View Full Version : Need info from the pros
jeepgc04
12-03-04, 03:08 AM
Ok, I currently have an Nvidia 5600XT and it's ok i guess but will be getting a bonus from work soon and would like to go up the ladder of tech some. I have owned ATI's before and am really not bias on which is the better brand. My cousin has a 9800 XT ATI all in wonder card and always brags about how much better ATI is. So I try to ignore him but before I buy I thought I would ask the pro's.
As it stands right now what is the best card on the market for gaming and all other internet functionality. I also hook the PC to my big screen (non HD) every now and then but the picture is kind of blurry would a better card help this? If not then my question still stands. I would like to get the better card out there.
I think the better overall card for RIGHT NOW is the x800, however, keep in mind the 6800 has sm3, which ati does not, making it much more "future proof". I have the best of both right now, but if i had to throw one into the trash today to only keep one, it would be the x800 i would keep. Just my opinion. This type of thread always spawns debate/flame wars. Best you check them both out yourself if possible.
CandymanCan
12-03-04, 04:09 AM
The x800's seemt o benchmark better but the 6800's get better Frames in video games. Basicly if you were to choose from the x800pro over the 6800gt i would get the GT
The x800's seemt o benchmark better but the 6800's get better Frames in video games. Basicly if you were to choose from the x800pro over the 6800gt i would get the GT
Agreed, at the $400 mark, 6800GT is the way to go. If you can get an x800 XT/PE, that would be my pick.
CandymanCan
12-03-04, 05:04 AM
Agreed, at the $400 mark, 6800GT is the way to go. If you can get an x800 XT/PE, that would be my pick.
Same with me.
The best price/performace card right now seems to be the 6800GT. But if overall quality/performace is your issue right now then the X800 is the way to go from what I have read. With the 6800 you will definately get a serious increase in performance for you money.
The x800's seemt o benchmark better but the 6800's get better Frames in video games. Basicly if you were to choose from the x800pro over the 6800gt i would get the GT
Well that statements a bit off. Depends on the game.
Agreed that the GT is a better buy than the Pro.
Get the 6800nu and unlock the pipes and shader, the overclock that bad boy. <-- This will walk all over that 9800. ;)
overall card for RIGHT NOW is the x800, however, keep in mind the 6800 has sm3, which ati does not, making it much more "future proof".
/? me thinks maybe this is just another "paper" feature like DX9 was on the FX cards. good enough to suck in the the nubs and the fanboise but no real world function.
when will they learn. :p
This is my overall stance on the best cards in is range.
Best Budget Card- 9600?
Good mid range cards- 6600GT seems a great card. The 9800Pro is still a good performer.
High mid range- 6800NU is a good card for the price, bit more than a 6600GT but a fair bit faster. I think you can also BIOS flash em and mod em into 6800Ultra's like Slimmy said if you've got the bottle.
High end- 6800GT is the best. Beats a X800pro in all games.
High High End- While both the 6800Ultra and the X800XT PE are quality cards, the nod goes to the x800. :p
galador
12-05-04, 08:15 AM
How much money are you willing to spend on your next card? You can get the 6600Gt AGP for $250, 6800nu for $288, and the 6800GT for $340. I also have no problem of going either way ( ATI or NVidia ) but it seeems that NVidia is giving the most performance per dollar ratio.
I also have no problem of going either way ( ATI or NVidia ) but it seeems that NVidia is giving the most performance per dollar ratio.
yes, Nvidia is the new value leader. the best gameplay and visuals go ATI at a price. :cry:
it seems to be a whole new era in video card pricing. seems the cards sell for whatever the peeps can get for them. any price the market can bear. retail is out the window?
Dragonprince
12-05-04, 09:32 AM
Yeah I agree, retail pricing is whatever the stores can force people to spend. ATi cards seem to be priced very high compared to nVidia right now. I'd say the 6800GT is the best all around buy, but my choice would be the X800 XT-PE if cost isnt an issue....
ComPuterFreak90
12-05-04, 10:00 AM
get a 6600GT i got it a few days ago and its better image quality and faster than a 9800xt. Get that or a 6800LE for $235 off of newegg.com and try to unlock pipes.
JasonDTM
12-05-04, 10:04 AM
^^^^ a 6600GT isnt nessicarily(sp?) faster than a 9800XT, it comes on par or alittle ahead in a few benchmarks, but not all, a 6800LE would be pretty cool if it unlocked.
If you plan on doing any media encoding (I noticed you said you hook it up to tv) Be warry that the VPU on the 6800's is not functional at this time. I would get the x800 as any sort of video encoding was going to be used. The 6800 does do the older encoding like the 5900 cards, but why pay for old stuff. The VPU has been fixed on the 6600 and 6200 cards.
