AMD sent HD 4830 samples to reviewers with missing shaders

[Hussein19891]

Wait wait wait. So the 4830 is a fully functioning 4850 with 160 shaders disabled in the bios and thats all. How are they able to sell it for 40~50 dollars cheaper then? Wouldn't manufacturing cost still be the same?

 

[ricanflow]

Its cheaper to make more of the same core than it is to make different ones.

Why you think nvidia has kept G92 alive for so long?

Plus theyre targeting the guys who cant afford a 4850...but want something a bit better than a 4670...so thats gonna bring in more sales.

 

[Waphlez]

Yea, I remember people "unlocking" their 7800 GTs to get all 24 pixel pipelines that the 7800 GTX has. All about that extra performance.

 

[Hussein19891]

So production cost is the same and the only difference is the bios they are flashed with?

I m kind of amazed. Which means the 8800 GS's flashed with 8800 GT bios will become 8800 GT's?

 

[veg1992]

So production cost is the same and the only difference is the bios they are flashed with?

I m kind of amazed. Which means the 8800 GS's flashed with 8800 GT bios will become 8800 GT's?

I think that wouldn't work out, because of the 192bit vs 256bit interface.. unless its fully unlocked.. but I remember seeing a 512mb GDDR3 Galaxy 9600GT that flashed to a G92 8800GTS

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
Newegg.com - HIS Hightech H483FN512P Radeon HD 4830 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Both are the cheapest HD 4830 and HD 4850... only $20 more with the MIR, $30 more after the MIR....

If the unlock works.. you can save $20 or $30 depending on how you feel about MIR's lol

 

[Ethan_Kaizer]

If they're the same though, why don't they just lower the cost of the 4850 a bit more? I guess it's just a marketing scheme to catch the people that aren't as knowledgeable as us?

 

[Hussein19891]

If they're the same though, why don't they just lower the cost of the 4850 a bit more? I guess it's just a marketing scheme to catch the people that aren't as knowledgeable as us?

Its to gain control of the 120~150 dollar GPU market. So that Nvidia's 9800 GT's, 9600 GT's, and 8800 GT's are over shadowed by the 4830.