The £4.70 Radeon HD4770: An Amazing Budget Graphics Card

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. The HD 4770: An Affordable Graphics Card
3. Cooling the HD 4770: A DIY Solution
4. Performance Benchmarks: eSports Titles
5. Performance Benchmarks: AAA Games
6. Pros and Cons of the HD 4770
7. Conclusion

🔍 Introduction

In this article, we will explore a budget-friendly solution for gamers who are in need of a graphics card but are limited by a tight budget. We will be focusing on the HD 4770, a graphics card that was introduced in 2009 and gained popularity among mid-range gamers due to its affordable price and respectable performance. Despite being an older card, the HD 4770 still holds its own in today's gaming landscape. We will delve into its specifications, cooling requirements, and performance benchmarks to determine if it is a viable option for gamers on a budget.

🖥️ The HD 4770: An Affordable Graphics Card

The HD 4770 is a graphics card that was released by Sapphire in mid-2009. It was the first graphics card based on the 40-nanometer lithography, which resulted in lower power consumption compared to its competitors. With a price tag of around £70 or $105, it offered a significant performance boost for gamers on a budget. The card features a core clock of 750 megahertz, 512 megabytes of GDDR5 VRAM clocked at 800 megahertz, and is based on the Terascale architecture with the RV740 graphics processor. Despite its modest specifications, the HD 4770 was able to deliver performance comparable to that of the more expensive HD 4830.

🌬️ Cooling the HD 4770: A DIY Solution

One peculiar aspect of the HD 4770 we acquired for this challenge was its missing fan. However, taking advantage of the Sapphire variant's excellent build quality, we decided to rectify the situation ourselves. We attached an OEM 120 millimeter fan to the heatsink using electrical tape, ensuring proper cooling for the card. This simple yet effective solution allowed us to achieve impressive overclocking results, with the card reaching temperatures of only 62 degrees Celsius after running intense benchmarks. The affordable DIY cooling solution proved to be both practical and efficient.

🔢 Performance Benchmarks: eSports Titles

To assess the gaming capabilities of the HD 4770, we tested it with some of the most popular eSports titles. In Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), the card achieved an average of 95 frames per Second (FPS) with low settings at 720p resolution. This performance is more than satisfactory for competitive eSports gaming. Rust, another popular multiplayer Game, ran smoothly on medium settings, delivering an average of 33 FPS. The game performed admirably even during intense combat sequences, making it a viable option for fans of this survival genre. Lastly, Halo Online performed well on medium settings at 900p resolution, providing a solid average of 40 FPS.

🎮 Performance Benchmarks: AAA Games

But what about more demanding AAA titles? We put the HD 4770 to the test with games such as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Grand Theft Auto IV. Skyrim, played with high settings at 1080p resolution, delivered a Flawless average of 47 FPS and minimums hovering around 26 FPS. The visuals were impressive, and the card handled the game without any issues. GTA IV, on the other hand, proved to be slightly more challenging for the HD 4770. With medium settings at 720p resolution, the game ran at an average of 33 FPS. Although playable, occasional FPS drops to 26 FPS occurred during intense moments. Lastly, Grand Theft Auto V struggled on our modest card due to its lack of proper driver support, resulting in frequent drops to as low as 6 FPS.

👍 Pros and Cons of the HD 4770

Pros

• Affordable price
• Respectable performance for its price range
• Low power consumption
• Overclocking potential
• Suitable for eSports titles and older AAA games

Cons

• Limited by DirectX 10.1 support
• Lack of driver support for newer AAA games
• Suboptimal performance in graphically intensive games

🏁 Conclusion

While the HD 4770 may not be the most cutting-edge graphics card available today, it still proves to be a viable option for gamers on a budget. Its affordability, low power consumption, and respectable performance in eSports titles and older AAA games make it an attractive choice for those seeking a cost-effective gaming solution. However, its limitations, such as the lack of DirectX 11 support and insufficient driver compatibility with newer AAA games, should be taken into consideration. Overall, the HD 4770 offers a compelling combination of performance and affordability for budget-conscious gamers.

Highlights:

• The HD 4770: An affordable graphics card for gamers on a budget
• DIY cooling solution: Attaching an OEM 120mm fan to the heatsink
• Impressive performance in eSports titles: CS:GO, Rust, and Halo Online
• Decent performance in AAA games: Skyrim and GTA IV
• Pros: Affordable price, low power consumption, respectable performance
• Cons: Limited DirectX support, lack of driver support for newer games

FAQ:

Q: Is the HD 4770 a good choice for budget gamers? A: Yes, the HD 4770 offers a compelling combination of affordability and performance for budget-conscious gamers.

Q: Can the HD 4770 handle modern AAA games? A: While the card may struggle with newer graphically intensive games due to limited driver support, it performs admirably in older AAA titles.

Q: How does the DIY cooling solution for the HD 4770 work? A: By attaching an OEM 120mm fan to the heatsink using electrical tape, the card's temperature remains cool even during intense gaming Sessions.

Q: What are the pros and cons of the HD 4770? A: Pros include affordability, low power consumption, and respectable performance. Cons include limited DirectX support and lack of driver compatibility with newer games.