refurb Radeon X800 XL AGP or new Radeon X850 Pro AGP = $119

[EvanAdams]

Originally posted by: hansmuff

Originally posted by: Glendor
Any way to tell if the AGP version of the X850 Pro is VIVO?

Yes. Click on the 850 on ATIs site and you'll see under features:
S-video and composite video input and output (VIVO)

And this is important because: X800/X850 Pro VIVO to XT PE Bios Mod

 

[draganjr]

Do you think all X850 Pro come with the yellow connector?

 

[SilverTrine]

I was wavering because of $15 shipping and tax but its a better deal now. Got a x800xl to keep my old AGP system going for another year or so.

 

[roemer21]

Just ordered the X800XL free shipping to Illinois and $113.05 after code. Looks like a great deal, and should be the upgrade I have been looking for over my 5900XT that I"ve had for 2 years now. If anyone is looking to buy my 5900XT, drop me a price.

 

[bitt3n]

Originally posted by: hansmuff
I do recommend a Artic Cooling Silencer 5 Rev.2 at least for the 850, much quieter and cooler. $20 at svc.com.

does that work with the AGP version? the site makes no mention of AGP v. PCI-E...

direct link: http://svcompucycle.stores.yahoo.net/avc-at5-r2.html

 

[ussfletcher]

How do these compare with a 6800xt?

 

[EvanAdams]

look at the hardforum link above. it has comparisons re speed

 

[rafa12]

Just bought the x800 xl for $119, free shipping. Will be replacing an ATI Radeon 8500 64mb.... I've been waiting for just the right deal.

 

[EvanAdams]

 

[Sonikku]

Originally posted by: ussfletcher
How do these compare with a 6800xt?

The X800XL kicks the crap out of it.

 

[ItsAlive]

How does the x800xl stack up to an x1600 pro?

 

[Insomniator]

x800xl is faster, the 1600pro is like a 9800xt with new features.. I guess the x1600 is better if you want sm 3.0 effects at 11 fps

 

[ItsAlive]

Originally posted by: Insomniator
x800xl is faster, the 1600pro is like a 9800xt with new features.. I guess the x1600 is better if you want sm 3.0 effects at 11 fps

LMAO.....well i guess this would be a killer deal since the x1600 pro AGP card is going for like $120 or so new.

 

[EvanAdams]

Originally posted by: ItsAlive

Originally posted by: Insomniator
would be a killer deal

?? Would be ??

 

[EvanAdams]

Do people think the x850pro is worth softmoding to a X850 XT PE? I've never done anything like that but at that speed it would be competitive to a 7800gs w/o the sm 3.0 and some other technical thing right?

 

[eLiu]

Does ATi still have that trade-in program?

 

[quique]

Yes

http://shop.ati.com/tradeup.asp

 

[bitt3n]

Originally posted by: EvanAdams
Do people think the x850pro is worth softmoding to a X850 XT PE? I've never done anything like that but at that speed it would be competitive to a 7800gs w/o the sm 3.0 and some other technical thing right?

I would also like to know the answer to this... pay $20 more than X800XL, then flash bios, seems like a good idea

 

[mezrah]

I'm in for the x850 pro. Here's to hoping i'll get one when they come in next week.

..will be a nice boost over my nvidia 6600...

 

[Crashcart]

I ordered an X850 Pro to replace a GeForce 4 Ti4400 (ancient, I know) after stumbling acorss this thread. However, I have no experience with flashing BIOSes or unlocking pipes or whatnot. I'd like to get the most out of whichever card I buy and I've read that the X800 XL is better out of the box than an X850 Pro (before flashing, etc). Would you recommend I stick with my X850 order or cancel and just go with an X800 XL? The refurbished bit doesn't bother me and I'm sure either will be a night and day difference between what I'm running now, but if I got an X850 I'd probably want to unlock/flash it knowing that it otherwise does not perform as well as the X800 XL option.

Thanks in advance for your input!

 

[blackrain]

How do these compare to comparable nvidia models....or let me rephrase: what are nvidia's comparable models and how do these stand up?

 

[Crashcart]

Originally posted by: blackrain
How do these compare to comparable nvidia models....or let me rephrase: what are nvidia's comparable models and how do these stand up?

According to the above Hard OCP forums (Video Buying Guide or something like that) link, they both seem to compare to the 6800 GT's, with the X850 Pro at stock being a little worse than the Nvidia card, and the X800 XL apparently being on par or slightly better. However, you can apparently unlock another quad on the X850 Pros making them equivalent to an X850 XT PE which is [significantly?] better than the X800 XL.

As you can tell by my current video card, I've been out of the market for some time.. But a little research since I found this thread indicates that these models compare to the 6800GT line of Nvidia cards.

I guess I shouldn't worry about the possibly neglible performance differences by unlocking pipes and whatnot since it's a huge step up from a 4 series Nvidia card, but.. Should I attempt the unlock the pipes or just go with a guaranteed 16 pipe card (the 800 XL) that performs better than a base X850 Pro and be happy with it in stock conditions? Currently ATI hasn't confirmed my cancellation request on the X850 so I don't want to order an X800 XL yet and risk spending $250 and getting two cards.. But I'm leaning towards the X800 now that I've been mulling it over since last night.

 

[bitt3n]

flashing the bios isn't hard, but if for some reason the card can't be flashed, it's a waste of money to buy the X850 Pro

 

[blackrain]

I found this interesting website:

http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=202&card2=52

 

[Crashcart]

Originally posted by: bitt3n
flashing the bios isn't hard, but if for some reason the card can't be flashed, it's a waste of money to buy the X850 Pro

Thanks for the advice. I already placed a cancellation request for the X850, but I haven't received a reply from CS yet. Maybe I'll attempt to cancel my cancellation request and try my luck with the X850..

I suppose my concern is with doing some damage to the card or not being able to reverse whatever I mangle up in the process of flashing. I've heard the fan can stop working when flashed to an X850 XT PE or that the extra quad might not work and if you're not careful when attempting to return to the old BIOS, you could inactivate the wrong quad--effectively giving you only 8 pipes. Maybe these are just horror stories told to scare off wary overclocker/unlockers? Also, if I'm going to unlock/OC the X850 Pro I've read that an aftermarket cooling solution is almost a must. Is this true?

This would be my first forray into the ATI video card market, so I'm in unfamiliar territory all around. Are the rumors/horror stories of ATI card incompatibilities to be believed? Read on another forum somewhere about the X850 Pro's not working with Battlefied 2 (which I don't play, but makes me wonder if there are other compatability problems with the card.)

Originally posted by: blackrain
I found this interesting website:

http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=202&card2=52

Cool site.. Makes the X850 Pro -> XT PE look even more tempting. Curse my indecisiveness!