nVIDIA and ATI equalities...

[Phrik]

I'm looking for a GeForce 6600GT equal from the ATI models, anybody knows ?

I'm really badly looking for getting a third video card in my box, but I have high limitations.

* It has to be "exactly" a single slot fit in thickness, from face to butt end.
* I prefer passive cooled, if not then please let me know if the ATI drivers have fan controllers with them.
* It has to be ATI, because the G80 drivers don't recognize other nVIDIA graphic cards and I was not able to install a different driver version adjacent to with the G80 driver.

I liked my 6600GT in my gaming experience, so I was just looking for an ATI equivalent at least, but anything better would be great as well.

But this time nothing expensive as well, since I will just be replacing it with whatever is the true purpose of that 3rd PCIe x16(x8) slot for (that is if it's really worth it -ofc).

Any input will be great !

 

[Burning_Monk]

I wouldn't get anything less than a X800gto.

 

[BigMacAttack]

Agreed. The X800Pro, X800GTO and GTO2 and the X800XL are all great cards and even beat the X1600Pro and XT models. I'm really disappointed in the X1600's performance after seeing a number of comparison reviews. The older X800 series cards are more than a match for them surprisingly enough. Do not waste your money on an X1600 anything (this coming from an ATI fan BTW.)

 

[LoneWolf]

Agreed. The X800Pro, X800GTO and GTO2 and the X800XL are all great cards and even beat the X1600Pro and XT models. I'm really disappointed in the X1600's performance after seeing a number of comparison reviews. The older X800 series cards are more than a match for them surprisingly enough. Do not waste your money on an X1600 anything (this coming from an ATI fan BTW.)

I'm not sure the GTO2 is single-slot (it may depend on the vendor).

Note that the X800XL has 16 pipelines native (the X800Pro, and GTO have 12 pipes native, the GTO2 I belive is 12 but unlockable to 16). I'd say the X800XL is one of your better choices. I had one of these for two years, and it was a pretty good card.

 

[Phrik]

So by hierarchy (bad to good):
Pro
GTO
GTO2
XL
...right ?

I just went and browse a bit.... these cards are actually more expensive than X1600 or GF7600s ! That came unexpected...

@LoneWolf: I can see from your sig you have an 8800 and an ATI AIW, anything special you might share to me when setting up drivers and/or softwares for mixed video cards ?

 

[mavalpha]

So by hierarchy (bad to good):
Pro
GTO
GTO2
XL
...right ?

I just went and browse a bit.... these cards are actually more expensive than X1600 or GF7600s ! That came unexpected...

@LoneWolf: I can see from your sig you have an 8800 and an ATI AIW, anything special you might share to me when setting up drivers and/or softwares for mixed video cards ?

LoneWolf has a TV-Wonder, not an AIW.

Shop around the FS/FT section- I bought an X800XL for under $100, and that was at least 6 months ago!
Best: X850XT
X800XT
X850Pro
X800XL ~ X800Pro
X800GTO2
Worst: X800GTO

 

[Burning_Monk]

I've got an X800gto2 that I was able to easily unlock to 16 pipes and overclock to close to XL speeds. Pretty good deal.

 

[LoneWolf]

LoneWolf has a TV-Wonder, not an AIW.

Shop around the FS/FT section- I bought an X800XL for under $100, and that was at least 6 months ago!
Best: X850XT
X800XT
X850Pro
X800XL ~ X800Pro
X800GTO2
Worst: X800GTO

Correct on my having an ATI TV Wonder.

The X800XL, however, beats out the X850 Pro in performance. The X850 Pro, while higher clocked, has 12 pipelines compared to the X800XL's 16. I'd put it at

X850XT
X800XT
X800XL
X850Pro (or, if you can unlock it, X800GTO2, unlocked it would be faster)
X800Pro/X800GTO

 

[mavalpha]

The X800XL, however, beats out the X850 Pro in performance. The X850 Pro, while higher clocked, has 12 pipelines compared to the X800XL's 16. I'd put it at

X850XT
X800XT
X800XL
X850Pro (or, if you can unlock it, X800GTO2, unlocked it would be faster)
X800Pro/X800GTO

http://www.ixbt.com/video2/sapphire-13-d.shtml#p17
Tomb Raider, Doom3, and *gasp* 3DMark say X850Pro, the rest go towards the XL. I'd take either one, except that the XL draws less power.

Agreed on the GTO, but GTO2's aren't made anymore, and the odds of unlocking a regular GTO aren't as high as they once were.

 

[LoneWolf]

http://www.ixbt.com/video2/sapphire-13-d.shtml#p17
Tomb Raider, Doom3, and *gasp* 3DMark say X850Pro, the rest go towards the XL. I'd take either one, except that the XL draws less power.

Agreed on the GTO, but GTO2's aren't made anymore, and the odds of unlocking a regular GTO aren't as high as they once were.

AFAIK the GTO's aren't unlockable at all, or at best, the unlockability was limited to only one brand of card, and only for a limited production run (might have been Sapphire, who trades a lot in that).

And I agree that the GTO2's aren't made anymore, but most of the cards we're talking about aren't. I'm advocating that the OP purchase a used card, which would save money over a new one anyway. Of course, the GTO2's will probably demand a price premium that isn't worth it when compared to the other cards.