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X800XL too much for a Barton 3200+??

C

Cadaver

Senior member
OK graphics gurus.... here's one for ya'.

I've got the itch to start upgrading things again, so after replacing my old 17" LCD with a 2001FP 20", I'm looking towards upgrading the the video card. Not yet to the point of replacing the mobo/processor, as the Barton 3200+ is otherwise fast enough for what I do - mainly text/2D stuff like word processing/mail/PowerPoint/Acrobat and some home photography w/ Photoshop 7.

I'm running an Athlon XP 3200+ Barton on an Asus nForce 2 Ultra board, 1GB RAM and a 120GB WD1200JB HD. Right now I've got a Radeon 9800 Pro inside. Just looking to keep games like Half Life 2 decently playable at 1600x1200. Decently playable means mid to high texture/character quality, but without things like 8 bazillion FSAA, etc. I'm a casual gamer; not hard-core, but I like things to at least look nice and play smoothly.

Would a mid-to-higher end card like a Radeon X800XL be too much for this machine? Would the CPU be too limiting for a graphics card of this class? Any other suggestions? Would something like an nVidia 6600GT be a better match for this class of machine?

I see the benchmarks, but not sure how well it all scales to the processor.

Thanks...
 
I would say that the X800XL is the highest you want to go for your barton. Personally, the highest i would go is the 6600GT or the 9800pro, but thats my cake. At the 300$ price level, might as well pay another 300$ to get brand new mobo and A64
 
No, the 3200+ Barton shouldn't hold you back much (I'm pretty sure its still on par with a 3GHz Prescott when it comes to gaming), especially not at 1600x1200 where the video card is more of a limmiting factor than your CPU. If you want 1600x1200, the 6600GT won't be that much of an upgrade over your 9800Pro. If you're going to upgrade get a 6800GT or X800XL.
 
Below are the results of experiments I have run:

CPU MHz Memory Memory Speed Video Card 3DMark01 3DMark03 3DMark05
Athlon 2500 1000-dual DDR XMS 333 6800 OC/128 14479 8446 2710
Athlon 2500 1000-dual DDR XMS 333 9700Pro/128 14258 5006 2167
Athlon 2500 1000-dual DDR XMS 333 6800GT OC/256 15183 10448 4574
Athlon 2800 1000-dual DDR XMS 333 6800GT OC/256 16191 10620 4624
Athlon 2800 1000-dual DDR XMS 333 9700Pro/128 15360 5100 2202
Athlon 2800 1000-dual DDR XMS 333 6600GT/128 14285 7266 2995
Athlon64/3200 1000-dual DDR XMS 400 X800XL /256 21948 10256 4813

I went down the path you are taking and decided it wasn't worth it to upgrade to an expensive GPU because the CPU was becoming the limiting factor. With my new system (listed on the last line I can run HL2 and Far Cry at 1600x1200 with everything on and stay above 50 fps).

Good Luck!
 
Originally posted by: MisterChief
What's your spending limit right now?
Click to expand...

Around the $300-$350 range

While I could afford more than that, it would probably be silly given that any future motherboard/processor upgrade would mean PCIe... meaning replacing the video card yet again (since I need to buy AGP now).

So I'd want to keep any upgrades out of the high-end in terms of price.

Is there really anything in this price range that would give me much better 3D performance than my Radeon 9800 Pro does? Or do you think I've peaked in terms of performance:mobo/processor😛rice ratios??
 
I personally think you'll be OK with the X800XL. My bud, BobDaMenkey (here on the AT forums), has a 6800GT with his Barton 3000+. It runs fine, although he can't keep up with me. However, that's to be expected, but it doesn't "hold him back" any. I say go for it. Your games will thank you


-GFT
 
Is there really anything in this price range that would give me much better 3D performance than my Radeon 9800 Pro does?
Click to expand...

It depends on what kind of a deal you can come up with. The 9800pro has a pretty decent Price/performance ratio, so its tough to beat.

I don't think a 6800 standard is a big enough jump, its faster by about a step up in resolution for the most part. A 6800GT would be the minimum, and 6800Ultra AGP cards have been dropping down as far as $350 if you get lucky. 6600GT cards are too close to the same performance.

X800 series cards in AGP up to $350 aren't as competively priced IMO, its going to take an X800 XL model under $350, and then it better be priced similar to 6800GT to be worth a look.

So, IMO, X800 XL or 6800GT/Ultra to realize enough performance gain to make it worth it.
 
Originally posted by: rbV5
Is there really anything in this price range that would give me much better 3D performance than my Radeon 9800 Pro does?
Click to expand...

It depends on what kind of a deal you can come up with. The 9800pro has a pretty decent Price/performance ratio, so its tough to beat.

I don't think a 6800 standard is a big enough jump, its faster by about a step up in resolution for the most part. A 6800GT would be the minimum, and 6800Ultra AGP cards have been dropping down as far as $350 if you get lucky. 6600GT cards are too close to the same performance.

