ASUS 4870 TOP vs Sapphire 4870 Toxic

2008-12-21 17:15:41

#1

FloppY_: +1,010|6551|Denmark aka Automotive Hell

I'm getting a new build together in January, specs are:

Asus P5Q (P45)
Intel E8400 (3Gz)
Kingston HyperX T1 2x2Gb PC8500 1066Mhz Dual Channel
Corsair HX520W modular PSU
(Insert one of the above cards here)

All in a Cooler Master Centurion 590 with two top exaust fans and 3 front intake fans and a "standing" CPU cooler facing the rear of the case (may have to move one of the front intake fans to a rear exaust fan because of space limitations)

Now I've come to a standstill, I know ASUS products are quality and so on, and please don't focus on the "looks" of the cards (we all know the Sapphire wins that one)...

The Sapphire is slightly cheaper and as a comparison, the stock 4870 from sapphire seems to be slightly faster than the stock 4870 from ASUS...

I've heard that Sapphire should be great at producing ATi cards.. but personally I have no experience with them...

Sapphire 4870 Toxic

https://www.sapphiretech.com/en/productfiles/254specimage.jpg

Asus 4870 TOP

https://asus.com/999/images/products/2615/2615_l.jpg

Can you guys help me choose? right now I am kinda leaning towards the Sapphire because of this benchmark (which is the only one I have managed to find, and it does not have the ASUS 4870 TOP in it)

Last edited by FloppY_ (2008-12-21 17:17:36)

Your thoughts, insights, and musings on this matter intrigue me

2008-12-21 17:17:46

#2

Brasso: member; +1,549|6896

Check if the Toxic version cools the VRMs too. That's very important. The TOP version definitely does not.

"people in ny have a general idea of how to drive. one of the pedals goes forward the other one prevents you from dying"

2008-12-21 17:29:30

#3

Dauntless: Admin; +2,249|7008|London

What's the difference between the Vapor-X cooler and the cooler I have in my normal Sapphire 4870 1GB?

2008-12-21 17:34:38

#4

FloppY_: +1,010|6551|Denmark aka Automotive Hell

Dauntless wrote:
What's the difference between the Vapor-X cooler and the cooler I have in my normal Sapphire 4870 1GB?

Afaik the Vapor X is much better,, according to what I have read on forums from owners it runs max 60 degrees celcius when under max load... and it has those "3 heatpipes" that are giant-long where as the asus dark knight has 4 heatpipes that are considerably smaller....

EDIT: Also, the Vapor X and Dark Knight coolers run far quieter than their "standard" cousins...

EDIT2: It also appears that the Vapor X is designed more purposely for making sure the airflow utilizes the heatsink as good as possible...

It also depends on which version of the "normal" card you have

https://www.sapphiretech.com/en/productfiles/245specimage.jpg

I'm guessing that you have the standard ATi layout (the two bottom cards on the pic) which is a much less efficient cooler than the Vapor X & Dark Knights afaik

EDIT3: oh, the vapor X cooler also adjusts its speed after the temperature of the card, which means less noise when it is idle

review wrote:
Noise

If you have ever heard the stock fans and coolers in the reference cards being put out today you will know these fans are no joke when it comes to adding a few decibels to the interior of your rig. With the VCT technology managing to cool the core of the GPU more efficiently that the stock cooler, Sapphire did not have to run the fan at percentages near those of the standard card. The fan was quieter than any fan I have heard on any cards released in the past few months. It was quite and upgrade over the old versions. On load the fan sped up and at the same time the noise rose to levels near that of the reference model 4870s. But there is a clear cut difference but the noise is still there.

Last edited by FloppY_ (2008-12-21 17:48:14)

Your thoughts, insights, and musings on this matter intrigue me

2008-12-21 17:50:00

#5

Dauntless: Admin; +2,249|7008|London

No I have the top ones, not that gay blower fan.

I was thinking about getting the toxic, but they don't do it for 1GB cards.

2008-12-21 17:52:36

#6

FloppY_: +1,010|6551|Denmark aka Automotive Hell

Dauntless wrote:
No I have the top ones, not that gay blower fan.

I was thinking about getting the toxic, but they don't do it for 1GB cards.

What resolution do you game in mate?

Your thoughts, insights, and musings on this matter intrigue me

2008-12-21 18:00:02

#7

Dauntless: Admin; +2,249|7008|London

1680X1050, but I want to play GTA, and you can only set the graphics higher with more video memory.

