Upgrade Suggestion from AGP to PCI-e

[wayliff]

I'm upgrading from an ATI Radeon 9800Pro.

I want a PCI-e wiht some decent performance.

I dont game much but definitely want something superior to my current card.

I've been looking at the x800xls and the gtos.

Any suggestion in particular? based on your experience.

Budget tops at around 160. I may consider a bit more if it is really worth it.

* i dont overclock.

 

[beserker15]

x800xl's are like $200, find some on the forums used for cheaper. especially look at the x800gto2, they overclock like mad with atleast x850xt speeds. there's several in the fs/ft forums right now for ~$160

 

[CKXP]

since your not into OCing, i can assume you're not into modding you card either. then x800gto2, might be out of the question. the next best price/performance card would be the eVGA 6800gs $179 ,just as fast as a stock 6800gt, and considerably less.

 

[crazydingo]

GTO2 for $189

 

[Cooler]

x800GTO2 is what you want.

 

[CKXP]

Originally posted by: crazydingo
GTO2 for $189

okay i must have missed something, are these cards coming unlocked now?

 

[Piuc2020]

No (at least that I know of), but they have a 100% unlock rate, in any case, its basically the same thing.

 

[wayliff]

anything else?

 

[Childs]

X800 PCIE. Its on sale right now at newegg for $115.

 

[The Sly Syl]

X800GTO'2 better than a 6800GS?

 

[russki]

you could go with an ati for less than 200 or an nvidia 6800gs for less than 200, cant really go wrong with either one. I own a 6800gs and they o/c like crazy.

 

[imported_mystery]

X800 GTO^2 VIVO with dual DVI come PRE-UNLOCKED with 16 pipelines (I speak from personal experience). The X800GTO2 with 16 pipes overclocked to X850XT + speeds is faster than a 6800U.

 

[Powermoloch]

Originally posted by: mystery
X800 GTO^2 VIVO with dual DVI come PRE-UNLOCKED with 16 pipelines (I speak from personal experience). The X800GTO2 with 16 pipes overclocked to X850XT + speeds is faster than a 6800U.

How much did you score on 3dmark05? w/ yer X800GT02

 

[Wreckage]

This would be the best card....

EVGA 6800GS - $164 AR.

 

[imported_mystery]

Originally posted by: Powermoloch

Originally posted by: mystery
X800 GTO^2 VIVO with dual DVI come PRE-UNLOCKED with 16 pipelines (I speak from personal experience). The X800GTO2 with 16 pipes overclocked to X850XT + speeds is faster than a 6800U.

How much did you score on 3dmark05? w/ yer X800GT02

6447:

http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm05=1798224

 

[imported_techboy]

At stock 6800gs shd be much better than x800gto
also has sm 3 will give much better graphics in new games in sc3,aoe3 etc

go with 6800gs PERIOD

but it won't be = raw x850xt

 

[imported_mystery]

You wouldn't buy an x800 gto2 to run it at stock. It has the R480 core and the 1.6ns GDDR3 RAM used in the X850XT and X850XT PE, so you're pretty much guaranteed to o/c to at least 500 core, 560 memory. Performance will be > than 6800 Ultra.

If you don't want to overclock, you can even get a real X850XT with the bigger cooler for $20 USD more than the GTO2.

And yes, I know these don't have SM3, but you really need at least a 7800GT to be able to run SM3 HDR at a comfortable fps.

Also, Half Life 2 Lost Coast utilizes another type of HDR which doesn't require SM3 and my GTO2 can run it quite comfortably.

 

[jdkick]

You have to decide what you're out for. Yes, some of the older cards (X800's) will run with or beat out some of the mid-range cards of today... that's important if you're just out for FPS. But, the older cards don't support newer technology... SM 3.0 is probably one of the bigger ones. IMO, you'd be doing yourself diservice with respect to newer/upcoming games by buying an older card.

As has been mentioned, the 6800GS is a great solution.