Powercolor 4850 for $87.99

Gabe63 said:
If it is the reference model they are all the same.

For the new GTX 470/480 who gives the best warranty support, EVGA or PNY?
Click to expand...

No GPU is the same. Some is able to reach higher clocks, whilst some not.. If they don't test their products propperly before delivering, then they can be unstable and even faulty.

EVGA gives the best warranty in europe for GTX 470/480 so far. They will also include a tool that performs some tests and finds the highest and most stable clock for the GTX 480.. The tool is only for the GTX 470/480 because you'll need to enter a serial number on their website in order to download it. Keep in mind that they have not released their products yet.
 
The person who created this thread has their answer. I'm sure arguments can be held in someone else's thread, thank you.

EVGA ftw, they're the only brand that I buy for nvidia cards.
 
i can say that the 5850 gpu is a reference design card, i flashed the bios on my under par gpu (powercolour) using a bios version written for a asus 5850!

this gpu is running cool and clocks like a little champ-!!

i do agree that some will clock better than others but thats nothing to do with the make of the card, why do some i7 920's clock better on lower voltages than others? there the same brand?

i got my i7 920 co stepping running 3.8ghz with no voltage increase

i have now come to belive that the reason some 5850's are more expensive because they offer better waranty and some come stock overclocked or have other gimmicks!

is it the same for the lower cards? i dont know!!
 
Last edited:
Reference cards are all pretty close. And I do admit PowerColor has got better in their own upperend design cards. But they use to be bad about using cheap components on the card. Old liquid filled caps, Neanderthal chokes, just cheaper built cards.
 
Ryeong said:
No GPU is the same. Some is able to reach higher clocks, whilst some not.. If they don't test their products propperly before delivering, then they can be unstable and even faulty.

EVGA gives the best warranty in europe for GTX 470/480 so far. They will also include a tool that performs some tests and finds the highest and most stable clock for the GTX 480.. The tool is only for the GTX 470/480 because you'll need to enter a serial number on their website in order to download it. Keep in mind that they have not released their products yet.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info about EVGA everyone. The point I was making was that reference cards are made by one manufacturer and then are reboxed by others, so I am buying the support and warranty.

I think I want to try a GTX 480 and my local store will sell EVGA and PNY. I will go with EVGA if they get them in.
 
Gabe63 said:
Thanks for the info about EVGA everyone. The point I was making was that reference cards are made by one manufacturer and then are reboxed by others, so I am buying the support and warranty.

I think I want to try a GTX 480 and my local store will sell EVGA and PNY. I will go with EVGA if they get them in.
Click to expand...

Hehe I've already Preordered EVGA GTX 480 :)
 
Gabe63 said:
The point I was making was that reference cards are made by one manufacturer and then are reboxed by others, so I am buying the support and warranty.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info.

I always wondered what the " reference " versions of video cards were. Is that generally considered a plus or minus when selecting Video cards. Or is it primarily for newly released technology?

Thanks
 
Jamin43 said:
Thanks for the info.

I always wondered what the " reference " versions of video cards were. Is that generally considered a plus or minus when selecting Video cards. Or is it primarily for newly released technology?

Thanks
Click to expand...

It can go either way. In general it would be very hard to make a good argument that the non-reference cards will be better. Think about it, the non-refernce cards are made by people who did not design them, sell in lower quantity, and cost less to make.
 
Gabe63 said:
Think about it, the non-refernce cards are made by people who did not design them, sell in lower quantity, and cost less to make.
Click to expand...

True,

But what about software and driver updates. EVGA Precision is a nice addition to their video cards. Is there somebody keeping the reference cards up to date software to keep things humming along at peak performance as the technology rolls out into the real world?
 
Gabe63 said:
It can go either way. In general it would be very hard to make a good argument that the non-reference cards will be better. Think about it, the non-refernce cards are made by people who did not design them, sell in lower quantity, and cost less to make.
Click to expand...

Reference cards use a reference designed PCB and Cooler, and most companies sell reference cards(eg- EVGA only sells reference gpu's, barring two cards, the 9800gt akimbo because of its cooler, and the GTX285 classified, and the hydrocopper cards).

Non-Reference cards cost MORE, as the board partner has to design the GPU in house, and generally the coolers are better, vrm's are better, etc. Some non reference designs will use a reference board, but non reference cooler(eg- Powercolor PCS+ cards, EVGA akimbo and hydrocopper cards, etc). Non-reference is generally the way to go, as reference heatsinks are generally built for ease of mass production and cost effectiveness.

Also, reference cards are not necessarily all built by the same manufacturer, they do however have to follow the reference design specified by nvidia/ati/etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top