What about the x1600?

[cometcyclonemk]

I'm looking to upgrade my video card on my computer. It's mostly just used for school work and movies, but I do enjoy gaming as well. Right now I have an x600 pro 128mb card and it just can't keep up with newer games. I'd like to upgrade and stay under $150. Newegg has this x1600 512mb card for $145.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102653

I've heard mixed reviews about them so I'm not sure what to think, but it doesn't seem like it could be all that bad, and it definately has a lot of memory Any thoughts?

My current system (on a college student budget)
Athlon 64 3200 + (clocked at 2.42 currently)
1GB of corsair value select ram
ECS nforce4 a754 mainboard (I know ecs... but it came with the processor and hasn't failed yet...)
120gb Western digital SATA HD
and the x600 pro

 

[PWMK2]

An upgrade to an X1600 will definitely give you a noticeable performance increase, although I would not suggest the PRO. While it may have 512MB of memory, the X1600XT will give you much better performance. There's sometimes as much as a 1000 point difference in 3DMark05 between the cards. Since it's not much more expensive than the PRO, I'd suggest getting the X1600XT.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102657

 

[cometcyclonemk]

Do you know how it compares to the x800/850 series? Or if there are any other cards in the same range that are better?

 

[sabrewolf732]

if you can increase it to around 170 or so you'd be better off with a 6800gs. If you only have $155 or so the x1600xt

 

[mai9]

Do you know how it compares to the x800/850 series? Or if there are any other cards in the same range that are better?

I bought that card, but from the reviews I read before buying it, it seems that the x850 is better for games. I think it has 256 bits of bus where the x1600 has only 128 and that seems quite important.

The x850 can be older but are better for gaming, and because they are older, they are cheaper.

I bought the x1600 because I won't game

 

[Mabrito]

Yeah dont let the 512MB fool you. Like the previous poster, if you want a X1600, go with the X1600 XT. They are great cards for the price. The 6800GS is also good if not better by a tab, but is about 30 more than the X1600XT. I would go with the X1600 as a personal preference. Only because its cheaper than a GS and the performance gains arnt that much apart from each other, and plus the X1600 could still have some great driver optimizations.

 

[Russian]

Do you know how it compares to the x800/850 series? Or if there are any other cards in the same range that are better?

X850XT is faster in terms of Rawpower. X1600 has faster shaders, AVIVO, sm3.0. It is not nearly as fast as the x800xt but a great upgrade for less than $200.