Help deciding between these 2 video cards

R

ruthless-

Gawd
Joined
Oct 18, 2002
Messages
812
do you play games? Or is it for movies?

Neither are very good for games, But the ATI 2600 is much better for HD movies.
 
i play counterstrike source, wow and games like that. So i shoudl go with something better?
 
ruthless- said:
i play counterstrike source, wow and games like that. So i shoudl go with something better?
Click to expand...

I would try to go with something. Neither of those are all that great. I know its $60 more but a 3850 would make a world of difference over those two.
 
A used x1950pro is also a great cheap card. It will definitely out perform both the 8600gt/gts and 2600xt.

Of course the HD3850 is your best option if you can swing the money.
 
I have the Asus 8600GT OC for 6 months know and it runs my games very well with a 30 inch LCD Monitor:D
 
VE2007 said:
I have the Asus 8600GT OC for 6 months know and it runs my games very well with a 30 inch LCD Monitor:D
Click to expand...

I call bs. I have x800xl which is about the same as your card. The only game that runs decent frame rates on my 24" is wow (30fps). Everything else gets horrible fps at the native resolution.
 
munkle said:
I call bs. I have x800xl which is about the same as your card. The only game that runs decent frame rates on my 24" is wow (30fps). Everything else gets horrible fps at the native resolution.
Click to expand...

I had Both x800xl and 8600 GT
Even though x800xl can perform better in benchmarks over the 8600 GT
I was able to play games fairly well with the 8600 GT, which the x800xlwas not able to play at all at a decent frame rate.

Dont compare Old school with new school buddy...
You cant say a X800XL is the same as a 8600 GT.
 
I had an 8600GTS as a temporary card until I stepped up to my current card. The 8600 series cards are disappointing for games. Save some extra money and at least get a 3850 if you want to play games.
 
The x1950PRO would be the best choice, in this price range. Another forum had this discussion (2600xt vs x1950pro), already. --> http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20424

I play CSS as well. For six months running, up until three months ago, I ran the most popular sub-20 slot server hosted by gameservers.com/clanservers.com. Now I'm hosted by NFO, and have three very popular servers... but you don't care about my gaming clan. :p

Anyhow, you need to know that the Source engine will be more limited by your processor than your videocard. That makes overclocking your processor essential for attaining higher framerates. I run my 2.13ghz core 2 duo at 2.8ghz. It's watercooled, but it never gets hot... my ram is what limits me from going further :(

You can find many sources to confirm this information, here's one:
http://www.trustedreviews.com/graphics/review/2007/12/06/Leadtek-PX8800GT-Extreme/p4

The best combination for your current processor or even a $99 Athlon 64 5000+ Black Edition, which has an unlocked multiplier and would be *perfect* for overclocking (hint, hint), would be an ATi x1950PRO.

I hate to make it sound like I had a bias, but I have to say, I have a powercolor x1950 PRO 256mb which is identical to this card (but mine is the 256mb version):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131055

It's never been overclocked, it runs very quietly, and it still has the serial number attached, and the original box with all the accessory cables still in their wrapping. It's just like new.
And with this awesome hsf, i'll bet it will overclock better than other cards in this pricerange.

I'll sell it for 90 + shipping.

I'll even ship first, if you like. :)

I'm arjjwolf on eBay, a former Powerseller with a feedback score of 172. I'm also listed on heatware, under the address transfer210 at gmail daught com

Note: If you're interested, please send me a PM
 
Wait a couple weeks, NVIDIA is supposed to be launching the 9600GT according to rumors and the fact that someone accidentally got mailed a pair when trying to buy 8800GT. If preliminary benches are correct, the performance will likely blow the 8600GT.
 
iPearl said:
I had Both x800xl and 8600 GT
Even though x800xl can perform better in benchmarks over the 8600 GT
I was able to play games fairly well with the 8600 GT, which the x800xlwas not able to play at all at a decent frame rate.

Dont compare Old school with new school buddy...
You cant say a X800XL is the same as a 8600 GT.
Click to expand...

