Performance, ATI X1600 Pro 512MB

[bspun3D]

Re: Performance, ATI X1600 Pro 512MB

get a good performing card for now one that is cheap and u can afford i would go to crazy wit video cards till they new stuff comes out next year or so hopefully ima get a 1800xt i would love to have a 1900xt but the 1800 is 130 cheaper

[abtomat74]

Re: Performance, ATI X1600 Pro 512MB

What do you think about a ATI X800XT 256MB? That is another option for me. Is that a better deal for the same price? Or will I be in trouble down the road without PS3.0 support?

I am assuming you have AGP...this is why you came up with the x800xt question...as that is the best AGP card available now...until a few weeks from today!

I read somewhere that nVidia is coming out with an AGP card very soon, perhaps a 7900gt or 7900gs(I forgot).
If true, then that is definately the card to get as it will be your last AGP card you can put into your comp before wanting a whole new comp, CPU/ram etc etc.

Take back the x1600 and wait just a bit longer. If the rumor is NOT true, then the x800xt will be the best choice if found for a good price.

You may also consider a 6800gs AGP, or 7800gs AGP right now.
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What the guy said about 512 being wasted on the x1600 is true. It has a 128bit memory interface versus other cards 256bit interface...which means everything as far as transfering that information to the GPU.

512mb on cards less than the top tier cards...are for video editing where the memory bandwidth isn't as important as it is in a gaming environment.

[grender12]

Re: Performance, ATI X1600 Pro 512MB

512mb on cards less than the top tier cards...are for video editing where the memory bandwidth isn't as important as it is in a gaming environment.

Ah, good to know. It's a development card I guess.

Also, the ATI X850XT PE is a reallllly good AGP card too. I think it's ATI's top AGP card.

[abtomat74]

Re: Performance, ATI X1600 Pro 512MB

Ah, good to know. It's a development card I guess.

Also, the ATI X850XT PE is a reallllly good AGP card too. I think it's ATI's top AGP card.

No, development cards(or workstation cards) are another animal entirely. You can't miss them though as they generally cost $750-1800 each!

I'm talking about video encoding/decoding, music programs etc. that might benefit from more ram.

I'm also saying it in a nicer way than saying the card companies are hoping no one researches before they buy, and simply assume more ram is better.
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Yes, forgot about the 850xt and pe's...both in AGP too. But...honestly now that there are many more AGP cards out, I wouldn't even consider them realistically since you can have better AND cheaper 7000 series nVidias with sm3.0

As much as I like ATI, they simply don't have anything comparable to nVidia in the AGP department. A few months ago, the x850xt and pe was THE choice.

[lonegunm4n]

Re: Performance, ATI X1600 Pro 512MB

With sm3.0, the older AGP cards like X800 are getting older and older.

[grender12]

Re: Performance, ATI X1600 Pro 512MB

I'm also saying it in a nicer way than saying the card companies are hoping no one researches before they buy, and simply assume more ram is better.

True, but there has to be a way to put it to use in games, even if only future games. Cranking up textures to Ultra in doom3, I had heard takes up a ton of space.

[lonegunm4n]

Re: Performance, ATI X1600 Pro 512MB

in the rare case, more RAM is better, but on lesser cards (like the x1300), it's more a gimmick then it's there for performance

[Blink41990]

Re: Performance, ATI X1600 Pro 512MB

As a general rule of thumb I always do a reformat after a video card switch, especially if your switching between ATi/Nvidia and vice versa.

Also the x800xt isnt the fastest AGP card out. Currently the fastest AGP card out is that Gainward 7800GS 512mb. Its actually a 7800GT PCI-E chip bridged down to agp.

[Sir. MatDef]

Re: Performance, ATI X1600 Pro 512MB

As a general rule of thumb I always do a reformat after a video card switch, especially if your switching between ATi/Nvidia and vice versa.

