I recently got my son a Diamond X1650Pro PCI-e card. They sent me the 512MB instead of the 256MB card I ordered (it happened to a lot of people, and yes, it was packaged in the 256MB box). Well, like others, my cards core was running at 500Mhz instead of 600Mhz. And the Memory was running at 270/540 Mhz instead of 400/800Mhz (wrongly reported as 540/1080 by ATI Tray tools). Well, I sent my card back to Diamond MultiMedia (which was a lousy experience) and I should be getting it back soon. But in the meanwhile, I picked up a PNY 8600GT Video Card. It has the faster GDDR3 memory, but less of it. My son plays some BF2 and some COD4 with me and some friends on occasion. He mostly plays 2D games.
Which card would be better for me? The 512MB X1650Pro or the 256MB 8600GT?
My sons PC specs are: S754 3000+ CPU @2.4Ghz, 2GB Corsair 2,3,3,8, 80GB HD, Win XP Pro SP2, and a 19" LCD. I don't think we will be using Vista anytime soon in this household.
GPU Review shows the cards like this (please remember to bump the X1650Pro's core up to 600 Mhz where it should be).
Right now the 8600GT is still in the wrapper and can be returned. I have been told that the X1650 Pro was shipped back to me last friday (no tracking information yet).
EDIT: Oooops! I was linking to the X1650 GT (which had closer core/memory speeds to the X1650 Pro that I have. I didn't see that the GT has TWICE the Fragment Pipelines, Texture Units, and Raster Operations, as well as almost twice the Vertex Pipelines. That X1650 Pro @ 600/400 looks a lot worse now....
I'd guess that most will say that the 512Mb memory won't make a difference at the resolutions offered by the 19" LCD and that the 8600GT is just a better card. Others might say that both cards will do fine for his uses, but since the X1650Pro would probably get me the least amount of money (if I sold the card I don't use), I should keep that and sell off the 8600GT and pocket the money until he needs a better card. Then spend that same money and get something that will be way better for the same price in 1-2 years.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions, Ken
Which card would be better for me? The 512MB X1650Pro or the 256MB 8600GT?
My sons PC specs are: S754 3000+ CPU @2.4Ghz, 2GB Corsair 2,3,3,8, 80GB HD, Win XP Pro SP2, and a 19" LCD. I don't think we will be using Vista anytime soon in this household.
GPU Review shows the cards like this (please remember to bump the X1650Pro's core up to 600 Mhz where it should be).
Right now the 8600GT is still in the wrapper and can be returned. I have been told that the X1650 Pro was shipped back to me last friday (no tracking information yet).
EDIT: Oooops! I was linking to the X1650 GT (which had closer core/memory speeds to the X1650 Pro that I have. I didn't see that the GT has TWICE the Fragment Pipelines, Texture Units, and Raster Operations, as well as almost twice the Vertex Pipelines. That X1650 Pro @ 600/400 looks a lot worse now....
I'd guess that most will say that the 512Mb memory won't make a difference at the resolutions offered by the 19" LCD and that the 8600GT is just a better card. Others might say that both cards will do fine for his uses, but since the X1650Pro would probably get me the least amount of money (if I sold the card I don't use), I should keep that and sell off the 8600GT and pocket the money until he needs a better card. Then spend that same money and get something that will be way better for the same price in 1-2 years.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions, Ken
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