Where are all the 5850's?!

zerorate · 10-20-2009, 06:34 PM

I had one on preorder, it was due instock on the 15th and now I'm now beeing told it may be upto three weeks. So I thought I would look around but everywhere in the uk just doesn't seem to have them.

Anyone that is in the know can tell me why there is such a short supply? Is it that it's such a good card they have sold faster than they can make them? I want one.

90% Jihad · 10-20-2009, 06:41 PM

I think the explanation is that the chip on the 5850 is the same as on the 5870 with just a little bit of artificial "crippling". The 40nm process the chips are built on it new and the yields aren't great, so production is expensive.
In which case you want to sell as many 5870's as possible, and as few 5850's as you can get away with. Note the much better availability of the 5870.

zerorate · 10-20-2009, 06:49 PM

Makes sense, I would get a 5870 but just can't see it fitting my case without modding and I really don't want to do that(antec 300) I will just have have to wait it out then, thanks for the reply.

90% Jihad · 10-20-2009, 06:51 PM

Yeah tbh I don't think this shortage, artificial or not, will stay for long. I've seen stock on newegg now&then, may want to use their auto-notify feature.

steveroger · 10-20-2009, 07:06 PM

This 5850 is in stock as I write this at ZZF for $279. Obviously, a little more than the currently unavailable ones at Newegg for 259 to 274.

LordEC911 · 10-20-2009, 07:16 PM

They simply have more full Cypress cores come out of TSMC then the crippled 5850s. According to old yields rumors for Cypress, for every 5850 there are two 5870s with things only getting better over time.

Once TSMC fully ramps 40nm production I don't think we will see a problem.
Also remember there are quite a few high volume chips that are in production right now at TSMC.

zerorate · 10-20-2009, 07:55 PM

It seems you can fit the HD 5870 in Antec 300 http://www.videocardforum.com/showthread.php?p=178806

Maybe I'll get one of them instead though it does seem overkill on my 23" 1920x1080.

sideways · 10-20-2009, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zerorate

It seems you can fit the HD 5870 in Antec 300 http://www.videocardforum.com/showthread.php?p=178806

Maybe I'll get one of them instead though it does seem overkill on my 23" 1920x1080.

You're fine. That's not overkill at all, that's a fairly high resolution.

HL2-4-Life · 10-20-2009, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zerorate

It seems you can fit the HD 5870 in Antec 300 http://www.videocardforum.com/showthread.php?p=178806

Maybe I'll get one of them instead though it does seem overkill on my 23" 1920x1080.

Not at all, that's actually a very nice res to go with the HD5870. I have two in CFX doing 1920x1200, somewhat overkill but when you can run Crysis and Crysis WH at max detail + 2xAA @1920x1200 and get really playable FR, it's all good!

GenhisKhan · 10-21-2009, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HL2-4-Life

Not at all, that's actually a very nice res to go with the HD5870. I have two in CFX doing 1920x1200, somewhat overkill but when you can run Crysis and Crysis WH at max detail + 2xAA @1920x1200 and get really playable FR, it's all good!

I have a MSI HD5850 at 1680x1050 at enthusiatic and 4X Crysis WH and is stable over 35 FPS!!!!. That card is a monster. I recommend to use ATI Tray Tools for the setup because for some reason which I don't understand improves the performance a lot at stock clocks. Look at this benchmark

@HL2-4-Life, dude, regarding Crysis WH I somehow feel that when I set all to enthusiast in graphic setting the game doesn't look as awesome as in Gamer with Shaders in Enthusiastic

. Any idea

bes · 10-21-2009, 08:05 AM

I was thinking of adding one of these to my HD5870 for some crossfire love since according to the crossfire chart at the AMD/ATI website it will work..

But that would be just like having 2 HD5850's ..so didnt bother with it...lol...it will lower my HD5870's speed and stuff..even though I run my HD5870 at 700/1200 instead of 850/1200(keeps it cooler and it still runs every game totally maxed).

But I couldnt find any in stock either so was wondering why...so thanks to the OP for answering the question and to the rest for answering him with a logical answer.

Toto pectore · 10-21-2009, 08:08 AM

AMD Vows to Improve Availability of ATI Radeon HD 5000 Graphics Cards In Weeks from xbitlabs

steveroger · 10-21-2009, 08:10 AM

In stock while I type....

You just have to keep looking:

1. Sapphire Radeon HD 5850 1 GB DDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card 100282SR

@Amazon.com $259.99

2. Diamond ATI Radeon HD5850 PCIE 1024 MB GDDR5 Video Card 5850PE51G

@Amazon.com $259.99

UPDATE:

In the few minutes that I typed this they were sold....

bes · 10-21-2009, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto pectore

AMD Vows to Improve Availability of ATI Radeon HD 5000 Graphics Cards In Weeks from xbitlabs

Nice and I agree that they should get a move on with this since these things are selling like hotcakes when people can get their hands on one..bet newegg.com has a line of people waiting to be notified if one shows up..

