4870 or 4890 for mATX LAN Box Gaming Rig

[esquire468]

I am in the process of building a LAN Box Gaming Rig. The form factor is mATX, and will probably use either a Silverstone or Thermaltake mATX case, like the ones in the last SBM articles. So space will be cramped. The CPU will be an Intel C2Q 9550 as it is on sale at Microcenter for a good price ($169.99), and I am have a Xigmatek 750W modular PSU for the case, so I think I should be ok. I am looking to add one of the following video cards, and my main concerns are (1) case temps, (2) performance and (3) space. It looks like the 4890 is about 1/2 CM shorter (12.5x24.6x4 vs 12.5x25x4) than the 4870, according to the mfgr's website:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161269

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161265

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161276

Of the two 4870s, the ICEQ would appear to be the better route, temp wise. That leaves only a $25 difference between the 4870 and the 4890. I will be running the rig with Windows 7 RC 64 bit and 4 GB of DDR2 800 for now. Due to the portability of the system, I will only be using a 24" monitor at 1920x1200.

Any opinions on which one to get? Is the 4890 that much better?

 

[darkvine]

I seem to be rcammending this thing all the damn time lately.

I would suggest the Vapor-X 4890. It runs amazingly cool for a 4890 and has a very slight advantage in cooler sizes. It is a bit less bulky but not buy enough to make a real difference. However it is a very good card. It runs cool, it runs quiet.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102848&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Video+Cards-_-Sapphire+Tech-_-14102848

 

[jaguarskx]

This is a slight more expensive solution, but based on some reviews the cooling is effective. My recommendation is a Sapphire Vapor-X (proprietary cooling solution) HD 4890 ($209) down-clocked to standard HD 4890 speed to keep the heat down.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102841

The Sapphire Atomic HD 4890 runs even cooler, but as far as I can tell it is no longer sold and was priced at about $250 the last time I saw it.


Here's a review:
http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/sapphirehd4890vaporx/15.html

 

[darkvine]

You can't get an Atomic 4890 anywhere. They were only made for a short time and had one of the best coolers I have ever seen. They ran cooler then almost any other 4890 on the market and were clocked at 1GHz on the core.

You can't even find them on ebay, no one sells them. Maybe when a Atomic 5870 or Vapor-X 5890 come out you might see some people giving them up but not second sooner.

 

[jaguarskx]

^^

Which is why I stated "WAS".

 

[esquire468]

This is a slight more expensive solution, but based on some reviews the cooling is effective. My recommendation is a Sapphire Vapor-X (proprietary cooling solution) HD 4890 ($209) down-clocked to standard HD 4890 speed to keep the heat down.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102841

The Sapphire Atomic HD 4890 runs even cooler, but as far as I can tell it is no longer sold and was priced at about $250 the last time I saw it.


Here's a review:
http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/sapphirehd4890vaporx/15.html

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102841

32 5 Star reviews to 14 1 Star reviews is not exactly instilling confidence in that purchase for me.

It seems that a lot of people are having problems with both Sapphire cards recommended.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16814102848

Does anyone have any experience with the HIS cards I posted?