Comparing Cards

[dig314]

My AGP AIW X800XT stopped working. I RMA'd because it was under warranty. ATI ( AMD ) have had the card for over a month. They say it will be at least a few more weeks before they get the parts to repair it.

They offered me the following as a replacement:
Radeon X1650 Pro AGP 512MB card
and TV Wonder 650 PCI TV tuner

For TV / PVR, the TV Wonder 650 would probably exceed my expectations.

For games, the X1650 is newer, but I don't think it is nearly as powerful as an X800XT.
Please provide your suggestions.

Dig

 

[darckhart]

Yes, the x1650p is certainly less "powerful" since it has less of everything important, BUT i think it supports SM3.0 whereas the x800xt only supports SM2.0 (although i wouldnt think that your priority is games...)

 

[dig314]

Originally posted by: darckhart
Yes, the x1650p is certainly less "powerful" since it has less of everything important, BUT i think it supports SM3.0 whereas the x800xt only supports SM2.0 (although i wouldnt think that your priority is games...)

Playing games is a priority - just not very demanding ones! I will eventually get a new system. For now, this GPU decision is no cost.

X800XT SM2.0 and 256mb
X1650 Pro SM3.0 and 512mb

Between the additional ram and the newer Shader Model, how does the Gaming performance compare? Where would I research such a question?

Dig

 

[darckhart]

Well, as you can see, I am still using x800xt since the games I play don't really require much else (Guild Wars mainly right now). And assuming you were playing all games with x800xt, then you probably don't need the SM3.0. Of course newer games definitely will use the SM3.0. (If your card doesn't support it, you'll just get a black screen, but everything else works. I think the first game that happened to me was the Deus Ex sequel.)

Looking for (performance) reviews etc may be difficult now since they're such old cards, but if you just want to compare specs, I use techarp's compiled list here: http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=88&pgno=0
Since you know the subjective performance of your aiw x800xt, you can sort of guess at the others. gl.

 

[myocardia]

As you can see from this comparison, an X1650 Pro doesn't compare at all to an X800XT, which is just barely faster than an X800XT. Even at only 1280x1024, it's a long way behind an X850XT.

 

[dig314]

I turned down ATI's offer of an AGP X1650 Pro PLUS PCI TV Wonder 650 as an exchange for my X800XT AGP. They indicated they could not offer me anything higher from their AGP lineup.

Instead, they have offered me a PCIe X1950XT. The card is a step up from X800XT, but I would have to upgrade my whole system - Technically, I could cannibalize some parts, but if I was going to upgrade to PCIe, I would modernize everything. IF I was going to upgrade, I would purchase a much better card than a X1950XT.

Let me know if you suggest otherwise.

Dig

 

[Tempered81]

Originally posted by: dig314

Instead, they have offered me a PCIe X1950XT

Whoa, that is a boatload faster than an x800xt. You could get one of those AM2+ transition boards from ASSrock.

Twice as fast in Cod4 @ 1650 Max here:
http://www.tomshardware.com/ch...f-Duty-4-v1-6,742.html

 

[Elfear]

Originally posted by: jaredpace

Originally posted by: dig314

Instead, they have offered me a PCIe X1950XT

Whoa, that is a boatload faster than an x800xt. You could get one of those AM2+ transition boards from ASSrock.

Twice as fast in Cod4 @ 1650 Max here:
http://www.tomshardware.com/ch...f-Duty-4-v1-6,742.html

Agreed. An X1950XT should be about equal to X800XT's in CF.

 

[dig314]

No doubt, an X1950 is a step up.

For me, it is not a big enough step to spend the money on an entirely new system. I would spend $800 on the box ( not including monitor, peripherals ) and at least another $150 to $250 on the GPU. The X1950xt is probably a $75 mainstream card. I would not go to the trouble or expense of switching to a PCIe system only to have it GPU bound.

Feel free to disagree - please explain why you disagree.

Dig

 

[Denithor]

Yeah, I certainly wouldn't rebuild an entire system just to use an x1950xt!!

Insist on an AGP card and don't take the x1650pro, it's totally neutered versus the x800xt. Even the x1650xt wouldn't be quite as fast as the x800xt. Maybe they have an x1800 or x1900 series card around you could get? Or you'll get lucky and the only card they have available in AGP is a 3850.

 

[dig314]

Originally posted by: Denithor
Or you'll get lucky and the only card they have available in AGP is a 3850.

Nah, they either can't or won't supply anything better in the AGP flavor than x1650pro. It has something to do with licensing - what they make themselves versus what they license to other manufacturers.

They will eventually provide me with my repaired X800xt or a new / refurb....it will simply take more time.

Dig

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: dig314
what they make themselves versus what they license to other manufacturers.

Right! That's like asking Honda to replace your broken down Accord with a Toyota Camry. Different companies. (disregarding that one might be using technology from another)

 

[dig314]

Help, I need advice.

I am still waiting ( 2 months + now ) on ATI/AMD to repair / replace my AGP X800XT. Custom Support says they are only telling me what they are being told: The parts are on back-order and it will be another 2 to 3 weeks - same answer I got 3 weeks ago - same answer I got three weeks before that.

I have three options

* Keep waiting - possibly forever to get my card repaired.

* They offered me this instead:

Radeon X1650 Pro AGP 512MB card -
and TV Wonder 650 PCI TV tuner
- The x1650 is newer, so it will play 9.0c games like Crysis
- The x1650 is slower, so it will play games like Crysis at 5 fps
- The x1650 is slower, so it will play my old games like UT2004 and HL2 slower

*OR, they offered my this
PCIe X1950XT
- I am not going to swap out motherboards for a mediocre PCIe card. Yes it is better than X800xt, but for the hassle of MoBo swap, I could upgrade my whole system.


I think I will wait a few more weeks. If no change, accept their offer for the x1650 pro and hope it will play my games decent enough. If I need to, I could purchase an X800xt from ebay or a HD2600 from newegg. These would run on my 350 watt PSU. In the AGP flavor, x1950 and HD 3850 are available retail, but it would require a better PSU. Because I plan to eventually get a completely new PC, I don't want to spend money on my old one.

Please share your advice.

Dig