Best bang for buck GPU for around $200-$230 -- Now with poll

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
U

usernamemax20charact

Platinum Member
Dec 23, 2003
2,863
0
0
Need to upgrade my GPU (9800 Pro 128MB) and was wondering which of these would offer the best bang for the buck. Planning to keep my AGP rig for at least another year. Hoping to do a full system upgrade in (early?) 2007.

Current system: ASUS P4P800 Deluxe, P4 3.0GHz OC'd to 3.2GHz, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD

Monitor's native res is 1280 x 1024

The type of games I play: WoW, HL 2, FarCry, Call of Duty, Doom 3, BF2. Will probably pick up Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

Here's what I've been looking at:

- Sapphire Radeon x800 gto for $169

- refurb ATi Radeon x800 XT platinum edition for $229 - 5% code = $217.55

- PNY 6800 gs for $179.99

Your input would be greatly appreciated.
 
M

Munky

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2005
9,372
0
76
All 3 of the above would give you increasingly more performance for more money. So, the gto is the chapest but is also the slowest of the bunch. The 6800gs would fall in the middle, and the the x800xt pe would be the fastest. I would take either the 6800gs or the x800xt pe, since you plan to keep it for another year and they're both faster than the gto. As far as bang/buck, they seem to be equal at those prices.
 
Golgatha

Golgatha

Lifer
Jul 18, 2003
12,388
1,045
126
Originally posted by: usernamemax20charact
How much faster is the x800 xt pe over the 6800gs? Is it worth the extra $30?
Click to expand...

You'll get a lot more features with the 6800GS. SM3 and purevideo come to mind immediately. Each one will probably be playable at the same settings for the most part even though the X800XT PE is "faster".
 
Ika

Ika

Lifer
Mar 22, 2006
14,264
3
81
If you like to take chances, you could go with the GTO and try to unlock the extra pipelines and overclock it to XT [PE] speeds. your chances aren't 100%, but you'd save a bunch of money if you got it.
 
RussianSensation

RussianSensation

Elite Member
Sep 5, 2003
19,458
765
126
Except for Doom 3, X800XT PE will be faster than 6800GS in the games you play. So that's the one I'd go for.
 
M

Munky

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2005
9,372
0
76
Originally posted by: guoziming
If you like to take chances, you could go with the GTO and try to unlock the extra pipelines and overclock it to XT [PE] speeds. your chances aren't 100%, but you'd save a bunch of money if you got it.
Click to expand...

The only gto's that can unlock are the sapphire gto2 and the connect3d gto. And both of those are for pcie.
 
U

usernamemax20charact

Platinum Member
Dec 23, 2003
2,863
0
0
Originally posted by: RussianSensation
Except for Doom 3, X800XT PE will be faster than 6800GS in the games you play. So that's the one I'd go for.
Click to expand...

It seems a lot of people are having good luck unlocking the extra pipelines and vertex shaders on the 6800 gs. If that's the case, would they be about the same or would the 6800 gs then be faster?

Just wondering because I was leaning heavily in favor of the 6800 gs (but not because of the unlock ability)


Also, are there any other cards you guys would recommend that's around the $200-$230 price point that I may have missed that would be good buys?

How important is S.M. 3.0, HDR, etc which the 6800 gs has but I believe the x800xt pe lacks? This card only has to get me by for a year, 1.5 yrs tops (I hope) so speed isn't the most important. Looking for good balance of speed and features.
 
A

Alaa

Senior member
Apr 26, 2005
839
8
81
ppl are recommending X1900 over the 7900 for features, and thats the same thing for u..6800GS has more features it might has slower fps but it will give u better quality..voted for 6800GS
 
RussianSensation

RussianSensation

Elite Member
Sep 5, 2003
19,458
765
126
Originally posted by: Alaa
ppl are recommending X1900 over the 7900 for features, and thats the same thing for u..6800GS has more features it might has slower fps but it will give u better quality..voted for 6800GS
Click to expand...

If you want a features like HDR and extra effects, I'd go with the 6800GS then. Of course you'll be only using HDR at lower resolutions. But if you don't care for 1600x1200 gaming and rather want extra image quality, go with Nvidia. Unfortunately, there have not been many games to take advantage of extra image improvements provided by sm3.0 though. Hopefully it will change within a year's time. Still, performance wise, X800XT PE is faster than X850XT and that card is much faster than 6800GS unlocked.