X800 series cards in AGP up to $350 aren't as competively priced IMO, its going to take an X800 XL model under $350, and then it better be priced similar to 6800GT to be worth a look.

So, IMO, X800 XL or 6800GT/Ultra to realize enough performance gain to make it worth it.
Click to expand...

Interesting. Thanks.
I haven't seen any AGP 6800 Ultras for as low as you suggest, but I haven't been looking that hard yet.
I'll shop around and see what I see.

My main concern is over-buying for the processor I've got, then ending up so CPU-limited as to not get much benefit out of an expensive new video card.
 
I'm pretty dang happy with the 6800GT on my system, and I'm running a 333mhz Barton 3000+. I know I'm CPU limited, but I get plenty of performance with HL2 and all the other games that I play that are extremly demanding (Star Wars Galaxies).

I can play at 12x10 with 4xAA and 8xFSAA and get an average of 70+fps on my crouded CS:S servers with 20-30 people on them.

My time is up, I'll post later if needed.

-BDM
 
I haven't seen any AGP 6800 Ultras for as low as you suggest, but I haven't been looking that hard yet.
Click to expand...

Newegg has them for $389 after rebate currently, but I've seen them as low as $350 elsewhere in a similar deal.

You are right about being concerned with dumping a highend card into Nforce2/AGP at this point, but your options are pretty limited if you insist on upgrading your graphics and yet keep your platform. I do know that there are probably plenty of X800 XT and 6800 GT powered by Bartons however.
 
Heh, I also have a 2.2ghz barton, and I am on a 6800 Ultra.

Pretty good setup. I am running Farcry @ 1600x1200 w/ 4xAA/8xAF with no problems. Lowest it drops down to is the High 20s (still very playable imo), but it averages at about 40fps. The game looks stunning.

EDIT: The point I was trying to make is that, with a system similar to yours, I thoroughly enjoy having the fast card even if my CPU is not considered top of the line. While I might not be getting absolutely 100% out of the card, I'm probally pushing it near 95%. IMO, it is just not worth it to spend $300 for an A64/Mobo just for PCI-e, and for the sake of slightly quicker clock speeds. A 6800GT or ATi equivelent are great choices for our type of systems.
 
Depending on your concerns about price vs. performance vs. longevity, it's all in the eyes of the beholder (yourself) as to what is and isn't reasonable. Personally, I'll be upgrading in a couple of months to a 3200+ A64 and nForce 3/4 mobo, and stick with my 6800GT. I'll pop a 6600GT into my 3k+ Barton and call it a day.

I've been very happy with the framerates I've been gettin on my 6800GT. I got something a bit north of 10k in 3dMark 2k3 when I ran it. I'm quite pleased, while not bleeding edge, it's certainly better than where I stood before I started upgrading my left for dead socket A computer 6 months ago (pulled less than 1500 marks in 2k3, on an 1800+ with 1gb of 2100 and a 4800SE) which makes me happy.

If you're set on going PCIe for your next card, then I'd say stick to a GT. It'll give you a good bang for your buck now, but if you want to go all out for the meantime, then by all means, seek out an Ultra or a 8x0XT. I've not been burned by nVidia yet, and they've suited my needs quite perfectly for a long time now, but don't have any beef with ATi.
 
Originally posted by: bunnyfubbles
No, the 3200+ Barton shouldn't hold you back much (I'm pretty sure its still on par with a 3GHz Prescott when it comes to gaming), especially not at 1600x1200 where the video card is more of a limmiting factor than your CPU. If you want 1600x1200, the 6600GT won't be that much of an upgrade over your 9800Pro. If you're going to upgrade get a 6800GT or X800XL.
Click to expand...

bunnyfubbles is right.
 
I play tons of games on my Barton 3200+ and 6800GT setup and they run wonderfully. I can not match those with A64 3200+ but I do come close, my 3Dmark05 scores are 5400+ (though that was with an OC to ultra speeds, shhhhh )

The 3200+ will hold you back but it will be minimal, a 6800GT will still fly. Currently I do alot of gaming at 1600x1200 max details with some AA and AF (though not on Doom 3).

I don't know much about the X800XL except that it works well against the 6800Gt for lower prices... unless you are looking for AGP.

-spike
 
I went back and re-read your original question. If you REALLY want to play HL2 at 1600x1200 - I don't believe any of the GPU's you are looking at will cut it because they will be CPU limited.

I faced a delima similar to yours, I wanted HL2 and Far Cry to work at 1280x1024 with everything maxed and > 50 fps. I ended up buying a new motherboard, Athlon64 3200, and X800 XL. I just played HL2 through at 1600x1200 everything maxed and it easily stayed at greater then 50 fps.

My upgrade cost breakdown:
Chaintech VNF4 Ultra $110
Athlon64 3200 $190
X800 XL $299
Total =$599

You are already getting pretty close to this with what you are considering spending. IMO anybody buying a new high end card sould be going PCI express.

Good Luck!
 
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