Going with the X800XT PE!!

[carbonsteel]

Screw it...im saving up money and going with the X800XT PE...I wanna get some of the best of the best cuz im tired of being behind in computer tech, and buying half-ass cheap junk. I want something thats going to last at least a couple of years. Comparing that X800XT PE vs the nvidia 6800 series cards...and from what I've read over the past month...I still lean towards ATI, and before a few months ago I knew very little about video cards, but from what ive read, what ive learned from HArdForum and from the ebay market...ive decided im going to stick with ATI and take the X800XT PE. The 6600GT is an awesome buy....only if it was 256-bit...but nope....sticking with ATI and going with the 800series. FRom what Ive read and researched...ATI has a lot more public relations in my view, and that also helps me pick ATI...i see Nvidia as a lot more secretive and quiet. Maybe its just me and im weird but thats what i feel and...i seem to find a lot more to read with ATI rather than Nvidia. But Id like to thank everyone for their input over the past month or so who have helped me out, and i will be sticking around Hard Forum for any other help and/or to help others...hardforum i think is one of the best places on the World Wide Web for getting input on anything with computers as many of you are hardcore computer gamers and users. Thanks again and I'll be around in months to come to learn more from all of you and to share what ive learned.

 

[Shifra]

some reason you cant wait till may?

 

[swatX]

lot more public relations? sorry the only game ATI supports is Half life 2 and farcry now..

look at nvidia:

Ureal 3
DoomIII
Return to castle wolfestein 2
Quake IV
Unreal 2004
Aoe Series.. go look at nzone.com and see the list for yourself that NV is behind..


secretive? behind closed door? take a look at ATI. it cant even get a decent supply of its x850 and x800 series out.

well anyways its your choice .. good luck!

 

[TheGamerZ]

lot more public relations? sorry the only game ATI supports is Half life 2 and farcry now..

look at nvidia:

Ureal 3
DoomIII
Return to castle wolfestein 2
Quake IV
Unreal 2004
Aoe Series.. go look at nzone.com and see the list for yourself that NV is behind..


secretive? behind closed door? take a look at ATI. it cant even get a decent supply of its x850 and x800 series out.

well anyways its your choice .. good luck!

basing your purchase on what games a company advertises with is beyond stupid.. both companies perform well in games.

 

[Circuitbreaker8]

lot more public relations? sorry the only game ATI supports is Half life 2 and farcry now..

look at nvidia:

Ureal 3
DoomIII
Return to castle wolfestein 2
Quake IV
Unreal 2004
Aoe Series.. go look at nzone.com and see the list for yourself that NV is behind..


secretive? behind closed door? take a look at ATI. it cant even get a decent supply of its x850 and x800 series out.

well anyways its your choice .. good luck!

You do know just because a game has "support" doesn't mean the supported VC company does better...right? The X800XT PE is a great card, and usually whoops the 6800U around in most games when you increase AA

 

[atp1916]

You do know just because a game has "support" doesn't mean the supported VC company does better...right? The X800XT PE is a great card, and usually whoops the 6800U around in most games when you increase AA

Agreed.

I don't even want to bring the X800XL into this

 

[BullseyeBob]

lot more public relations? sorry the only game ATI supports is Half life 2 and farcry now..

look at nvidia:

Ureal 3
DoomIII
Return to castle wolfestein 2
Quake IV
Unreal 2004
Aoe Series.. go look at nzone.com and see the list for yourself that NV is behind..


secretive? behind closed door? take a look at ATI. it cant even get a decent supply of its x850 and x800 series out.

well anyways its your choice .. good luck!

possibly one the most stupid posts i have ever seen on this forum. possibly.

 

[legcramp]

lot more public relations? sorry the only game ATI supports is Half life 2 and farcry now..

look at nvidia:

Ureal 3
DoomIII
Return to castle wolfestein 2
Quake IV
Unreal 2004
Aoe Series.. go look at nzone.com and see the list for yourself that NV is behind..


secretive? behind closed door? take a look at ATI. it cant even get a decent supply of its x850 and x800 series out.

well anyways its your choice .. good luck!

back that thang up! u sound just like what I think you sound like....NFB...

BUZT..why did you say that you were about to get the 6600gt but it only has 128bit memory bandwidth..you know..the 6600gt is not nvidia'stop card right? heh

great choice BTW! the x800xt should last you quite awhile..