2008-12-21 18:02:53

#8

Aries_37: arrivederci frog; +368|6840|London

Get the cheaper one

2008-12-21 18:04:13

#9

FloppY_: +1,010|6551|Denmark aka Automotive Hell

Dauntless wrote:
1680X1050, but I want to play GTA, and you can only set the graphics higher with more video memory.

Oh yeah,, I'm really dissapointed with Rockstar on GTA IV,, mine is barely playable because the dummies made the textures scale up with the resolution,, completely ruining it for us people with TFT screens who need to run in our monitors "optimal resolution"...

Meh.. I have considered returning that game ever since I got it.. It barely works on my 7900GTO, and I know the minimum specs are a 7900 card, and I wasn't expecting to run it on anything good.,,, but come on... is 1280x1024 really too much to ask -.-

and don't even get me started on all the glitches and bugs -.-

/off topic

Your thoughts, insights, and musings on this matter intrigue me

2008-12-21 18:05:51

#10

FloppY_: +1,010|6551|Denmark aka Automotive Hell

Aries_37 wrote:
Get the cheaper one

You mean the cheaper one which is better looking and matches the color of my motherboard?

The asus is 2200DKK and the sapphire is 2000DKK (10DKK ~ £1)

Last edited by FloppY_ (2008-12-21 18:09:28)

Your thoughts, insights, and musings on this matter intrigue me

2008-12-21 18:06:25

#11

jaymz9350: Member; +54|6842

The other plus for the sapphire is it exhausts the hot air out the rear of the case and the other doesn't.

2008-12-21 18:07:10

#12

Dauntless: Admin; +2,249|7008|London

Yea srsly.

I'm most disappointed with the multiplayer, you have to load single player just to get into it, and everytime you loose connection or some shit (which is a lot of times believe me) it loads single player again...

2008-12-21 18:07:40

#13

FloppY_: +1,010|6551|Denmark aka Automotive Hell

jaymz9350 wrote:
The other plus for the sapphire is it exhausts the hot air out the rear of the case and the other doesn't.

Actually, they both exhaust air out both ends..

The sapphire is open in the other end aswell.. and under that "shield" on the sapphire they are pretty similar

Your thoughts, insights, and musings on this matter intrigue me

2008-12-21 18:36:33

#14

GCFC: Davide Santon; +45|6194|NY/CT

dark knight

2008-12-21 20:28:28

#15

Little BaBy JESUS: m8; +394|6414|'straya

Go with the Palit 1GB or 512MB 4870.... there sexy and cheap as well
(then again im biased since i have one lol)

https://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z43/howdoulikemen0w/palit.jpg

(oh and there are heatpipes up the top... u just cant see them in that pic.

2008-12-21 21:19:42

#16

Defiance: Member; +438|6936

Little BaBy JESUS wrote:
(oh and there are heatpipes up the top... u just cant see them in that pic.

Lies. I see them through the left fan.

2008-12-21 21:39:24

#17

Little BaBy JESUS: m8; +394|6414|'straya

Defiance wrote:
Little BaBy JESUS wrote:
(oh and there are heatpipes up the top... u just cant see them in that pic.
Lies. I see them through the left fan.

lol yer i realised just after i posted but couldnt be arsed to fix it

2008-12-21 22:41:10

#18

some_random_panda: Flamesuit essential; +454|6656

I know the ASUS "Glaciator" (yes, pretty gay name, but bear with me) fans are awesome. I have a crappy generic case and still have my 4850 run at 54 degrees on load with that fan. See if you can get one.

2008-12-22 01:45:32

#19

FloppY_: +1,010|6551|Denmark aka Automotive Hell

Little BaBy JESUS wrote:
Go with the Palit 1GB or 512MB 4870.... there sexy and cheap as well
(then again im biased since i have one lol)
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z43/ … /palit.jpg

(oh and there are heatpipes up the top... u just cant see them in that pic.

uhm, no rear vents????

Also, never heard of palit and I know noone who have so I won't be taking the chance of such a small/unknown manurfacturer (also, I can't buy them here in Denmark)

some_random_panda wrote:
I know the ASUS "Glaciator" (yes, pretty gay name, but bear with me) fans are awesome. I have a crappy generic case and still have my 4850 run at 54 degrees on load with that fan. See if you can get one.

