video card issues

[farmerjoe09]

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=14-136-105&depa=1 ok thats the video card i want to get and my friend wants to get this card http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-131-232&depa=0
and i noticed that his card(9600xt) has a Clock Speed 500MHz Memory speed 680MHz
and my card(9800pro) only has Clock Speed 380MHz Memory speed 680MHz so well i know that my card is better but im just not sure how or y his card can be cheaper and have a faster clock speed idk if it has something to do with rendering pipelines or what but plz put your input
:beer: -farmer joe

 

[Marsumane]

Basically the main difference is the archetecture. Your card has 8 pixel pipelines, his only has 4. Think of pixel pipelines as a multiplier of clockspeed.

Also, your card has a 256bit memory bus, while his has a 128bit memory bus. Think of memory bus as a multiplier of the memory's clockspeed.

This is WAY over simplifying things and isnt EXACTLY how it works, but for your case, its a good start on how to begin to understand how other elements in the archetecture add to the final framerate. Here is a link to back up my point:
http://www20.graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031229/vga-charts-09.html

 

[Cerb]

There isn't really much over-simplifying to do.
One card has 4 pixel pipelines and a 128-bit memory interface, and the other card has 8 pipelines and a 256-bit memory interface.
So the 9800 Pro has, in theory, has 100% more memory bandwidth 2 64-bit channels vs. 4 64-bit channels, at the same speed), and 50% more processing power (4*500Mhz vs. 8*380Mhz)), than the 9600 XT.
The 9600 XT is far less for the money.

If you're up for overclocking, get a Sapphire 9800 Pro from Newegg, as you'll be quite likely to get a XT that has been underclocked.

 

[Fern]

Just google up some benchies on these cards (maybe even can find some on the games you play), you'll a notice a big difference on FPS between the two. That should convince anyone. IMHO, thats waaay better than trying to figure which is better by looking at specs on paper.