One X800XL or two Nvidia 6600GT SLI?

[abcde]

My question is very simple.
What should be better:
a one ATI X800XL (256MB) in an AMD 3500+, or two SLI 6600GT(128MB each one)?

 

[MisterChief]

:laugh: (giggle, snort) Two 6600GT's DUH!

 

[abcde]

I asked that because x800 xl was compared to 6800GT, and x800 xl was expected to be an excellent video card, but for what i have read it turn out not to be.
I noticed that two 6600 GT SLI are for the price of one x800XL.

 

[roguerower]

If you know what you're doing, go with the SLI. What kinda mobo are you going to be putting these cards in? As much as I like ATI, i'm gonna have to agree with MisterChief on this one. Just wait until ATI comes up with there own SLI, cause it's gonna kick serious @$$

 

[MisterChief]

Originally posted by: roguerower
If you know what you're doing, go with the SLI. What kinda mobo are you going to be putting these cards in? As much as I like ATI, i'm gonna have to agree with MisterChief on this one. Just wait until ATI comes up with there own SLI, cause it's gonna kick serious @$$

:thumbsup: ATI r0xs my s0xs!

 

[Lonyo]

X800XL.
SLI 6600GT = 6800GT
X800XL = 6800GT
(rough performance terms, although both are slightly slower than the 6800GT)
X800XL = 6600GT SLI
Thus, cheaper option being the X800XL, that is the best way to go.
Add in the fact that it's only 1 card, the fact that it will always give performance with no issues (ie: won't need to set up each game to have SLI enabled, unlike the 6600GT where you will need to add support for some games), and you have a winner.

 

[ArnoldLayne]

A 6800GT would be better. It will be faster, give you fewer headaches than SLI, and work in more games, for not much more money. The X800XL, good as it is, does not support Shader 3.0 like the NVidias.

 

[MisterChief]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
X800XL.
SLI 6600GT = 6800GT
X800XL = 6800GT
(rough performance terms, although both are slightly slower than the 6800GT)
X800XL = 6600GT SLI
Thus, cheaper option being the X800XL, that is the best way to go.
Add in the fact that it's only 1 card, the fact that it will always give performance with no issues (ie: won't need to set up each game to have SLI enabled, unlike the 6600GT where you will need to add support for some games), and you have a winner.

Unsubstaintiated jibber-jabber. What proof have you?

 

[abcde]

ok, i agree with you.
I also prefer ati, and i have been waiting for x800 xl, but it seems that by the end of the millenium that card will arrive to the stores at the priced tagged by ati! It's a bit strange that two sli 6600 GT(128MB) are for the price of one x800 xl(256MB), and that two sli are better than one high end ati card!

 

[MisterChief]

Originally posted by: ArnoldLayne
A 6800GT would be better. It will be faster, give you fewer headaches than SLI, and work in more games, for not much more money. The X800XL, good as it is, does not support Shader 3.0 like the NVidias.

What have we here! Another SM3.0 flame warrior!

 

[roguerower]

What the hell does SM3.0 even do?

 

[Super56K]

If you're feeling a little daring then get this X800XL from Newegg: rosewill x800xl

It's only $289. Rosewill sounds like a cheap brand, but it could turn out decent. That's a little cheaper than two 6600gt's in sli anyways.

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: abcde
ok, i agree with you.
I also prefer ati, and i have been waiting for x800 xl, but it seems that by the end of the millenium that card will arrive to the stores at the priced tagged by ati! It's a bit strange that two sli 6600 GT(128MB) are for the price of one x800 xl(256MB), and that two sli are better than one high end ati card!

How do you figure? You can get a single X800 XL + Motherboard to run it in for ~$360. Thats cheaper than 2x 6600GT alone. For the price of a SLI motherboard, you can pick up a AMD64 3000+ CPU.

btw: If its better than 1) ATI highend card, then using the same logic, its better than 1) Nvidia High end card as well. IMO, its not in either case all things considered.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Another ATI vs. nVidia thing going. I personally would go a 6800GT and wait a while and get another to stick it in SLI.

 

[abcde]

I dont know how is it in your countries but in portugal x800 xl is very rare, and very very expensive. I saw it for about 400 euros.

Where can i see the tests that prove that two sli 6600GT are better than just one x800XL?
I can get 6600Gt for 200euros.

 

[dfedders]

Two 6600GTs are slower than one 6800GT.

If you can find an ATI x800 XL for MSRP, I'd get that because it would be cheaper than 2 6600GTs or a single 6800GT.

 

[CHiN0]

Originally posted by: abcde
Where can i see the tests that prove that two sli 6600GT are better than just one x800XL?
I can get 6600Gt for 200euros.

