Sapphire HD 4730 512 MB

[mdm-adph]

Yes I know they use different cores, but it doesn't seem like it can be crossfired with RV770 cards either. They are both the HD4700 series, so they should be able to be crossfired together. ATi would be stupid if they couldn't, as it would be very confusing for the consumer. Up until now, everyone has been told that cards from the same model series work together in crossfire...

Hey -- you hit the nail on the head -- enjoy it. This is a big screw-up from ATI.

I guess the lack of 40nm chips out there is hurting them more than they'd admit -- frankly I don't understand why they had to release this thing at all -- the farking 2900XT was more efficient...

 

[OnBoard]

now is the time to speak up. i'm preparing a new vga test rig and will rebench all the cards so i am free to make changes now

How about 3DMark Vantage and DX10 game tests with those who have it.

3DMark Vantage Pro Features

* All Advanced version features
* Benchmark automation with command line scripting
* 3DMark Vantage Pro (Download) $495.00 <- that was the price year ago

http://www.futuremark.com/benchmarks/3dmarkvantage/buyit/

3DMark Vantage
Professional Edition
$1995

Kinda know now why you don't have Vantage there. That's one messed up price shadedshu) and seems to be the only version with automated benchmark. Think you have many 3DMark Vantage Advanced Editions that came along with review cards, but seems they won't help.

 

[Mussels]

if you're updating review procedures for video cards, do company of heroes in DX10 as well as DX9

 

[W1zzard]

we get free licenses from futuremark, but 3dmark vantage has a gay licensing model so i'm boycotting it. i got coj2, hawx, dow2, battleforge and riddick dark athena as new benchmarks

 

[kylzer]

Nice review and looks a great Bang for buck card hehe crossfire could be deadly.

 

[ShogoXT]

Have you ever looked at Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance? Fairly heavy on a system.

 

[W1zzard]

i had supreme commander for a while but ditched it because the results were too inaccurate .. easily 20% spread between runs

 

[MrMilli]

After reading the review, I know why At least it's cheap, but still kinda misleading to have a low end card that requiers high end PSU.

Why high-end PSU? The test system peaks at 303W at the wall (so it's using like ±255W internally) and it's a i7 @ 3.8Ghz.
Any OK-grade 380W-400W PSU will suffice.
Just to give an example:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341020
That's $50 ($40 after rebate) ... not really expensive i would say.

W1zzard, you mention that your test system has 2 x 1GB DDR3.
Don't you mean 3 x 1GB?

 

[W1zzard]

W1zzard, you mention that your test system has 2 x 1GB DDR3.
Don't you mean 3 x 1GB?

no it's 2x 1 GB .. congrats being the first one to notice that. new test system has 3x 2 GB Vista32, now complain about that

 

[MrMilli]

no it's 2x 1 GB .. congrats being the first one to notice that. new test system has 3x 2 GB Vista32, now complain about that

I will, in due time ...

 

[Mussels]

no it's 2x 1 GB .. congrats being the first one to notice that. new test system has 3x 2 GB Vista32, now complain about that

please, please go x64

 

[newtekie1]

please, please go x64

Thats what I was going to say. Not much of a point moving up from 2GB to 6GB if you are only going to be using 2GB anyway...

 

[OnBoard]

Why high-end PSU? The test system peaks at 303W at the wall (so it's using like ±255W internally) and it's a i7 @ 3.8Ghz.
Any OK-grade 380W-400W PSU will suffice.
Just to give an example:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341020
That's $50 ($40 after rebate) ... not really expensive i would say.

I said high-end PSU because of the need for 2x PCI-e power plugs. It's not a common thing on low end PSUs and your example doesn't have two either. 500W modular version seems to have it, seems to be "SLI/Crossfire ready" needed.

Sure you can always use adapters, but that was not the point I was trying to make. You might as well go 4870 or CrossFire 2x4770 if you need to get a new PSU anyways

 

[MrMilli]

I said high-end PSU because of the need for 2x PCI-e power plugs. It's not a common thing on low end PSUs and your example doesn't have two either. 500W modular version seems to have it, seems to be "SLI/Crossfire ready" needed.

Sure you can always use adapters, but that was not the point I was trying to make. You might as well go 4870 or CrossFire 2x4770 if you need to get a new PSU anyways

What's wrong with adapters? 12V = 12V and internally it's all coming from the same 12V line.
And i don't think anybody buying a retail videocard has a PSU lower than 380W.

 

[Mussels]

What's wrong with adapters? 12V = 12V and internally it's all coming from the same 12V line.
And i don't think anybody buying a retail videocard has a PSU lower than 380W.

adapters are fine on a single rail PSU, but they can go very bad on a multi rail PSU. if your PSU has four rails for example, how the hell do you know which plugs to get the power from?

oh and on the 380W... dont worry, many brands sell 500W+ PSU's (coolermaster for example) with two rails at 18A or under. those are far below the standards of a quality 380W

 

[OnBoard]

What's wrong with adapters? 12V = 12V and internally it's all coming from the same 12V line.
And i don't think anybody buying a retail videocard has a PSU lower than 380W.