 

[{NG}Fidel]

Yeah you can get a OEM Saphire X800XTPE at NewEgg for under MSRP.
Also Far Cry was supposed to be a Nvidia game in the begining.
Thats why you use to see all those things that said buy a 6800GT and get a free copy of Far Cry.

 

[arentol]

lot more public relations? sorry the only game ATI supports is Half life 2 and farcry now..

look at nvidia:

Ureal 3
DoomIII
Return to castle wolfestein 2
Quake IV
Unreal 2004
Aoe Series.. go look at nzone.com and see the list for yourself that NV is behind..


secretive? behind closed door? take a look at ATI. it cant even get a decent supply of its x850 and x800 series out.

well anyways its your choice .. good luck!

By "support" you seem to mean "games where they have an exclusive on/in the box, and splash screen, advertising contract".

If you think those contracts mean ANYTHING at all then you are sadly mistaken and badly mislead. You are in fact then the PERFECT Nvidia lap-boy. Think about this for a minute. It takes a lot of time and money on Nvidia's part to get those contracts and set everything up so they can be advertised in those games. That is all money that is being spent on advertising instead of R&D and other things that ACTUALLY BENEFIT GAMERS. The sad part is that in over half those games with the Nvidia name on them ATI hardware runs the game faster!

I am actually really sorry, and very saddened, that you think the Nvidia logo on a game box means anything worthwhile at all. I really hope you someday come to your senses and judge hardware and games based solely on their own merits and not on how they are marketed to you.

I personally have both a 6800ultra (BFG) and an x800XT-PE (ATI), and my personal experience has made it clear to me that the 6800ultra has issues with image quality and in game errors (problems in 3 of the first 5 games I played on it). Meanwhile my x800XT-PE has run like a dream (errors in only 2 of the 40+ games I have played on it, with none in the 3 games the 6800 had problems with). Therefore I always strongly recommend the x800 series when asked which is better overall. However, I have probably actually suggested Nvidia cards (6600 or 6800 series only though) to individuals just as much as ATI cards since plenty of people have budget and hardware requirements that made Nvidia cards the better choice for them. Either way, if you get one of these 2 cards you will be damn happy, but I am personally much happier with my x800XT-PE.

As for the supply issue. ATI screwed up with the X800 series on the supply side. That is true. But then Nvidia was only a little better with 6800's, and was far worse with the EE version (which basically truly was vaporware). I really don't think either company should be particularly proud of the last 6 months of 2004, both rushed their newest product to try and have them on the street before the other and it turned out badly since neither company could keep up with demand. It hardly means that either company sucks though, both make the best videocards around and just got caught up in the "first one out is the winner" hype.

BTW, just saw a post here talking about the problems people are having with 6800's in EQ2. I have my EQ2 box right here next to me. It has the Nvidia logo on it. Looks like someone screwed the pooch on that one. Apparently SOE and Nvidia expect us to believe that EQ2 is supposed to be played 20% slower than with ATI and with poorer image quality as well (like non-functioning specular lighting). DOH!

 

[InorganicMatter]

Screw it...im saving up money and going with the X800XT PE...I wanna get some of the best of the best cuz im tired of being behind in computer tech, and buying half-ass cheap junk.

If that's the case, you are most certainly going to be upset with your purchase in a few months. ATI's current generation of cards do NOT support SM3, while nVidia's does. We are starting to see a few SM3 games now, and if you want this card to last as long as you are hoping it will, SM3 games will be a problem in your future. Just a thought.

 

[arentol]

If that's the case, you are most certainly going to be upset with your purchase in a few months. ATI's current generation of cards do NOT support SM3, while nVidia's does. We are starting to see a few SM3 games now, and if you want this card to last as long as you are hoping it will, SM3 games will be a problem in your future. Just a thought.

Actually they won't be a problem because you can just run them as SM2.0, or 2.0b if they support that. Running 2.0 will be about 90 to 100% of the visual quality and 90 to 100% as fast as 3.0, and 2.0b will be about 95 to 100% of the visual quality and 95 ot 100% as fast as 3.0.

It will really be up to the developers how well the various setups are supported.

