What is the status of the 2900XT?

[ArchAngel777]

Ok, so we have reviews when the card first was released. The performance numbers varied significantly from site to site. Generally the card sucked and was laughable.

Since that time, there has been one updated review showing the 2900XT in a better light, but we can't just trust one website on the numbers. Where is AT's retest? Where are all the reviews on the web?

Am I the only one that is finding it very strange that there is so much confusion regarding this card? Some websites have this card performing great, others have it's performance pathetic. Different drivers or brand bias is the only reasonable explanation for it... But there are not enough *current* reviews to know the truth in the matter...

Just a rant, but I wish AT would retest the card with their latest driver release.

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: ArchAngel777
Ok, so we have reviews when the card first was released. The performance numbers varied significantly from site to site. Generally the card sucked and was laughable.

Since that time, there has been one updated review showing the 2900XT in a better light, but we can't just trust one website on the numbers. Where is AT's retest? Where are all the reviews on the web?

Am I the only one that is finding it very strange that there is so much confusion regarding this card? Some websites have this card performing great, others have it's performance pathetic. Different drivers or brand bias is the only reasonable explanation for it... But there are not enough *current* reviews to know the truth in the matter...

Just a rant, but I wish AT would retest the card with their latest driver release.

I would guess that its a lot of work to retest a card every time a new driver releases. They might be waiting for a few releases down the road. And the 2900XT could use a few more releases. The more time passes, the better the card "should" perform if the driver team can get it pushing pixels.

 

[Wreckage]

Originally posted by: ArchAngel777
Ok, so we have reviews when the card first was released. The performance numbers varied significantly from site to site. Generally the card sucked and was laughable.

Since that time, there has been one updated review showing the 2900XT in a better light, but we can't just trust one website on the numbers. Where is AT's retest? Where are all the reviews on the web?

Am I the only one that is finding it very strange that there is so much confusion regarding this card? Some websites have this card performing great, others have it's performance pathetic. Different drivers or brand bias is the only reasonable explanation for it... But there are not enough *current* reviews to know the truth in the matter...

Just a rant, but I wish AT would retest the card with their latest driver release.

Hardocp retested the card and it did not do so well.
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2060058&enterthread=y

 

[LOUISSSSS]

its funny how most other websites rate it between the 640 and gtx and HardOCP rates it below the 320... fishyfishy

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
its funny how most other websites rate it between the 640 and gtx and HardOCP rates it below the 320... fishyfishy

No kidding. The 2900XT isn't a bad performer at all. Its a hot, power hungry card to be true, but honestly, the people shopping for high end video cards aren't particularly concerned about power draw.

 

[yacoub]

But they may indeed care about noise and heat, especially if they're enthusiasts...

 

[ArchAngel777]

Originally posted by: yacoub
But they may indeed care about noise and heat, especially if they're enthusiasts...

Ehh... Doubt it.

If you are into buying a high end card, noise and power consumption mean nothing to you, relatively speaking of course. If it were to sound like a 747, then I am guessing it would be a big deal, but being as both of the high end cards from ATI/NV are similar, I DON'T think that is a concern here.

That is sort of like the guys who claim they go to hooters just for the hot wings... Whatever, maybe ya do, but you are probably the only one who does and you might just be on the other side of the fence if that is the truth.

 

[bfdd]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
its funny how most other websites rate it between the 640 and gtx and HardOCP rates it below the 320... fishyfishy

Except there's nothing in the review that should make you assume it's fishy unless you're going to straight out say they're LYING. They had to give the 2900xt the EDGE turn DOWN settings and it ran on par with the gts 320 for the most part and was beat by the 640 gts consistently. I'm no ATI hater, I would of bought an r600 if they came out around the same time as the 8800 GTX and performed as well, but right now it looks like a frickin joke and I had high hopes.

 

[apoppin]

i'll give you my impressions this weekend

still scheduled for Fri ... my Gigabyte P35-DS3P and Vista Home Premium 32-bit arrived today, my two Seagate 250GB 'Cudas for RAID are to arrive tomorrow


and i am wondering if i should ditch the PC6400 and go got for this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?Item=N82E16820148069

$90 after MIR is damn cheap and i guess i can under-clock it to run with my Corsair XMS if i feel i want to test Vista 32-bit with 4-GB RAM

 

[ND40oz]

I'd like to see the testing done in Vista, everyone knows nVidias drivers are crap for Vista ($3k worth of quadros right here that don't work in SLI) yet my X1950XTX Crossfire setup has worked like a champ days following Vistas release. I don't care about XP benches anymore, I bought DX10 cards to work with Vista and that's what I want to see benched. Even if we can't do many DX10 benches since the games aren't out, atleast do the latest games in Vista, not XP. Oh well, my 2 2900s are on the way, I'll figure out myself how good they are...

