9800XT -> x850XT upgrade worth it?

JavaMomma

Senior member
Oct 19, 2000
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I mainly play World of Warcraft at 1600x1200 on the system below (see sig).
I get about 30FPS currently. I'm thinking of buying a Dell 2405. So that will mean a higher resolution. My main concern is that my CPU is the bottle neck with this new card.

What do you guys think?
 

Appledrop

Platinum Member
Aug 25, 2004
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definately at that resolution, yes... 1920x1200 it will be - too high for 9800imo
 
Mar 19, 2003
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At 1600x1200, and especially at 1920x1200, your 9800XT will not be up to the task, as you've seen. However, if you were going to spend that much on an X850XT anyway, I would personally wait another month or two (hopefully it won't be much more than that) for the next-gen video cards...you should be able to get something quite a bit faster than that X850XT for the same money, hopefully. At the same time, it might be good to look into a CPU upgrade too, especially if you do decide to hold out for a newer video card.

It all depends on how much money you're willing to spend and how long you're willing to wait though. If you want more performance now, then the X850XT will still give you nice performance boosts at high resolutions, even if it is CPU limited. :)
 

Chosonman

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Jan 24, 2005
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Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
At 1600x1200, and especially at 1920x1200, your 9800XT will not be up to the task, as you've seen. However, if you were going to spend that much on an X850XT anyway, I would personally wait another month or two (hopefully it won't be much more than that) for the next-gen video cards...you should be able to get something quite a bit faster than that X850XT for the same money, hopefully. At the same time, it might be good to look into a CPU upgrade too, especially if you do decide to hold out for a newer video card.

It all depends on how much money you're willing to spend and how long you're willing to wait though. If you want more performance now, then the X850XT will still give you nice performance boosts at high resolutions, even if it is CPU limited. :)

yes wait.
 

AtaruMoroboshi18

Senior member
Apr 1, 2005
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I recently purchased an X850XT from Sapphire. I'll just sell it for around $370 and use that money for the purchase of the latest graphics card. Simple as that.
 

theMan

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Mar 17, 2005
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Originally posted by: AtaruMoroboshi18
I recently purchased an X850XT from Sapphire. I'll just sell it for around $370 and use that money for the purchase of the latest graphics card. Simple as that.

thats the way to do it. :thumbsup:
 
Mar 19, 2003
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Originally posted by: theman
Originally posted by: AtaruMoroboshi18
I recently purchased an X850XT from Sapphire. I'll just sell it for around $370 and use that money for the purchase of the latest graphics card. Simple as that.

thats the way to do it. :thumbsup:

That's a good idea too, and exactly what I'm going to do. I bought my 6800GT last summer, will sell it to a friend this summer for $300, and upgrade to G70/R520. :)
 

fstime

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2004
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New cards are supposed to be right around the corner.

To answer your question, the x850XT is plenty faster than the 9800XT and the r520 will be light years ahead.

Upgrading to an A64 will help you a lot.
 

Chosonman

Golden Member
Jan 24, 2005
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Originally posted by: AtaruMoroboshi18
I recently purchased an X850XT from Sapphire. I'll just sell it for around $370 and use that money for the purchase of the latest graphics card. Simple as that.

I'd be weary of buying a used graphics card for close to $400 when you could get a brand new one for not much over that price. But if you can find someone willing to pay you that amount of money good luck. Also remember the price of currnet cards drop like rocks off a bridge as soon as a new generation card is released.
 

JavaMomma

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Oct 19, 2000
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Another reason I am considering getting the card is that is a good deal. $450CA = $355US for a built by ATI. I currently have the fastest CPU possible for socketA so my only other option is a new board/cpu, however then i'd end up with PCIe which means I also need a new graphics card. Then ack its getting to be more then I want to spend. I also want to wait till dual core Athlons become affordable, which won't be till probably early next year.

When is R520 coming out for real (not the paper launch) but on selves? And will it blow the x850XT out of the water for the <= ?
 

JavaMomma

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Oct 19, 2000
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Originally posted by: DanDaMan315
Couldn't you just post in MY THREAD which is exactly the same? Did you really feel you needed to make an entirely new thread?

yeah i could have and yes i read thread however my situation is different. I want to run at 1900x1200 res. and I am currently running at 30FPS at 1600x1200 not 80FPS like you. I would say for you the answer is no for an upgrade because those are accepatable frame rates. What I mainly asking is if it is worth it for my system. I only have 2400Mhz AthlonXP which I am guessing maybe a bad bottle neck, however, I dont know that forsure because I can't find any sites that benchmark the X850XT with an old CPU.
 

Sphexi

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2005
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You kidding? I went from a 9800PRO to a X800XT, and the difference is just phenomenal.
 

apoppin

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Mar 9, 2000
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alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: JavaMomma
Originally posted by: DanDaMan315
Couldn't you just post in MY THREAD which is exactly the same? Did you really feel you needed to make an entirely new thread?

yeah i could have and yes i read thread however my situation is different. I want to run at 1900x1200 res. and I am currently running at 30FPS at 1600x1200 not 80FPS like you. I would say for you the answer is no for an upgrade because those are accepatable frame rates. What I mainly asking is if it is worth it for my system. I only have 2400Mhz AthlonXP which I am guessing maybe a bad bottle neck, however, I dont know that forsure because I can't find any sites that benchmark the X850XT with an old CPU.

i think there is an old Tom's HW article that had the CPU bottlenecked with a x850xt (or similar) around 3Ghz . . . HOWEVER, running at that high of a resolution will shift much of the work to the videocard . . . you WILL get a noticeable improvement over your 9800xt.

That said, it depends on how long you are willing to wait . . . the new cards should be announced in a month (or 2 at the longest) and - this time [i am willing to bet] there won't be a long delay for shipping like this gen.

And the r520 should be at least 50% faster than ATi's current flagship [probably faster] . . . at which time your card will get discounted - big time. :p

If you can't wait (have the display, have the money) - then go for it! There's always something new "around the corner' ;)
 

JavaMomma

Senior member
Oct 19, 2000
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Originally posted by: apoppin
Originally posted by: JavaMomma
Originally posted by: DanDaMan315
Couldn't you just post in MY THREAD which is exactly the same? Did you really feel you needed to make an entirely new thread?

yeah i could have and yes i read thread however my situation is different. I want to run at 1900x1200 res. and I am currently running at 30FPS at 1600x1200 not 80FPS like you. I would say for you the answer is no for an upgrade because those are accepatable frame rates. What I mainly asking is if it is worth it for my system. I only have 2400Mhz AthlonXP which I am guessing maybe a bad bottle neck, however, I dont know that forsure because I can't find any sites that benchmark the X850XT with an old CPU.

i think there is an old Tom's HW article that had the CPU bottlenecked with a x850xt (or similar) around 3Ghz . . . HOWEVER, running at that high of a resolution will shift much of the work to the videocard . . . you WILL get a noticeable improvement over your 9800xt.

That said, it depends on how long you are willing to wait . . . the new cards should be announced in a month (or 2 at the longest) and - this time [i am willing to bet] there won't be a long delay for shipping like this gen.

And the r520 should be at least 50% faster than ATi's current flagship [probably faster] . . . at which time your card will get discounted - big time. :p

If you can't wait (have the display, have the money) - then go for it! There's always something new "around the corner' ;)

Thank you, good post. I'm going to have to think about it. Considering it because it could be a good card to keep with this machine.