However, I am with you on suggesting that he wait, just not for SM3.0 reasons. I think we are just a little to close to the next gen of cards from ATI and Nvidia to put a lot of money down on a new card today. I would save my money and pounce on the best card of the next gen as soon as it comes out rather than put money into the current generation, which is effectively 8 months old now (I have had my x800xt-pe for 7.5 months now and some people got there's 2 weeks before me).

 

[erorr404]

some reason you cant wait till may?

what will happen in May? card prices drop?

 

[atp1916]

what will happen in May? card prices drop?

R520

 

[Borealis]

I just picked up an x800xt a couple days ago and it's amazingly fast. I'm 100% happy with my purchase. I highly doubt I'll be buying nvidia anytime soon.

Every game I've tried I can max out every option including AA/AF and I've yet to see a game drop below 30fps or even hit in the 30's.

Just get it, you'll love it!

 

[arentol]

what will happen in May? card prices drop?

Many people believe the next gen card(s) from ATI, Nvidia, or both will be released in May.

 

[Rollo]

By "support" you seem to mean "games where they have an exclusive on/in the box, and splash screen, advertising contract".

If you think those contracts mean ANYTHING at all then you are sadly mistaken and badly mislead.

Unless you work for a TWIMTBP game developer, we should believe you why? Yeah, I'm sure Far Cry put the nV40 only HDR in there, Splinter Cell Chaos Theory is SM3 only, and Riddick has soft stencil shadows for nV40 hardware only because ATI compatibility was at the TOP of those developers list.

You are in fact then the PERFECT Nvidia lap-boy. Think about this for a minute. It takes a lot of time and money on Nvidia's part to get those contracts and set everything up so they can be advertised in those games. That is all money that is being spent on advertising instead of R&D and other things that ACTUALLY BENEFIT GAMERS. The sad part is that in over half those games with the Nvidia name on them ATI hardware runs the game faster!

You mean on the benchmarking cards they release like the XT PEs that show up a year later?

I am actually really sorry, and very saddened, that you think the Nvidia logo on a game box means anything worthwhile at all. I really hope you someday come to your senses and judge hardware and games based solely on their own merits and not on how they are marketed to you.

Why don't you tell us why we should believe anything you say about this? Your condescending tone would indicate you think you have more knowledge of this situation than the person you're mocking. Please tell us what you do at nVidia or which TWIMTBP developer you work for. I think you don't know any more about it than the guy you're mocking, and that you're just rude?

I personally have both a 6800ultra (BFG) and an x800XT-PE (ATI), and my personal experience has made it clear to me that the 6800ultra has issues with image quality and in game errors (problems in 3 of the first 5 games I played on it).

Really? Gee, do you think maybe as a totally new architecture the nV40 had soem driver issues to work out, that the X800XT PE got worked out back when it's design came out back in 2002? More relevant now would be whether those driver issues have been addressed.

Meanwhile my x800XT-PE has run like a dream (errors in only 2 of the 40+ games I have played on it, with none in the 3 games the 6800 had problems with). Therefore I always strongly recommend the x800 series when asked which is better overall.

That's pretty shortsighted of you. No SM3, no soft stencil shadows, no HDR, no SLI- but I suppose those who want the "V5 6K" of 2005 won't hate it. I had a X800 XT PE, it was a nice card and very fast. It also had a limited feature set and played Doom3 like ass, and I'm personally looking forward to Q4 more than anything as I'm an online gamer. Even though the fps averages were comparable to the 6800GT it replaced at Doom3, it wasn't as smooth due to ATIs crappy OGL support. Of course now my 6800GT SLI pretty much slaughters anything ATI at most new games anyway.

However, I have probably actually suggested Nvidia cards (6600 or 6800 series only though) to individuals just as much as ATI cards since plenty of people have budget and hardware requirements that made Nvidia cards the better choice for them. Either way, if you get one of these 2 cards you will be damn happy, but I am personally much happier with my x800XT-PE.

If you can live with its limits, more power to you. I'm actually on my way to buy Riddick tonight, it got great reviews. I'll be seeing it the way the developers meant it to be, not some 2002 era imitation. You know how I know an X800 anything is a bad buy now? Because everything nVidia has done in the last year is frantically being copied by ATI as we speak, and when those cards come out, the value of 9700Pro Part2 cards is going to plummet.

As for the supply issue. ATI screwed up with the X800 series on the supply side. That is true. But then Nvidia was only a little better with 6800's, and was far worse with the EE version (which basically truly was vaporware).

