HD2600XT: GDDR3 vs GDDR4

[TejTrescent]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102700

vs

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102102

Sapphire's GDDR3 version of the card is about $105, compared to $145 (normally 150$) for their GDDR4 version. No other difference between the two cards, it seems.

I mean, I know the HD2600XT isn't the best, but it's not that far behind so that 100$ is a bad price for it. Have there really been any noticeable differences in the GDDR3 and GDDR4 cards of other things, or these?

 

[customcoms]

I wouldn't buy it; the lowest DX10 card I'd touch is an 8600GTS, and even then there is better value in the X1950 based offerings. These "midrange" DX10 cards are pathetic w/ todays drivers and DX10 games.

 

[TejTrescent]

I'm on a low budget, I don't use a resolution higher than 1280x1024 (gasp! ancient, I know, especially since, gasp, I'm willing to lower resolution), and I'm not much for running high AA/AF levels. The card will *most definately* beat out a *PCI* FX5200, like I'm currently stuck with since my 6800OC died thanks to a nice electrical surge.

I'm not so much concerned with DX10 game performance, it's more getting ANY of my DX9 performance back--I'd like to be able to play something past Warcraft III again, it'd be great. That would be really nice, even. For 100$, I don't think there's much that can beat it, if the GDDR3 doesn't matter much. 7600GT's are still in that range, even. If there's a better card around 100$ (maybe 115 max), I'm open to suggestions for it, too. The cheapest 86GTS is still 165$.

 

[chunkylafanga]

If you don't have an awesome psu, then the 2600XT is probably pretty good for you, i've read a review here and there, but i don't think theres a huge difference in the frames between DDR3 and DDR4 - or between 256mb and 512. I think thats the real benefit of 2600XTs, its made for the masses - people with dell systems who don't have insane psus, water cooling etc.

What most people don't get is that - when you buy a 1950pro or something around that; you need a pretty good psu (which adds to the total cost of your system), so this gen ati has released a video card which gets decent frames (nothing fantastic) but does it without even needing a 6 pin connector - that in itself is an achievement.

in short - go the ddr3 256mb (apparently these cards are great for video acceleration too - do they come in the fanless flavor?)

 

[Extelleron]

If you're playing at 1280x1024 with low AA, then the HD 2600XT is perfect for you. Get the GDDR3 256MB version; the extra memory bandwidth doesn't do much for the HD 2600XT, especially for $40 more.

The HD 2600XT is a decent card, but it suffers under high amounts of anti-aliasing. If you don't run much AA, you'll be pretty happy with it.