Computing/Graphics cards

Toe · April 3, 2006

So I'll start off with a pre-emptive:

But, looking at replacing my ATI 9800 Radeon Pro (mainly for Elder Scrolls 4!) for something a little more advanced. Problem being I'm limited to AGP only (8x I think, as my computer is only 3 years old and was top of the range then). So, looking at Overclockers.co.uk and saw this card:

PowerColor ATI Radeon X850 XT 256MB DDR3 VIVO TV-Out/DVI (AGP) - Retail (GX-058-PC)
The PowerColor X850 XT advances High-Definition Gaming with blockbuster features, including SMARTSHADER™ HD, highly advanced pixel shader engine. With up to 16 parallel pixel pipelines and up to 43 billion shader operations per second, the PowerColor X850 XT delivers the power serious gamers need. SMOOTHVISION™ HD combines advanced texture filtering with revolutionary 3Dc™ image enhancement technology to deliver brilliant image quality without compromising performance. 3Dc™ has quickly become an industry standard for supporting complex, high-definition visual effects in real time.

- 520MHz GPU Clock Speed
- 256MB 1080MHz GDDR3 memory accelerates the latest putting edge 3D applications
- 256-bit quad-channel GDDR3 memory interface
- Sixteen pixel pipelines
- Six programmable vertex shader pipelines

Price: £170.32

But then saw this one:

Sapphire X1600 Pro 512MB DDR2 AVIVO TV-Out/DVI (AGP) - Retail (GX-120-SP)
A tool for the performance oriented, the Sapphire X1600 PRO comes equipped with the hardware muscle to deliver an entire realm of fantasy right to your desktop due in large part to the awesome feature-set of the RADEON X1600 core, robust onboard memory configurations and 12 pipeline architecture. An impressive hardware compilation supporting CrossFire paired with support for Microsoft DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 3.0 ensures future compatibility and the advent of the ATI Avivo Video and Display Platform ensures that you will not have to be limit your fantasies to just your desktop.

- Powered by ATI Radeon X1600 Pro - 500MHz
- 512MB-128bit 4 channel DDR2 memory - 800MHz
- 12 Pixel shader processor
- 5 Vertex shader processor
- 8 Geometry Pipelines
- Ultra-threaded SM 3.0 Engine
- 256-bit Ring-bus
- ATI Avivo™ (Video-In Cables not supplied)

Price: £105.69

Why is the latter cheaper, but seemingly more powerful (Double the memory, higher class of card X1600 v X850)? Am confused!

Valid question. The 850 XT was the top end card of the X800 range a couple of years ago.

The X1600 while newer is a lower end gpu designed to fill the lower end of the performance scale.

There is a new 7800 GS AGP from Nvidia which you may want to look at. I can't compare speeds as I'm at work but put it on your to look at list.

Diarmuid · April 3, 2006

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