Hmmm. That's funny- I don't see the "EE version" on nVidia'[s site at all. What does that have to do with nVidia supply? Those are OEM OCd cards, out of nVidia's hands.

Anyway, waiting eagerly to hear why we should believe you about stuff it's likely you knwo nothing about. (TWIMTBP)

 

[{NG}Fidel]

Actually they won't be a problem because you can just run them as SM2.0, or 2.0b if they support that. Running 2.0 will be about 90 to 100% of the visual quality and 90 to 100% as fast as 3.0, and 2.0b will be about 95 to 100% of the visual quality and 95 ot 100% as fast as 3.0.

Well its the other way around its 100% of the visual quality and 90% of the speed of sm3.0 (sm2.0b is atleast)
Rollo you Lap dog get it right ATI cards can have HDR.
Even Kyle from Hardocp has said that on these boards.
Rollo get ranting somewhere NVidia gained years upon years of prior SLI experience from their acquision of 3DFX. Given that history, I am disappointed in the results. I hope ATI does better.

 

[Converge]

Buy an X800XT. In 6-8 months sell it and spend $200-$300 on a r520 card.

 

[Rollo]

Well its the other way around its 100% of the visual quality and 90% of the speed of sm3.0 (sm2.0b is atleast)
Rollo you Lap dog get it right ATI cards can have HDR.
Even Kyle from Hardocp has said that on these boards.
Rollo get ranting somewhere NVidia gained years upon years of prior SLI experience from their acquision of 3DFX. Given that history, I am disappointed in the results. I hope ATI does better.

I don't know- I really love my 6800GT SLI- the only card(s) they don't stomp flat are 6800U SLI.

BTW- AFAIK the only game with HDR is Far Cry, and AFAIK Crytek only put it in for nVidia cards?
http://www.elitebastards.com/page.php?pageid=7594&head=1&comments=1

 

[joethemole]

if i were you, i would buy an x800 pro vivo and flash it to xt or xtpe.

 

[kirbyrj]

what will happen in May? card prices drop?

Nothing will happen in May. We'll have another paper launch from both companies and then sit around waiting for the cards to show up in retail. First, they'll be $200 over the MSRP just because only a few retailers have them. Then, they'll come down to the MSRP probably by October. By this time next year, we'll be talking about how we shouldn't buy one of those and wait for next year's paper launch .

If you want the card now, just buy it.

 

[carbonsteel]

As I said this was only my opinion about support and public relations...i meant more like public releases and/or statements...i seem to hear alot less surrounding Nvidia cards. Im not talking about support with Games...im sure these 6800GT Ultras and 800XT's are all WONDERFUL with game support...im talking about public support...public releases....information about the company and thier products...ive just seen more with ATI. Ive been watching and reading constantly about each company and thier video cards, and I just seem to hear a lot more about Ati. More about thier products and thier future (ie. the new 512mb ram card) <----- Just an example thats all --------- . Im sure both companies are great...my girlfreinds card is a Nvidia MX series...an older card with a tuner and i have no problems. I have nothing against Nvidia...i just think the X800XT PE is the best card possible to buy on the market...besides the 850. Yes ive heard the 6600GT is a GREAT card for the cost but the 128bit interface stops me....this is all my opinion...and now from one post reply i read here...is the SM2.0 and 3.0 issue, where Ati latest cards are still at 2.0. I dont know what kind of issue that may plauge me in the future, but I still like ATI better. I hear alot more about ATI in both readings and developments...who knows maybe im just not looking hard enough into Nvidia...Im sure they are both wonderful companies with wonderful inventions and developments, and im entitled to like one or the other a little more. I have nothing against anybody on this forum nor against Nvidia. Ive just been trying to learn as much as i can about computers and gaming...and these last couple months of learning....Yes, i like ATI better. If that offends some of you, im sorry...but no offence....Doesnt mean i dont like Nvidia...it means i like ATI a little bit more. Thanks again for everyones help and i greatly appreciate it And ill be around to ask for more and to give my input and teach anybody else who needs help...

Justin

 

[arentol]

Unless you work for a TWIMTBP game developer, we should believe you why? Yeah, I'm sure Far Cry put the nV40 only HDR in there, Splinter Cell Chaos Theory is SM3 only, and Riddick has soft stencil shadows for nV40 hardware only because ATI compatibility was at the TOP of those developers list.

