Dell Dimension 8400 (6800 GTO or upgrade to X800 XT)

[keith123uk]

Hi, I'm going to order it this week. Here's the spec:

P4 3.4 800fsb
1024Mb DDR2 533MHz [2x512]
250GB (7200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive with 8MB DataBurst
19" FP Monitor
GeForce 6800 GTO *
Dell 5650 5.1 Surround Speaker
Sound Blaster Audigy 2
16x max. DVD+/-RW and 16x DVD


* This GTO card comes at standard, I have read a few members are using it but heard it is too hot? will there be any problem?

Should I upgrade to 256MB PCI Express x16ATI Radeon X800 XT for £140? Is it worth it? a big difference compare to the GTO? Please let me know if anyone of you have used either of the graphics cards.

Thanks,

Keith

 

[nickv360]

I bought that same system.

$1500

P4 3.2GHz 800 FSB
1GB SDRAM
GeForce 6800 GTO
Dell 5650 5.1 Surround Speaker
Sound Blaster Audigy 2
16x max. DVD+/-RW and 16x DVD
19" UltraSharp Monitor
250GB SATA HDD
Windows MCE

I got it yesterday, and I found out that the 6800 GTO does not have any unlockable pipelines. 12 is the max, so that may discourage you, however I have been getting 80 FPS average on Fary Cry. It will go as low as 45 and all the way up to 150 depending on were you are, but it averages around 70-80. I am going to be running 3DMark03 and AquaMark3 in just a few minutes so I will let you know how that goes if you want.

 

[bjc112]

Just because Nick said it has 12 UNLOCKABLE pipelines, get the X800.

 

[keith123uk]

Cheers for the info nick, but I'm a newbie in this stuff..unfortuntely I do not know what pipelines is? If I'm not going to modify the card. Could you guys advise me which one to get?

So is it worth to upgrade the X800? Is there a big difference in quality to add the extra £140? As I heard X850 is coming out soon, right

I will be appreciated if any pro can let me know the performance between the 2 cards.

Thank You

p.s. Nick, your so lucky man...the system you got is well cheap(included UltraSharp Monitor as well!) ...it costs around $2800 in uk.....

 

[dug777]

i'm no pro 😛 but x800xt will smoke the 6800GTO in almost every game (prob every actually...(puts flamesuit on 🙂 )), depends on how heavy a gamer u plan 2b i guess

x850 is out (officially-i think, don't quote me on that tho!), but near impossible 2 find yet, and the diff b/w x850xt and x800xt is very little, certainly not enuff 2 get concerned about, especially as you have 2 get a kard with that dell, may as well get the x800xt now i sez

 

[keith123uk]

Ok, Thanks for the advise dug

I think I will get the x800 but I wont do any modifcation....as I dont have a clue how to do it😛

More opinions from you guys will be much appreciated, coz I wont order it till later this week.

BTW..as I dont have the UltraSharp monitor....its the normal Flat Panel 19'....but I could upgrade to a 17' UltraSharp...or should I stick with a bigger screen?

 

[mjdart]

I read a very favorable review on the 6800 GTo from UK

http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews/gto/