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4870 Newegg Memory Clocks. What one?

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DocFaustus

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Sep 22, 2002
Messages
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I am looking for a new video card and comparing 4870 cards in 512 & 1G models. The memory clock specs for each card is confusing me because I cannot tell what they mean. Performance wise, is there much of a diff? Here is the different numbers I see across the models (brand names in parenthesis ):

All models are GDDR5

512MB models:
1800mhz (HIS, PowerColor, VisionTek)
900mhz (Sapphire)
950mhz (PowerColor)
3600mhz (HIS, ASUS)
2000mhz (MSI)
3800mhz (XFX)
3700mhz (ASUS)
3680mhz (ASUS)
4000mhz (HIS)

1G Models
3600mhz (XFX, HIS, MSI, Gigabyte, ASUS)
900mhz (Sapphire)
925mhz (PowerColor)
3800mhz (XFX)
4000mhz (HIS)
1800mhz (Diamond)

These range in price from 164.99 to 349.99 without including any X2 models. Is there any justification to any of this?
 
All models are GDDR5

512MB models:
1800mhz (HIS, PowerColor, VisionTek) x2 = 3600mhz
900mhz x2 (Sapphire) = 1800mhz x2 = 3600mhz
950mhz x2 (PowerColor) = 1900mhz x2 = 3800mhz
3600mhz (HIS, ASUS)
2000mhz (MSI) x 2 = 4000mhz
3800mhz (XFX)
3700mhz (ASUS)
3680mhz (ASUS)
4000mhz (HIS)

1G Models
3600mhz (XFX, HIS, MSI, Gigabyte, ASUS)
900mhz x 2 (Sapphire) = 1800mhz x2 = 3600mhz
925mhz x 2 (PowerColor) = 1850mhz x 2 = 3700mhz
3800mhz (XFX)
4000mhz (HIS)
1800mhz (Diamond) x 2 = 3600mhz

Some manufacturers give you the "real" clockspeed, some the quadpumped clockspeed and some the dual pumped. Just compare the numbers at the end of each row now and you have it.
 
750mhz core and 900mhz (ddr 5 3600mhz) memory are the "normal" clocks for a 4870.

Everything past that is the card maker overclocking the card, using faster memory, or both.
 
They all use the same Qimonda or Hynix memory rated at 1000MHz (4000MHz QP'ed).

Each manufacturer just bins them so that the better performing memory goes on their factory OC'ed cards.

You won't see a huge performance increase from models with OC'ed memory. If you're lazy and don't want to mess with any OC'ing, then get a factory OC'ed model. Otherwise, go with a cheaper stock clocked model and do the OC'ing yourself...
 
Thanks for the replies that helps a lot. I am thinking of the PowerColor 4870 512 because it is the cheapest at 154.99 AR. Is this a decent choice or should I go for another? I wanted to go for a 1G version but the prices seems to have gone up a bit lately.
 
If you can wait a week or two, I'd recommend doing so. It's been announced that ATI will be dropping the price of the HD4870 512MB by $50.

The card you're looking at, and/or others, could be even lower with or without rebates.

As far as the choice you're currently considering, it looks to be a decent card. Just be aware that Newegg has mis-listed the GPU/MEM clock speeds. Actual speeds for that card are 770/900 (default being 750/900). It has just a slight OC on the GPU core...
 
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