They are putting those things in because there is hardware out there to support it (finally) and they wish to offer ever possible option. Those games will still look good, run fast, and work fine on ATI hardware, and if their deal was with ATI then they would probably still put in all those features because the games you are mentioning have massive budgets and so can take the time to do so. The contracts are NOT about developers coding specifically for hardware. No developer would do that because they would lose a TON of money by not trying to support both pieces of hardware effectively. Considering how often ATI demolishs Nvidia in these same games it is quite clear that is not a part of the deal. Also Splinter Cell is NOT SM3 only. That is a horrendously inaccurate statement and goes to show how limited your understanding of the situation really is.

You mean on the benchmarking cards they release like the XT PEs that show up a year later?

No, I am talking about back when Nvidia was releasing the laughable FX series of cards that were being completely trounced in every single non-OpenGL game in existance by ATI cards, and yet it seemed they had the Nvidia logo on every game box out there convincing people to by their (at the time) pitiful cards.

Why don't you tell us why we should believe anything you say about this? Your condescending tone would indicate you think you have more knowledge of this situation than the person you're mocking. Please tell us what you do at nVidia or which TWIMTBP developer you work for. I think you don't know any more about it than the guy you're mocking, and that you're just rude?

I am just repeating what a developer discussed on the forums of Gamasutra.com. I am also just using my head based on the fact that ATI smoked Nvidia in TONS of TWIMTBP games.

Also I was not mocking him. I was pitying him for not using his head.

Really? Gee, do you think maybe as a totally new architecture the nV40 had soem driver issues to work out, that the X800XT PE got worked out back when it's design came out back in 2002? More relevant now would be whether those driver issues have been addressed.

I had those issues in late December. The Nvidia card had been out for 7 months at that point. The games I had problems in had all been out for 1 to 2 months at that point. One of the 2 month old games was EQ2 which is a TWIMTBP game, and it still doesn't run right on a 6800. Do you not UNDERSTAND how that very fact PROVES my point. TWIMTBP game, and yet it runs like crap on Nvidia cards. Why is that? Because the contract is about ADVERTISING. Yeah Nvidia actually puts some time and effort into ensuring the top 5 or so games each year have full on support for Nvidia hardware, but for all the rest it's just pure advertising. They only have 2k employees afterall, and very few of those would be qualified to really offer significant help to game developers. It's all about money and advertising. Developers and publishers get paid to advertise Nvidia's hardware, and a few select games also get MORE direct help than is generally available to all developers.

That's pretty shortsighted of you. No SM3, no soft stencil shadows, no HDR, no SLI- but I suppose those who want the "V5 6K" of 2005 won't hate it.

Actually you can do soft stencils and HDR on ATI hardware. The soft stencil shadows are just a bigger hit on the frame rates, but they really aren't that big a hit, and you can definitely do them on something as low as a 9500. For most people the hit would just force you down one resolution setting (i.e. 1600x1200 to 1280x1024), but some people would have enough headroom on faster PC's to stay at 1600x1200 in many games. The HDR is available on ATI, it's just not precise enough so it ends up loooking washed out so nobody supports it.

I had a X800 XT PE, it was a nice card and very fast. It also had a limited feature set and played Doom3 like ass, and I'm personally looking forward to Q4 more than anything as I'm an online gamer. Even though the fps averages were comparable to the 6800GT it replaced at Doom3, it wasn't as smooth due to ATIs crappy OGL support. Of course now my 6800GT SLI pretty much slaughters anything ATI at most new games anyway.

While, I was just playing some D3 earlier today and my x800XT-PE was doing just fine running the game at 1600x1200, 2xAA, 8xAF. Never dropped below 25fps, and was usually around 45.

If you can live with its limits, more power to you. I'm actually on my way to buy Riddick tonight, it got great reviews. I'll be seeing it the way the developers meant it to be, not some 2002 era imitation. You know how I know an X800 anything is a bad buy now? Because everything nVidia has done in the last year is frantically being copied by ATI as we speak, and when those cards come out, the value of 9700Pro Part2 cards is going to plummet.

