from 9800pro to x800xt

[suicidal_monkey]

I currently run a 9800pro AIW (xp-m2500+, 1.5Gb ddr400, k7s41 mobo) and am planning to turn my computer into an HTPC over the next few months...

I may be able to purchase an x800xt AIW card (incl. the ATi remote II thingy, but without a heatsink - guy used watercooling I think) for around £90. I have a suitable cooler on order already (planned to use on the 9800pro but capable of cooling even a x1900xt...) so that's not an issue

What I am in dilemma over is whether this is a worthwhile upgrade ... I'm hoping to build a new rig once my current one is assigned permanent htpc duties, near the end of this year perhaps. From what I understand the x800xt is approx equal to, or perhaps a little better than, a 6800gt/ultra. But... as this it to become an htpc I may be able to get by with the 9800pro or an uptodate cheap AGP card (7300/x1300) or possibly just use my old fx5600...and obtain HDTV using the vga or dvi connection...in which case the only reason to get the x800xt is for gaming in the short term...

so many gadgets...

[Gorion]

well i upgraded from a 9800se to an x800xt all in wonder,

there is a good performance update, but if you wanna really upgrade get a 64bit system with pci-e and get one of the new ati cards with 16x...

[GhostMjr]

Originally posted by Gorion@May 16 2006, 04:55 PM
well i upgraded from a 9800se to an x800xt all in wonder,

there is a good performance update, but if you wanna really upgrade get a 64bit system with pci-e and get one of the new ati cards with 16x...

[post=127231]Quoted post[/post]

[/b]

The SE was a brilliant card as some had the capability with a simple tweak to turn them into 9800pro's. I think this is the card that OB uses but i may be wrong.  I think pci-e is now the way to go. Those with agp boards are going to eventually have to convert after short term upgrades to the newer technology. However, there are rumours floating around that more newer cards will have agp variants and so follow BB's old card, meaning that more people can stay agp longer than previously anticipated as many haven't changed over yet. Is this a good marketing ploy? We will have to see .

[Dr Sadako]

No.

I upgraded from a 9800Pro to and X800XT and it was not worth the money. Not much of a difference to be honest.

[suicidal_monkey]

sticking with the 9800pro then...

[Dr Sadako]

Originally posted by suicidal_monkey@May 17 2006, 10:16 AM
sticking with the 9800pro then...

[post=127306]Quoted post[/post]

[/b]

I would do unless you plan to upgrade your CPU and memory at the same time. I just upgraded the graphics card and the difference was like 5 fps in the CS:S test environment.

[sulky_uk]

i went from a 9800 pro to a 6800gs and i must say a lot of games run faster but bf2 is the same, i was going to go to  7800 gs but a lot of reviews said no. On a side note using riva tuner  to softmod me 6800 and o/c it ive got all the pipelines and nearly ultra speeds :biggrin: now bf2 runs quicker

[suicidal_monkey]

Originally posted by Dr Sadako@May 17 2006, 10:22 AM
I would do unless you plan to upgrade your CPU and memory at the same time. I just upgraded the graphics card and the difference was like 5 fps in the CS:S test environment.

[post=127343]Quoted post[/post]

[/b]

indeed ... you'd expect that though I think? I was under the impression that HL2/CSS was largely cpu-bound. I certainly see no real improvement in decreasing the resolution below 1024 for CSS. Likewise BF2 I guess, although it shows bigger drops between resolutions. FEAR on the other hand appears to run as very similar framerates for a given gfx card on any cpu above about a 3000+

I guess it makes sense to stick with the 9800pro AIW, especially as it seems to have tv-out options for 720p@30 @60 or @whatever it is... so should be good for HDTV outputs one way or another

I guess I can wait until I can justify a new system (fingers crossed for big falls in lcd, gpu and cpu prices in the next few months )