X1800XT 256MB?

[exitous]

I was just checking out newegg and I saw this for $349:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814161171

Its clocked the same as the normal X1800XT, but it has less ram. I know ATI is supposed to be releasing the X1900XL soon, but everyone is saying that it will perform like the X1900 AIW and that performance is kind of terrible really based on the anandtech review where the X1800XT beats it badly in everything:

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2691&p=11

So has anyone reviewed this card? It could even drop in price when the 7900 series is released if the rumors are true about a pricewar and then it could turn out to be pretty good price/performance wise.. if it is similar in speed to the 512MB version.

 

[RussianSensation]

It should be similar in speed to 512mb version except for cases in 1600x1200 4AA/16AF I would say. It's also rumoured to drop to $299 price level. This should be faster than 7900GT except that 90nm 7900GT might be an overclockers wet dream. Just wait it out 1 more week.

 

[exitous]

I'm planning to wait until the 7900 cards are out before deciding, but I do find it strange that no one has reviewed this card (as far as I know) when it could have great performance. I guess being so late really ruined everyones perception of the X1800XT series even though it is actually pretty fast.

 

[exitous]

So now the 7900GT cards are out, the Sapphire OEM X1800XT 256 at newegg is $319 and I still don't know what to buy since no one has ever reviewed X1800XT 256MB cards.

Has anyone ever seen a review at all of these cards?

I know about the overclocked XFX 7900GT review that shows it against a X1800XT 512 ( http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1935807,00.asp ), but after reading the XFX messageboard complaints about their previous overclocked cards I think I'll stay away from that. The other 2 'factory overclocked' cards I have tried in the past have also had issues, so really I'd prefer to stay away from overclocked cards entirely.

 

[Extelleron]

A 7900GT @ 550/1630 (XFX Extreme) is nearly as fast as the 7800GTX 512, which mops the floor with the X1800XT.

 

[RussianSensation]

If you don't want a preoverclocked 7900GT card, then X1800XT is certainly better. Since stock 7900GT = 7800GTX and X1800XT beats 7800GTX it's the card I'd go with. However, if you do decide to go overclocked, get the XFX card instead. It'll be quieter too.

 

[exitous]

I ended up getting the OEM X1900XT at Newegg for $449. I thought about the XFX 7900GT, but I really don't want to deal with overclocking problems again. I already have a 6600GT that has to be clocked down from its factory overclock or it causes random black screens/reboots and the 6800 I had before that with its stuttering problem wasn't any better. I guess its rare since no one else seems to have problems with factory overclocked cards around here.. maybe I just have bad luck.