Friday, January 4th 2008

SAPPHIRE Announces AGP HD 3850

SAPPHIRE Technology has just announced support for legacy PC systems using the AGP graphics bus with a new product in its HD 3000 series which brings the latest graphics architectures and features to this industry standard platform.

The SAPPHIRE HD 3850 AGP is available with 512MB of GDDR3 memory, running at 846MHz (1.7GHz effective) and has a core clock speed of 700MHz. It is a standard ATX format card, compatible with the industry standard AGP interface and with its slim fan assisted cooler the card occupies only a single expansion slot in the PC.

The SAPPHIRE HD 3850 AGP shares the 320 stream processors and 512-bit internal ring bus memory controller of the latest PCI-Express models together with multiple rendering units and a programmable tessellation unit. This new product's unified shader architecture with support for Shader Model 4.0 and the forthcoming DirectX 10.1 combine to deliver the most outstanding graphics performance ever available to AGP users.

Now manufactured in a new 55nm process technology, the GPU in the HD 3000 series delivers high performance with lower power consumption than previous generations. A new feature known as ATI PowerPlay actively reduces power consumption depending on loading. On the AGP model, additional power is required via the 8-pin PCI-Express connector fitted, which can be provided from a standard power supply with an adapter cable (supplied).

The SAPPHIRE HD 3850 AGP incorporates the latest ATI Avivo HD Technology for enhanced Video display and features a built in UVD (Unified Video decoder) for the hardware accelerated decoding of Blu-ray and HD DVD content for both VC-1 and H.264 codecs, considerably reducing CPU loading. Two independent display output controllers provide support for two dual link DVI displays as well as TV-out and HD TV options. HDCP is supported.

SAPPHIRE HD 3000 series graphics cards are Microsoft Windows Vista Premium certified and supported by the ATI Catalyst suite of software, ensuring customers have ongoing access to software updates for performance, stability and added features.

Specifications: SAPPHIRE HD 3850 AGP

Source: SAPPHIRE
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56 Comments on SAPPHIRE Announces AGP HD 3850

#26
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
there is always a bottle neck no matter how you look at it, even the Fastest CPUs out still bottleneck.
Posted on Reply
#29
InnocentCriminal
Resident Grammar Amender
Jimmy 2004What makes you think that?
MakaveliHe said that because if you ever trying installing vista on a Nforce3 board with a Dualcore CPU, you will not be able to get the videocard drivers installed. Its an issue Nvidia knows about, they however said if you want Vista support u need Nforce4 and up.
The infamous Code 43 malarkey. I plan on having a bash at seeing if I can overcome it with my set up once I can be arsed to reformat and re-partition.
there is always a bottle neck no matter how you look at it, even the Fastest CPUs out still bottleneck.
I would have thought having a stupidly fast CPU would be the least thing to bottleneck the system, what about the HDD(s) and the bus speeds?
Posted on Reply
#30
intel igent
Sweet! Where to buy? Any 3870's slated for release?

I think its time I finally upgraded my gfx! How much longer are these compared to x850's?

Thnx!
Posted on Reply
#31
Morgoth
Fueled by Sapphire
still none in netherlands :(
Posted on Reply
#32
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
Perhaps a Mod Bios is needed, but then again Drivers are abundant with the Unified Remix 11.16
InnocentCriminalThe infamous Code 43 malarkey. I plan on having a bash at seeing if I can overcome it with my set up once I can be arsed to reformat and re-partition.



I would have thought having a stupidly fast CPU would be the least thing to bottleneck the system, what about the HDD(s) and the bus speeds?
Posted on Reply
#33
15th Warlock
There's no way in hell I'm getting the Sapphire version, can anyone tell me were to get the Powercolor AGP 3850? :toast::respect::rockout:
Posted on Reply
#34
ShadowFold
Imo AGP should die =/ what cpu WONT bottleneck that? Sure a AMD Opty at 3ghz would be ok but how many AGP users have one of those?
Posted on Reply
#35
Morgoth
Fueled by Sapphire
sapphire version is a bith faster then the powercolor version..
Posted on Reply
#36
15th Warlock
Morgothsapphire version is a bith faster then the powercolor version..
Yes but: faster clocks + single slot cooler = a fried card in about 2 months FTW! :rockout:

I bet you can get more OC from the Powercolor version at lower temps, besides after having two Sapphire cards die on me (one less than 24 hours after I got it from the egg... :banghead:) I promised myself never to buy one of their cards again :nutkick: :p
Posted on Reply
#37
Scrizz
Sapphire's been good w/me :toast:
Posted on Reply
#38
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
what is the true operating frequency of the 3850?
Posted on Reply
#39
InnocentCriminal
Resident Grammar Amender
D'you mean the default clock speed for the PCIe 3850 compared to the AGP version?

