Which GPU do I buy?

Warpy · Mar 23, 2005, 04:57 AM

I need a new graphics card for my AMD64. I currently have ATI 9800 Pro 128MB. I have no preferance for ATI or Nvidia, but the $$ need to be under $599 AUD.

Danhill · Mar 23, 2005, 05:03 AM

Then go for an X800XL or a 6800 GT wich you can clock to Ultra speeds.

Warpy · Mar 23, 2005, 05:20 AM

I have a budget of $599 AUD

Duranix · Mar 23, 2005, 05:30 AM

yeah, i can get a 6800GT for $600...

i buy all my stuff wholesale prices. theres a shop called cpl if u live in melbourne

www.cpl.net.au

Jejking · Mar 26, 2005, 07:39 AM

There are a couple of expensive options. At this moment you can go for the ATi X850 XTPE (currently the topmodel of ATi), that is about 500 US Dollars I guess (not totally sure).

You are also able to buy yourselves a Nvidia Geforce 6800 Ultra, for the same price as above (some versions are little more expensive than U$ 500). Don�t be scared about the crappy performance in some applications, they will be solved with new driver-releases, 100% sure

And the final option is to wait a couple of months until the release of the ATi �Fudo� R520 (that has been planned for June), rumours say that this 24-pipelined monster is about to crush all current videocards, doubling the performance of the X850 XTPE!

For the less expensive ways and DieHard-overclocking fans, you could buy a ATi X800XL or a Geforce 6800 GT, and overclock them towards respectively XT and Ultra-speeds (because of the shrinked production-process you should keep in mind that most of the X800XL-reviewsites can�t get this card above -/+ 450 MHz Core), like Danhill said before... Good luck with your choice!

Review of the X850XTPE: http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews/...icle/index.htm /
Review of the X800XL: http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews/x800xl/index.htm
Review of the 6800 Ultra: http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews/PNY/index.htm
Review of the 6800 GT: http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews/asusgt/index.htm

Hintmode: Watch your step with the different versions, some are PCI-Express and others are AGP8x-compatible. Check which datatransfer-type is supported by your motherboard.

*Reason of Edit: Wrong color of text, I should be ashamed :P*

TJ- · Mar 26, 2005, 08:10 AM

ASUS V9999GT/TD FX 6800 GT 128Mb $500

ASUS V9999GT/TD FX 6800 GT 256Mb $645

WinFast A6600 GT TDH 128M AGP Video Card $365

MSI NX6800GT-TD256 GF 6800GT 256mb TVout DVI $660

Radeon X800Pro-D3 256M TVout Gigacube $640

www.umart.com.au

ASUS N6600GT-TOP-TD-128 GF6600GT 128M DDR3 TV-OUT DVI-I AGP 8x 520 MHz $430

http://www.itwarehouse.com.au

swatX · Mar 26, 2005, 07:32 PM

i would say go get a mid range card for now and wait till the next gen cards releases.

redsolar · Mar 28, 2005, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swatX

i would say go get a mid range card for now and wait till the next gen cards releases.

If you are thinking about this one, then I would say wait - there is little reason to go midrange now and waste any more $$

if you will be waiting for the next great installment.

My choice today would be 6800GT or X800XL, depending on who you favor more. Though you will likely have issues finding X800XL in AGP. About the only one I know that is publicly available is an BBA AIW X800XL, which will run USD349 (after $50 rebate as of today). However those seem to carry an actual X800XT chip (downclocked), and have no bridge, as other XLs supposedly will (hence potentially better overclocking).

Either of the two cards are a better value for a dollar, since they are not sky-high priced and of course provide performance nothing short jaw-dropping.