Also the x800xt isnt the fastest AGP card out. Currently the fastest AGP card out is that Gainward 7800GS 512mb. Its actually a 7800GT PCI-E chip bridged down to agp.

You're forgetting the gainward bliss 7800gs+, which is a 7900gt core (plus 512mb of gddr3 mem).

[Blink41990]

Re: Performance, ATI X1600 Pro 512MB

Wow their bringing the 7900gt to AGP. How much does this one cost becuase the one based on the 7800gt was rediculously priced. It seems that GPU developers have abandoned AGP. Theres still alot of AGP users out their waiting for Conroe and vista and all the fancy new hardware to come out before shelling out cash to upgrade. Why do we get last generation tech. For instance take the 7800gs (the normal nvidia one). It has about the same performance as a 6800 Ultra which is what... 2 years old? maybe a little less. But still I don't see why AGP users are treated like second class citizens.

[abtomat74]

Re: Performance, ATI X1600 Pro 512MB

True, but there has to be a way to put it to use in games, even if only future games. Cranking up textures to Ultra in doom3, I had heard takes up a ton of space.

Well you see, that's just the problem. There ARE games(well, two games) that have benefits from having 512 instead of 256 ram.

BUT, and this is a huge but...to generate the graphics needed to require more than the current crop of 256mb cards...you must put the graphics to the absolute maximum possible...which simply ISN'T possible with a card less than a top of the line card without your framerate dropping into an abyss.

Also, as I mentioned...even if you are playing that one or two games that utilize more than 256 ram, the fact that the memory controller on your card is only 128bit limits the ability of the ram to "talk" to the GPU as quickly as a card with a 256bit memory bus.

Let me put it another way...it's like standing in the looooooong line at the ballpark bathroom holding your pecker and swaying back and forth while waiting for your turn to stand in the 3 inches of urine! It simply doesn't come up in time.

There have been numerous articles since 512mb cards came out, and with the exception of 1600x1200 resolutions with max eye candy enabled, there was no difference at all, and in many cases LESS performance than the identical 256mb version.

The x800xl 256 and 512 are good cards to find one of these articles on specifically. Again, with the exception of 16x12 + max...performance decreased. And this is with a card that has a 256bit memory bus.

I'll go further to say, even the nastiest cards from nVidia and ATI right now...barely benefit at all from having 512mb versus 256. And again there are numerous articles comparing the 2 versions with minor results.

Why then do they come with 512 at all for gaming cards? Because they can, and people will buy them, and it allows the card to be kept for longer for future games that will make further use of the extra ram.

Summary:

1) 512 good for video editing/encoding/decoding purposes
2) top level cards that only use the extra ram w/HIGH resolutions and max settings, impossible on lower cards...
3) 128bit memory bus isn't enough for more than 256mb ram(256 is pushing it already)
4) if you're buying a card for the next 2 years of service...get a 512 only if it has a 256bit memory bus/controller. Otherwise get a 256 now, but get a 512 for the NEXT card, when it's actually being utilized, and the lesser cards by this time will most likely be 256bit :)
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here is a good read about 256 versus 512: make sure you read it all, opinions vary and change throughout.

http://forums.tweakguides.com/showthread.php?t=2383

[grender12]

Re: Performance, ATI X1600 Pro 512MB

Gotcha... yes:

http://www.pureoverclock.com/review.php?id=33&page=6

Well, maybe I'll keep it for video editing. :) It seems to be able to run CS: Source (60FPS) at highest settings, whereas on my FX 5900 128MB, I could only use low settings. I think it will be my hold-over until a PCIe transition.

[abtomat74]

Re: Performance, ATI X1600 Pro 512MB

Well keeping it is often easier than trying to return stuff, especially if purchased online.

You'll be fine keeping it as it definately is significantly better than that FX you had.

And I doubt the price difference was very much any between it and the identical 256 version anyway...

[N2K]

Re: Performance, ATI X1600 Pro 512MB

Make sure you use Driver Cleaner