Hot on the heels of last week's newly unveiled fast-as-protons BFG GTX 295, today are going to take look at another dual-GPU video card; this one from ATI. Last generation it was the engineers of ASUSTek who took the challenge of devising a dual-GPU card utilizing not the highest end GPU, the RV670 powering the HD 3870, but the second fastest ATI GPU available at the time, the RV670 powering the HD 3850. For the HD 4000 series of graphics cards, it is the fine folks of Sapphire that have took it upon themselves to see what variety of HD 4850 X2 they could devise.

Though only sold exclusively by Sapphire,  HD 4850 X2 nonetheless plays a pivotal role in ATI's current line-up. Quite simply, a small segment of customers might want something a step above the substantial power offered from a sole HD 4870 -- but this same segment might see the HD 4870 X2 as overkill. Priced in between the HD 4870 and HD 4870 X2 and offering the intermediary level of performance, the Sapphire HD 4850 X2 is product that might have just the right price and performance to entice some folks to step into the world of dual GPU cards. At least that's the plan -- we'll see how well it holds up in the benchmarks. 

Originally released in early November, the first wave of reviews compared the HD 4850 X2 favorably in challenge against the GTX 280. Having received our card far after the inital release date, we missed our chance of bringing you the review of the product as it first came became available -- however, on the positive side of things, reviewing this particular card now will give us a good perspective on its current positioning in the marketplace in these early weeks of 2009. With prices falling on both sides, it will be interesting to see how the Sapphire HD 4850 X2 fares in price-performance comparisons to the deadly quick lineup of cards being offered by both sides contemporaneously.

Testament to speed at which hardware prices drop, the Sapphire HD 4850 X2 is selling for $299 at some large online retailers -- a full $100 less than it originally was offered for, back in November. Notably, $300 is roughly the same price you'd pay for a pair of new HD 4850 cards, if you shopped around for a good deal. 

Think the HD 4870 is too slow? The HD 4870 X2 is too fast? Maybe the HD 4850 X2 will be just right. The HD 4850 does seem like a naturally good pick for a double-headed hydra video monster card, so let's get right to it  and see what the Sapphire HD 4850 X2 is all about.