7600GT vs X850XT, whos faster?

[Xelloss]

The 7600GT may only be 128-bit, but its memory clock is significantly higher than the x850XT - by around 400Mhz. So while it still definitely has less memory bandwidth, the picture's not as bad as just looking at the bus width would lead you to believe.

 

[openwheelformula1]

Both cards perform exceptionally for today's game. 7600GT hold the advantage of newer features. It also hold the advantage of versitility. It can be passively cooled. It can utilize all of Purevideo's features as well. It's almost perfect for HTPCs. The smart choice is obvious.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Originally posted by: openwheelformula1
Both cards perform exceptionally for today's game. 7600GT hold the advantage of newer features. It also hold the advantage of versitility. It can be passively cooled. It can utilize all of Purevideo's features as well. It's almost perfect for HTPCs. The smart choice is obvious.

The choice is not obvious. Yes the 7600 has the better features, but its the lesser performing part. Who's to say it'll even run the games to satisfaction with those extra features.

I'd consider the louder operation of the X850XT to be a bigger selling reason for the 7600GT, because you simply don't buy a budget or even a midrange graphics card with the plan to run future games.

It goes like this: X850 is faster but hotter/louder, 7600 nearly as fast but with cooler/quieter opperation. If you're going to or are willing to run lower resolutions, the 7600 is probably the better choice. Usually you have to sacrifice something when you're forced to save the penies, you just have to make sure you don't cut off the wrong corner.

 

[Xelloss]

Well, except I'm not sure that I would say the 7600GT is the lower performing part. Without overclocking that is. That changes the mix considerably.

At stock speeds, I haven't seen any direct comparison benchmarks between the two, but I have seen benchmarks between the 6800GS and the x850xt, and I've seen benchmarks between the 7600GT and the 6800GS. The x850xt and the 6800GS were about on par with each other, and the 7600GT edges out the 6800GS by a comfortable (though not enormous) margin.

Now, if you're overclocking, all bets are off. Because as I hear it, most x850XTs will clock up to x850XT PE speeds pretty easily, and that will beat the 7600GT.

 

[Effect]

I'd like to see a few 7600gt overclocking results, i'd have thought the 7600gt would overclock quite nicely (perhaps not with the stock cooler). Personally, my vote would go with the 7600gt, if only because it's newer tech, and a few less FPS i dont mind, if it looks a little better (as long as it's still playable).

 

[Lyfer]

Interesting conversation guys, thanks for all the input. Now will anyone who has a X850XT and 7600GT run us some un-biased benchmarks? Some OCed ones too.

 

[amenx]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: amenx
I think the 128bit vs 256bit mem issue no longer holds much relevance in todays cards, esp vs last gen cards. Remember the FX5900? It was 256bit yet got convincingly trounced by the 6600gt 128 bit which also does better than the 256bit 9800 pro.

the memory width is just half of the bandwidth calculation, mhz is the other. the 6600GT is down about 1/4 in bandwidth to the 9800 pro, but can handle 1/3 more shader ops and has about 1/3 more texel fill rate.

the FX5900 was trounced in shader ops and single texturing fillrate vs the 9800 pro, even though it had about 1/4 more memory bandwidth.

in short, your comparisons aren't really all that even. bus width still matters, and always will. there is a reason 64 bit bus width cards blow.

Of course bus width matters, but the point is that its not a rule that because a card is 256bit, it will always out-perform 128bits. Also throw pipes in the equation. Will a 16pipe, 256bit 6800gt beat a 12pipe 128bit 7600gt? Nope, it wont, there are other technical factors that tip the balance. So its not enough to suggest to someone else to simply go for the 256bit card because of that .

edit: oops, I think the 7600gt is 16 pipes.

 

[Xelloss]

No, you were right. It's 12.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: Crazyfool
Buying any card for "future" games or abilities is retarded.

For future games, I agree, for other "abilities" I don't. Full HDCP compliance is uber-important to me, so I won't buy another card without it. It also has to accelerate H.264 1080p well so I can use a sempr0n in the HTPC I plan to build when all the necessary hard/software, and media are available.

 

[Cooler]

the x1800GTO is out that card should be good value as well.

 

[Xelloss]

A good value, yes. But it looks like the X1800GTO can't beat the 7600GT. Now, if it's significantly less expensive, that's another story.

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/nvidia_geforce_7600_gt_performance/

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: tanishalfelven
here a site iwth a lot of details.
http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=55&card2=385

awesome find.....english prices too! nice one

this will be useful for me

 

[BlacKJesuS]

Originally posted by: secretanchitman
i would say go with the 7600GT (not only because i prefer nvidia) because it will be faster than the X850XT/XTPE in future games and it has more features too.

still, the X850XT/XTPE is a damn good card. though it lacks a few features, it will play most new games at medium to high settings. i *think*.

my x850 runs oblivion fine

 

[openwheelformula1]

well my 9600XT runs FEAR "fine" as well, but compared to my 6600Gt it looks like crap.

