ATI Radeon X800XL 256MB AGP Worthwhile Upgrade

[KraZy_SkitZy]

I just seen at my local futureshop that they have the ATI Radeon X800XL 256MB AGP (http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0665000FS10059866&catid=10524&logon=&langid=EN&dept=18) on sale and was wondering if it would be a worthwhile upgrade from my BBA Radeon 9800pro 128mb?

My Specs:

Pentium 4 3.2Ghz
Gigabyte GA-8IK1100
1.5GB PC2700 DDR
Maxtor 40gig 7200rpm Hard Drive ATA/133 (Primary)
Maxtor 60gig 7200rpm Hard Drive ATA/133 (Secondary)
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128mb (Retail, Built By ATI)
SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS Gamer
Macronix 10/100 Network Card
LG 16x52x32x52
LG 16x16 Dual Layer, Super Multi
Enmax 350w Power Supply Dual Fan
Logitec LX700
Logitech Z-680
Logitech Headset 300
Logitech Dual Action Gamepad
Nostromo N52
Windows XP Pro
Windows XP SP2

:t

[Midknyte]

the x800xl is a pretty solid card. it's faster than a x800pro.

[Someone Stupid]

I generally run my card at 800XL clocks (800 Pro VIVO to XT-PE) and it does fine for 99% of what is needed. Sometimes I have to push the core up more, but not often. It is a huge upgrade if you run in high resolutions or love AA as I replaced my 9800 Pro with the X800 above. So the X800 XL should be a darn good card.

[KraZy_SkitZy]

so should I upgrade now or should I tough it out for awhile longer and maybe a better deal on somthing faster will arise (i'm not really toughin it :P I play everyting max detail and 16x AF always on, liquidy smooth) or is this card end-of-the-line for agp cards? video card and hard drives, maybe another gig of ram will be the last upgrades for this comp (plannin to build new system mid-winter :t

[zybch]

I just replaced my 9800XT with an X800XL and I have generally gotten a doubling of frame rates.

With the release of the 512Mb version, the 256Mb one will probably drop a bit, even though its just as fast as the 512Mb one unless you run at insane resolutions (>1600x1200) with AA and AF turned up to their fullest.

[Someone Stupid]

The 512 version is only about a couple percent faster and only at insane resolutions with insane amounts of AA. The ONLY game I've thus far seen a worthwhile improvement on was HL2, and even the an X800 XT would beat it with just 256 megs and cost less given the 150 odd dollar markup on the 512 version.

[Midknyte]

512MB = fluff

[KraZy_SkitZy]

here's another question, why is the x800 pro more expensive than the xl version? the xl is faster and has 4 more pipelines.. :t

[Midknyte]

the x800xl came out after the x800pro. the x800xl is meant to be more wallet friendly. if you can get it cheaper than an x800pro, that's all the better.

[KraZy_SkitZy]

Originally posted by Midknyte
the x800xl came out after the x800pro. the x800xl is meant to be more wallet friendly. if you can get it cheaper than an x800pro, that's all the better.

i've jus noticed at all the stores the pro is more expensive, but the scecs and reviews show the xl being faster :t

[Midknyte]

the stores need to get rid of their old inventory, but they're not going to slash prices when they had to pay ATI more for the x800pros at the time. the x800xl's introductory price was already less than when the x800pros came out. if they mark the x800pros down even more, they will lose more money. it's just a matter of fact kind of thing.

[KraZy_SkitZy]

Originally posted by Midknyte
the stores need to get rid of their old inventory, but they're not going to slash prices when they had to pay ATI more for the x800pros at the time. the x800xl's introductory price was already less than when the x800pros came out. if they mark the x800pros down even more, they will lose more money. it's just a matter of fact kind of thing.

so u figure i shud put my 9800pro to sleep then?

[Someone Stupid]

i've jus noticed at all the stores the pro is more expensive, but the scecs and reviews show the xl being faster

Well pass on the pro's and let the sheep get them. You want the XL, Midnyte is dead on.

[Midknyte]

the x800xl is definitely a good upgrade. good bang for the buck. go for it!