If someone really wants to run their PSU near max load, who am I to stop them. Not my heat or noise

I had system bog down with 8800GT and a 400W power supply on 3DMark06. Stock clocks with Core2Duo. Think it had something like 16A on 12V.

I like to have some reserve, I did with this PSU (600W) on 8800GT and 9800GTX+, now (GTX 280) not so much, but it let me upgrade at least

 

[Deleted member 67555]

adapters are fine on a single rail PSU, but they can go very bad on a multi rail PSU. if your PSU has four rails for example, how the hell do you know which plugs to get the power from?

Not sure about all psu's, but mine came with a user guide that defined each rail- and i have not looked for some time but it may also be labled on the side.(of my psu anyways)

oh and on the 380W... dont worry, many brands sell 500W+ PSU's (coolermaster for example) with two rails at 18A or under. those are far below the standards of a quality 380W

That's a life lesson there brother,kinda like never trust anything that bleeds for 7 days and lives!
Anytime you buy a Psu check the SPECS!!!! or look up your exact model# for your current psu and check the SPECS!!!!!! or spend at least $50 at the EGG or any well respected seller if you don't know what to look for! ask here

Originally Posted by MrMilli View Post
What's wrong with adapters? 12V = 12V and internally it's all coming from the same 12V line.
And i don't think anybody buying a retail videocard has a PSU lower than 380W.

NO NO NO most people bought a HP,DELL,Emacines etc.... That came with a 250-300w Bestec single rail psu POS and only know they are lacking something to play games,edit video etc... so they listen to someone who knows a little more then they do and buy a Descent way over priced video card from the local Walmart, and they have no idea at ALL they need a better PSU


Sorry to get off subject it was a great article

 

[MrMilli]

Well PSU's can die. Even +800W models. Doesn't mean they weren't strong enough, just tells you something about the build quality.
Multi-rail PSU's are the biggest marketing scam since ... well i don't remember.
Most Multi-rail PSU's have one 12V line inside (the line regulators and transformers are the same).
You're better off getting a good single rail PSU and avoid getting crappy loadsplitters inside your 'multi-rail' PSU (or you need to go expensive).
Actually 'two' 18A 12V rails will do just fine for this card Mussels. 30-32A combined (sustained, not peak) on the 12V will suffice. And i think you're refering to the Coolermaster Extreme Power series (which you should avoid). Well those are rated by their peak power. All other (and excellent) PSU's from Coolermaster are rated by their sustained power (like the Silent Power series, which are probably one of the most silent PSU's at the moment).
Let's not forget that the system is using around 250W. That's 62% load on a 400W PSU. That's nothing. This card actually doesn't need two PCI-E power connectors. It's using around 120-130W. It can get 225W from the MB and PSU. That's overkill. Manufacturers just count on people having POS hardware.

But let's stop the PSU stuff guys ... this was a videocard review!

 

[newtekie1]

adapters are fine on a single rail PSU, but they can go very bad on a multi rail PSU. if your PSU has four rails for example, how the hell do you know which plugs to get the power from?

With adaptors, it is recommended to put each molex on a different line of molexes coming from the PSU. However, even if you don't do that, a single adaptor is only going to draw a max of 75w, while most rails, even on cheapish multi-rail PSUs are rated for 120w+.

 

[OnBoard]

Well PSU's can die. Even +800W models. Doesn't mean they weren't strong enough, just tells you something about the build quality.

My example PSU didn't die, it shut down to a black screen with the load.

Let's not forget that the system is using around 250W. That's 62% load on a 400W PSU. That's nothing.

But let's stop the PSU stuff guys ... this was a videocard review!

You forget the PSU efficiency. With a cheapo PSU you get 70% maybe 75% and that's 280-300W usable power. 83-89% load on 400W and it's not nothing. Yep, not PSU review, so I kept it short

 

[Deleted member 67555]

W1ZZard Please go x64 along side your x86 I happen to enjoy your honest reviews and would like to see a 64bit comparison

 

[W1zzard]

W1ZZard Please go x64 along side your x86 I happen to enjoy your honest reviews and would like to see a 64bit comparison

alongside? no way. too time consuming, too little to be gained

 

[MrMilli]

My example PSU didn't die, it shut down to a black screen with the load.

You forget the PSU efficiency. With a cheapo PSU you get 70% maybe 75% and that's 280-300W usable power. 83-89% load on 400W and it's not nothing. Yep, not PSU review, so I kept it short

That's not what efficiency means.
Efficiency = the amount of power you waste to get to your rated power.
Any 400W PSU can deliver 400W to the system.

Example:
PSU = 400W @ 80% efficiency.
While the PSU is providing 400W internally to the system, it will draw 500W from the wall.

 

[Deleted member 67555]

alongside? no way. too time consuming, too little to be gained

Ok:'( However I have a serious question, When do you think we will start to see x64 as the basic test bed? When do you believe that transition will happen? your opinion sir

 

[W1zzard]

i think when switching to windows 7 which will probably be some time this year