You seriously have to get off this 2002 kick. Yes there are some limitations on ATI until they get their next gen core out because of the current cards being based on that original core. However I see that only as a good thing. Think about it. They managed to get years of life out of one design. How friggin powerful a design must it have been to provide all that? Nvidia in the meantime got trounced by that design for 3 completely separate generations. Can you not see how bad that makes Nvidia look? They can't design a core that will last them 2 years, let alone 3+. Every time you bring up 2002 and the 9700 core you are talking up ATI, not talking them down.

Hmmm. That's funny- I don't see the "EE version" on nVidia'[s site at all. What does that have to do with nVidia supply? Those are OEM OCd cards, out of nVidia's hands.

http://www.hothardware.com/viewarticle.cfm?articleid=568

What really happened was Nvidia sent out a few of their regular 6800 Ultras to reviewers with some extra overclocking. They called it the 6800 Ultra Extreme Edition, and said they "may" announce it soon. Then once a few reviewers reviewed it and it was on some websites as being faster than a stock x800XT-PE (in most games), Nvidia leaked out (throught the inquirer of all places) that they weren't releasing it afterall. Basically it was a seriously underhanded marketing ploy to make sure as many reviews as possible showed them winning with a card they never intended to make.

Anyway, waiting eagerly to hear why we should believe you about stuff it's likely you knwo nothing about. (TWIMTBP)

I think I have shown quite clearly that I know enough about this to speak on the subject, or atleast certainly more than you. I also know enough about you to know that you will not agree.

Still, let me ask one question of you. If you answer it correctly then I will agree that you have a reasonable understanding of TWIMTBP and bother you no more....

Who is in charge (on a day to day basis) of TWIMTBP?

 

[arentol]

I don't know- I really love my 6800GT SLI- the only card(s) they don't stomp flat are 6800U SLI.

BTW- AFAIK the only game with HDR is Far Cry, and AFAIK Crytek only put it in for nVidia cards?
http://www.elitebastards.com/page.php?pageid=7594&head=1&comments=1

The point is that ATI could do HDR if developers wanted to support it. It isn't done mostly because ATI's current hardware offers low precision for HDR so the gamma setting is very limited. This forces all HDR colors on ATI hardware to appear washed out because their brightness can not be set properly. This is a case of ATI offering a feature that just isn't effective, and it's limitations are probably a direct result of the core being based off the 9700 core.

 

[2Fresh]

Good choice on the card, you will love it. Do not wait, that is the oldest shit in the book to listen to. "Waite!!! New cards will be here in a month or two". This NEVER happens, and we all know it. Get the best you can get now...then just sell and upgrade when new cards come out....and with how things go...that will be quite some time.

 

[ozziegn]

I certainly dont want to contribute to ANOTHER nVidia vs ATi brawl but I'll put in my .02 cents:

I've had both cards and I've used both cards. I've had the 6800 GT, the 6800 Ultra and the X800 XT PE and I must say, the card that provides the best "whollop" pound for pound would have to be the X800 XT PE. its IQ looks fantastic and it's performance really shines when you crank up the AA/AF which everyone knows is where ATi cards shine and the nVidia cards start to lose the race.

now, does that mean that I think the 6800 GT or the 6800 Ultra are junk? absolutely not. they are great cards if you dont care too much about running games with eye candy like AA/AF.

and.... all of this SM3.0 mumbo jumbo? bah, nVidia people can believe whatever they want. I've seen this supposedly HDR stuff in action on my friend's 6800 Ultra equiped machine and it doesnt do anything for me. but on the other hand, my X800 XT PE can whip its ass BIG-TIME when we both compare apples to apples when it comes to runing AA/AF.

oh, and also not to mention the fact that the nVidia cards like the GT or the Ultra are way too damn noisey for my likes. I like my machine as quiet as possible and my X800 XT PE is ALOT quieter than the GTs or the Ultra that I've owned in the past.

 

[|MaguS|]

If ya play EQ2, then going ATI was the best move... a 9800pro preforms better in EQ2 then on a 6800 Ultra on the same graphic settings... Nvidia has officially made word that thier drivers ar fubar and us players are waiting on a fix...

If I had the money (or someone was willing to trade) I would get a x800XT PE insted of this 6800GT... I wana play EQ2 but it sucks hardcore in it...

 

[msny]

Many people believe the next gen card(s) from ATI, Nvidia, or both will be released in May.

In that case the current generation cards will drop in price a little bit. Since the current crop is more then adequate for some time there going to be a good buy.

