x1900GT vs. x1900XT for Oblivion and beyond...

[sc2071]

Right now I have a PowerColor X800GTO and I am looking to upgrade. So I see I can get a ATI branded x1900 GT card for around $200 or an ATI x1900 XT for $315. Oblivion benchmarks for both cards seem about the same, perhaps giving a little edge to the XT... however what really concerns me is the future and the fact that the GT only has 12 pixel pipelines and the XT has 16. Now I don't know jack about what a pixel pipeline really does, but I know that DX10 is going to require a lot more than current cards have to offer, so more is better... I real question is is 4 more pipelines worth another $100+? Ideally, I would like the card to last me 2 years before I feel I'm getting getting sluggish performance again.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[Nightmare225]

Could you wait for R600 or G80, they will be much faster and you'll have saved a quite a bit of money by hen. Your card isn't that bad, just keep palying with it until G80 or R600 roll around.

 

[CrazyGamer]

I think this review may help answer some of your questions on performance between the two cards:

Xbit Labs X1900GT Review

If I had to chose I would opt for the XT.

 

[sc2071]

Hmm, I'm also wondering if the X1800 XT 256MB could be a contender as well.

Affordability isn't an issue as much as justifying the expense to myself and my wife!

 

[morgash]

the x1900xt is going to be WAY out ahead of the x1900gt in future games especially. It has 4 more pixel pipes to allow it to process a good deal more pixels per clock (4 actually but the two killers are it has TWELVE more pixel shaders, which are gonna show their true muscle in shader heavy games. It also has 512mb of video RAM. This is going to allow you to play at higher resolutions at higher settings that the x1900gt or the x1800xt 256 can ever think about. Now, if you play at 1280x1024 and dont plan on upgrading then the x1900xt is probably more muscle than the extra 100$ is worth. The x1900gt is going to be faster than the x1800xt though because while having 4 less pixel pipes it has 20 more pixel shaders (x1800xt=16pp,16ps x1900gt=12pp,36ps). At low resses with less eye candy i would pick the x1900gt, its gonna be more future proof than the x1800. At higher resses or if you want to guarantee lots of eye candy for the foreseeable future, the x1900xt will be your best friend.

Morgash

 

[Cooler]

I would wait ~4 weeks if your going ATI for two reasons
A. You could get X1950XTX for ~$400
B. X1900XT will drop in price.

 

[hmorphone]

Originally posted by: morgash
At low resses with less eye candy i would pick the x1900gt, its gonna be more future proof than the x1800. At higher resses or if you want to guarantee lots of eye candy for the foreseeable future, the x1900xt will be your best friend.

Morgash

:thumbsup:

 

[LOUISSSSS]

the x1900xt hits the sweetspot for video cards these days and can play ANY game at good enough settings @ up to 1600x1200 or WS@ 1680x1050

 

[mazeroth]

Originally posted by: Cooler
I would wait ~4 weeks if your going ATI for two reasons
A. You could get X1950XTX for ~$400
B. X1900XT will drop in price.

Second.