Thursday, February 7th 2008

SAPPHIRE Launches 1GB HD 3850

SAPPHIRE Technology, industry leader in graphics upgrades for the PC, has just launched a new version of its successful HD 3850 with enhanced memory configuration of 1GB.

The new SAPPHIRE HD 3850 has 1GB of GDDR3 memory, running at 829MHz (1.66GHz effective). It has a core clock speed of 703MHz, higher than the standard model, which together with the large onboard memory delivers exciting levels of graphics performance especially in games or applications where large volumes of texture or data are involved.

The SAPPHIRE HD 3850 series 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, reducing CPU loading to a minimum. The HDMI adaptor delivers true audio and video output on a single cable for direct connection of an HDMI ready display, making the SAPPHIRE HD 3850 an ideal solution for gamers and video enthusiasts.

Featuring the latest CrossFireX technology, the SAPPHIRE HD 3850 has two high speed connectors on each card allowing 2, 3 or even 4 graphics cards to be daisy-chained together for enhanced performance when installed in a CrossFireX mainboard. As each card has two dual-link DVI connectors, this allows up to eight monitors to be used at the same time, or - with CrossFire enabled - two GPU's (and up to four with future driver releases) to provide a more powerful rendering solution.

All the new SAPPHIRE HD 3800 series combine a powerful unified shader architecture with support for Shader Model 4.0 and the forthcoming DirectX 10.1 connected via the latest PCI-Express Gen 2.0 interface. The architecture shares the 320 stream processors and 512-bit internal ring bus memory controller of the company's other high end models together with multiple rendering units and a programmable tessellation unit to deliver outstanding graphics performance. Now manufactured in a new 55nm process technology, the GPU in the HD 3000 series delivers this performance with lower power consumption and at lower cost than previous generations. A new feature known as ATI PowerPlay actively reduces power consumption depending on loading.

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. Support for DirectX10.1 provides developers with access to enhanced programming techniques and new lighting effects.

General Specifications

Source: SAPPHIRE
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33 Comments on SAPPHIRE Launches 1GB HD 3850

#1
asb2106
wow! Is it really necessary to have 1GB of memory on it? If your running that high of rez you should probably have a faster GPU anyways, right?
Posted on Reply
#2
Dia01
asb2106wow! Is it really necessary to have 1GB of memory on it? If your running that high of rez you should probably have a faster GPU anyways, right?
I agree, same as the 8800GT 1GB to a degree also.
Posted on Reply
#3
happita
Yep. Card makers should only compliment cards that are fast enough to help utilize that much memory. For example the 8800 ultra, now that would be a decent card to test 1GB out on.
Posted on Reply
#4
Para_Franck
I would have preferred to see a 512Mb GDDR4 version than a 1Gig GDDR3. 1Gig is overkill for this GPU, it will be bottlenecked somewhere and leave the user not being abble to take full advantage of all his Memory. In the end, I guess it's better to have to much memory and let the GPU reach it's full potential, than being limited by the memory. Once again, I feel that GDDR4 would have been the rigth way to go.

Para_Franck
Posted on Reply
#5
kylew
I'd rather too much memory than "just enough" although I think this would be better suited to the 3870X2, I know it "has" 1GB of RAM, but that's 2x512MB one for each core. 1GB per core would be pretty good for it especially at high res :)
Posted on Reply
#6
ShadowFold
I would trade a standard cool'd non-oc 3850 for my IceQ 3850 cause I can always OC it again :p
Posted on Reply
#7
DrunkenMafia
I know the 8500GT is a complete waste of time but the 3850 may be able to utilise that amount of ram in some games... Of course that is just my opinion but I would like to see some benchies of this compared to a 512mb one.. especially at 1600 res...

The 3850 still handles quite well with a lot of games at higher res'....

Maybe w1zz can get his hands on one....
Posted on Reply
#8
Makaveli
Marketing BS!

If a 8800GT can't use 1GB of memory, do you think a slower card like the 3850 will be able to.
Posted on Reply
#9
Wile E
Power User
MakaveliMarketing BS!

If a 8800GT can't use 1GB of memory, do you think a slower card like the 3850 will be able to.
8800GT can use 1GB in some games stock, and it can use it in even more games once OCed.

