9600XT All-In-Wonder vs. 9800 PRO

[luder503]

Hey,
I just recently purchased these two cards during today's black friday sales and I needed opinions on which card was better. I know that the 9800 Pro outperforms the 9600XT, but the fact that the 9600 is an All-In-Wonder keeps me undecided. How do these two cards compare? Am I going to notice a significant difference between the two? I do some gaming (ie. HL2, CS:Source), so I don't know how important a strong graphics card would be for me. The comfort of having a tv tuner (including a remote!) makes me want the 9600XT All-In-Wonder, but then again the 9800 Pro outperforms it, so I don't know what to do. Pro's and cons of each?

Btw, I picked up the 9800 Pro for ~$25 more than the 9600XT AIW.

[Schalldampfer]

Most people here, to my best belief, are disgusted by AIW. What I heard is that AIW's for 9700 and under were utter rubbish. So you should congratulate yourself on your wise decision.

[Aphex_Tom_9]

The 9800Pro is a lot better at graphics, but the 9600xt AIW has that tuner...you could survive in games today with the 9600 if you really want those AIW features, but if you want something gaming-solid the 9800pro's the stuff.

[Trios]

Most people here, to my best belief, are disgusted by AIW. What I heard is that AIW's for 9700 and under were utter rubbish. So you should congratulate yourself on your wise decision.

Definately not true. I have an AIW 128, AIW 128 Pro, AIW Radeon, and AIW Radeon 9600, and all of them do everything I've asked them to do without a complaint. They aren't always in the top of their bracket in the gaming department, but that is NOT why you buy an AIW card, you buy it if you need/want TV tuner capability and the VIVO functions that make that AIW so much more than their non-AIW competition.

I LOVE my AIWs. I just have too many lying around right now :P

Trios

[Schalldampfer]

Haha, ok. I guess if that AIW functionality is a must, you have no other choice.