Review HERE

 

[hans030390]

6600gt sli, or get a 6800gt/ultra

dont get the x800xl, nice as it is now, because with the shader model 3.0 on the 6xxx cards, they will easily perform (and look better) on future games (early 2005/2006) such as unreal 3 engine games, and elder scrolls 4blivion.

infact, most, if not all, next gen console games were developed under the 6800 due to SM3.0...so i'm guessing its going to be a must.

so whatever you do, make it with the 6xxx series

 

[EightySix Four]

x800xl can be had from compusabuisness.com for $299.99

http://www.compusabusiness.com/products...nfo.asp?product_code=318335&pfp=BROWSE

ships in 1-2 buisness days.


I don't really want to get into the SM3.0 debate, but IMHO it is one of those we have you don't kind of things, it doesn't seem like anything special, and I think before games start to really support it, it will be time for Avalon (the next DX) and everyone will be upgrading their cards anyways. Also the new unreal engine chugs on 2 6800 ultra's SLI'd, so what makes you think any current card will run any game based on it at more than 1024x768 low detail when it comes out. By the time Unreal Engine and ES:3 is out, there will be so many better products on the market that these cards will be useless for the game. Stop thinking about games that won't be out for 2 years, as no matter what your going to have to upgrade to play them with eye candy anyways.

my $.02

 

[hans030390]

true, but for people like me (who upgrade once every few years) its something you'll need.

i read in a magazine that the x800 will not work well with next gen games, where as the 6800 should....so i chose a 6600gt for the sm3.0....the next upgrade will prolly be...in...4 years....with a new computer

i'd still go for a 6xxx setup

 

[EightySix Four]

Well the magazine was misleading, as every game that has the SM3.0 will have the SM2.0a/b codepath as long as the dev's aren't in nvidia's pockets, which would be stupid of them to do, as that's more than half the nvidia cards that won't work either. Also Shader Model 2.0b seems to be just as fast as shader model 3.0, so no worries.

my vote X800XL, should be faster than the 6600's at higher res's

 

[n yusef]

Get the X800XL. At higher resolutions with AA/AF, the 6600GT can't keep up because the memory isn't shared between them. In SLi, one card renders even number frames, and the other renders odd number frames (you can have it set up so that each card renders half of the frame, but it has worse performance). Two 128MB frame-buffers can't hang with one 256MB frame-buffer when the res/detail/AA/AF is too much for one card. PS 3.0 has done nothing yet in terms of performance, so you can only talk about the future. By then, both cards will be obsolete anyway, so it shouldn't matter too much for your decision. The X800XL can be had for $300 now: Proof. Which makes it $100 less than two 6600GT, or one 6800GT, not to mention the added price of an SLi mobo. SLi doesn't work with every game out, so that is another thing to worry about. The 6800GT is $100 more, and the add another card for SLi in a while isn't a good deal because:
1) A different brand card or revision with the same manufacturer may or may not work (it won't work now, but newer drivers may change that),
2) Prices don't get lower over time, they stay the same until products just get discontinued. For example, look at 9800 XT's, they aren't commonly sold anymore, but if you want to buy one retail, you have to pay $370+ to get one, but a 6800GT will run circles around it for the same price, and an X800XL will do it for less. (So will a 6800NU, just not as much.) By the time you want another 6800GT (let's say it costs $300), the next generation of GPU's will be better, especially at newer games. Think about this, what would you want more, one 6800GT/X800XL, or two (pretend ATi had SLi) 9800XT's? I bet a GeForce 7800/Radeon 11800XL will be better than two 6800GT's in newer games (next generation). In older games (this gen or before), the performance may be equal though.

Just my analysis of the video card market. Take it or leave it.

 

[EightySix Four]

exactly what I've been trying to say

 

[fstime]

Would you people shutup about SM 3. I'd take that XL for 299 @ compusa bussiness. Its a better deal.

 

[hans030390]

I didnt know SM3 wasn't important...i thought it'd be nice to have extra performance and prettier graphics on newer games, plus, i'm safer with SM3.0 than with 2.0

i think 3dmark05 showed that the ati cards (none have 3.0) are NOT going to do as well. i heard that from someone on the boards

This is the bottom line, if you dont upgrade often, the 6xxx setup is your best bet for the future. if you upgrade once every 1 or 2 years, do whatever you feel like, it wont matter.
and SLI is kinda buggy....i'd just go for a 6800 and unlock the pipelines (i think you can do that with a vanilla and make it a GT/ultra)

and no, both cards will NOT be obsolete in the future...no one can say that, in fact, i may be completely wrong about sm3.0, but it is MY educated guess. if both would be obsolete, why buy one now? and how did my 9200 last me until now? (it came out...not to long ago, but would have been the card to have in 2000 or something)