The core and memory clock speeds of the Sapphire Vapor-X are 870MHz and 4200MHz which is slightly faster than a basic reference 4890, which typically runs at 850MHz. Factory overclocked models are clocked at 900MHz, so the 870MHz chosen by Sapphire falls in the middle.
It's the cooler that makes the difference
Sapphire runs the 1GB of GDDR 5 at a true clock speed of 1050MHz which gives an effective speed of 4200MHz. This is at the top end of the various 4890 models on sale, which range from 3900MHz to 4200MHz.
During our testing we found that the Sapphire would overclock comfortably from 870MHz/4200MHz to 950MHz/4480MHz which is slightly slower than the 970MHz/4400MHz we achieved on a reference 4890. The difference amounts to two or three frames per second in Far Cry 2 using Full HD settings. This is mildly disappointing as the Sapphire HD 4890 Vapor-X is a premium graphics card. However, speed is only part of the equation.
3DMark Vantage Results
Longer bars are better
Power Draw Results
Power Draw in Watts (W)
COMMENTS
I like it.
i have this card, i've had it for a month (the 2gb version)
i like it, pretty decent, not arsed about DX11 (look at the DX10 debacle!)
you can make it sound like a hoover if you go into catalyst and set the manual fan to high.
Oh and the blue LED goes bye bye with a pair of tin snips, however, since my case lights are green, a soldering iron and a green LED were a better idea.
@AC
Yep, ATI drivers still crash Vista when aero is running, it has to be disabled to avoid crashes.
It's the only way, I've had this issue, tried every new driver release and it still isn't fixed.
The Return of Captain Obvious
Hmmmm. Nvidia 275 has higher performance and less power and CUDA/PhysX. Takes two cards in crossfire to beat this - but could add a 2nd Nvidia ard that will once again beat this card hands down with less power.
Captain Obvious has returned.
what about the 4850X2?
CONSISTENTLY being named as THE card to get?
quieter cooling is definitly to be appluaded tho..
some cards/pc's sound like hoovers!
cheers,
bill (eupeople.net/forum)
Looks pretty useless to me
Nice technology, but overpriced. Heating up the interior of the case is not encouraging - the point is to expel the air out of the case.
With the 5850/5870 you'd have to be an idiot to buy a card now. 4870s are going from 100 quid inc VAT too..
Now, if they can produce a Vapor X 5870 with Eyefinity, then I'm seriously interested..
