ASUS EAH4850

[Mikel Sunova]

I am awaiting delivery of this ASUS EAH4850
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121325

I haven't bought a video card for a while and have a few elementary
questions regarding the features of the card:



1) Can the 2 DVI ports be used for two monitors, or is it just for monitors
that require 2 DVI connection (DVI Link?)

2) What would I use the TV out for? (HDTV / S-Video / Composite Out)

HDMI? (Via adapter).


I know this card will easily handle my business and CS3 usage, but I also
may do a little gaming with it.

Any comments (good or bad) to say regarding this card or chipset?


Thanks,
Mikel

 

[Bob Knowlden]

1) I've never tried it personally, but the two DVI ports can drive two
monitors.

Dual link DVI (for high-res monitors) isn't two DVI connections: it requires
a single DVI interface of the correct type.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface#Connector

Both of the connectors on your card appear to be dual link, so (in
principle), you could connect two 30" monitors (each 2560 X 1600 pixels).

2) I dunno. Do you have any analog TVs that can use S-Video? HDMI is
preferable for current digital TVs.

I haven't used a 4850, but rather a 4870 (same, but with DDR5 video RAM).
They are good cards, particularly at their current price points.

I trust that you have a PCI-Express mainboard that'll take the card. (PCI
and PCI-E are entirely different.) It also needs a single 6 pin PCI-E
auxiliary power connector to drive the card, but it comes with an adapter to
take two Molex connectors into one PCI-E.

 

[Mikel Sunova]

2) I dunno. Do you have any analog TVs that can use S-Video? HDMI is
preferable for current digital TVs.

Hi Bob,
Thanks for the response. This card does support HDMI aand composite via
adapters (s-video>Composite and DVI>HDMI), but what I was really wondering
is just what would I output to the TV? Games, Movies? I doubt I'll need this
feature, but would not want to miss a feature I could use.

I haven't used a 4850, but rather a 4870 (same, but with DDR5 video RAM).
They are good cards, particularly at their current price points.

I looked at those, but wanted to maintain a balance, as I'm not a hardcore
gamer, but may play a game here and there and wanted the capability.

I trust that you have a PCI-Express mainboard that'll take the card. (PCI
and PCI-E are entirely different.) It also needs a single 6 pin PCI-E
auxiliary power connector to drive the card, but it comes with an adapter
to take two Molex connectors into one PCI-E.

Yes, I have all of that covered. I'm fairly tech-savvy, just not up on the
latest video card features. I'm replacing an ATI AIW XL1800, which is the
last card I've bought. ANd my PSU does have 6 pin PCI-E connectors.

Also, one other question that I had hoped to ask in response to my OP, but
that has yet to surface (fortunately, my server did download your response):

This is my 1st Asus video card. If you know, is there any reason *not* to
load the Asus software? With the 1800XL, when ATI stopped supporting the TV
software, I've generally just loaded the ATI driver (minus CCC) and have
been fine with that because a lot of the mfr software is buggy or silly. I'm
wondering if the general consensus on Asus software is good, bad or
indifferent? My tendency would be to install ATI 9.9 (display driver only),
but would I be missing out by avoiding the Asus software?

Thanks again,
Mikel

Relevant Specs:
Win7 64 bit RTM
GA-EP45-UD3R
8GB Gskill
Q9550

 

[Mikel Sunova]

ALso, there seems to be an issue with these boards running hot. Anyone?

Mikel

 

[Man-wai Chang to The Door (+MS=32B)]

ALso, there seems to be an issue with these boards running hot. Anyone?

Yes, the original Asus 4850 with single-slot heatsink fan is really hot.

Is your Asus 4850 of a newer design with dual-slot heatsink fan?
You might want to tell us the temperature you are getting!

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[Matti Wartiainen]

Yes, the original Asus 4850 with single-slot heatsink fan is really hot.

Is your Asus 4850 of a newer design with dual-slot heatsink fan?
You might want to tell us the temperature you are getting!

I got Asus HD4850, it has Asus's own "Glaciator"-cooler. It is quite
loud at default 50% fanspeed, but i noticed that fan-noise is reasonable
level at 24% setting and still card stays at 57 degrees celsius at idle
and 88 degrees celsius at heavy load (with milkyway@home)

 

[Mikel Sunova]

Yes, the original Asus 4850 with single-slot heatsink fan is really hot.

Is your Asus 4850 of a newer design with dual-slot heatsink fan?

I think it probably is, at least it looks like it is in the picture here (I
have not yet received delivery of the card):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121325


Thanks,
Mikel

 

[Mikel Sunova]

I got Asus HD4850, it has Asus's own "Glaciator"-cooler. It is quite
loud at default 50% fanspeed, but i noticed that fan-noise is reasonable
level at 24% setting and still card stays at 57 degrees celsius at idle
and 88 degrees celsius at heavy load (with milkyway@home)

Hi Matti,
Yes, the card I ordered has the Glaciator cooler, so perhaps the heat issues
I've read about are corrected. Are you controlling the fan speed via Asus
software? If so, what is your opinion of the software provided with the
card?

Thanks,
Mikel

 

[Matti Wartiainen]

Hi Matti,
Yes, the card I ordered has the Glaciator cooler, so perhaps the heat issues
I've read about are corrected. Are you controlling the fan speed via Asus
software? If so, what is your opinion of the software provided with the
card?

Yes, I'm using Asus SmartDoctor, working fine. I do not use any other
software that came with the card so can't comment on them.

 

[Bob Knowlden]

Comments interspaced.

(snip)
Hi Bob,
Thanks for the response. This card does support HDMI aand composite via
adapters (s-video>Composite and DVI>HDMI), but what I was really wondering
is just what would I output to the TV? Games, Movies? I doubt I'll need
this feature, but would not want to miss a feature I could use.