So your telling me that an 8600gt will get good frame rates on a 30" screen. :rolleyes: Yeah, what you been smoking?

8600gt review. Look at the fps on wow a tiny bit higher than what I said I get at a lower resolution. So all in all they are pretty equal cards. There is no possible way you are getting good frame rates on any 30" screen unless its resolution is 1080p
 
munkle said:
So your telling me that an 8600gt will get good frame rates on a 30" screen. :rolleyes: Yeah, what you been smoking?

8600gt review. Look at the fps on wow a tiny bit higher than what I said I get at a lower resolution. So all in all they are pretty equal cards. There is no possible way you are getting good frame rates on any 30" screen unless its resolution is 1080p
Click to expand...
That is correct. I have a 32" LCD screen DVI. i used to have X800XL and and then replaced it with a 8600 GT XXX. I got better Frames of the 8600 GT XXX than my X800XL.
Games used are BF2, BF2142, HL2 and some others. How about you go buy both and try it out your self rather than being rude and making assumptions about me.
 
Amen on the x1950pro. 60 constant fps on all source games (vsync) and around 45ish in wow.
 
munkle said:
So your telling me that an 8600gt will get good frame rates on a 30" screen. :rolleyes: Yeah, what you been smoking?

8600gt review. Look at the fps on wow a tiny bit higher than what I said I get at a lower resolution. So all in all they are pretty equal cards. There is no possible way you are getting good frame rates on any 30" screen unless its resolution is 1080p
Click to expand...

We all know an 8600 will not function properly (with games) on a 30" monitor at it's normal resolution of 2560 by 1600 pixels so it's not worth arguing about this.

They are likely playing word games with you and not saying that it's probably a television they are using, and/or at a much lower resolution than the native res of a proper 30" monitor. If he has it at 1080x768 then a 8600 can handle it. Heck he can run a 150" projector at 640x480 and use an 8600 to handle it.

Of course all this is greatly misleading to the OP so not sure what they're on about. Both the 8600 and 2600 are cards mainly aimed at the HTPC market not the gaming market. Admitedly the GT is marginally more powerful, but they are all poor gaming cards.

Gotta agree with the chaps recommending the X1950Pro or, preferably, the 3850 if the OP has the cash.
 
iPearl said:
That is correct. I have a 32" LCD screen DVI. i used to have X800XL and and then replaced it with a 8600 GT XXX. I got better Frames of the 8600 GT XXX than my X800XL.
Games used are BF2, BF2142, HL2 and some others. How about you go buy both and try it out your self rather than being rude and making assumptions about me.
Click to expand...

What assumption did I make about you? None. I said the guy saying he can play with good frames on a 30" screen is bs. Btw a 32" screen (which would be a tv since I know of no 32" lcd monitor designed for a pc, unless you want to provide some proof) will have a lower resolution than a 30" lcd monitor. I provided proof the cards are about equal, why don't you provide me some proof that you are using a resolution that is above 720p (or 1080p if you have the one 32" lcd that does that res) otherwise you are not talking about the same resolution as I am.
 
Since my 8800GT been buggy for me, I'm back on my XFX 8600GTS (factory overclocked). I must say I am rather impressed with, handles HL2 games no problem. Was playing BioShock with all maxed out settings yet, still smooth. Was just about to try out Company of Heroes and see how that goes.

Games you listed aren't very demanding from what I've seen, but never hurts to spend a little extra on a how hugely important part like vid card. Rest of your system hardly looks bad but maybe PSU depending on your video choice.
 
considering the OP has a 430w psu the 3850 is out(it requires 450w minimum)

I would take a look at the 8800 gts 320mb

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130082

$199 after mir and only needs a 400w psu. Will blow anything else out of the water that you can run on that psu. I know its more than double the price of the 8600 gt but you will get a tonne more performance.

GL! :D
 
My 3850 is running on a 430w PSU. It's a fairly low power card.

If fact, I thought these new 55nm cards were more power efficient than the old 90nm G80 cards like the 8800 gts.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top