Left 4 Dead (DX9)

We purposefully set our in game graphics to highest possible at 1680x1050, 4xMSAA with 8xAF for both cards so we could see a direct comparison between the two. With these settings, the 4850 struggles a little when the action gets going, although inside is pretty good (the 20-40 second points in the graph). The HIS 4870 does much better, although for both cards, I would personally drop the Effects setting to medium as it has little impact on the visuals, but quite a large impact on performance. Our frame rates here for both cards would raise an average 10-15 frames across the graph, and the puts the HIS 4870 into the 60 FPS average.

ETQW (OpenGL)

ETQW likes a good graphics card but also relies heavily on a good CPU and subsystem to drive it. Very little difference is perceived while playing between the two cards although the average numbers are obviously higher with the 4870 during a timedemo. Also of interest, the initial map draw as you enter a game is faster with the 4870 than the 4850, probably due to the extra GDDR. Like Left 4 Dead, settings for both cards where identical at highest possible via in-game menus, both cards without soft particles, and both cards at 4xMSAA, 8xAF.