ATI 4870: XFX vs SAPPHIRE

[sanchz]

I can't decide which card to get:
Ati 4870:

XFX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150394&cm_re=ati_4870-_-14-150-394-_-Product

or
SAPPHIRE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102849&cm_re=ati_4870-_-14-102-849-_-Product

-Sapphire has more experience with ATI cards
-XFX has double lifetime warranty
-Sapphire supposedly has a cooler/quieter design, but exhausts half the heat into the case and the other half out of it
-XFX has the reference cooler: exhausts air out of the case but runs hotter/louder
-I tend to believe XFX's fan may get clogged with dust more easily...
-Both cards are priced $144.99

Anyone has some experience with these cards? Any comments? Suggestions on what to choose?
Please guide me on what to choose.

 

[OvrClkr]

5770 should be around the 199.99 price-range ......

 

[sanchz]

Yeah, I thought so, and it should offer similar performance to the 4870. Competition with nVidia could also lower prices in future months.
Well, thanks a lot for your help, especially OvrClkr, you've been quite helpful.
I hope I end up making a good decision.

 

[darkvine]

Phenom II 720 is a good budget CPU you should take a look at. Very solid triple core processor and the Black Edition is only $120USD, which means it's great for overclocking and is very easy to do it.

Not quiet as good as an i5 but cheaper.

 

[Qwghlm]

Why are you guys saying XFX has a lifetime warranty?

From their website...

"HARDWARE PRODUCT WARRANTY DETAILS

WARRANTY PERIOD: XFX warranties hardware Product for a period of one (1) year from purchase from an authorised XFX reseller (proof of purchase will be required)."

And Sapphires is, as you say, 2 years.

Steve

 

[djcoolmasterx]

Its lifetime in the US, which is where the OP is.

 

[Qwghlm]

Hmm, if you look in XFX warranty page and choose North America and Radeon HD it's got the same paragraph that says 1 year.

http://www.xfxforce.com/en-gb/Help/Support/WarrantyInformation.aspx?ispreview=true

Very strange.

Steve

 

[djcoolmasterx]

en-gb[/b]/Help/Support/WarrantyInformation.aspx?ispreview=true]http://www.xfxforce.com/en-gb/Help/Support/WarrantyInformation.aspx?ispreview=true

 

[Qwghlm]

Ah OK.

They need to get their web sites sorted then because the warranty information depends on the main site entered and has no relation to the drop down menus once you are on the warranty page.

At least this thread now lets people in Europe know that Sapphires warranty is double that of XFX.

Steve