Gigabyte Radeon HD 4850 1GB (GV-R485MC-1GH)

The cooler does look cool (pardon the pun lol). I have always admired Gigabyte for their passive cooled designs, the best IMO.

very nice indeed.

Can you post pictures of your test setups with and without fan? I'd really like to know how close they both are to my case design so i know what to expect. :)

Would you be able to comment also, if the card is "far off" being a reference design.

I ask, because it could make a much better choice for watercooling, with the power/heat saving modifications to the power circuits. but if by doing that they have "blocked" most full cover waterblocks, that would be a bad thing :p

I have one question:

Does the decline in power consumption has anything to do with the absence of active fan(s) on the board?

Originally Posted by Xtrafresh
very nice indeed.

Can you post pictures of your test setups with and without fan? I'd really like to know how close they both are to my case design so i know what to expect. :)

here's with the makeshift "side panel" fan... every other card is tested without that fan there.

http://forums.bit-tech.net/picture.php?albumid=37&pictureid=253

Originally Posted by [USRF
Obiwan]I have one question:

Does the decline in power consumption has anything to do with the absence of active fan(s) on the board?

It'd have a small affect... probably less than 2W.

thx Tim, that's making things a lot clearer. I think this card is very suitable for me. I integrated my PC in the desk (project unfinished :( ) and the sound of my 8800 GTS 640 is really starting to bug me. Plus this looks better :D

How well would this card handle TES4 Oblivion at 1920x1200, given a reasonable CPU (Quad Core)? 40-60 Frames?

Originally Posted by Aterius Gmork
How well would this card handle TES4 Oblivion at 1920x1200, given a reasonable CPU (Quad Core)? 40-60 Frames?

I'd say Fallout 3 is more intensive, but based on the same engine... you should be able to play at 1,920 x 1,200 fine with a bit of AA to boot.

The 2nd paragraph in the "final thoughts" section doesn't make sense...

Nice card though. :)

Originally Posted by airchie
The 2nd paragraph in the "final thoughts" section doesn't make sense...

proof reading fail, thanks.

love it, i absolutely love it. a completely silent solution that allows performance. if i had a decent job i'd buy one for the htpc i want to build for my imaginery 50 inch 1080p tele. ho hum, to the gym to earn that job :P

peace

fatman

p.s nice review as always tim, bla bla bla

getting a 4850 passivly cooled... that is one hell of a job,

Originally Posted by Tim S
here's with the makeshift "side panel" fan... every other card is tested without that fan there.

*Snip*

If its not held on with tape, its not worth putting there :p

hmm me thinks I see the card thats going to replace my current 4850 for my HTPC, no worries the current 4850 with the noisy fan will make a new home in my brothers rig which will be a nice upgrade for him.

The drop in power consumption seems a bit too good, they might not just redesigned the pcb, but also lowered the gpu voltage a tad, not like that would be a bad thing if it still works afterwards though.

1GB Ram on a Midrange graphicscard? seems a bit of a waste to me, no real performance benefit unless you have a monitor that can run at 1,920 x 1,200 or higher, which means 24" or bigger, however, if you have a 24"+ monitor, you will most likely have the cash for a 4870, GTX280 or 4870x2 anyway.

Just out of curiosity, why didn't you guys chose to compare the Gigabyte 1gig 4850 to the Sapphire 1gig 4850 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102759)? Would've been nice to see who made the better card and if the extra $20 was warranted by Gigabyte IMO.