For you hardware experts, a question:

Ragin Cajun · Post by **Ragin Cajun** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 7:19 am

In the list of supported video cards, are these in any particular order of performance? Is the first card listed neccesarily the most powerful (i.e. best) card on the market? I'm doing some research at Tom's but don't see several of these cards even listed on their most recent benchmark test. They show the X800 XT PE as their top performance card and then the GeForce 6800 Ultra and the 6800GT.

* ATI X1800 series
* ATI X1300 series
* ATI X850 series
* ATI x800 series
* ATI x700 series
* ATI x600 series
* ATI Radeon 9800 series
* ATI Radeon 9700 series
* ATI Radeon 9600 series
* ATI Radeon 9500 series
* ATI Radeon 9000 series
* NVIDIA Geforce 7800 series
* NVIDIA GeForce 6800 series
* NVIDIA GeForce FX series

Ashen · Post by **Ashen** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 7:46 am

Well the top of the line from there would be the X1800 and 7800 but for me the cake goes to the new ATI X1900 XTX. It's interesting what they've done with it really, when you compare it to the previous, the 1800, the difference is that instead of 16 shader processors, the 1900 has 48 ALUs. This is the largest improvement in this card. It also has Fetch4 now, unlike the 1800, which speeds up Shadow Mapping (considering that games for example need to be written to use this feature, I am not sure how it would go with Oblivion in this case, I don't know if this was done; FEAR would be improved). It is clocked at 650MHz for the core clock and 1.55GHz for the memory, and it has 512MB of GDDR3 and the price is not small, but no wonder.

So the best isn't even there (for me), but no surprise, it's new really.

Ragin Cajun · Post by **Ragin Cajun** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 8:02 am

Doing an online search for these video card by number, some show up with different titles. What exactly do these mean?

For example, there are quite a few X1300's showing up. Some show as "All in Wonder" and some don't. Is there a huge difference in these? Is one better than the other as the prices are pretty similar?

Also, using the X1300 as an example, they ATI Radeon is on the supported list. Others appearing on my search are the Sapphire Radeon, Diamond Multimedia Radeon, etc. Are these just manufacturer differences or are these "non-ATI" cards going to be unsupported although they are Radeon X1300?

(edit) Also, if you can point me in the right direction, what do the XT, GT, Pro, Platinum symbolize for the cards? I see an X850 XT for $169 but an X850 Platinum for $400. They both have 256MB, one has DVI and VIVO (??) while the other is PCI Express x16 with DVi only.

Rookierookie · Post by **Rookierookie** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 8:12 am

In order of performance:

7900GTX / X1900XTX
X1900XT
7800GTX 512MB
7900GT / X1800XT (PE)
7800GTX / X1900 All-in-Wonder
7800GT / X1800XL
7600GT / 6800 Ultra / X1800GTO / X850XT (PE)
6800GS / 6800GS / X800XL
X800GTO
X1600XT
6800 / 6600GT / X800GT / X1600 Pro 128MB
6800LE / X700 Pro / X1600 Pro 256MB
6600 DDR2 / 9800XT / 9800 Pro
6600 / X1300 Pro / 9800 / X700 Pro / 9700 Pro / 9700
6600LE / 7300GS / X1300 / 9600XT / 9800SE / 9500
7300LE / X1300LE
X300 / 9550

(Geforce FX series not stated because of horrendous performance)

All-in-Wonder signifies only the integration of a TV-tuner, and does not affect performance in any way.

Nvidia does not sell its own chips on cards, and ATI, I believe, no longer does. Therefore, they rely on third-party companies like Sapphire and eVGA to sell their cards.

X850 XT for $169 but an X850 Platinum for $400

WOW!!!! $169 USD is dirt-cheap for an X850XT even with the recent release of the 7600GT. But $400 for the X850XT PE...that is about twice what it should cost, and more.

fable · Post by **fable** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 11:50 am

The best bang for the buck may be the X800GTO, which Pricewatch has at $107 USD. I'm not sure how that would fare in comparison with an X850 XT in Oblivion, however, or how it compares to some of the low end cards on that list. Suggestions?

Ragin Cajun · Post by **Ragin Cajun** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 1:13 pm

Well, went shopping today and picked up an X850 PRO. Hope it works. Getting ready to install it now.

fable · Post by **fable** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 7:35 am

Rookierookie, did you actually rate those cards yourself, trying them all out? 'Fess up.

Because I know very few people who would actually have the money or inclination to do so, if they weren't being paid for the pleasure.

To anyone: what sort of difference could one expect between a Radeon 9600 and an X850 XT?

Denethorn · Post by **Denethorn** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 12:05 pm

A very significant one fable. [url="http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/07/05/vga_charts_vii/page4.html"]This link[/url] should help. That ranks AGP cards, although it is slightly dated now (Summer 2005)

[url="http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/12/02/vga_charts_viii/page18.html"]And this link[/url] should assist you with any PCI-E selections

Winter 2005.

fable · Post by **fable** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 12:39 pm

[QUOTE=Denethorn]A very significant one fable. [url="http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/07/05/vga_charts_vii/page4.html"]This link[/url] should help. That ranks AGP cards, although it is slightly dated now (Summer 2005)[/quote]

Impressive. I'll check into that card.

Ragin Cajun · Post by **Ragin Cajun** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 12:42 pm

I'm happy with my choice of the X850 so far. I got the Pro edition of it. Having a new issue with black walls in different areas but other than that the game seems to be running great.

Denethorn · Post by **Denethorn** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 12:55 pm

The x800 range is probably one of the best in the AGP range at the moment, in terms of the price/performance sweetspot.

In the PCI-E range it's the x850s. Here in the UK atleast, the x850 XT has a very attractive price tag.

fable · Post by **fable** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 12:58 pm

I found the x850 XT going for about 170USD, so my next hurdle is convincing my wife. I'll let you know if I survive that.

Dyre Straits · Post by **Dyre Straits** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 2:24 pm

[QUOTE=fable]
To anyone: what sort of difference could one expect between a Radeon 9600 and an X850 XT?[/QUOTE]

I actually made the leap from a 9600 Pro to an X800 XL. I've been very, very pleased with the choice. The X800 XL has 16 Pixel Pipes and 256 MB of DDR3 ram.

If I had to make the choice today, I'd definitely go with more pixel pipelines over memory speed.

Also, my XL is an AGP version, too.

Additionally, this card has pushed back my target for upgrading to PCI Express for at least a year. I was planning to be using it by now, but it's no longer necessary.

fable · Post by **fable** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 2:37 pm

[QUOTE=Dyre Straits]I actually made the leap from a 9600 Pro to an X800 XL. I've been very, very pleased with the choice. The X800 XL has 16 Pixel Pipes and 256 MB of DDR3 ram.

If I had to make the choice today, I'd definitely go with more pixel pipelines over memory speed.[/QUOTE]

Would you recommend it over the X850 XT?

Dyre Straits · Post by **Dyre Straits** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 4:17 pm

[QUOTE=fable]Would you recommend it over the X850 XT?[/QUOTE]

I've heard good things about that card.

What I'd do is compare the memory speeds and Pixel Pipes between the two. If memory speeds are fairly similar, then I'd go with the one with the most PPs. Honestly, it does make a huge difference.

Then, of course, the bottom line would be cost and what you can afford. All I can say is that I've not been disappointed in anyway with my card.

AND, Omegadrive just released a brand new set based on CAT 6.3 today. I'm using them right now.

Denethorn · Post by **Denethorn** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 4:26 pm

I don't have much experiance with more recent cards, but the best thing you can do is simply search for x850 XT reviews on Google. Good reviews will compare it with a card similar to the x800 and you can gauge which gives more bang for your buck; make sure you add AGP or PCI-E to your search depending on what your after. Can similarly try searching for reviews on the x800 vanilla etc.

Takes a while to wade through them, but its the way I usually make up my mind and get a real feel for hardware I'm considering.

To be honest, at $170 you're laughing, but then again I'm not familiar with hardware prices over there. Regardless, good luck with the wife

Rookierookie · Post by **Rookierookie** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 10:03 pm

Rookierookie, did you actually rate those cards yourself, trying them all out? 'Fess up. Because I know very few people who would actually have the money or inclination to do so, if they weren't being paid for the pleasure.

No.

To anyone: what sort of difference could one expect between a Radeon 9600 and an X850 XT?

About 4-5 times, I think...more on newer games.

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 10:16 am

I've got the 8500 XT coming from NewEgg at the 168USD rate, plus tax and very inexpensive shippiing.

Rookierookie · Post by **Rookierookie** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 10:18 am

Make sure it's for the AGP...it's always amusing for the audience but never so for those involved when someone breaks the bank on a graphics card he or she can't use...

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 1:52 pm

It appears that both the AGP and PCI versions of the card are pretty good.