4870 TOP from asus only comes with the stock "noisy" cooler or the Dark Knight one, and the "glacier" is a step downwards from the Dark Knight version

Last edited by FloppY_ (2008-12-22 01:51:57)

Your thoughts, insights, and musings on this matter intrigue me

2008-12-22 02:45:41

#20

Little BaBy JESUS: m8; +394|6414|'straya

FloppY_ wrote:
Little BaBy JESUS wrote:
Go with the Palit 1GB or 512MB 4870.... there sexy and cheap as well
(then again im biased since i have one lol)
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z43/ … /palit.jpg

(oh and there are heatpipes up the top... u just cant see them in that pic.
uhm, no rear vents????

Also, never heard of palit and I know noone who have so I won't be taking the chance of such a small/unknown manurfacturer (also, I can't buy them here in Denmark)

Yer well i didnt see why i should pay an extra $85 for a saphhire card that is exactly the same except... it has a less efficient cooler, and isnt factory overclocked (which doesnt really bother me... but still kinda handy)...

(this may only apply in Australia... lol)

2008-12-22 02:48:10

#21

Freezer7Pro: I don't come here a lot anymore.; +1,447|6463|Winland

FloppY_ wrote:
Little BaBy JESUS wrote:
Go with the Palit 1GB or 512MB 4870.... there sexy and cheap as well
(then again im biased since i have one lol)
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z43/ … /palit.jpg

(oh and there are heatpipes up the top... u just cant see them in that pic.
uhm, no rear vents????

Also, never heard of palit and I know noone who have so I won't be taking the chance of such a small/unknown manurfacturer (also, I can't buy them here in Denmark)

some_random_panda wrote:
I know the ASUS "Glaciator" (yes, pretty gay name, but bear with me) fans are awesome. I have a crappy generic case and still have my 4850 run at 54 degrees on load with that fan. See if you can get one.
4870 TOP from asus only comes with the stock "noisy" cooler or the Dark Knight one, and the "glacier" is a step downwards from the Dark Knight version

Palit is pretty OK. I have one of their 8800GTs, and it's worked well enough. They used to be the shit a couple of years ago.

The idea of any hi-fi system is to reproduce the source material as faithfully as possible, and to deliberately add distortion to everything you hear (due to amplifier deficiencies) because it sounds 'nice' is simply not high fidelity. If that is what you want to hear then there is no problem with that, but by adding so much additional material (by way of harmonics and intermodulation) you have a tailored sound system, not a hi-fi. - Rod Elliot, ESP

2008-12-22 09:24:08

#22

FloppY_: +1,010|6551|Denmark aka Automotive Hell

I just did some digging and found out that ASUS provide a 3 year warranty and Sapphire only 2...

I am still leaning towards the Sapphire though

Your thoughts, insights, and musings on this matter intrigue me

2008-12-22 09:31:45

#23

max: Vela Incident; +1,652|6833|NYC / Hamburg

I'd get the Sapphire one since that heatsink looks better and will exhaust the hot air out of the case. The OC is irrelevant since you can always OC it yourself

_{once upon a midnight dreary, while i pron surfed, weak and weary, over many a strange and spurious site of ' hot xxx galore'. While i clicked my fav'rite bookmark, suddenly there came a warning, and my heart was filled with mourning, mourning for my dear amour, " 'Tis not possible!", i muttered, " give me back my free hardcore!"..... quoth the server, 404.}

2008-12-22 09:38:36

#24

CrazeD: Member; +368|6938|Maine

FloppY_ wrote:
I just did some digging and found out that ASUS provide a 3 year warranty and Sapphire only 2...

I am still leaning towards the Sapphire though

Are you sure? I'm quite certain that Sapphire is 3 years as well.

In any case, get a HIS with the ICEQ4 cooler.

2008-12-22 09:54:42

#25

FloppY_: +1,010|6551|Denmark aka Automotive Hell

max wrote:
I'd get the Sapphire one since that heatsink looks better and will exhaust the hot air out of the case. The OC is irrelevant since you can always OC it yourself

The sapphire OC version has proven to OC farther than the stock card

Your thoughts, insights, and musings on this matter intrigue me

BF2S Forums ASUS 4870 TOP vs Sapphire 4870 Toxic

Dauntless wrote:

review wrote:

Dauntless wrote:

Dauntless wrote:

Aries_37 wrote:

jaymz9350 wrote:

Little BaBy JESUS wrote:

Defiance wrote:

Little BaBy JESUS wrote:

Little BaBy JESUS wrote:

some_random_panda wrote:

FloppY_ wrote:

Little BaBy JESUS wrote:

FloppY_ wrote:

Little BaBy JESUS wrote:

some_random_panda wrote:

FloppY_ wrote:

max wrote:

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