Help Me Decide Please

[Waylay00]

Well, I'm about to buy my new rig. (see sig) I also know that this type pf topic has been rehashed over and over, but I couldn't find all of my answers.

However, I am in a dilemma. I cannot decide between the 6800 Ultra and the X850XT. I wil probably end up getting an SLI mobo, but rather for the features, not for SLI support. Both cards are roughly the same price.

X850XT Pros and Cons

+Fastest Single Card
+Better Image Quality (see below)
+Better, more frequent driver releases
+Supposedly better at AF
+I tend to buy ATI cards
-Older Features (Lack of SM 3.0)
-Not SLI capable
-No official user/community website

6800 Ultra Pros and Cons
+SLI Capable
+SM 3.0
+Great Community/Official Site (nzone.com)
-Not quite as fast as X850XT in Direct3D games
-Not as good as image quality as ATI?

The main thing that turns me away from Nvidia is the lackluster drivers and supposedly worse image quality. Is it true that ATI has somewhat better image quality when it comes to the X series vs. the 6 series? Keep in mind that I will mainly be playing BF2, HL2, CS:S, and Farcry, and Rome Total War (heard that Nvidia has driver problems with Rome TW). And please don't suggest an X800XL or 6800GT, keep it to these two cards. Thanks!

 

[BillyBobJoel71]

well nvidia never answerd the x850 cards, they stopped at 6800 ultra. im an nvidia fan but i can agree if u have the mula get teh x850. or if u sli then the ultra. nvidia has better drivers and updates more frequently, and there is no "image quality difference" that is noticaebl when playing games anyway.

 

[ddogg]

well they didnt respond to the x850 line of cards because it was simply pointless doing so...ATI desperately needed to send out a highend part to the crowd since their x800XTpe was a total failure

 

[ddogg]

Originally posted by: Waylay00
Well, I'm about to buy my new rig. (see sig) I also know that this type pf topic has been rehashed over and over, but I couldn't find all of my answers.

However, I am in a dilemma. I cannot decide between the 6800 Ultra and the X850XT. I wil probably end up getting an SLI mobo, but rather for the features, not for SLI support. Both cards are roughly the same price.

X850XT Pros and Cons

+Fastest Single Card
+Better Image Quality (see below)
+Better, more frequent driver releases
+Supposedly better at AF
+I tend to buy ATI cards
-Older Features (Lack of SM 3.0)
-Not SLI capable
-No official user/community website

6800 Ultra Pros and Cons
+SLI Capable
+SM 3.0
+Great Community/Official Site (nzone.com)
-Not quite as fast as X850XT in Direct3D games
-Not as good as image quality as ATI?

The main thing that turns me away from Nvidia is the lackluster drivers and supposedly worse image quality. Is it true that ATI has somewhat better image quality when it comes to the X series vs. the 6 series? Keep in mind that I will mainly be playing BF2, HL2, CS:S, and Farcry, and Rome Total War (heard that Nvidia has driver problems with Rome TW). And please don't suggest an X800XL or 6800GT, keep it to these two cards. Thanks!

who told u that nvidia releases lacklustre drivers?? infact, it has been ATI who have alot of driver problems the past few years!! turning away from nvidia on these grounds is totally stupid....if u buy the x850XT u will only get a slight performance edge over the nvidia in DX games while the 6800U beats in all OpenGL games. and also due to the fact that the 6800U has SM3.0 it would worthwhile getting the 6800U

 

[VIAN]

X850 is the fastest single card:
Argueable, but if you take into consideration that Nvidia has worse default IQ, then you can say that the X850XT has better overall performance if you use High Quality Nv.

X850 has better IQ:
It has better default IQ, but NV IIRC has a bit better IQ if you use High Quality in drivers (possibly negligible), although that would lower framerates by a lot.

X850 has supposedly better at AF:
If you use High Quality in NV drivers, no, ATI's is a bit worse (possibly negligible).

X850 has older features (Lack of SM 3.0):
Not like you'll have great framerates anyway, leave the SM3 for the next gen cards.

X850 isn't SLI capable:
Unless you're rich and can easily spend the money, this shouldn't be a worry.

6800 has great community/official site (nzone.com):
Nzone is ok, but I definitely wouldn't influence my purchasing decision.

6800 isn't quite as fast as X850XT in Direct3D games:
But crazy faster than ATI in most OpenGL games.


NOTE: Of course, if you don't use AF, then using Quality instead of High Quality in Nv drivers is fine and presents neglible IQ loss. It is when you use AF, that High Quality must be used for best IQ For more info on the differences of IQ, check here.

nvidia has better drivers and updates more frequently,

I think he means ATI

 

[UzairH]

The answer depends on how long you plan to keep your card. If it is for more than a year I'd get the 6800U as it has sm3, and is much better with shadowing game engines like Doom 3 engine and Riddick. In fact in Riddick the 6800U is almost twice as fast as the X800XT, in spite of Riddick being a Direct3D game. When you consider the large number of upcoming games which will use the Doom 3 engine, and others that will use sm3, the 6800U really is a no-brainer. Remember that ATI's R520 will have sm3, and developers will definitely use it. So unless you buy G70/R520 by the end of this year, get the 6800U now. I got the 6800GT and there is not a game right now that will push it at the res I play at (1280x960).

 

[Waylay00]

How is the image quality? Still cannot decide...