Derrick
ლ(ಠ_ಠ )ლ
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2010
- Messages
- 5,085
- Reaction score
- 5
Graphics comeback kid may have new price- performance king on their hands
The past few months have been a rough ride for Nvidia. The graphics giant had spent the past year getting very comfortable, with their 8800 series pummelling AMDs HD 3000s.
AMD’s Comeback
AMD were looking pretty down before launching their HD 4000 series, which has managed to put them right back where they should be, and they are once again doing what they do best: giving Nvidia hell with high performing low cost graphics solutions.
While Nvidia offer high performing parts in the GTX 260 and GTX 280, AMD just can’t be beaten in terms of value for money.
AMD spot entry level gap
Up until now AMD have had the upper-mid to top-end market covered, however, their HD 4860s have been less than stellar.
Up until now, consumers have been better off purchasing outgoing 8800s, HD 3870s and 9600s than investing in new entry level hardware.
HD 4830 to plug the gap
Being the progress loving rascals they are, AMD are not content to sit back and let aging hardware rule the budget market. Early reviews of their new HD 4830 are already showing its impressive 9800GT-floorwiping abilities.
AMD have given the HD 4830 a fighting chance against higher end hardware by fitting it with some decent specs. Initially intended to feature a stripped down 192-bit memory bus, AMD had a last minute change of heart and allowed it a full 256-bit bus. With clock speeds at just a shade under the HD 4850, and a memory bandwidth of 56.6 GB/s, the HD 4830 nips at its older siblings heels in terms of its gaming performance.
As of launch (23 October), the HD 4830 is significantly over priced at about $130 (R 1480). The skydiving Rand doesn’t help matters much, but that is another story for another blog. The price should come down to a more reasonable $100 (R1140). We can therefore hope to get the card here at around R1500.
At this price point, the HD 4830 will be the uncontested king of the budget hill, offering significant improvements over outgoing budget solutions. Now if we could just get a decent exchange rate…
The past few months have been a rough ride for Nvidia. The graphics giant had spent the past year getting very comfortable, with their 8800 series pummelling AMDs HD 3000s.
AMD’s Comeback
AMD were looking pretty down before launching their HD 4000 series, which has managed to put them right back where they should be, and they are once again doing what they do best: giving Nvidia hell with high performing low cost graphics solutions.
While Nvidia offer high performing parts in the GTX 260 and GTX 280, AMD just can’t be beaten in terms of value for money.
AMD spot entry level gap
Up until now AMD have had the upper-mid to top-end market covered, however, their HD 4860s have been less than stellar.
Up until now, consumers have been better off purchasing outgoing 8800s, HD 3870s and 9600s than investing in new entry level hardware.
HD 4830 to plug the gap
Being the progress loving rascals they are, AMD are not content to sit back and let aging hardware rule the budget market. Early reviews of their new HD 4830 are already showing its impressive 9800GT-floorwiping abilities.
AMD have given the HD 4830 a fighting chance against higher end hardware by fitting it with some decent specs. Initially intended to feature a stripped down 192-bit memory bus, AMD had a last minute change of heart and allowed it a full 256-bit bus. With clock speeds at just a shade under the HD 4850, and a memory bandwidth of 56.6 GB/s, the HD 4830 nips at its older siblings heels in terms of its gaming performance.
As of launch (23 October), the HD 4830 is significantly over priced at about $130 (R 1480). The skydiving Rand doesn’t help matters much, but that is another story for another blog. The price should come down to a more reasonable $100 (R1140). We can therefore hope to get the card here at around R1500.
At this price point, the HD 4830 will be the uncontested king of the budget hill, offering significant improvements over outgoing budget solutions. Now if we could just get a decent exchange rate…