I'm building a second box shortly and it will have a PE in it...

 

[Hate_Bot]

SM3.0 IS NOT HDR

HDR IS NOT SM3.0

STOP MIXING THOSE UP

AND STOP WITH THE THREAD CRAPPING NVIDIA FAN-BOYS AND ATI FAN-BOYS

And yes, SM3.0 is useless with current gen cards. It's not utilized, and by the time it is, the games will be to advanced for current cards, and cards like the R520 will be out and about.

Edit: And oh yes, great purchase, I want one of those so badly... to bad they cost an ungodly amount.

Also, if you want "The best of the best" Shouldn't you get an X850XT-PE?

 

[arentol]

Just to clarify my position. I am not anti-Nvidia or pro-ATI (though I am pro x800xt-pe since I have one and it kicks ass for me).

I am really anti-unjustified bashing, and anti-ignorant statements.

I am just as quick to defend Nvidia when they are unjustly put down, but they are not unjustly put down that often these days (probably because their current cards are such a huge improvement over their prior series of cards).

 

[Rollo]

SM3.0 IS NOT HDR

HDR IS NOT SM3.0

STOP MIXING THOSE UP

Who said they were the same?

And yes, SM3.0 is useless with current gen cards. It's not utilized, and by the time it is, the games will be to advanced for current cards, and cards like the R520 will be out and about.

You don't know that, because well implemented ground up SM3 utilization may run fine on nV40s.

Also, if you want "The best of the best" Shouldn't you get an X850XT-PE?

If you want the "best of the best" you get 6800GT or Ultra SLI, because either stomp X850XT PEs flat.
If you want single card "best of the best", for framerates you could make a case for X850XXT PEs. IMO the fps victories aren't significant enough to outweigh the loss of soft shadows, HDR, SM3, and SLI upgradeability.

 

[swatX]

possibly one the most stupid posts i have ever seen on this forum. possibly.

i am not arguing why he went with ATI, i am just arguing his other points about NV doesnt have any games that it actually does good and its very secretive about its products.

 

[Hate_Bot]

Who said they were the same?


You don't know that, because well implemented ground up SM3 utilization may run fine on nV40s.


If you want the "best of the best" you get 6800GT or Ultra SLI, because either stomp X850XT PEs flat.
If you want single card "best of the best", for framerates you could make a case for X850XXT PEs. IMO the fps victories aren't significant enough to outweigh the loss of soft shadows, HDR, SM3, and SLI upgradeability.

Umm... ati support HDR... so you dont lose that...

and the X800 line is compatible with AMR

 

[arentol]

Who said they were the same?


You don't know that, because well implemented ground up SM3 utilization may run fine on nV40s.


If you want the "best of the best" you get 6800GT or Ultra SLI, because either stomp X850XT PEs flat.
If you want single card "best of the best", for framerates you could make a case for X850XXT PEs. IMO the fps victories aren't significant enough to outweigh the loss of soft shadows, HDR, SM3, and SLI upgradeability.

x850XT-PE's do Soft shadows, HDR and SM2.0b, which can do almost everything SM3.0 can do. Also all PCI-Express versions of the X800 series will offer SLI support once the ATI SLI mobo's are available.

So actually all you really lose is full SM3.0 support.

 

[doh-nut]

IMO the fps victories aren't significant enough to outweigh the loss of soft shadows, HDR, SM3, and SLI upgradeability.

heh. no HDR is a FPS victory in itself.

 

[ThisMonsterLives]

Solid choice. It's so nice to have a video card that will chew everything up. Fast, stable and great image quality. I'm so glad to have found one last June, I'm spoiled.

 

[Hate_Bot]

Solid choice. It's so nice to have a video card that will chew everything up. Fast, stable and great image quality. I'm so glad to have found one last June, I'm spoiled.

Jesus Christ Can I have your computer?

 

[2Fresh]

Solid choice. It's so nice to have a video card that will chew everything up. Fast, stable and great image quality. I'm so glad to have found one last June, I'm spoiled.

Same, I got mine on the pre-order form CompUSSR. I thought at the time it was jsut a reg buy, but then the shortage deal came up. I was quite happy I had mie and did not have to deal with the back orders and all the bs.

 

[Shane]

Personally I would just wait a couple more months and purchase the new r520 from ati