I say stick with one video card, either a 6800GT or the X800XL. If you're willing to wait, ATi still has some dual graphics stuff to show, hopefully that'll happen soon. *tries to imagine 2xX800XL* *Droool* SLI really only gives advantages on those "SLI-Certified Games", so having a single card setup is probably the answer for you.
n7
Elite Member
- Jan 4, 2004
- 21,281
- 4
- 81
My choice would be the X800XL.
If you put two 6600GTs in there, your upgrade path is dead.
If you put one X800XL, your upgrade path is also dead.
If you get one 6800GT, your upgrade path is alive, but it will cost you alot more than it should right now.
Hence why i say buy the X800XL & sell it later when you want to buy the XxX999XTPE or whatever it is next you want.
If you put two 6600GTs in there, your upgrade path is dead.
If you put one X800XL, your upgrade path is also dead.
If you get one 6800GT, your upgrade path is alive, but it will cost you alot more than it should right now.
Hence why i say buy the X800XL & sell it later when you want to buy the XxX999XTPE or whatever it is next you want.
EightySix Four
Diamond Member
- Jul 17, 2004
- 5,122
- 52
- 91
First and foremost, ATI cards beat Nvidia cards this time around in 3dmark05.
Second. SM3 doesn't bring pretty graphics it supposedly allowed to do the same things quicker, but so is 2.0b, which in the farcry beta was faster than the 3.0 codepath.
Third, He didn't ask about 6800gt's, the 6600's are a bad choice, as even YOU said SLI is buggy.
Fourth, no card is ever obsolete, but will it be able to run playable with a fair amount of eyecandy, NO
Actually sm3.0 uses some technology that allows a texture to actually change what it's applied to...so bump mapping looks 3d, but isnt. sm3.0 uses a type of bump mapping that actually does make that object have little 3d bumps in it or whatever....i dont remember where i read it, but i read it in a few places.
and yes, 3.0 will look better. it has things that 2.0 doesnt, and it doesnt stress the cards as much. if a game is built up from 3.0, then you will see the value of having it. but, like i said many times, if you upgrade often, don't worry about it.
and last time i checked (on the 3dmark website) ALL of the high scores are set by 6800's. and they easily beat the highest x850 score. and yes, i am aware of the fact that most, if not all, of those are in SLI. but still, ATI doesnt have sli yet
and i know he didnt ask about 6800's, but it's another choice he has in buying a card.
and yes, 3.0 will look better. it has things that 2.0 doesnt, and it doesnt stress the cards as much. if a game is built up from 3.0, then you will see the value of having it. but, like i said many times, if you upgrade often, don't worry about it.
and last time i checked (on the 3dmark website) ALL of the high scores are set by 6800's. and they easily beat the highest x850 score. and yes, i am aware of the fact that most, if not all, of those are in SLI. but still, ATI doesnt have sli yet
and i know he didnt ask about 6800's, but it's another choice he has in buying a card.
actuallly, the x800xl will destroy dual 6600gts
http://www.techreport.com/reviews/2004q4/radeon-x800xl/index.x?pg=6
EightySix Four
Diamond Member
- Jul 17, 2004
- 5,122
- 52
- 91
Originally posted by: hans030390
and last time i checked (on the 3dmark website) ALL of the high scores are set by 6800's. and they easily beat the highest x850 score. and yes, i am aware of the fact that most, if not all, of those are in SLI. but still, ATI doesnt have sli yet
Oh yeah, that's fair, comparing an X850 to two 6800ultra's... real effin smart.
Why don't you use anand's benchies of NON-SLI'd cards?
if you look at that tech report review, in many games the X800XL BEATS the 6800ULTRA and your trying to get him to buy two 6600's which get beat by a 6800gt!?
Its a given that ATI will beat Nvidia in HL2, and Nvidia will dominate in Doom 3. That link is worthless. My personal feeling is that the X800xl gives more bang for the buck than either the 6600gt sli, or the 6800gt at this time. But as always, that will change in a few months.
