HD4870 or 2xHD4850

[JCD37]

This month I plan on upgrading my computer's Graphics. However I am unsure on whether to choose a HD4870 or to make a crossfire between 2 HD4850.
My motherboard is Asus Maximus Formula, so it does support the 16x+16x CF, and either I choose a HD4870 or 2xHD4850, I pay around the same amount of money. I don't care about power consumption.
So what should I stick with? What will give me higher FPS in games?

[Mr.Guvernment]

i say single 4870 as you know all games will use it.

Xfire who knows, one game may work with it, another wont then you end up with 1 4850 running your game

personally i am getting a single 4850 right now and overclocking it...

[IWasHungry]

I would probably get 2x4850s now if you can get them both for $160USD or less each, since I'm sure that, for most applications, they will do better. 4870 is also a little overpriced right now so it will probably price drop soon, and you'll feel dumb buying it for $300 and then next week it costs $250 or something.
Older games won't support Crossfire very well, but a single 4850 can handle those older games by itself anyway.

[RangerXLT8]

Get the 4870. Less power draw, and the 4870 is a high end card where as 4850 are mid-range. You'll get more performance out of a 4870. Two 4850 cost more than 1 4870.
The performance gain with my 4870 from my 4870 over my HD2900XT 512mb is more than double in some cases, and the 2900XT 512 has the 512-bit memory bus etc.

[Nebulous]

I would get the single 4870 over 2x 4850's. I dunno but Mr. Gee speaks the truth ;)

[deathman20]

Well benifits of the 2x 4850's is that in some games you get a 100% scale factor. In other cases its just above a 4870.

I found that for just $10 more, that 2x 4850's was worth it to me, and a little funner to tweak in the long run I think. Surely the 4870's is nothing to laugh at either its alot of power and can OC nicely even with stock cooler. In your case even gettin 1x 4870 now and looking at another in the future might be a possibility.

[Brolloks]

I've been running the 4850 and the 4870 since the day they came out as well as 4850 CF and I can say with a clear conviction that the 4850 is the best performance for the price paid, I have had ZERO issues with CF or drivers, even when switching from the 4870 to one 4850 and then dual 4850's, every time the drivers took the 1st time, enabling CF etc.

4850's in CF get both my thumbs up.:thup::thup:

[jason4207]

I've been running the 4850 and the 4870 since the day they came out as well as 4850 CF and I can say with a clear conviction that the 4850 is the best performance for the price paid, I have had ZERO issues with CF or drivers, even when switching from the 4870 to one 4850 and then dual 4850's, every time the drivers took the 1st time, enabling CF etc.

4850's in CF get both my thumbs up.:thup::thup:

+1

I think this is the way to go.

[thideras]

4850's in CF get both my thumbs up.:thup::thup:Exactly what I was going to suggest :p

[WorshipMe]

The trouble is, a lot of people don't have motherboards that allow for 2xHD 4850s. That is why I think a HD 4850 X2 would be such a brilliant card, I would certainly buy one as would a lot of other people with P35 boards who don't want the cost of upgrading the motherboard as well.

[Mr.Guvernment]

Get the 4870. Less power draw, and the 4870 is a high end card where as 4850 are mid-range. You'll get more performance out of a 4870. Two 4850 cost more than 1 4870.
The performance gain with my 4870 from my 4870 over my HD2900XT 512mb is more than double in some cases, and the 2900XT 512 has the 512-bit memory bus etc.

the 2900XT was a bit of a flop though. kind of, the 3 series preformed much better then the 2 series with a 256bit bus.

[IWasHungry]

Since we can't reach a consensus just get whatever seems the most appropriate for you individually.

[JCD37]

Thank you guys, it looks like I'm gonna go for the Crossfire;)

[HousERaT]

Here's a thought. Get 2 x 4850 for X-fire then join the benchmarking team. :D

[JCD37]

Here's a thought. Get 2 x 4850 for X-fire then join the benchmarking team. :D

That's the plan:D

I'll be getting the first HD4850 this week (hopefully). By the end of the month I should have the second HD4850 as well:D

Btw, I plan on buying the HIS version of it...I understand that I need those 2 CF Linkers to link the 2 cards and make them work in CF, will the HIS version of it come with those links in the box (I'm asking this cuz in the case of my Sapphire HD3650 I didn't get the CF linkers, even thou the card can support CF). Or I don't need em at all, and I just plug the 2 cards in the slots and play with the ATI Catalyst? (sry if I sound n00blike, but it's my first CF:D)