- Joined
- Sep 7, 2003
Hey guys! Please read my entire post before responding, as this isn't a question about which is the faster card.
I currently have a Sapphire 3650 512MB as the secondary video card in my system. It's on 24/7, but 100% of the time it just sits there in 2D, not doing much at all. I bought it brand new a little bit ago, and have had no problems with it at all.
Recently, I got a cheap Visiontek 4650 512MB. To be honest, it looks a little lower quality than the Sapphire. The heatsink on my 3650 is pretty large, while the Visionstek is a small black one, with a small fan on the side of it, that doesn't look like it really blows across the fins at all. Even the components appear to be of lower quality.
Performance is a no brainer, the 4650 would be faster, but that just doesn't matter in this case.
1. Does the 4650 draw less power? Does the 4650 leak less heat? This is the most important factor for me, aside from the quality of the card.
2. Does the 4650 include any newer hardware features, like H.264, that my 3650 wouldn't have? This doesn't concern me too much since I would do anything important on my primary card anyway.
3. Compatibility. I purchased the 3650 to go along side my 3870. Now that I'm putting in a 4870 1GB, should I upgrade my secondary to a 4000 series as well?
4. Quality. The Sapphire is just better quality, right? I've had no problems with it since I bought it new, and this 4650 would be used. If you were me, would you just stick with the 3650?
Thanks!
I currently have a Sapphire 3650 512MB as the secondary video card in my system. It's on 24/7, but 100% of the time it just sits there in 2D, not doing much at all. I bought it brand new a little bit ago, and have had no problems with it at all.
Recently, I got a cheap Visiontek 4650 512MB. To be honest, it looks a little lower quality than the Sapphire. The heatsink on my 3650 is pretty large, while the Visionstek is a small black one, with a small fan on the side of it, that doesn't look like it really blows across the fins at all. Even the components appear to be of lower quality.
Performance is a no brainer, the 4650 would be faster, but that just doesn't matter in this case.
1. Does the 4650 draw less power? Does the 4650 leak less heat? This is the most important factor for me, aside from the quality of the card.
2. Does the 4650 include any newer hardware features, like H.264, that my 3650 wouldn't have? This doesn't concern me too much since I would do anything important on my primary card anyway.
3. Compatibility. I purchased the 3650 to go along side my 3870. Now that I'm putting in a 4870 1GB, should I upgrade my secondary to a 4000 series as well?
4. Quality. The Sapphire is just better quality, right? I've had no problems with it since I bought it new, and this 4650 would be used. If you were me, would you just stick with the 3650?
Thanks!