXX Edition)

I've owned all the cards with the above model numbers, and they overclock like a bat out of hell. All other XFX 4890 model numbers? Crap shoot to if you get the cut down model or reference based model.
 
GMcDougal said:
lets say i dont care much about overclocking, still think its a good card? also
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Well, I picked this card up from Best Buy yesterday. It runs perfectly, but will not overclock at all. Just trying to take it from 850MHz to 860MHz causes a system lockup. Also, no HDMI.
 
I purchased the XFX 4890, and i was plagued with low performance. Slower then my then current 8800 GTS 512. Apparently there were a bad batch of these cards going around (multiple search results came up) with the 6 pin power connector version. Sadly I had one of these and returned it for a refund and picked up a 5850 instead.

Glad to hear you ended up with a good one though. It seemed to be a nice card looking at benchmarks, but I'm sure i ended up with a faulty one.
 
Damn that sucks. Wouldn't think XFX would pull shit like that, my Nvidia XFX cards oc'd like beasts, makes me feel a little better about not spending the extra $20 for their 4890.
 
I have that card. So far its been really nice and i have had no problems with it. I am able to overclock the card to 900mhz(gpu) and 1000mhz(memory) without a lockup. anything past that presented problems. It also runs fairly cool in my well vented and cooled case. I can run crysis on it, full enthusiast on my 1440x900 monitor and dirt 2 maxed out without a hitch. Although my resolution isn't 1080, it still looks very impressive.
 
Same here, picked one up from BB in Wichita Falls, TX... oc'ed shitty @ 900/1050. Returned that one to the Ft.Worth store near the base to get my 10% military discount, and picked another XFX HD4890, and it oc'ed @ 950/1100. They suck balut! Of course I'm going x-fire with another one.
 
Chilly said:
Four exceptions. The GUARANTEED reference based design XFX 4890 with high quality parts, and 6+8pin connectors have these model numbers;

HD-489A-ZDBC (Black Edition)
HD-489A-ZDB7 (Black Edition)
HD-489A-ZDDC (XXX Edition)
HD-489A-ZDD7 (XXX Edition)

I've owned all the cards with the above model numbers, and they overclock like a bat out of hell. All other XFX 4890 model numbers? Crap shoot to if you get the cut down model or reference based model.
Click to expand...

Didn't one of the XXX have a bad fan that was really annoying to listen to (not that stock 4890 fan was any better but this xfx one was really bad).
 
I had one for a few days, but opted to return it and buy an ASUS 5770. I got one with the newer heatsink design and it hit 1GHz on the core and 1300MHz on the RAM with no other tweaks. That pulled it to within 60 points or so of the 4890 in Vantage and 3DMark06 (I know, not great methods of benching). It also consumes far less power and runs much cooler. I also saved about $25 going that route.
 
I got one today for $176.99. Still havent put on but but now i'm having second thoughts. Maybe I should return it.
 
DeadSkull said:
Didn't one of the XXX have a bad fan that was really annoying to listen to (not that stock 4890 fan was any better but this xfx one was really bad).
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Your think of the XT which was still had the digital PWM but not a stock(but stock looking) cooler. The model numbers I listed are ALL REFERENCE DESIGN, meaning the stock cooler as well. They are the only 4890's I would think of ever getting, reference design I mean.

Only thing special about them are the Black PCB, while still being reference design.

All other XFX part numbers are a crap shoot, with different fans, fans that looks stock but aren't, analog PWM's(no voltage control)
 
Chilly said:
Your think of the XT which was still had the digital PWM but not a stock(but stock looking) cooler. The model numbers I listed are ALL REFERENCE DESIGN, meaning the stock cooler as well. They are the only 4890's I would think of ever getting, reference design I mean.

Only thing special about them are the Black PCB, while still being reference design.

All other XFX part numbers are a crap shoot, with different fans, fans that looks stock but aren't, analog PWM's(no voltage control)
Click to expand...


actually, the cooler is different for some model.

I had some XFX 4890 25Mhz OC version that have some weird fan....

not quite sure about PCB, but IIRC they look a bit different...
 
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