Can't speak for the 3850 tho.
Posted on Reply
#10
nflesher87
Staff
you'd think they'd at least have done this with the 3870 before the 3850...
Posted on Reply
#11
Morgoth
Fueled by Sapphire
agp version plz :D :D
Posted on Reply
#12
[I.R.A]_FBi
Para_FranckI would have preferred to see a 512Mb GDDR4 version than a 1Gig GDDR3. 1Gig is overkill for this GPU, it will be bottlenecked somewhere and leave the user not being abble to take full advantage of all his Memory. In the end, I guess it's better to have to much memory and let the GPU reach it's full potential, than being limited by the memory. Once again, I feel that GDDR4 would have been the rigth way to go.

Para_Franck
thats why you overclock!
Posted on Reply
#13
erocker
*
ShadowFoldI would trade a standard cool'd non-oc 3850 for my IceQ 3850 cause I can always OC it again :p
I saw your review on Newegg!:D
Posted on Reply
#14
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
1GB HD3870 Please. I'm planning to buy a HD3870 soon :shadedshu
Posted on Reply
#15
ShadowFold
btarunr1GB HD3870 Please. I'm planning to buy a HD3870 soon :shadedshu
That would be too much money imo, if it does offer a noticeable difference I might sell my IceQ and get it.
Posted on Reply
#16
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
I was planning for a while to go ATI. But if there's a HD3870 1GB for say $270, I'll take it. Else just for $310 I can get a 8800 GTS (G92) 512M
Posted on Reply
#17
ShadowFold
btarunrI was planning for a while to go ATI. But if there's a HD3870 1GB for say $270, I'll take it. Else just for $310 I can get a 8800 GTS (G92) 512M
I can get my 3850 to 3870 core speeds but not ram cause its not GDDR-4..
Posted on Reply
#19
Wile E
Power User
Makaveliwww.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=715

Not Worth it!
Did you even read what I said? When OCed, the 1GB of memory makes a larger difference. And besides, there are games that do make use of the 1GB, even before OCing. Just look at the PT Boats demo to see what difference it's capable of.

Not only that, that review has the worst numbers I've seen out of a 1GB GT.

Now, is the 1GB GT worth the extra money? Depends. If you can find a G92 GTS for about the same price, then probably not. But if you find one significantly cheaper than a GTS, or for only a small premium over a 512MB GT, then it is a good value.
Posted on Reply
#20
adrianx
the 1Gb memory will be ok to use ... in 2-4 years :D

when the 1gb variant will have more speed and bandwidth that standard version with 512mb.

I really want to see a test with 256mb, 512mb and 1GB memory all cards with same GPU. I also believe that from the design of the 8800GT gpu, was the maximum useful memory set to 512mb.

Also I don't know one program/benchmark that can verify that all video memory can be use by gpu and also to see if in gaming the gpu really us e or load any data/texture in memory space from 512mb to 1gb. I like to know if the driver are designed to take an advantage of the memory.

A real test I believe that will be with the game stalker. So if any one have a 1GB card and 512mb card please post a score.
Posted on Reply
#21
candle_86
happitaYep. Card makers should only compliment cards that are fast enough to help utilize that much memory. For example the 8800 ultra, now that would be a decent card to test 1GB out on.
lol not possible unless you add 4 more ram modeules on the card, a 384bit bus could do 1.5 though :D
Posted on Reply
#22
Dia01
adrianxthe 1Gb memory will be ok to use ... in 2-4 years :D

when the 1gb variant will have more speed and bandwidth that standard version with 512mb.

I really want to see a test with 256mb, 512mb and 1GB memory all cards with same GPU. I also believe that from the design of the 8800GT gpu, was the maximum useful memory set to 512mb.

Also I don't know one program/benchmark that can verify that all video memory can be use by gpu and also to see if in gaming the gpu really us e or load any data/texture in memory space from 512mb to 1gb. I like to know if the driver are designed to take an advantage of the memory.

A real test I believe that will be with the game stalker. So if any one have a 1GB card and 512mb card please post a score.
Not exactly the same cards but an indication nonetheless between 512MB and 256MB.
www.nvnews.net/reviews/xfx_geforce_8800gt_256mb/index.shtml
Posted on Reply
#23
Eliranos
They know we dont really need 1 gb but they are getting rid of the GDDR3 stocks cause of the move to GDDR4 soon on all cards and later on the GDDR5
Posted on Reply
#24
happita
candle_86lol not possible unless you add 4 more ram modeules on the card, a 384bit bus could do 1.5 though :D
Eh? I'm just talking about if they redesign the 8800 ultra so it can fit the extra 256 memory then it would make good use of the 1GB memory.
Posted on Reply
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