 

[Munky]

Memory bandwith can play a significant role in situations with AA enabled. I'm sure a 7600gt will beat a x850xt without AA across the board, but with AA enabled the two perform more or less on par.

 

[BlacKJesuS]

Originally posted by: openwheelformula1
well my 9600XT runs FEAR "fine" as well, but compared to my 6600Gt it looks like crap.

thats a not even a fair comparison....

 

[MustangSVT]

Originally posted by: Xelloss
Well, except I'm not sure that I would say the 7600GT is the lower performing part. Without overclocking that is. That changes the mix considerably.

At stock speeds, I haven't seen any direct comparison benchmarks between the two, but I have seen benchmarks between the 6800GS and the x850xt, and I've seen benchmarks between the 7600GT and the 6800GS. The x850xt and the 6800GS were about on par with each other, and the 7600GT edges out the 6800GS by a comfortable (though not enormous) margin.

Now, if you're overclocking, all bets are off. Because as I hear it, most x850XTs will clock up to x850XT PE speeds pretty easily, and that will beat the 7600GT.

hmmm interesting. so if i have 6800 16/6 o/ced there is no point getting 7600gt for me?

 

[Extelleron]

The 7600GT should easily overclock to around 600/1600, probably higher. At those clockspeeds, it should equal the X850XT in performance and beat it in features, so I'd go with a 7600GT + OC.

 

[BassBomb]

someone on this thread said you dont buy midrange for the future

well you do if ur not rich i have my 6600GT and its gonna last me at least another year (ive had it for 1 yr so far)

 

[daveymark]

I was wondering about this comparison myself. I have a 20 inhc widescreen I'll be getting in a few days. will the higher resolution help me to make a decision between these two cards?

I'm not concerned with noise, just eye candy. I don't plan on overclocking, but I suppose it might be nice if I could one day. For me it really comes down to the pixel shader 3.0 - will I really miss it that much should I go the x850xt route? Am I right in thinking that by the time the games utilize pixel shader 3.0, the prices will have fallen where I can upgrade easily again?

 

[Munky]

What you must realize about sm3 is that it's only used for pixel shaders that are more complex than what can be efficiently done in ps2 or ps1. In other words, it's used to provide additional eye candy, which places additional load on the graphics card. That's why I said if the card is not fast enough to run modern games at max settings, then sm3 support will not be as useful as in a high end card. If you dont mind playing at 1024x768 then the 7600gt may provide playable fps with full sm3 eye candy, but if you need higher resolutions then sm3 will be of limited use on a midrange card.

 

[A554SS1N]

Originally posted by: munky
What you must realize about sm3 is that it's only used for pixel shaders that are more complex than what can be efficiently done in ps2 or ps1. In other words, it's used to provide additional eye candy, which places additional load on the graphics card. That's why I said if the card is not fast enough to run modern games at max settings, then sm3 support will not be as useful as in a high end card. If you dont mind playing at 1024x768 then the 7600gt may provide playable fps with full sm3 eye candy, but if you need higher resolutions then sm3 will be of limited use on a midrange card.

What you must realise is that some of us who don't mind missing a few frames in sixty (because we can't see the difference) and could quite easily run at 1280x1024 with a 7600GT right now and enjoy SM3 features and effects!!!

 

[daveymark]

I'm getting the x850xt, only because the resolution on my new 20 inch widescreen will be handled easier by the x850xt. I don't think the 7600gt would be able to pump out enough eye candy to support the widescreen 20"

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: Lyfer

Originally posted by: openwheelformula1
x850XT lacks so many features. There are very good reason why it's so cheap. Efficiency and features are the most important. Unless you don't plan on playing newer games in the next year, I'd get the 7600GT.

X850XT should have more frames in older games, but 7600GT will handle them with ease. Future games will suit 7600GT better.

So many newer features? Care to list them. Which ones the one with hardware divx encoding? ATI always was better in IQ, is in Nvidia the top in IQ now?

Ati has Faster and higher quality AF, nvidia has Transparency AA.

 

[Munky]

Originally posted by: A554SS1N

Originally posted by: munky
What you must realize about sm3 is that it's only used for pixel shaders that are more complex than what can be efficiently done in ps2 or ps1. In other words, it's used to provide additional eye candy, which places additional load on the graphics card. That's why I said if the card is not fast enough to run modern games at max settings, then sm3 support will not be as useful as in a high end card. If you dont mind playing at 1024x768 then the 7600gt may provide playable fps with full sm3 eye candy, but if you need higher resolutions then sm3 will be of limited use on a midrange card.

What you must realise is that some of us who don't mind missing a few frames in sixty (because we can't see the difference) and could quite easily run at 1280x1024 with a 7600GT right now and enjoy SM3 features and effects!!!

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2717&p=13
If 38 fps average is acceptable to you in Chaos Theory, then by all means go ahead and enjoy the sm3 eye candy on a 7600gt at 1280x1024.