ATI Radeon AIW X800 XL - How good is it for gaming?

zettler

Senior member
Nov 16, 1999
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My son's PC has one in it but is giving him issues - which might just be driver related or something else - and he wants a new Video Card!

I see the Egg has a 7600GT on sale tonight and several others so I am wondering if that one is a step up, over or down?

Any other suggestions are encouraged!

Thank you from an old timer!!!
 

zettler

Senior member
Nov 16, 1999
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So, it does not sound like a boost at all - at least to me, a non-gamer!

Any recomendations on current deals in the under (or close to) $100 range that would make him happy and give him some satisfaction for the next 4 to 6 months???

Thanks again!!!
 

MegaVovaN

Diamond Member
May 20, 2005
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Originally posted by: lyssword
yep 1950pro would be 2x faster than x800xl

Yes. But make sure your son's computer has PCI-E slot, not AGP (I think the 1950pro in that deal is PCI-E)
 

zettler

Senior member
Nov 16, 1999
705
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Is this the specific one you all are discussing???

I haven't built one in over a year and have lost track of what is what or where!

Whoops the LINK didn't make it! - LINK
 

MegaVovaN

Diamond Member
May 20, 2005
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Originally posted by: zettler
Is this the specific one you all are discussing???

I haven't built one in over a year and have lost track of what is what or where!

Whoops the LINK didn't make it! - LINK

Yes, that is the correct card. Just make sure your system is PCI-E, not AGP.
 

Dainas

Senior member
Aug 5, 2005
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If you have an AGP slot, the X1950pro 512mb is still a heck of a deal for $180. Well considering the wallop it packs and that the cheapest model (the Sapphire) despite having single slot cooling, is very cool GPU (Folding or Oblivion brings a 68c peak in a 30c room after hours of running). Almost unbelievably cool for a X19xx based videocard.

My sister's 7800GS AGP was replaced by one and she loves it as there is no more choppy slowdown with Oblivion at 1280x1024 with HDR and settings maxed. (Took her 7800GS and flashed it for my powermac to replace a very hot running 6800GT).
 

Assimilator1

Elite Member
Nov 4, 1999
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256MB parts are better priced naturally.

I don't think you'd really gain much by having 512MB ,unless maybe if you play at 1600x1200?

 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
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alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: Dainas
If you have an AGP slot, the X1950pro 512mb is still a heck of a deal for $180. Well considering the wallop it packs and that the cheapest model (the Sapphire) despite having single slot cooling, is very cool GPU (Folding or Oblivion brings a 68c peak in a 30c room after hours of running). Almost unbelievably cool for a X19xx based videocard.

My sister's 7800GS AGP was replaced by one and she loves it as there is no more choppy slowdown with Oblivion at 1280x1024 with HDR and settings maxed. (Took her 7800GS and flashed it for my powermac to replace a very hot running 6800GT).
yes it is a good deal ... IF your PS is 450w minimum and has 30a on the 12v rail.

my x1950p/512M AGP is still for sale ... they aren't moving that fast anymore
 

Assimilator1

Elite Member
Nov 4, 1999
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My Antec TPII 430 is fine with a X1950 Pro & a C2D @3.2GHz ,in fact theirs plenty of power spare :) (max draw is 240w at the wall) ,I would say a decent 400w PSU as min,unless maybe you're running a power guzzling P4;)
 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
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alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: Assimilator1
My Antec TPII 430 is fine with a X1950 Pro & a C2D @3.2GHz ,in fact theirs plenty of power spare :) (max draw is 240w at the wall) ,I would say a decent 400w PSU as min,unless maybe you're running a power guzzling P4;)

the AGP x1950p/512M seems to require a beefier PS then it's PCIe counterpart.
--and it is AMD's recommendation that i was quoting
 

Dainas

Senior member
Aug 5, 2005
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Well my sister has been running her X1950pro 512mb AGP on a generic cheapo EZmedia 400W for about 3 months now with a pathetic 14a on the 12v, without any telltale weak PSU signs. However her processor is an Athlon 3200xp Barton with on one 80GB hard drive, a DVD drive and nothing else significant sucking power. Just incase though I have a 620W Enermax (not much better than a generic PSU) that I got back from a 2 month long RMA that I don't have much use for till her generic dies.

However it would not be much of a stretch to say ATI, like Nvidia, grossly overestimates the PSU requirements for these cards in wattage as they cannot tell people to only use triple grade A brands.
 

Assimilator1

Elite Member
Nov 4, 1999
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Funny you mention an Ath XP ,my previous build was an XPM @2.5GHz along with an X800XT PE ,that drew ~230w at the wall when running high CPU & GPU load ,so only 10w less than my C2D!:Q.With just a high CPU load they're about the same.

Originally posted by: apoppin
Originally posted by: Assimilator1
My Antec TPII 430 is fine with a X1950 Pro & a C2D @3.2GHz ,in fact theirs plenty of power spare :) (max draw is 240w at the wall) ,I would say a decent 400w PSU as min,unless maybe you're running a power guzzling P4;)

the AGP x1950p/512M seems to require a beefier PS then it's PCIe counterpart.
--and it is AMD's recommendation that i was quoting
Fair enough ,I guess between the extra RAM & the PCIE to AGP convertor chip that would use a little more power.

 

evolucion8

Platinum Member
Jun 17, 2005
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The power used in the RIALTO chip is very little to be considered, the AGP cards tends to use a bit of more power because the AGP port provides only 45W of power while the PCIe can provide up to 75W, so the AGP cards will put more load in the 12V line than their PCIe counterparts, but will consume pretty much the same amount of energy overall.
 

SniperDaws

Senior member
Aug 14, 2007
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i just swapped my XFX 7600GT XXX over with my 1800XL AIW and it knocks 7 shades of shit out of the 7600GT easily.

Scores are rounded off :)

3dMark05

7600GT-6900
X1800XL AIW- 8800

3Dmark 06

7600GT-3600
X18000 AIW-4400

EDIT: But as im a complete Arse wipe who doesnt read things properly youll notice i got it all wrong and the original poster was talking about the X800XL AIW NOT the X1800XL AIW, for this i appologise.

Sorry

Carry on people nothing to see :)
 

Assimilator1

Elite Member
Nov 4, 1999
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Yeah & the 1950 Pro beats the 8600 GTS in most games too ,especially with AA on.

SniperDaws
lol :D