X1800 XL owners

[Zenoth]

I'd like to know ...

1) Are you using ATi's reference air cooling ? If not, which one ?
2) What are your GPU Idle & Load temperatures ?
3) Have you tried to over-clock Core and/or Memory frequencies ? If so, at which frequencies ? And is it stable ?
4) Have you done one or more benchmarks using Future Mark's 3DMark01/03/05/06 ? Which drivers are you using ? And if so, could you please post your compare link(s) ?
5) How's your PC Case/Tower ? How many fans ? Is it air-cooled or water-cooled ?
6) Which brand is it ? Built By ATi ? PowerColor ? Sapphire ? HIS ? Another brand ?

In my case ...

1) No. I'm using Zalman's VF700-ALCu.

2) Idles between 45ºC to 47ºC, and between 55ºC to 60ºC at load (although 65ºC+ is extremely rare, it usually happens when my room temperature gets hot and humid by such summer days). The mentioned temperatures are according to ATi Tool 0.25 Beta 14. And, as of now, my VF700 fan spins at 100% speed (12V line).

3) Yes. Currently at 576 Mhz Core, 576 Mhz Memory, at temperatures mentioned above. No artifacts. 100% stable in games and benchmarks (so far). I like the over-clocking potential of it so far, and I'm certain I could go higher on the Core especially. As far as voltages are concerned, I've increased VGPU to 1.100 (from 1.075, being the default). Everything else is set at default.

4) Yes, with ATi's Catalyst 6.5. In 3DMark05 and 06 so far. Here's a link for the 05 results (8534): http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm05=2044765

5) A simple, generic Case. With reference AMD's cooling, PSU's fan, and one seperate Case fan. There is no front in-take fan. I'm currently thinking about getting a new Case. The one I'm using is at least 2 years-old, and a change is due.

6) Built By ATi

I'm planning to get a better Case, and I'm looking at the Thermaltake Soprano at the moment. I'll stay within air-cooling solutions, and I need to watch out the prices since I have a budget for a Case. Well, if you'd like to add "points" other than the subjects concerned by #1 to #6, than please do so. I'm posting this to get some more information and get X1800 XL's consumers' pulse. How it peforms, how stable is it, in which conditions is it being used/over-clocked. Etc.

And perhaps it might provide information to potential buyers, who knows.

So, what about you ?

 

[SynthDude2001]

I'm interested to see the responses to this thread...I just sold my 6800GT and I'm looking for a cheap X1800XT/XL, and the 512MB XL for $219 at ZZF looks pretty tempting if I can get it near XT speeds...plus I think it's even single slot (which would be a plus for me as long as it didn't overheat).

 

[Zenoth]

Usually, the XL will be able to reach the XT's Core frequency (625 Mhz). That Core can easily take 1.250V to 1.300V, but higher than that and it seems to start showing unstability. I haven't tried doing it myself so far (highest I've tried as "stable" on the Core is as it is at the moment, which is 576 Mhz, which by itself is still an increase of 76 Mhz over the original frequency, offering performance very similar to the XT).

The "problem", however (or should I say limitation) with the XL is the Memory. They (ATi) decided to slow it down to 495 Mhz (sometimes it does show as 500 Mhz, but usually the real default is actually 495 Mhz). That's a huge decrease, compared to the XT's default 750 Mhz Memory. And the highest Memory frequency I've seen on a stable OC'ed XL Memory was 630 Mhz, with a significant voltage boost as well.

 

[thilanliyan]

1)I'm using watercooling with aluminum ramsinks and a fan blowing on the VRM (red coloured) heatsink. Without the fan blowing on the VRM heatsink they were reaching over 71 degrees and that was too hot. Now they only reach about 60 degrees.
2)Idle is between 42-46degrees depending on ambient temperature. Load doesn't go above 56 degrees and that's when the ambient is high.
3)Core is at 675MHz and the memory is at 600MHz. The memory doesn't seem to clock well. The card was actually able to hit these speeds on air cooling but the temperatures got too high.
4)-------------
5)Case is the Antec SuperLanboy...very nice case. A bit tight though with the watercooling involved cause I use very stiff 1/2inch tubing. Only my vid card is watercooled cause the CPU runs cool enough with a Thermaltake BigTyphoon.
6)Card is ATI branded.

Overclocking is a bit tricky I think. The card was unstable as soon as I went above 1.25v at 675MHz core. Out of curiosity I dropped the voltage to 1.225v and the card is completely stable still at 675MHz. The memory doesn't clock well no matter how much voltage I give it. Apparently using ATI Overclocker you get higher speeds but the timings are relaxed and I haven't gotten an answer to whether it's the timings or MHz that matter for gaming, so I dunno.

Aside from that, I absolutely LOVE the card. If I had the money at the time I would have bought an X1800XT but hey I got mine clocked faster (on the core at least) anyway. Plays every game I throw at it very well, even Oblivion, which is what I play most right now. Forgot to add, only game I tried that it struggled a bit was Tomb Raider Legends with the next-gen content on, but it was still playable.

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
I'm interested to see the responses to this thread...I just sold my 6800GT and I'm looking for a cheap X1800XT/XL, and the 512MB XL for $219 at ZZF looks pretty tempting if I can get it near XT speeds...plus I think it's even single slot (which would be a plus for me as long as it didn't overheat).

I'd say spend the extra and get an X1800XT instead cause if you're gonna overclock the X1800XL, aftermarket cooling is almost a must so adding that, you'll be pretty close to the price of an X1800XT.

 

[Zenoth]

But, after-market cooling is also a must to over-clock an XT, he'll eventually spend more money on an XT + after-market cooling, compared with after-market cooling plus an XL instead. Also, personally, if I knew I could get something else than a X1800 XL, then I'd avoid the XT within the X1800 series. Instead, if you want an XT, get the X1900. They are more expensive indeed, but they are superb over-clockers, and those extra Pixel Shader Pipelines will surely provide a better overall performance increase combined with over-clocking.

My take on this is ... if you want one card within the X1800 series, get the XL. If not, get one of the X1900 one. Even the X1900 AIW is tempting, well, to me at least. It's basically the "XL" of the X1900 series, except it has those AIW features. An OC'ed X1900 AIW would always perform better than any OC'ed X1800 XL, clock-per-clock comparison wise, since the X1900 AIW also features those extra Pixel Shader Pipelines.

 

[j00k]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
I'm interested to see the responses to this thread...I just sold my 6800GT and I'm looking for a cheap X1800XT/XL, and the 512MB XL for $219 at ZZF looks pretty tempting if I can get it near XT speeds...plus I think it's even single slot (which would be a plus for me as long as it didn't overheat).

the one at zzf's actually has dual slot cooling (identical to x1800xt).

 

[Zenoth]

Ze bumping

 

[Zenoth]

Bumpers 4 De WeEn !