Daz34

I tried to resist but couldn't
I had almost convinced myself that the 128mb 9800Pro will last me a while longer.

LOW have them in stock and are selling them for £284 delivered

The model number that they quote (PowerColor R42-TVD3) is for the PE model as well so fingers crossed

Darren

cong

thats well cheap im tempted aswelll but ive got a 9700pro ive had it for at least 2-3 years and it still wicked so unless i find somthing 3 tmes faster im sticking to this

BlkKnight

I'm sticking with my 9600pro until end q1 - then it's upgrade time

Iain Young

I've recently got hold of one of the 256Mb Sapphire X800XT PE cards. Can run Half Life 2 in 1024x768, with all detail turned up to the max and it's still silky smooth

Daz34

I convinced myself to buy one as this is probably the first time in years that there are actually games out there now that can take advantage of the latest generation VGA cards (HL2, Far Cry) and also why wait, as the next time I upgrade I would probably be looking at PCI Express requiring a new mobo, cpu etc as well. I have a decent XP64 setup so this will probably last me a few years before I get the upgrade bug again.

Neil Smalley

If you buy one, back sure its the VIVO version as that one can be patched to give XT Pro performance.

The X800 PE is a superb card and runs really well on an FX55

MJW

Spending £300 on a graphics card is lunacy. As BlkKnight says, a 9600 Pro can render DX9 codepaths adequately even at 1024x786 in the right system. I can't believe you've ditched a perfectly good graphics card for the X800XT !! IMO this card and others like it will not be stretched by any piece of current (or immediate future) software that will utilise it to anywhere near its potential, unless you count dick-swinging benchmark software.
BTW Daz if you'll take a one-er for the 9800, PM me

Neil Smalley

It all comes down to balance. Benchmarks are repeatedly showing that at lower resolutions<1600 the high end cards are CPU bound. Therefore if your monitor will only do 1024X768 then a high end graphics card will do you little good. If you have the processor/system to match and the ability and desire to run at higher resolutions then a high end card makes more sense.
The 9800 pro, is probably the best bang for bucks card out at the moment, and is worth sticking with/considering if you have'nt got the rig to max out a high end card.

Daz34

I have already sold it for more than that

I have a 22" monitor & wanna play at at least 1280 x 1024. I already have HL2 & Far Cry & if I strike the right balance then they are very playable on my existing card but I want all the eye candy turned on. Anyway, it's Christmas

Iain Young

I went from a 9600 to an X800XT PE, and am getting an extra 40fps in doom3 without changing anything else in the system...

DrEvil

You tart!

I so very nearly bought an XTPE, but am waiting.
Also waiting for the FX57?... or what ever is next, FX53 isn't getting stressed.

Daz34

Not compared to spending £600 on an FX55 it isn't!

DrEvil

Sorry you've lost me.. cheap as chips

Neil Smalley

It was'nt £600, it was £530 quid from dabs so there . I update my PC every 2 years or so. The FX-55 will do for a while, and I can then move to PCI-E when the benefits become more tangible and SLi'd card will be available from ATI and Nvidia.

Personally I think SLI will stifle video card design as people will get into the mentality of "They can always buy another one to make it faster"

Daz34

Running CS:Source stress test (a real DX9 game) at 1280 x 1024 with all graphics settings to Max with 4x AA & 16x AF I got 37.4fps.

Same settings on the X800XT I get 104fps. That is impressive

bioforger

iTrader: (1)

It sbe impressive the XT is almost 3 times faster across the board compared to previous generation 9800 cards.

Daz34

I would have been happy with double