6800GS PCIe (faster than the AGP version) vs. X850XT
Far Cry - 1280x1024 4AA/16AF
6800GS = 46
X850XT = 58.8 (+28%)

SC: CT - 1280x1024 4AA/16AF
6800GS = 33.8
X850XT = 43.4 (+28%)

HL2 - 1600x1200 4AA/16AF
6800GS = 51.3
X850XT = 52.1

Doom 3 - 1280x1024 4AA/16AF
6800GS = 44.8
X850XT = 48.9 (+9%)

Riddick - 1280x1024 4AA/16AF
6800GS = 47.5
X850XT = 48.9

FEAR - 1024x768 4AA/16AF
6800GS = 31
X850XT = 49 (+58%)

That's quite a bit of performance being given up, especially since unlocking is not guaranteed. The only thing that might stop me from recommending a slow SM3.0 card is that in SM3.0 enabled situations it might be too slow whether a SM2.0 ati card will be pulling 40-50 frames at reduced image quality but at least playable.
 
T

Topweasel

Diamond Member
Oct 19, 2000
5,437
1,659
136
Originally posted by: RussianSensation
Originally posted by: Alaa
ppl are recommending X1900 over the 7900 for features, and thats the same thing for u..6800GS has more features it might has slower fps but it will give u better quality..voted for 6800GS
Click to expand...

If you want a features like HDR and extra effects, I'd go with the 6800GS then. Of course you'll be only using HDR at lower resolutions. But if you don't care for 1600x1200 gaming and rather want extra image quality, go with Nvidia. Unfortunately, there have not been many games to take advantage of extra image improvements provided by sm3.0 though. Hopefully it will change within a year's time. Still, performance wise, X800XT PE is faster than X850XT and that card is much faster than 6800GS unlocked.

6800GS PCIe (faster than the AGP version) vs. X850XT
Far Cry - 1280x1024 4AA/16AF
6800GS = 46
X850XT = 58.8 (+28%)

SC: CT - 1280x1024 4AA/16AF
6800GS = 33.8
X850XT = 43.4 (+28%)

HL2 - 1600x1200 4AA/16AF
6800GS = 51.3
X850XT = 52.1

Doom 3 - 1280x1024 4AA/16AF
6800GS = 44.8
X850XT = 48.9 (+9%)

Riddick - 1280x1024 4AA/16AF
6800GS = 47.5
X850XT = 48.9

FEAR - 1024x768 4AA/16AF
6800GS = 31
X850XT = 49 (+58%)

That's quite a bit of performance being given up, especially since unlocking is not guaranteed. The only thing that might stop me from recommending a slow SM3.0 card is that in SM3.0 enabled situations it might be too slow whether a SM2.0 ati card will be pulling 40-50 frames at reduced image quality but at least playable.
Click to expand...

Actually the X850XT is the 800XT PE. Same specs last I checked could be wrong though.
 
H

hans030390

Diamond Member
Feb 3, 2005
7,326
2
76
i'd get a 6800gs. the x850 might be faster, but it doesnt have Shader model 3 support, which as of now, you'd probably want
 
M

Munky

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2005
9,372
0
76
That PNY agp 6800gs is clocked lower than a pcie 6800gs. (350mhz vs 425 mhz). Unless it OC's like mad, there's no way I'd get that card
 
U

usernamemax20charact

Platinum Member
Dec 23, 2003
2,863
0
0
Originally posted by: hans030390
i'd get a 6800gs. the x850 might be faster, but it doesnt have Shader model 3 support, which as of now, you'd probably want
Click to expand...

Are there or will there (within the next year or so) be many games that actually use SM 3.0? RussianSensation says there aren't as of now. If that's true, then wouldn't the X800 XT PE be better since I'll hopefully/probably upgrade the whole system in 1 year or 1.5 years?

Some games I'm thinking about picking up:

- ES IV: oblivion
- Chronicles of Narnia
- F.E.A.R.
- Fable: The Lost Chapters
 
C

CKXP

Senior member
Nov 20, 2005
926
0
0
Originally posted by: munky
That PNY agp 6800gs is clocked lower than a pcie 6800gs. (350mhz vs 425 mhz). Unless it OC's like mad, there's no way I'd get that card
Click to expand...

true, but it's a NV40 core, unlocking the extra pipes could be a possibilty
 
M

Munky

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2005
9,372
0
76
Originally posted by: usernamemax20charact
Originally posted by: hans030390
i'd get a 6800gs. the x850 might be faster, but it doesnt have Shader model 3 support, which as of now, you'd probably want
Click to expand...

Are there or will there (within the next year or so) be many games that actually use SM 3.0? RussianSensation says there aren't as of now. If that's true, then wouldn't the X800 XT PE be better since I'll hopefully/probably upgrade the whole system in 1 year or 1.5 years?