This is AMD/ATI's big change to make craploads of money before Nvidia pulls out their monster FERMI cards.. so maybe AMD can finally make a damn 6-core CPU for people like me that want more multitasking capability with an AMD chip without having to go Intel..or server..

zerorate · 10-21-2009, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto pectore

AMD Vows to Improve Availability of ATI Radeon HD 5000 Graphics Cards In Weeks from xbitlabs

Great news, having trouble getting a 5870 now lol. Seems some places that do have them decided to add to the price because of the demand.

10-20-2009, 06:34 PM	#1
zerorate Join Date: Feb 2009 Reputation: 5 Posts: 144	Where are all the 5850's?! I had one on preorder, it was due instock on the 15th and now I'm now beeing told it may be upto three weeks. So I thought I would look around but everywhere in the uk just doesn't seem to have them. Anyone that is in the know can tell me why there is such a short supply? Is it that it's such a good card they have sold faster than they can make them? I want one.

10-20-2009, 07:16 PM	#6
LordEC911 Join Date: May 2006 Reputation: 61 Posts: 1,991	They simply have more full Cypress cores come out of TSMC then the crippled 5850s. According to old yields rumors for Cypress, for every 5850 there are two 5870s with things only getting better over time. Once TSMC fully ramps 40nm production I don't think we will see a problem. Also remember there are quite a few high volume chips that are in production right now at TSMC. Last edited by LordEC911: 10-20-2009 at 07:19 PM.

10-21-2009, 08:10 AM	#13
steveroger Join Date: Feb 2009 Reputation: 281 Posts: 1,747	IN STOCK ATM In stock while I type.... You just have to keep looking: 1. Sapphire Radeon HD 5850 1 GB DDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card 100282SR @Amazon.com $259.99 2. Diamond ATI Radeon HD5850 PCIE 1024 MB GDDR5 Video Card 5850PE51G @Amazon.com $259.99 UPDATE: In the few minutes that I typed this they were sold.... Last edited by steveroger: 10-21-2009 at 08:14 AM.

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10-20-2009, 06:41 PM	#2
90% Jihad Join Date: Mar 2009 Reputation: 123 Posts: 866	I think the explanation is that the chip on the 5850 is the same as on the 5870 with just a little bit of artificial "crippling". The 40nm process the chips are built on it new and the yields aren't great, so production is expensive. In which case you want to sell as many 5870's as possible, and as few 5850's as you can get away with. Note the much better availability of the 5870.

10-20-2009, 06:49 PM	#3
zerorate Join Date: Feb 2009 Reputation: 5 Posts: 144	Makes sense, I would get a 5870 but just can't see it fitting my case without modding and I really don't want to do that(antec 300) I will just have have to wait it out then, thanks for the reply.

10-20-2009, 06:51 PM	#4
90% Jihad Join Date: Mar 2009 Reputation: 123 Posts: 866	Yeah tbh I don't think this shortage, artificial or not, will stay for long. I've seen stock on newegg now&then, may want to use their auto-notify feature.

10-20-2009, 07:06 PM	#5
steveroger Join Date: Feb 2009 Reputation: 281 Posts: 1,747	This 5850 is in stock as I write this at ZZF for $279. Obviously, a little more than the currently unavailable ones at Newegg for 259 to 274.

10-20-2009, 07:55 PM	#7
zerorate Join Date: Feb 2009 Reputation: 5 Posts: 144	It seems you can fit the HD 5870 in Antec 300 http://www.videocardforum.com/showthread.php?p=178806 Maybe I'll get one of them instead though it does seem overkill on my 23" 1920x1080.

10-21-2009, 08:05 AM	#11
bes Join Date: Apr 2007 Reputation: 567 Posts: 3,571	I was thinking of adding one of these to my HD5870 for some crossfire love since according to the crossfire chart at the AMD/ATI website it will work.. But that would be just like having 2 HD5850's ..so didnt bother with it...lol...it will lower my HD5870's speed and stuff..even though I run my HD5870 at 700/1200 instead of 850/1200(keeps it cooler and it still runs every game totally maxed). But I couldnt find any in stock either so was wondering why...so thanks to the OP for answering the question and to the rest for answering him with a logical answer.

10-21-2009, 08:08 AM	#12
Toto pectore Join Date: May 2009 Reputation: 901 Posts: 2,029	AMD Vows to Improve Availability of ATI Radeon HD 5000 Graphics Cards In Weeks from xbitlabs