Generic ATI Radeon HD 4770 512 MB

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Chip	RV740
GPU frequency	750 MHz
Memory quantity	512 Mo
Memory type	GDDR5
Memory frequency	800 MHz
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Cooler	double-hauteur
Connectors	2x DVI + 1x vidéo
Driver tested	Catalyst 9.4
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Régis Jehl
Test date: May 07, 2009

The card at a glance

We managed to get a card straight from ATI for these tests: i.e., what is commonly known as the stock or reference card. It comes with a double-decker heatsink and two heatpipes. It’s both effective (the chip reached 70 °C in intensive use) and quiet in 2D and 3D with respective readings of 37.4 dB(A) and 42.9 dB(A). Nevertheless there is a rather annoying problem: the fan has a tendency to accelerate regularly to maximum speed. This speed is maintained for barely two or three seconds, then the fan goes back to cruise speed. This occasionally happens in 2D but also in 3D, which really is annoying as the noise levels become unbearable for short periods.

To put this in context, other manufacturers are mostly likely to offer a different cooling system than the original ATI one. Each will have its own heatsink, so these cards will no doubt vary in terms of performance and noise levels from one model to the next.

The Radeon HD 4770 is the first ATI chip engraved at 40 nm. As the chip is smaller, it should give off less heat and consume less energy than its predecessors. Otherwise, its architecture is identical to the other Radeon HD 4000s aimed at the entry level end of the range between the Radeon HD 4830 and the 4850.

This model is marketed at those who have a small or medium sized screen, with a maximum resolution of 1680 x 1050 pixels, so we'll concentrate on this resolution in this review. In these conditions, the 4770 is pretty much on the same level as the 4850 or the GeForce GTS 250 (equivalent to the GeForce 9800 GTX+ from NVIDIA). To take Fallout 3 as our first real-world example, in our test scene with texturing filters activated, we got an average of 47 fps for the 4770, 52 fps for the 4850 and 54 fps for the GTS 250. With Far Cry 2 without texturing filters, the Radeon HD 4770 has an average of 47 fps, the 4850 is slightly behind with 45 fps and the GTS 250 further back still with an average of 42 fps.

Compare the Generic ATI Radeon HD 4770 512 MB to other graphics cards in our Product Face-Offs

If you look in more detail at the different readings in our face-off (nine test games), you’ll see that the three cards share the lead depending on which game is tested. You’ll also see that the Radeon HD 4770 512 MB allows you to play current titles in excellent conditions on medium-sized screens with a maximum resolution of 1680 x 1050, even if you sometimes have to lower certain graphics settings in the most demanding games. Overall, examining just their 3D performance, the three cards are on an equal footing.

Size, energy consumption and noise

At 21 cm, the Radeon HD 4770 512 MB is not too long, which is useful when you consider the size of casing needed to house it. The heatsink, supplied by ATI, is a double-decker type and therefore takes up two graphics slots on the motherboard. Power supply is via a single 6-pin PCI-Express cable. As we said above, the chip is more finely engraved than on the old Radeon HD 4000s (40 nm as against 55 nm). Power consumption is therefore lower: 279 W for the Radeon HD 4850 512 MB and 209 W for the model tested here. While idle however, both models are pretty close: 119 W for the 4850 and 124 W for the 4770. We refer you to the inset for more detail on noise levels.

Good performance in games (up to 1680x1500)

Reduced energy consumption in 3D

Temperatures are contained

May be insufficiently powerful in high res with filters activated

This model will replace the Radeon HD 4830 and 4850. Go for the 4770 if you’re making a choice between these three. In comparision with the GeForce GTX 250 however, it’s more difficult to make a call as performances are closer. Hold your breath for the price war!