EightySix Four
Diamond Member
- Jul 17, 2004
- 5,122
- 52
- 91
Hell, even a 6800NU can beat the 6600GT SLI in some cases. I returned my two 6600GT cards for a 6800NU and I'm glad I did. By the way, you can't unlock the pipelines on the PCIe NV41 6800NU but it's still a good deal. To answer your question, go buy a X800XL by all means. Less compatibility issues, more performance at higher resolutions, and less money (depends on where you live).
nF4 Ultra instead of SLI and the XL will be cheaper as well as just as fast and less hassle than 2 6600GTs. Unless you're a self proclaimed hardware nut/enthusiast, there's not much reason to go with SLI over a single card solution for the same (if not substantially cheaper) price, which would mean your price/performance would be even greater.
rbV5
Lifer
- Dec 10, 2000
- 12,632
- 0
- 0
Lets not just throw stuff out there. 6800 PCIe is not "unlockable", and even the unlockable AGP models don't become GT's or Ultra's by unlocking the disabled quad.
a little advice: Using "I heard" or I "read" somewhere does not make for a convincing argument in most cases, especially in an enthusuast forum that has had the SM3.0 debate going for over a year now (which followed the 2 year SM2.0 debate btw). Another important piece of advice: Don't buy today for tommorrows games, you're bound to be disappointed.
As a person who currently owns a 6600GT SLI, 6800NU SLI, and 6800GT SLI set and has tested all of the above fairly extensively, I disagree with this. I doubt there are any situations where one 6800NU beats 6600GT SLI. If there is, it's at some setting where they're both on their knees creaking along way below 30fps.
LOL- this thread is flame bait.
Some noob shows up out of nowhere and says,"I say, helpful board rats, who is better: ATI or nVidia?" and sits back and watches us dance like puppets on his strings.
Don't think I'll play.
Originally posted by: Rollo
LOL- this thread is flame bait.
Some noob shows up out of nowhere and says,"I say, helpful board rats, who is better: ATI or nVidia?" and sits back and watches us dance like puppets on his strings.
Don't think I'll play.
If you dont want to share your thoughts and knowledge is up to you, but dont criticise others, and then sit back.
I think my question is reasoneably, given that is a very hard comparision between two sli nvidia and one ati.
Only knowledge and experience from others can give a good answer.
Originally posted by: abcde
Originally posted by: Rollo
LOL- this thread is flame bait.
Some noob shows up out of nowhere and says,"I say, helpful board rats, who is better: ATI or nVidia?" and sits back and watches us dance like puppets on his strings.
Don't think I'll play.
If you dont want to share your thoughts and knowledge is up to you, but dont criticise others, and then sit back.
I think my question is reasoneably, given that is a very hard comparision between two sli nvidia and one ati.
Only knowledge and experience from others can give a good answer.
I think we all know where rollo stands on this issue. And we don't have to keep repeating ourselves just because someone doesn't want to use the search feature.
ok.
Youre right, but before going to this forum i did some research, only i couldnt get any final decision. So i was expecting help from the experience of others. I didnt expect this question to be so controversial.
Thus, i understand what you said. But ive noticed that most of the opinions given here depend on the affinity people have for nvidia or for ati. And it was this aspect that give rise for this long discussion.
If it is worthy, i decided for x800 xl.
Thanks for all the help.
Youre right, but before going to this forum i did some research, only i couldnt get any final decision. So i was expecting help from the experience of others. I didnt expect this question to be so controversial.
Thus, i understand what you said. But ive noticed that most of the opinions given here depend on the affinity people have for nvidia or for ati. And it was this aspect that give rise for this long discussion.
If it is worthy, i decided for x800 xl.
Thanks for all the help.
Originally posted by: MisterChief
What have we here! Another SM3.0 flame warrior!
ROFL, the SM3 flame warrior, I like it
. Everyone knows SM3.1 is where it's at .Originally posted by: Dman877
Originally posted by: MisterChief
What have we here! Another SM3.0 flame warrior!
ROFL, the SM3 flame warrior, I like it
No way dude- according to this thread SM2 is where it's at!
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