 

[ArchAngel777]

Originally posted by: ND40oz
I'd like to see the testing done in Vista, everyone knows nVidias drivers are crap for Vista ($3k worth of quadros right here that don't work in SLI) yet my X1950XTX Crossfire setup has worked like a champ days following Vistas release. I don't care about XP benches anymore, I bought DX10 cards to work with Vista and that's what I want to see benched. Even if we can't do many DX10 benches since the games aren't out, atleast do the latest games in Vista, not XP. Oh well, my 2 2900s are on the way, I'll figure out myself how good they are...

If you don't mind, would you be willing to run a few tests? I am mostly interested in the single configuration performance.

 

[ND40oz]

Originally posted by: ArchAngel777

Originally posted by: ND40oz
I'd like to see the testing done in Vista, everyone knows nVidias drivers are crap for Vista ($3k worth of quadros right here that don't work in SLI) yet my X1950XTX Crossfire setup has worked like a champ days following Vistas release. I don't care about XP benches anymore, I bought DX10 cards to work with Vista and that's what I want to see benched. Even if we can't do many DX10 benches since the games aren't out, atleast do the latest games in Vista, not XP. Oh well, my 2 2900s are on the way, I'll figure out myself how good they are...

If you don't mind, would you be willing to run a few tests? I am mostly interested in the single configuration performance.

Yeah, not a prob, the one card should be here on the 15th, second one on the 19th. They'll be displacing the 1950xtxs in my bad axe 2. What do you want to see tested?

 

[schneiderguy]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
its funny how most other websites rate it between the 640 and gtx and HardOCP rates it below the 320... fishyfishy

HardOCP's reviews are 100% BS

Notice how they were the only ones that gave the 8600gts a good review? They were the only ones who gave the 2900xt an extremely bad review. Then they say their results are different from other sites because they don't use canned benchmarks :roll: Surrrrrreeeeeeeeeee

 

[ArchAngel777]

Originally posted by: ND40oz

Originally posted by: ArchAngel777

Originally posted by: ND40oz
I'd like to see the testing done in Vista, everyone knows nVidias drivers are crap for Vista ($3k worth of quadros right here that don't work in SLI) yet my X1950XTX Crossfire setup has worked like a champ days following Vistas release. I don't care about XP benches anymore, I bought DX10 cards to work with Vista and that's what I want to see benched. Even if we can't do many DX10 benches since the games aren't out, atleast do the latest games in Vista, not XP. Oh well, my 2 2900s are on the way, I'll figure out myself how good they are...

If you don't mind, would you be willing to run a few tests? I am mostly interested in the single configuration performance.

Yeah, not a prob, the one card should be here on the 15th, second one on the 19th. They'll be displacing the 1950xtxs in my bad axe 2. What do you want to see tested?

Oh, the standard, you know... FEAR has a nice built in test, so that would be a good test. Not sure what else... More than anything, I am trying to get a feel if new drivers have effected the performance or not.

Maybe you could this. Maybe tested it with the origonal drivers(older set) run the benchmark, then update to the newest driver set and run the test again. I would be REAL interested to see if the numbers go up and by how much.

 

[Wreckage]

Originally posted by: schneiderguy

Notice how they were the only ones that gave the 8600gts a good review?

Not really most sites gave it a better than average score and compared to early reviews of the HD2600 it is starting to look like a good card.

They were the only ones who gave the 2900xt an extremely bad review.

Again, no. True many sites were more polite in their opinion of the card, but most panned it for it's problems.

Then they say their results are different from other sites because they don't use canned benchmarks :roll: Surrrrrreeeeeeeeeee

So you want every site to do the same thing. Kind of defeats the purpose of having more than one site.

 

[ArchAngel777]

Originally posted by: Wreckage

Originally posted by: schneiderguy

Notice how they were the only ones that gave the 8600gts a good review?

Not really most sites gave it a better than average score and compared to early reviews of the HD2600 it is starting to look like a good card.

They were the only ones who gave the 2900xt an extremely bad review.

Again, no. True many sites were more polite in their opinion of the card, but most panned it for it's problems.

Then they say their results are different from other sites because they don't use canned benchmarks :roll: Surrrrrreeeeeeeeeee

So you want every site to do the same thing. Kind of defeats the purpose of having more than one site.

I dissagree... It might defeat some purposes, but not all. One 'Good' purpose for there to be multiple independents tests done with the same tests is that you can easily spot the reviews that either erred, falsified the review. The more sites that test the better. Of course I DO agree that each site should be entitled to review exactly how they want and would encourage that in ADDITION to the normal tests.