Just my .02$. If TV is involved go ATI.
ComPuterFreak90
12-05-04, 10:31 AM
get the 6600Gt, its been fixed, its strong and like a 9800XT.
jeepgc04
12-05-04, 04:52 PM
Thanks to everyone for the info and what each has to offer. FOr this card I don't think money will be an issue. This is a personal xmas present to myslef so I am going to make it a nice one. I see it this way when a company gives you a bonus that's their way of say have a good time and saving it wouldn't be any fun. But I also think I will ask the guy at the store if he could physically show me the differences between the cards right there in the store. And also yes TV will be involved. So I might actually check out the X800 XT/PE
thanks again peeps.
ComPuterFreak90
12-05-04, 08:02 PM
:eek: NO, the x800 SERIES IS OLD AND DOESNT SUPPORT PIXELSHADER 3.0. GET the 6600GT or 6800GT even a 6800.
jeepgc04
12-05-04, 10:23 PM
How is the X800 xt Plat, old? It's the newest card out along with the 6800's in any flavor. I agree that I am still checking out the diff's between them but your statement that it is old is just more than obviously bias.
:eek: NO, the x800 SERIES IS OLD AND DOESNT SUPPORT PIXELSHADER 3.0. GET the 6600GT or 6800GT even a 6800.
what are you smokin' fanboy?
who gives a rats @ss about PS3. show any benchmark or test that shows its better and maybe you might learn something. :beer:
:eek: NO, the x800 SERIES IS OLD AND DOESNT SUPPORT PIXELSHADER 3.0. GET the 6600GT or 6800GT even a 6800.
PS3 is pointless at this stage. There are barely any games that support it, and even the ones that do don't have any visual difference when compared to PS2. The x800 series is maybe "old" in a tech sense somewhat as its based on the previous R300, but it still matches up with NV40 well enough....
As for what I would choose:
Ultra high-end: x800 XT-PE (unless you can find the insanely rare 6800 Ultra Extreme somewhere, heck, finding the XT-PE is hard enough as it is)..
High End: 6800GT
Mid-High: 6800
Mid: 6600GT/6800LE
Low: 9600/9700/ti4200
Also, Nandro's point is very good as well. If you are doing anything encoding related, then ATi would probably be the better choice, such as a x800 Pro or x800 XT.
Hmm...excuse my ignorance, but what exactly is the media encoding?
I've read about it but still ain't too sure. Anyone care to enlighten me?
Btw, that X800XT PE is an excellent choice. I wish they were more readily available or I may have picked one up. I still love my X800Pro though. You can't go wrong.
CandymanCan
12-06-04, 07:21 AM
Well that statements a bit off. Depends on the game.
Agreed that the GT is a better buy than the Pro.
How is that off. Its true, the x800's bench better, but the 6800's seem to do much better in games even in HL2.
Z YA LTR
12-06-04, 12:10 PM
Show me a review that shows a 6800 faster in hl2. The one I saw showed the x800pro beating the 6800 ultra.
--Josh
Show me a review that shows a 6800 faster in hl2. The one I saw showed the x800pro beating the 6800 ultra.
--Josh
ya, thats what hes saying about benchmarks. he means in game plability.
stange, everybody i have seen that had both cards seems to think that games play smoother on x800. :-/
Benchmarks are not the most reliable way to show real world performance. Sooo many things can alter the results, most noteably drivers. You can dl a driver that is specifically written to increase scores in the 3dmark benchies and dont work the best in games. I used to be into that whole benchmark craze but gave up on it once I realized that it was costing me too much money just to get a score and not real improvement in game performance.
Z YA LTR
12-06-04, 06:50 PM
ya, thats what hes saying about benchmarks. he means in game plability.
stange, everybody i have seen that had both cards seems to think that games play smoother on x800. :-/
Well I know Toms make thier own benchmark from real games so that wouldnt be a sythetic benchmark. Im not talking about 3dmark scores or something
--Josh
Well I know Toms make thier own benchmark from real games so that wouldnt be a sythetic benchmark. Im not talking about 3dmark scores or something
--Josh
That is true to an extent. You can still be using a majority of game clips and that favor one card over the other. That is the problem with benchmarks, they can be argued one way or the other no matter what and how you use them. For me, I just try to find a card that will work well with the majority of the games that I play, and also the best price/performance card that I can find at the time that I need a new card. Benchmarks can be useful, I just try not to read too much into them nowdays.
Z YA LTR
12-07-04, 07:57 AM
Just GAME!!
--Josh
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