The default speed for the 3850 (PCIe) is 670MHz, the 3870 is 775MHz...
Posted on Reply
#40
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
well aslong as im not paying more for a preoverclocked card im fine with it, but if it costs more than the other 3850s ill go with the ones that are stock clocked and just push the performance out myself, as its obvious that sapphire doesnt get all the cream of crop chips.
Posted on Reply
#42
Morgoth
Fueled by Sapphire
i get my self sapphire agp version and put a waterblock on it
Posted on Reply
#43
Assimilator
ShadowFoldImo AGP should die =/ what cpu WONT bottleneck that? Sure a AMD Opty at 3ghz would be ok but how many AGP users have one of those?
Agreed... the best processors available for AGP-based motherboards are S939 Opteron X2s, and I reckon even one of those would bottleneck an X1950, nevermind an HD 3850.
Posted on Reply
#44
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
i would assume your Opty Bottlenecks the 7950GX2 you have there right
Posted on Reply
#45
InnocentCriminal
Resident Grammar Amender
Where does everyone get their information on what CPU will bottleneck what? That's what I'd like to know.
Posted on Reply
#46
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
I agree with you 100% I say its Persuasive Marketing Crap to get you to switch to one over the other, well sorry I dont have time to be building a new machine only upgrades.
InnocentCriminalWhere does everyone get their information on what CPU will bottleneck what? That's what I'd like to know.
It was also very hard to predict AMD moving to AM2/+ and Intel Kicking AMDs butt for once, thats why ive stuck with what ive had for 4 years now.
Posted on Reply
#47
NastyHabits
Hurray for AGP

As someone who only upgrades when my machine actually dies, or can't play a game I want, I applaud these high-end AGP cards. :toast: (I tossed my 1GHz Athlon, GXPro machine when it couldn't play Colin McRae Rally 2004). My current (Prescott) CPU is still fine, but my 6600 GT is getting long in the tooth.

I just wonder what the price will be? The Powercolor version is selling for about 200 Euros in Europe.
Posted on Reply
#48
erocker
*
AssimilatorAgreed... the best processors available for AGP-based motherboards are S939 Opteron X2s, and I reckon even one of those would bottleneck an X1950, nevermind an HD 3850.
I run a 8800GTS, but my Opty overclocks like a bat out of hell, and yes there is a bottleneck, but really almost all processors bottleneck newer high end video cards. My bottleneck isn't enough to worry about. My old x2 3800+ at 2.75ghz was a good match with my old x1950pro AGP. The only real bad bottlenecks your going to get with any Core 2, or even K8 is running them at lower or stock speeds. P4's on the other hand, that's when you can start talking about bottlenecks. I currently have a 11,754 3d06 score with my system. (the winter is your friend;)
Posted on Reply
#49
InnocentCriminal
Resident Grammar Amender
erocker... but really almost all processors bottleneck newer high end video cards.
I honestly think it depends on how the CPU is implemented, as in, the set up it's being used in. Plus you've stated high-end cards, we're talking about a bottom end of the mid-range here.
I know that CPUs do create a bottleneck it's just I'm the sort of person that needs to proof when people say things along these lines.
Posted on Reply
#50
Makaveli
InnocentCriminalI honestly think it depends on how the CPU is implemented, as in, the set up it's being used in. Plus you've stated high-end cards, we're talking about a bottom end of the mid-range here.
I know that CPUs do create a bottleneck it's just I'm the sort of person that needs to proof when people say things along these lines.
Well i'm speaking from first hand experience, I first noticed what a cpu bottleneck will do when running a NForce 2 barton + X800XTPE a few years ago. When I moved that videocard to a A64 3200+ there was a huge increase in videocard performance. Enough so that it was noticeable without even running benchmarks it could be felt in game.

And as for the pervious post, I was running a x1950 Pro AGP on my Opteron 170 @ 2.7 Ghz and the bottleneck was small. however a 3850 is much faster and would increase said bottleneck. I would hate to see one of these cards in a P4 :banghead:
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