ASUS Radeon HD 4850 512MB Video Card Review
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Written To Better Inform Our Visitors Regarding These Deals: • ASUS Radeon HD 4850 512MB Video Card Rebate [MAIL IN REBATES] |
The video card market is incredibly competitive and ASUS really stepped up the game with this release. There are very few cards on the market at the $200 price point, and when ASUS announced their release of this card, they faced some pretty stiff competition from NVIDIA that launched a similarly priced card at the same time. Does ASUS have what it takes to shine? Let’s find out!
Installation of this card is incredibly easy and unlike many video cards, it’s only going to need one slot on your system. Many of the current cards force you to take up two slots, and this infuriates a lot of users. It was nice to see that ASUS was paying attention by creating a much more compact model. If you have experience in installing video cards, this should be a snap for you. If not, it’s probably best to have a professional handle it for you.
You’ll need to power off and unplug the CPU before getting started. Remember to push the power button on the CPU for a few seconds before opening it up to discharge any excess electricity. Remove the old video card and plug this card into the slot. Put the CPU back together, plug it in and you should be ready to go. The card comes with a CD for installing the software and we highly recommend doing so, even though the card should be recognized immediately by most operating systems.
We found that the installation process was pretty seamless and it was very easy to get everything configured properly. Everything you need to get started is included and the driver disc made it very easy to get the card configured properly. Most users will be able to go with the default settings, but you can tweak them as necessary if you prefer. Overclocking is available, but should only be attempted by those that are familiar with this process.
The card is certified for Windows Vista and will also work with XP. We did not test the card on a machine with an older OS, since most users are now working with at least the latest XP version.
The card supports a max resolution of 2560 x 1600, making it perfect for today’s larger monitors. CrossFire is supported, as well as Dual Link DVI. For users that have more than one monitor or are trying to improve their existing display beyond factory specs, this card has much to offer. There is an onboard cooling fan and it is necessary since the unit runs a bit hot. We found that unlike many cards, the noise from the fan was actually pretty tolerable and did not disturb us. Too many video cards sound like they belong in a an airplane hangar, so this was a very nice feature for us or for those that are extra sensitive to noise.
The reaction times are swift and the included 512megs of memory meant that it could hold up to everything we threw at it. From complex video creation software to the best games on the market, this card was able to hold its own. We noticed a visible improvement from our old card and found that it was completely comparable with more expensive models.
The core clock is set to 625mhz, but as we mentioned before, this card can be overclocked with great results. DirectX 10 is supported as well as OpenGL 2.0 and the card also features an HDMI output. Overall, given the price, we were surprised by the amount of available features as well as with how well the card performed during our tests.
The card comes with the standard manufacturer warranty and that’s about it. We found that ASUS was very helpful, and their site contains extra copies of the driver as well as some help files if you need it. They could offer a little more support, but since the card works so well, you probably won’t have to worry much about it. It’s always nice to have a card work exactly as it should and we were impressed by its reliability and power.
If you’re a gamer or you just want to experience better video quality, this is a great choice for a video card. The low price makes it well worth installing, since many comparable models cost more than $600. You’ll be able to take advantage of many of the same features at a much lower price tag. If you’re sick of the standard card that was included with your computer, this card will open up plenty of new horizons. For those building their own computer, this card is definitely one that should be considered.
Overall, we found that the card was reliable, did exactly what it should and never gave us a lick of trouble. That’s really all we ask from any computer add-on and we can’t find anything to complain about with this card. Sure, there are better models on the market, but few carry this low price tag. For the budget conscious user that wants great quality video and faster reaction times, this model is just about perfect.
We really appreciated the fact that the card only took up one slot and if we had been on the fence, that would have been the tipping point for us. It does run a little hot, but the on board fan does take care of that. We were impressed by its stability and the ability to overclock the unit as well. It is a nice solid card that has a lot to offer, especially if you are on a budget. Get it, try it and most likely, you’ll want to keep it. Hopefully, more card manufacturers will take their cues from this model and start offering more affordable video card options that perform well. ASUS certainly set the bar high and it will be interesting to see how the industry changes as a result.