I've never used TV outputs on any of the graphics cards I've had in the past
14 years.

I looked at those, but wanted to maintain a balance, as I'm not a hardcore
gamer, but may play a game here and there and wanted the capability.

I regard both the 4850 and 4870 as good deals. I'd probably buy the 4870
today, just because it's not much more expensive than the 4850, but the 4850
is fine.

Yes, I have all of that covered. I'm fairly tech-savvy, just not up on the
latest video card features. I'm replacing an ATI AIW XL1800, which is the
last card I've bought. ANd my PSU does have 6 pin PCI-E connectors.

Also, one other question that I had hoped to ask in response to my OP, but
that has yet to surface (fortunately, my server did download your
response):

This is my 1st Asus video card. If you know, is there any reason *not* to
load the Asus software? With the 1800XL, when ATI stopped supporting the
TV software, I've generally just loaded the ATI driver (minus CCC) and
have been fine with that because a lot of the mfr software is buggy or
silly. I'm wondering if the general consensus on Asus software is good,
bad or indifferent? My tendency would be to install ATI 9.9 (display
driver only), but would I be missing out by avoiding the Asus software?

Don't know, I haven't had an Asus card. In the motherboard realm, I tend not
to install most of their utility/overclocking software. Strikes me as an
attempt to create the illusion of added value.

Thanks again,
Mikel

Relevant Specs:
Win7 64 bit RTM
GA-EP45-UD3R
8GB Gskill
Q9550

(snip)

 

[Mikel Sunova]

Yes, I'm using Asus SmartDoctor, working fine. I do not use any other
software that came with the card so can't comment on them.

Thanks Matti, That helps.

Mikel

 

[Mikel Sunova]

Comments interspaced.



I've never used TV outputs on any of the graphics cards I've had in the
past 14 years.



I regard both the 4850 and 4870 as good deals. I'd probably buy the 4870
today, just because it's not much more expensive than the 4850, but the
4850 is fine.


Don't know, I haven't had an Asus card. In the motherboard realm, I tend
not to install most of their utility/overclocking software. Strikes me as
an attempt to create the illusion of added value.

That's been my opinion as well. Thanks for your input. The weirdest thing
about this thread is that none (not one) of my posts have shown up using a
newsreader. Checking google groups shows all of my posts and all of the
responder's posts, and all responder's posts show up in my newsreader...just
not my posts. That's a first here.

Thanks again,
Mikel

 

[DRS]

[...]

I got Asus HD4850, it has Asus's own "Glaciator"-cooler. It is quite
loud at default 50% fanspeed, but i noticed that fan-noise is
reasonable level at 24% setting and still card stays at 57 degrees
celsius at idle and 88 degrees celsius at heavy load (with
milkyway@home)

Hi Matti,
Yes, the card I ordered has the Glaciator cooler, so perhaps the heat
issues I've read about are corrected. Are you controlling the fan
speed via Asus software? If so, what is your opinion of the software
provided with the card?

I've also got the EAH4850 with the Glaciator cooler. I turfed the Asus
software, my PC has enough shit on it as it is. You can control the fan
speed just fine from CCC once you've activated ATI Overdrive. Mine usually
sits on 50% and is barely audible. Temperature is simply not an issue with
that cooler.

 

[Mikel Sunova]

[...]

I got Asus HD4850, it has Asus's own "Glaciator"-cooler. It is quite
loud at default 50% fanspeed, but i noticed that fan-noise is
reasonable level at 24% setting and still card stays at 57 degrees
celsius at idle and 88 degrees celsius at heavy load (with
milkyway@home)

Hi Matti,
Yes, the card I ordered has the Glaciator cooler, so perhaps the heat
issues I've read about are corrected. Are you controlling the fan
speed via Asus software? If so, what is your opinion of the software
provided with the card?

I've also got the EAH4850 with the Glaciator cooler. I turfed the Asus
software, my PC has enough shit on it as it is. You can control the fan
speed just fine from CCC once you've activated ATI Overdrive. Mine
usually sits on 50% and is barely audible. Temperature is simply not an
issue with that cooler.

Hi DRS,
Good to know that the heat issue is not an issue . As far as CCC, I've
avoided installing that for several years now. It's always been too buggy.
Perhaps it's time to give it another try, although it may mess with my
EyeOne calibration software.

Thanks,
Mikel

 

[Mikel Sunova]

Just another thought...since I have an aversion to CCC (perhaps unfounded
these days...?), are Tray Tools still considered the way to go?

Thanks,
Mikel

[...]

I got Asus HD4850, it has Asus's own "Glaciator"-cooler. It is quite
loud at default 50% fanspeed, but i noticed that fan-noise is
reasonable level at 24% setting and still card stays at 57 degrees
celsius at idle and 88 degrees celsius at heavy load (with
milkyway@home)

Hi Matti,
Yes, the card I ordered has the Glaciator cooler, so perhaps the heat
issues I've read about are corrected. Are you controlling the fan
speed via Asus software? If so, what is your opinion of the software
provided with the card?

I've also got the EAH4850 with the Glaciator cooler. I turfed the Asus
software, my PC has enough shit on it as it is. You can control the fan
speed just fine from CCC once you've activated ATI Overdrive. Mine
usually sits on 50% and is barely audible. Temperature is simply not an
issue with that cooler.

 

[Bob Knowlden]

I haven't tried them. but I vaguely recall reading that ATI Tray Tools
contains unsigned drivers, so that Win7 X64 won't permit it to be installed.

Win7 x64 isn't all that restrictive, as I have used beta drivers regularly.
There's just an extra mouseclick to permit the beta to be installed.
However, completely unsigned drivers are no go, unless the security features
are turned off.