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MSI R4830-T2D512-OC Radeon HD 4830 Videocard Review
MSI R4830-T2D512-OC Radeon HD 4830 Videocard Review - PCSTATS
The latest generation of mainstream and midrange graphics cards have upped the performance curve significantly. Add some overclocking into the mix and you might even leap ahead to then next fastest videocard class... all without spending an extra cent!
 85% Rating:   
Filed under: Video Cards Published:  Author: 
External Mfg. Website: MSI Dec 17 2008   J. Apong  
Home > Reviews > Video Cards > MSI R4830-T2D512-OC

AMD Radeon HD 4830 Core Technology

The AMD Radeon HD 4830 GPU is based almost entirely on the same technology found in the Radeon HD 4850 and Radeon HD4870, which is to say they're all derived from the same RV770 graphics processing unit (GPU).

The GPU for the Radeon HD 4830 has been code named the 'RV770LE', and like almost all GPUs of one family is most likely binned from the same silicon as its more expensive brothers. The Radeon HD 48XX-series all share common characteristics that help confirm this, like a 256 mm^2 die size with 965 million transistors, built on the 55nm process.

The biggest difference between the capabilities of the RV770LE and RV770 GPU are its 640 stream processors, a reduction from the 800 available in the latter. Two of the ten Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) units are disabled on the Radeon HD 4830's GPU, so while cut from the same cloth each GPU has slightly different capabilities. In essence though, the Radeon HD 4830 is pretty much the same GPU as the Radeon HD 4850 and Radeon HD 4870, with a few parts of the GPU disabled so that AMD can turn nearly-functional RV770 GPUs into fully functional RV770LEs.

Aside from the minor changes to architecture, the major difference between the Radeon HD 4830 and its more expensive siblings are clock speeds. The AMD Radeon HD 4830 runs at 575MHz core clock speed, versus the 625MHz and the 750MHz clock speeds for the HD 4850 and HD 4870 models respectively Both the Radeon HD 4830 and the Radeon HD 4850 use GDDR3 memory, with 1800MHz and 1986MHz effective speeds, while the Radeon HD 4870 is equipped with 3600MHz GDDR5 memory.

MSI's R4830-T2D512-OC videocard ships with a core clock speed bumped up 10MHz to 585MHz, while its memory speed remains at 1800MHz. This is a relatively minor core speed increase, especially given the overclocking capability of the RV770/RV770LE GPU as we're about to show you....

Heat and Noise Observations

As mentioned above, the MSI R4830 videocard makes an audible, but not unpleasant amount of noise when the fan is at full speed. It's about on par with the noise levels of the stock Intel socket 775 heatsink at medium speeds. When idling, the fan noise is quiet enough that it can't be heard over the background system noise and the ventilation system in the PCSTATS labs.

The MSI R4830 GPU stays pretty cool, even under load. With the GPU stressed temperatures still stayed around 40C, while idle temperatures were only a few degrees above room temperature - with stock thermal levels this low, this videocard could be an excellent overclocker, but we'll get to that in a minute.

Videocard Power Consumption Measurements

MSI's R4830-T2D512-OC uses a single 6-pin PCI Express power connector in addition to the power it draws from the x16 PCI Express slot. This is in line with its position as a mid-range videocard since it doesn't require users to shell out for more expensive power supplies with 8-pin PCI express connectors. This videocard also features a novel "4 +1 power phase system", which supplies four phases of power to the GPU while leaving a dedicated power phase for the videocards memory. Apparently this helps overall system stability and overclocking. Let's take a look at how much power the MSI R4830 draws in a typical computer system.

Here's how the MSI R4830 videocard stacks up in real life against a couple different cards. We have no way of directly measuring video card power draw, so PCSTATS measures the total PC system power draw and compares that in 3D loaded (max value recorded in 3DMark06) and idle states (at Windows desktop). The power supply used in each test is an A-PFC compliant PC Power and Cooling 750W model.

PCSTATS Benchmark ReportVideocard Power Consumption (Total System Power Draw)
Idle at Desktop Watts Ranking
Palit HD4870 X2 2GB 177
Asus EAH3870 X2 1GB TOP/G/3DHTI/1G/A 153
Asus EAH3870 X2 1GB TOP/G/3DHTI/1G/A (Crossfire) 222
MSI R3870X2-T2D1G-OC 165
Diamond Viper Radeon HD 2900XT CrossFire 195
Asus EAH4850 HTDI/512M 120
MSI R4830-T2D512-OC (Radeon 4830) 108
Asus EAX1900XTX 2DHTV/512M/A 160
Asus EAX1950PRO/HTDP/256M/A 150
nVidia Geforce 9600GTs in SLI 166
Asus EN9600GT Top/HTDI/512M 152
Palit Geforce 9600GT 512 151
MSI NX8800GTX-T2D768E 196
MSI NX7950GX2-T2D1GE 183
MSI NX7900GTX-T2D512E 165
Gigabyte GV-NX76T256D-RH 140
3D Loaded: Watts Ranking
Palit HD4870 X2 2GB 421
Asus EAH3870 X2 1GB TOP/G/3DHTI/1G/A 390
Asus EAH3870 X2 1GB TOP/G/3DHTI/1G/A (Crossfire) 610
MSI R3870X2-T2D1G-OC 330
Diamond Viper Radeon HD 2900XT CrossFire 549
Asus EAH4850 HTDI/512M 202
MSI R4830-T2D512-OC (Radeon 4830) 177
Asus EAX1900XTX 2DHTV/512M/A 333
Asus EAX1950PRO/HTDP/256M/A 252
nVidia Geforce 9600GTs in SLI 313
Asus EN9600GT Top/HTDI/512M 220
Palit Geforce 9600GT 512 221
MSI NX8800GTX-T2D768E 345
MSI NX7950GX2-T2D1GE 315
MSI NX7900GTX-T2D512E 277
Gigabyte GV-NX76T256D-RH 213
(OC) 3D Loaded: Watts Ranking
Palit HD4870 X2 2GB 426
Asus EAH3870 X2 1GB TOP/G/3DHTI/1G/A (Crossfire) 630
MSI R3870X2-T2D1G-OC 339
Asus EAH4850 HTDI/512M 231
MSI R4830-T2D512-OC (Radeon 4830) 183

[*This figure represents total system power consumption in Watts, either with the system at idle, or the peak value recorded while running 3DMark06.]

The MSI Radeon HD 4830 videocard naturally draws less power than the Radeon HD 4850-series, the previous power-saving king. Drawing just 177W while under heavy GPU load is a refreshing change! Overclocking boosts that value moderately, to 183W. In comparison, the Radeon HD 4850 runs at over 230W when stressed.

PCSTATS overclocking test results are up next! Are you ready for a 20% overclock?

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Contents of Article: MSI R4830-T2D512-OC
 Pg 1.  MSI R4830-T2D512-OC Radeon HD 4830 Videocard Review
 Pg 2.  — AMD Radeon HD 4830 Core Technology
 Pg 3.  Getting 20% Extra Out Of the MSI R4830 for Free
 Pg 4.  Videocard Benchmarks: 3DMark06
 Pg 5.  DX10 Videocard Benchmarks: 3DMark Vantage, Crysis
 Pg 6.  DX10 Videocard Benchmarks: Call of Juarez
 Pg 7.  DX10 Videocard Benchmarks: Lost Planet
 Pg 8.  Videocard Benchmarks: FEAR
 Pg 9.  Advanced Videocard Benchmarks: FEAR, Crysis
 Pg 10.  Radeon HD 4830 is leaner, meaner and best of all... Cheaper!

 
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