Installation
Installation of this card is incredibly easy and unlike many video cards, it’s only going to need one slot on your system. Many of the current cards force you to take up two slots, and this infuriates a lot of users. It was nice to see that ASUS was paying attention by creating a much more compact model. If you have experience in installing video cards, this should be a snap for you. If not, it’s probably best to have a professional handle it for you.
You’ll need to power off and unplug the CPU before getting started. Remember to push the power button on the CPU for a few seconds before opening it up to discharge any excess electricity. Remove the old video card and plug this card into the slot. Put the CPU back together, plug it in and you should be ready to go. The card comes with a CD for installing the software and we highly recommend doing so, even though the card should be recognized immediately by most operating systems.
Getting Started
We found that the installation process was pretty seamless and it was very easy to get everything configured properly. Everything you need to get started is included and the driver disc made it very easy to get the card configured properly. Most users will be able to go with the default settings, but you can tweak them as necessary if you prefer. Overclocking is available, but should only be attempted by those that are familiar with this process.
The card is certified for Windows Vista and will also work with XP. We did not test the card on a machine with an older OS, since most users are now working with at least the latest XP version.
Features
The card supports a max resolution of 2560 x 1600, making it perfect for today’s larger monitors. CrossFire is supported, as well as Dual Link DVI. For users that have more than one monitor or are trying to improve their existing display beyond factory specs, this card has much to offer. There is an onboard cooling fan and it is necessary since the unit runs a bit hot. We found that unlike many cards, the noise from the fan was actually pretty tolerable and did not disturb us. Too many video cards sound like they belong in a an airplane hangar, so this was a very nice feature for us or for those that are extra sensitive to noise.
The reaction times are swift and the included 512megs of memory meant that it could hold up to everything we threw at it. From complex video creation software to the best games on the market, this card was able to hold its own. We noticed a visible improvement from our old card and found that it was completely comparable with more expensive models.
The core clock is set to 625mhz, but as we mentioned before, this card can be overclocked with great results. DirectX 10 is supported as well as OpenGL 2.0 and the card also features an HDMI output. Overall, given the price, we were surprised by the amount of available features as well as with how well the card performed during our tests.
Support
The card comes with the standard manufacturer warranty and that’s about it. We found that ASUS was very helpful, and their site contains extra copies of the driver as well as some help files if you need it. They could offer a little more support, but since the card works so well, you probably won’t have to worry much about it. It’s always nice to have a card work exactly as it should and we were impressed by its reliability and power.
Overall Opinion
If you’re a gamer or you just want to experience better video quality, this is a great choice for a video card. The low price makes it well worth installing, since many comparable models cost more than $600. You’ll be able to take advantage of many of the same features at a much lower price tag. If you’re sick of the standard card that was included with your computer, this card will open up plenty of new horizons. For those building their own computer, this card is definitely one that should be considered.
Overall, we found that the card was reliable, did exactly what it should and never gave us a lick of trouble. That’s really all we ask from any computer add-on and we can’t find anything to complain about with this card. Sure, there are better models on the market, but few carry this low price tag. For the budget conscious user that wants great quality video and faster reaction times, this model is just about perfect.
We really appreciated the fact that the card only took up one slot and if we had been on the fence, that would have been the tipping point for us. It does run a little hot, but the on board fan does take care of that. We were impressed by its stability and the ability to overclock the unit as well. It is a nice solid card that has a lot to offer, especially if you are on a budget. Get it, try it and most likely, you’ll want to keep it. Hopefully, more card manufacturers will take their cues from this model and start offering more affordable video card options that perform well. ASUS certainly set the bar high and it will be interesting to see how the industry changes as a result.
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