Tier 4:
http://www.thottbot.com/beta?s=tier+4+mage+set

112 stamina
137 intellect
71 spirit
177 spelldamage
15 spell penetration
35 spell hit rating
51 spell crit rating
3 blue sockets
2 yellow sockets
1 red socket
1 meta socket

Frostfire
http://www.thottbot.com/beta?i=2469

chest, legg, shoulder, head and hands:

102 stamina
113 intellect
29 spirit
200 spelldmg
15 spell penetration
24 spell hit rating
42 spell crit rating

Actual differences in stats:

10 extra stamina
24 extra intellect
42 spirit
-23 spelldamage
0 spell penetration
11 spell hit rating
9 spell crit rating

Now that pretty much looks like a side grade, till you include the gemslots.
Now if we apply the best gems for damage at every slot:

1 red gem of 12 spelldamage
2 orange gems of 6 spell damage and 5 spell crit rating each.
3 purple gems of 5 spell damage and 6 stamina each.
1 meta gem of 14 spell crit and 1% spell reflect.
And since we completed the items socket bonuses we also get 14 extra spelldamage.

So totall socket bonuses:
53 spelldamage
24 spell crit
18 stamina

Now if we look at the stat diferences after we put in gems:

+28 stamina
+24 intellect
+42 spirit
+30 spelldamage
+11 spell hit rating
+33 spell crit rating

Wich is a CLEAR uppgrade.

If you want i can do this for other classes as well, but you got to remember that each socket is worth about 10 stat points.

Thats pretty insightful, I mean, why would tier 3 be better than tier 4?

Because Tier 3 is for raiders and Tier 4 is for casuals. Raiding gear will always be > casual gear. Source: Kaplan interview- http://www.atomicmpc.com.au/podcasts...odcast-004.mp3

Kinda funny how people would bitch either way. If 4 is better than 3, then they bitch that their naxx gear will be outdated. If 3 is better than 4 then they bitch that they dont get an upgrade. So 4 is better than 3. Shocking!

So Tier 1 > Tier 4?

Something tells me this thread won't be lasting long...

This is a groundbreaking discovery.

I presume that the OP got tired of all the people whining -- on this very forum, and elsewhere -- that Tier 4 wasn't a true upgrade over Tier 3 armor sets, and decided to point out the real statistics. Might not have deserved it's own thread, but what the heck.

The idiocy, however, started with this statement, which could be the seed of a legendary thread on any other forum.

Oh man, I'm like really hungover and the above pie chart just made me smile.

In before heap

People will bitch anyway because some greens and many blues are better than tier 3 pieces except for set bonuses.

Quick example:
Earthshatter Handguards (epic, Maexxna)
395 Armor +21 Stamina +28 Intellect
Equip: Increases healing done by spells and effects by up to 35.
Equip: Restores 6 mana per 5 sec.

Cowpoke's Riding Gloves (green, Netherstorm quest)
358 Armor +18 Stamina +16 Intellect
Equip: Increases healing done by spells and effects by up to 46.
Equip: Restores 6 mana per 5 sec.

Earthsoul Gloves (blue, Warlord Kalithresh drop)
407 armor +24 Stamina +25 Intellect
Equip: Increases healing done by spells and effects by up to 55.
Equip: Restores 7 mana per 5 sec