Thinking about the X300 - Or maybe X600?

[Foxie3a]

Getting the Asus P5WD2 in a matter of weeks to replace my MSI 915P board. The new board has a PCI-E 4x slot, it fits a Vcard(16x), but is only wired for 4x speed.

Right now I have the X700, It's not that bad of a card, I think it beats my 9800pro, which isn't bad considering it's only 128bit. I think I'm getting rid of it, going to upgrade to some sort of X800. I am not a fanboy, but for now I'd prefer to stick with ATI, so please don't suggest any NVidia cards.

With the X800, and the X*00, I'll be able to use upto 4 monitors. I'll start off with 3 though. I might play an RPG with the second card, maybe something like Diablo 2 sometime, but nothing like Far Cry, that would be on the X800.

So I'm looking at the X300, and it looks like something someone threw together in 5 minutes. It might perform well for its class, but it just doesn't look like a full card, especially since the PCB is so tiny. On some of them, there is only a DVI slot, which would defeat the purpose of getting it. Atleast the X600 is a step up, and no matter which one you get, you are getting the full PCB.

So I started at the X300, and now I'm thinking X600. The price isn't really a factor, since I'd look around until I found one for a great price. I'm almost set on the X600 now actually. What do you guys think?

Thanks. :)

[Overclocker550]

dont bother, your x700 beats any x600

[Foxie3a]

Well, thank you for that...informative response. I've always assumed that an X700 Pro 256mb at 445/500 would beat an X600, but it's always great to have someone back up that claim! :thup:

The thing is, I dont need an X700 for just powering my 2D apps, and from time to time something like Diablo 2. I can get like $150 for this X700(roughly), and I can pick up an X600 for probably around $50. I'd definately rather have that $100, and a little less of a card. Remember, I plan on getting an X800 as my main card.

Ah, I found a nice looking X300. It has a nice big PCB, and it looks like it's being fully used!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/squishy79/x300se3.jpg

It's an SE version, so I'm guessing that it's the worse PCI-E card ever made. Oh well. It's at $10 shipped on ebay now. Not bad considering it also doubles as a backup Vcard. I'll slap a VGA Silencer on it, and never worry about the Vcard again!

If I don't win that X300SE(ends in 12 hours from now, it's 5:41 AM) I'll devote my search to an X600.

Funny, looks like all the X300's have a larger heatsink than the X600... And it's close to beating the one on my X700. My poor X700 is still on stock cooling. :(

[IrishAssassin]

X300SE is the worst PCI-E card ever made. I would never go with an SE card after my Radeon 9200SE.

[HousERaT]

I have one as my backup card..... scores 6000 in 3DMark01SE..... but it gets the job done. :D

[NinjaZX6R]

My vote goes to the x600. I am sure you can look around and find a good deal on one. I know your power supply is more than capable of two higher end cards such as an x800 and an x600. Also, I Know re-sale value is an issue for you...so I would stay clear of the x300.

-Collin-

[Yuriman]

X300 = Radeon 9550
X600 = Radeon 9600
X700 > 9800

If you don't plan on gaming it should work perfectly well, but even half life 2 which runs on pretty well anything, will run very poorly on an x300se. I suggest you hold on to you x700 a bit longer, and only sell it when you are actualy ready to upgrade. That is, unless you really don't play any games.... but then why upgrade at all?

[Foxie3a]

I don't play games often, but I plan to in the near future. There are a lot I have to catch up on, especially half life 2. Also, it's fun for me to an all around fast computer.

If I sell now, I'll have more money than if I sell later. So I'm thinking I'll buy the first good deal I see, whether if its the X300, or the X600. And since I love going overboard I'll buy a VGA silencer for it, and put ramsinks on it!

My plan is to have heatsinks on everything, and never have any computer problems. Sort of like my socket 478 system, which is now sold.

So someone said the X300SE gets 6K in their system. Anyone here have the X600?

By the way, all PCI-E cards are DX9.

[Yuriman]

The x600 is very comparable to a 9600, so I'd say X600 = about 8500 marks, X600pro = 10k-13k. Its not really THAT much faster than an X300(well, it is heh) but having Directx9 features is kinda nice. Do you plan on selling this card off when you get your x800?

[Foxie3a]

No, I plan on keeping this card forever. If you read my posts you would know my plan. My plan is to have the X800 as the main card, and the X300 or X600 as a second card powering two more monitors. I would only do intense games with the X800, while the other wouldn't really do anything, just maybe sometime an RPG if I for some reason want to keep something 3D open on the other one.

[Muppetmower]

X300 = Radeon 9200
X600 = Radeon 9600
X700 > 9800

If I'm not mistaken, the x300 is a Dx8 card. If you don't plan on gaming it should work perfectly well, but even half life 2 which runs on pretty well anything, will run very poorly on an x300se. I suggest you hold on to you x700 a bit longer, and only sell it when you are actualy ready to upgrade. That is, unless you really don't play any games.... but then why upgrade at all?


No, no, no. An X300 gives the same performance of a 9550 pro or 9600 pro.
X600-9700
X700-9800pro
X700XT- 9800XT
X800 series cant be comapared to anything ATI
X850 "' " " " " " "

The X300 supports DX9c

[Overclocker550]

I thought the x300 was also dx9? There is only one pci-e card I know isnt dx9, its the mx440 in pci-e LOL I know! I guess the x300 is like a 9550(se) the x600 like a 9600(pro) and the x700 like a 9700(pro)well just look to ebay for a cheap x300 or x600 I guess

[Yuriman]

Hmm, I guess I was mistaken? Either way I think you will be ok.