Sapphire Radeon HD 4770

If frame rate performance was equal, which solution would make more sense: buying one expensive high-end video card, or combine two budget-priced middle-market video cards for less than the high-priced unit? For most consumers, when all things are equal, it comes down to cost. That's the message in this article: don't pay more unless you're getting more. Because the truth is that two ATI Radeon HD 4770 video cards can be combined into a CrossFireX set and perform better than more expensive alternatives - at less than half the price.

The Sapphire Radeon HD 4770 introduces the 40nm RV740 GPU paired to 512MB of DDR5 video frame buffer memory, and a double-height cooler allows the 100277L model video card to operate at 750MHz. As of May 2009, the Sapphire HD4770 sells for as low as $99, which allows gamers to create a very affordable CrossFireX array using this mainstream graphics accelerator. Benchmark Reviews compares two Sapphire Radeon HD4770's assembled into a CrossFireX set against a large collection of high-performance GPU's for the tests in this article.

Faced by an economy in recession, it could be smarter to refine the products you have than to design and produce completely new ones from the ground up. This is the basis for my introduction, and the concept behind AMD/ATI's business strategy for the discrete graphics market. Which raises the question: should a video card manufacturer improve and perfect their current products, or should they spend money they can't spare on a new design? AMD has decided to refine their Radeon 4000-series GPU with the 40nm RV740 for mainstream gamers, while the competition is pledging itself to expensive and unnecessary ultra high-end products for a shrinking market.

The Radeon HD 4000-series has been a real success for AMD, and combined with Phenom II Processors they create a synergistic effect called the Dragon platform. The new Radeon RV740 GPU is the next well-bred concept from the ATI labs, and in this article Benchmark Reviews tests the performance of the new ATI Radeon HD 4770 40nm RV740 DDR5 B743 video card against several graphics accelerators from the middle- and top-end segment. Clocked at 750MHz the Radeon HD4770 targets HTPC builders and everyday gamers, at a price point launching at $100.

The video card industry is hurting as bad as anyone during this economic recession, and nobody is walking around happy about PC graphics these days. They can't, really, not when many of the latest video game titles for the personal computer are released only after console versions have been made available first. Even once you get past that burn, you're greeted by yet another. In 2008 there were dozens of great video games released on the PC platform, but very few of them demanded any more graphical processing power than most games demanded back in 2006.

Of the recent PC video games released, Far Cry 2 is one of the very few which demand modern graphics to enjoy decent performance, which older games such as Crysis and Battlefield 2 are also guilty of. Yet, somehow the need for better PC graphics hasn't become a prerequisite for new games, because when Battlefield 2042 and Crysis 2 came out they both required less graphical processing power than the former versions. Because of the various factors working against desktop graphics, I'd say that now is the time for manufacturers to stop building a bigger mousetrap, and instead build it better.

About Sapphire Technology

Pioneers in a new era of how data is displayed and games are played, Sapphire shepherds the performance oriented with ground-breaking solutions to an environment that remains in a constant state of flux and ultimate evolution. For over ten years Sapphire has held true to its unwavering commitment, the commitment to deliver the most feature rich and soundly engineered products. Because of Sapphire's firm position on achieving excellence with each product that leaves our ISO9001 and ISO14001 certified factories, you can rest assured that your customers will recognize YOUR commitment to selling only the highest of quality components.

"Sapphire is ATI's largest and best performing partner World Wide" Dave Orton, CEO ATI

Since ATI announced its manufacturing & distribution relationships with ODMs and AiBs in June of 2001, Sapphire has been THE key ATI Graphics Boards Supplier worldwide and now stands poised and ready to capture the mainboard audience of those who seek a stable platform for their mission critical operations.

Captured within the circuitry of each of Sapphire's graphic cards and mainboards can be found the collective feedback from generations of enthusiasts in every market niche. Brought to life through performance oriented innovation and an emphasis on quality control, Sapphire designs, manufactures and distributes the most complete range of ATI video boards and mainboards--from the mainstream products that afford the casual user the opportunity to enjoy enriched graphics and affordable platform solutions to the state-of-the-art technological marvels that drive fantasies to before unattainable thresholds of realism, and offer the pinnacle of stability and performance! Sapphire refuses to compromise quality by cutting corners at the expense of its customers experience with their products. All ATI board designs undergo a stringent layout inspection by our staff of engineers to guarantee that they represent the usual high-quality image of ATI original boards. We also enjoy the resources of a highly innovative technical department that layout complex designs to accommodate different market niches as they arise. Sapphire ATI video boards have long been the reliable choice for a great number of OEMs and large System Integrators in Europe, North America, Asia and Latin America based largely on our ability to meet a fast paced technical markets advancements as well as our means to produce large quantities of product.

All Sapphire ATI video boards are manufactured under 100% ATI production criteria including QC and outgoing system. Our monthly video board production capacity can reach a lofty 1.8 million and often topples this landmark figure. Our factory has always been the major manufacturer on ATI boards for most of the top ten tier 1 OEMs worldwide. With this background, you should undoubtedly be guaranteed of the impeccable quality, production capacity and product reliability of all ATI video boards and mainboards from Sapphire. Be they business oriented or something just off center of the crosshairs, Sapphire has a solution for you and we look forward to an exciting and prosperous relationship with you!

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