Should I buy an X850XT Platinum Edition?

[hootpie]

I found the ATI X850XT PE PCI-e for $199.99 - $50 MIR. I currently have a 128mb x300 PCI-e in my Dell E510 (cheesy Dell vid card). I wanted to get something cheap to run the 2405fpw I ordered.

I mainly play BF2.

Would this be a good choice or is there something better for the same price?

Also, I have a 307w PS...I searched the forums and some guy ran an X850XT PE off of a 250w without problems, so I shouldn't need a new PS right?

 

[Munky]

So the final price would be $149? If so, then it's a great card for the money.

 

[professor1942]

I don't think those cards have HDR support. I definitely wouldn't get it if that's the case, but maybe I am wrong.

 

[hootpie]

Originally posted by: munky
So the final price would be $149? If so, then it's a great card for the money.

~$160 after tax and shipping.


Professor: I'm not big into HDR anyway...I just need something that'll help me run BF2/HL at higher resolutions.

 

[Munky]

They do not have HDR, but in a card of that range it would mostly be a paper feature anyways. I'd like to know how many people with a 6800gt or a 7600gt run Oblivion with HDR enabled, and at what settings.

 

[professor1942]

Yeah that card will rock BF2/HL2.

 

[hootpie]

Oh, will this card run Vista ok? That's a weird question, but I want to be able to run Aero

 

[dfloyd]

Correct HDR in that price range is a non issue and compared to your current card that would be a very nice upgrade. If your looking to spend around $150 your going to be hard pressed to find anything close to beating that value friend.

So imo yes definatly upgrade.

 

[JerYnkFan]

Originally posted by: hootpie
I found the ATI X850XT PE PCI-e for $199.99 - $50 MIR. I currently have a 128mb x300 PCI-e in my Dell E510 (cheesy Dell vid card). I wanted to get something cheap to run the 2405fpw I ordered.

I mainly play BF2.

Would this be a good choice or is there something better for the same price?

Also, I have a 307w PS...I searched the forums and some guy ran an X850XT PE off of a 250w without problems, so I shouldn't need a new PS right?

Where did you find that deal?

 

[Cheesetogo]

Originally posted by: hootpie
I found the ATI X850XT PE PCI-e for $199.99 - $50 MIR. I currently have a 128mb x300 PCI-e in my Dell E510 (cheesy Dell vid card). I wanted to get something cheap to run the 2405fpw I ordered.

I mainly play BF2.

Would this be a good choice or is there something better for the same price?

Also, I have a 307w PS...I searched the forums and some guy ran an X850XT PE off of a 250w without problems, so I shouldn't need a new PS right?

A 300 watt dell psu should be plenty. That's what they put in the 8400, and the x850xt was an option if I remember correctly.

 

[RussianSensation]

It's DX9 and has 256mb of ram. Should run Aero interface without issues.

 

[hootpie]

www.microcenter.com

 

[morgash]

actually the x850 only has marginal HDR support anyway. it doesnt support floating point filtering which makes HDR unavailable in most games. for instance my x800xl in my backup comp doesnt support HDR in oblivion. Even so it runs oblivion at 1280x960 perfectly at a smooth 30-40 FPS with 2xAA at my current OC. That would lead me to beleive an x850 would do even better. for 150 i would say buy it and never look back man

 

[v8envy]

Just got in on that very same deal. You can't beat it. I was waiting and waiting and waiting for the 7900s to become available, and just cracked.

Bloom + AA is >>>> HDR + jaggies, at least IMO.

Just tried out all my games. Oblivion is a whole new game. I cranked all the settings, so my frame rates were in the mid 20s to 50s, but it was absolutely stunning. BF2 -- well, you'll orgasm so much you will fly like a noob. COH/COV is a solid 40 fps with all but highest water detail. Guild wars -- well, I spectated a PvP battle, and the frame rates never dipped below 40.

For $150, don't bother thinking. Just buy. This is the XT PE for crying out loud. If you hate it, ebay it for $300.

edit: this is the ONLY card with a prayer of driving the 2405fpw. The 7600GT does look competitive, but the X850 pulls away at the higher native res of your display. If this doesn't do it, you're looking at the $300 and up cards. Most likely up.

 

[hootpie]

Turns out it wont physically fit in my Dell E510/5150 unless I take a dremel tool to it and remove a portion of the back.

 

[jagec]

Just thought I'd post in here to mention that I just installed an X850xt pe in my Dell 5150, after a bit of modding.

Turns out it's a beast of an overclocker...stock cooling, crappy dell PSU, and I get 600MHz core, artifact free.

It almost does 610MHz, but gets an artifact in ATItool after 10 minutes or so. The fan doesn't seem to be speeding up at all, though, so it might be a thermal issue.

OCing RAM now.

 

[Nextman916]

get the evga 7600gt which is now $150AR at newegg. It has a ton more features and better video.

 

[akshayt]

Take a 7600GT for 150$

By the way I use patch 1.3 with 6600gt in FarCry

 

[akshayt]

how about it?