 

[Chadder007]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
its funny how most other websites rate it between the 640 and gtx and HardOCP rates it below the 320... fishyfishy

Yeah, that is rather strange how low the numbers are that their 2900 is pushing.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: ND40oz
I'd like to see the testing done in Vista, everyone knows nVidias drivers are crap for Vista ($3k worth of quadros right here that don't work in SLI) yet my X1950XTX Crossfire setup has worked like a champ days following Vistas release. I don't care about XP benches anymore, I bought DX10 cards to work with Vista and that's what I want to see benched. Even if we can't do many DX10 benches since the games aren't out, atleast do the latest games in Vista, not XP. Oh well, my 2 2900s are on the way, I'll figure out myself how good they are...

i will also be testing in Vista ... i don't think HD2900xt will run with Win2K drivers

if i really like it, i may get a second ... or if i hate it, it goes in FS/T for what i paid for it

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: ND40oz
I'd like to see the testing done in Vista, everyone knows nVidias drivers are crap for Vista ($3k worth of quadros right here that don't work in SLI) yet my X1950XTX Crossfire setup has worked like a champ days following Vistas release. I don't care about XP benches anymore, I bought DX10 cards to work with Vista and that's what I want to see benched. Even if we can't do many DX10 benches since the games aren't out, atleast do the latest games in Vista, not XP. Oh well, my 2 2900s are on the way, I'll figure out myself how good they are...

i will also be testing in Vista ... i don't think HD2900xt will run with Win2K drivers

if i really like it, i may get a second ... or if i hate it, it goes in FS/T for what i paid for it

What if it goes down to $320 everywhere else like newegg, etc if you decide to sell it because you don't like it ?

 

[swtethan]

what happened to your "upgrade plan" apoppin? lol

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: swtethan
what happened to your "upgrade plan" apoppin? lol

excuse me?!?

this IS my upgrade path - exactly as i spelled it out it my earlier posts and threads .... buy AGP x1950p ... use it in ASrock MB with C2D and DDR2 ... then upgrade to xfire MB and buy a GTS or HDxt

the *only* thing that changed was my timeline .. when i got my 'raise', i no longer needed to wait - or compromise much on HW
==============================

Originally posted by: pcslookout

Originally posted by: apoppin

if i really like it, i may get a second ... or if i hate it, it goes in FS/T for what i paid for it

What if it goes down to $320 everywhere else like newegg, etc if you decide to sell it because you don't like it ?

you mean like on Tuesday?

 

[Bateluer]

There are a lot of fishy benchmarks concerning the 2900XT. Several websites show the 2900XT showing dismal, sub X1950XTX scores in NWN2, but I get double what I did in my old X1900XT, even running on higher settings and resolutions.

Edit - Also, every driver update for the 2900XT, to include the betas, has improved the performance of the card. The 7.6 Cats will be out in a few weeks, and will undoubtedly bring more improvements. I don't know what the problem at AMD was, perhaps there was chaos in the buyout, but the R600s definitely needed more fine tuning in the driver department.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: swtethan
what happened to your "upgrade plan" apoppin? lol

excuse me?!?

this IS my upgrade path - exactly as i spelled it out it my earlier posts and threads .... buy AGP x1950p ... use it in ASrock MB with C2D and DDR2 ... then upgrade to xfire MB and buy a GTS or HDxt

the *only* thing that changed was my timeline .. when i got my 'raise', i no longer needed to wait - or compromise much on HW
==============================

Originally posted by: pcslookout

Originally posted by: apoppin

if i really like it, i may get a second ... or if i hate it, it goes in FS/T for what i paid for it

What if it goes down to $320 everywhere else like newegg, etc if you decide to sell it because you don't like it ?

you mean like on Tuesday?

No I mean like it goes down to $320 everywhere.

 

[videopho]

Originally posted by: apoppin
i'll give you my impressions this weekend

still scheduled for Fri ... my Gigabyte P35-DS3P and Vista Home Premium 32-bit arrived today, my two Seagate 250GB 'Cudas for RAID are to arrive tomorrow


and i am wondering if i should ditch the PC6400 and go got for this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?Item=N82E16820148069

$90 after MIR is damn cheap and i guess i can under-clock it to run with my Corsair XMS if i feel i want to test Vista 32-bit with 4-GB RAM

Don't be a wimp...LOL
Go for these:

Ballistix Tracer LED

Well you missed out on the sale few weeks ago, anyway, where it was like $125 (AR).

And get the Vista 64 Premium.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: pcslookout

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: swtethan
what happened to your "upgrade plan" apoppin? lol

excuse me?!?

this IS my upgrade path - exactly as i spelled it out it my earlier posts and threads .... buy AGP x1950p ... use it in ASrock MB with C2D and DDR2 ... then upgrade to xfire MB and buy a GTS or HDxt

the *only* thing that changed was my timeline .. when i got my 'raise', i no longer needed to wait - or compromise much on HW
==============================

Originally posted by: pcslookout

Originally posted by: apoppin

if i really like it, i may get a second ... or if i hate it, it goes in FS/T for what i paid for it

What if it goes down to $320 everywhere else like newegg, etc if you decide to sell it because you don't like it ?

you mean like on Tuesday?

No I mean like it goes down to $320 everywhere.

so ... again... you think it will be on sale for $320 this Tuesday when i sell mine?
... that is 5 days from now ... i will know by then

. . . and videopho *forget* 64-bit Vista for me ... there is ZERO advantage for a gamer and headaches i don't care to experience