HD2600 pro Crossfire (x2) or 8600GT?

[Stevethegreat]

Hi, I'm about to buy a new Graphics card. My mobo is a DFI 975x and supports full Crossfire x16 on both channels. According to this review, two hd 2600 pro performs better even from a 8600 gts on most occasions. Considering that I can find two HD2600 pro for 135 Euro, would it make it a better choice?

In other words I'm considering buying among those cards (and their respected price in my place):

x2 HD2600 pro: 135 Euro
8600GT 256MB: 95 Euro
8600GT 512MB: 105 Euro
8600GTS 256MB: 155 Euro

For my point of view the ATI, crossfired, give better bang for the buck (obviously I'm on budget). I want your opinions and also -if possible to know- if my 500W Qtek PSU would sustain Crossfire considering that I already have an e4400 overclocked to 3.5GHz also strapped to the system.

BTW, I game on a mere 1024x768, so I think most of these cards would enable me High settings on 99% of the games out right now.

Thanks for all your help,
Steve

 

[MarcVenice]

You're probably best of buying a single card, like the Sapphire Radeon X1950 XT 256MB. In Holland I can buy it for 155-160 euro's.

DX10 cards simply don't perform as good as dx9 cards that cost the same.

 

[Stevethegreat]

I agree, but I can't find x1950 xt for less than 200 Euro here in Greece, so it is out of my league and unfortunately a non-option

 

[nemesismk2]

Originally posted by: Stevethegreat
I agree, but I can't find x1950 xt for less than 200 Euro here in Greece, so it is out of my league and unfortunately a non-option

Can you get a x1950 pro for less than 200 Euro?

 

[Stevethegreat]

Hmmm, there is one x1950 pro priced at 120 Euro, but I don't think it's the best option especially since it's not that faster from 8600GT, and since hd 2600 pro crossfire is faster than GTS, for mere 15 more you get something a lot better IMO. Additionally HD 2600 pro x2 score about 7300 on 3DMark06, a tad better even from x1950xtx, considering that ATI will make even better drivers for the newcomers (HD series), the gap may widen. Also in about 9 months or so, I could sell each card around 50 Euro which will make it to 100 Euro total, I doubt that x1950 pro will have any resaleability left in 10 months time....

 

[MarcVenice]

Give us the stats on your PSU.

 

[Stevethegreat]

It's OK about the PSU, I found a thermaltake 550W which I think would be more than OK. However my initial question remains the same, would the crossfire will perform better than a single 8600 GT in most games (applications)? In other words does crossfire (or SLI) give more than 50% to the initial performance in most applications that make use of the GPU (games)?

I'm sorry but that will be my first time with dual cards and I don't know how representative are the results of the review I posted earlier. Anyone with a dual card setup please inform me, thanks.

 

[JPB]

Imo...By the looks of some of these benchmarks, I think Id just purchase the 8600GT. The HD 2600 Pro...arnt those suppose to be around 149 watts a piece at load ?

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