Some games I'm thinking about picking up:

- ES IV: oblivion
- Chronicles of Narnia
- F.E.A.R.
- Fable: The Lost Chapters
Click to expand...

There are a few games that use sm3 right now. In some cases, like FarCry, it brings a 5-10% performance boost over sm2 mode. In other games like AOE3, it enables higher complexity shaders for better image quality. And in some games like Chaos Theory it brings no benefit over sm2.
 
L

LW07

Golden Member
Feb 16, 2006
1,537
2
81
I'd get the X800GTO since I don't like the idea of a refurbished item as it has a much higher chance of arriving DOA and it's faster and cheaper than a 6800GS.
 
U

usernamemax20charact

Platinum Member
Dec 23, 2003
2,863
0
0
Originally posted by: LW07
I'd get the X800GTO since I don't like the idea of a refurbished item as it has a much higher chance of arriving DOA and it's faster and cheaper than a 6800GS.
Click to expand...

:confused:

I thought the GTO was slower than the 6800 GS?
 
RussianSensation

RussianSensation

Elite Member
Sep 5, 2003
19,458
765
126
Originally posted by: usernamemax20charact
Originally posted by: Topweasel
Actually the X850XT is the 800XT PE. Same specs last I checked could be wrong though.
Click to expand...

I think you're right
Click to expand...

Link

X850XT PE = 540 / 1180 16 pipe
X800XT PE = 520 / 1120 16 pipe
X850XT = 520 / 1080 16 pipe
X800XT = 500 / 1000 16 pipe
X850Pro = 520 / 1080 12 pipe
X800XL = 400 / 980 (1000) 16 pipe
X800Pro = 475 / 900 12 pipe

It says that the reburbished card is now not in stock. The 6800GS is a good $50 cheaper. But imo it'll still be slower in oblivion, FEAR and COD2 where more shaders are used. $50 is a lot when you are on a budget.

However, without overclocking and/or unlocking a 350mhz 12 pipe 6800GS card is nothing but a 6800non ultra with 1000mhz memory or what Asus sold as 6800GT V9999 GE a while ago. So how did that card perform?

Review 1 - losing to X800Pro
Review 2 - loses some wins some vs. x800pro

Now let's say you can't unlock the card and you end up overclocking it slightly above 6800GS PCIe GS speeds which is realistic. So, "Besides, as I have already mentioned above, I was curious to compare the operation of ASUS V9999GE at 455/1140 MHz with that of GeForce 6800 Ultra. And the results of RADEON X800 XT PE":

SS: second encounter - wins by 47% at 1600x1200 4AA/16AF
UT2k3 - 1600x1200 4AA/16AF - loses by 35%
Unreal 2 - 1600x1200 4AA/16AF loses by 5%
Tomb Raider: AOD - 1600x1200 4AA/16AF - loses by 25%
Far Cry - 1280x1024 4AA/16AF - loses by 6%
COD1 - 1600x1200 4AA/16AF - wins by 24%
Halo - 1600x1200 - loses by 15%
HL2 - 1600x1200 4AA/16AF - wins by 3%
Splinter Cell 1 - 1600x1200 - wins by 6%
RTCW - 1600x1200 4AA/16AF - wins by 1%
Quake 3 - 1600x1200 4AA/16AF - loses by 17%
Doom 3 - 1600x1200 4AA/16AF - wins by 64% - since then ATI improved doom 3 performance though.

Still, ATi will most likely be faster in shader intensive games and with AA enabled. Plus you can also overclock the PE card to make the comparison a little more fair. In the earlier benches I linked check X850xt against even 6800GS 512mb at 485 / 1300.

For example:
FEAR - ATI X850xt - 49 vs. 37 NV
ATI should then outperform 6800GS in Oblivion too.

Also check out this massive 2005 graphics card roundup:
X850XT vx. X850XT PE vs. 6800Ultra

If $50 is more important to you than some extra performance go with the Nvidia card.
 
L

LW07

Golden Member
Feb 16, 2006
1,537
2
81
Originally posted by: usernamemax20charact
Originally posted by: LW07
I'd get the X800GTO since I don't like the idea of a refurbished item as it has a much higher chance of arriving DOA and it's faster and cheaper than a 6800GS.
Click to expand...

:confused:

I thought the GTO was slower than the 6800 GS?
Click to expand...


It is on the PCI-Express slot. This is AGP, so the AGP GTO is faster than the AGP GS.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom