Got some n00bish questions

[Make 7UP Yours]

Please bear with me...

Is an ATi 9800 Pro 128MB overclocked to XT speeds just as fast an an XT, or are there any architecture/core differences that would still set them apart?

Secondly, I still have one of the old Northwood 1.6A CPUs at 2133 and was wondering if getting such a card would be a waste? If I had a choice between a 9800 Pro@ XT speeds and say a 5950 Ultra for about $80 cheaper....should I go with the Geforce card instead, or is the ATi card that much superior that it's worth $80 more despite my somewhat limited CPU?

Thanks!

[Make 7UP Yours]

Anybody? Thanks.

[micamica1217]

Anybody? Thanks.

oooops, sorry I missed this last night.

well, both have good and bad things to say...here is my take on it.

the 9800pro at XT speeds is a great card.
you cant go wrong with it.
yet some people have to switch drivers for some games.
some drivers from ATI is less then perfect.
for example, I'm sticking to the cat3.7's with my 9700pro....every game works perfectly. splintercell, farcry, BF:V, madden2k4, LOMAC, I could go on forever.
yet, if I try some of the newer ones, then I could F myself up, and have to go back to the 3.7's for some random game.

for the 9800pro/xt's I would try the cat4.4's or 4.5's

nVidia put out a nice card....too bad they are in damage controle mode.
putting out drivers that lower IQ in order to gain framerate in some benchmarks/games.
it's been going on for about the past 1.5 years.
plus, some games will be played in a lower pixel or vertex shader, in order to get better framerate(lower IQ as compared to full PS2.0 and VS2.0).
farcry is a great example....look. (http://www.hardocp.com/image.html?image=MTA4MzU2NDE4OTg4OEFkazcwdGVfNF80X 2wuanBn)
the results will be the same as the 6800u.

it's your choice, fight with drivers or punch nVidia in the face for robing you of some IQ in some games.

mica

[Make 7UP Yours]

Performance wise....would the ATi card blow away the Geforce so much to be worth $80 more? Mind you...I don't have the greatest CPU power.