[KraZy_SkitZy]

do you guys know how much less performance the agp version gets than the PCI-E version, just for curiousity sakes. (i'm not movin up to pci-e until next computer) :t

[Midknyte]

they are super close right now. hardly any difference at all. it will be a while until ati and nvidia full utilize the advantages of pcie.

[zybch]

From what I've seen, the difference is not there. Even a card running at AGP x4 speeds would be the same as the PCI-e version, or so close it wouldn't be noticeable.

[KraZy_SkitZy]

well hopefully the x800xl is still on sale friday (payday) i'll go pick me one up :t

[KraZy_SkitZy]

I was reading on the ati site that the x800 "It also has sophisticated video processing, filtering and acceleration features that make multimedia applications more efficient, inspiring and fun. With VideoShader™ HD, Radeon® X800 graphics technology takes advantage of its advanced shader processing engine for user programmable video effects, video quality enhancement, and encoding and decoding of many video standards"so does this mean when i convert a divx file to dvd or vise-versa it will be faster han now, if so how much faster u guys figure? :t

[KraZy_SkitZy]

actually i think i'm gunna upgrade my speakers first (my logitech z-680's) to the Z-5500's their on sale for $369cnd, I'll hold outfor a month or 2 on the video card i figure. But who knows till pay-day :P hard decision, $369cnd for the z-5500's or $399cnd for the x800xl 256mb agp card, in the end i'll upgrade both but only one or the other this paycheck, (dam dirty bills and broken rear windshield! :P )

decisions decisions :P :t

[zybch]

Originally posted by KraZy_SkitZy
I was reading on the ati site that the x800 "It also has sophisticated video processing, filtering and acceleration features that make multimedia applications more efficient, inspiring and fun. With VideoShader™ HD, Radeon® X800 graphics technology takes advantage of its advanced shader processing engine for user programmable video effects, video quality enhancement, and encoding and decoding of many video standards"so does this mean when i convert a divx file to dvd or vise-versa it will be faster han now, if so how much faster u guys figure? :t

Having a faster video card won't help at all with video editing or converting from one format to another. Thats all down to how fast your CPU is and to a lesser extent your ammount of RAM.

The encoding and decoding and real-time effects stuff tha x800 is capable of are pretty much limited to video playback only and recording if you get the VIVO version of the card.

[Stealthy]

I too, am interested in purchasing this video card (ATI Radeon x800xl 256Mb AGP) but I am unsure if my mobo is compatible.

It is: ASUS P4T533-C

I cannot find any sites online that tell me if these two are compatible, any help in this forum is much appreciated.

Thanks

[Bigjakkstaffa]

With the G70 and R520 creeping into the headlines, and the R9800 Pro still performing reasonably well in todays titles i woudl wait a whiel if i were you. Not necessarilly to pick up one of the next gen cards, but to see if prices on the X800's/6800's drop significantly in the next couple of months

--Jakk:t

[zybch]

Originally posted by Stealthy
I too, am interested in purchasing this video card (ATI Radeon x800xl 256Mb AGP) but I am unsure if my mobo is compatible.

It is: ASUS P4T533-C

I cannot find any sites online that tell me if these two are compatible, any help in this forum is much appreciated.

Thanks


So long as you have PCI-Express you'll be fine. No doubt there are/will be AGP versions of the x800xl but AGP is old hat nowdays and you can be pretty sure that any of the next gen cards won't support it.

[Stealthy]

My MoBo in not PCIE, it is AGP 4X (currently have an ATI RADEON 9700 Pro AGP)

As the Radeon X800XL 256 MB AGP video card states that it is backwards compatible with 4X, I am thinking that it would be a nice upgrade over my current card.

From the description on the Future Shop site, I *think* the card is compatible with my MoBo, but I want to be sure before I purchase it.

[zybch]

Should work fine then. The added speed of a X8 slot over a X4 one is just a non issue. Theres generally less than a 2% difference in actual game play, if that.
You'll need an extra power connector for the card though, as the AGP standard just doesn't provide enough power to run the card.

[Plaster]

Originally posted by KraZy_SkitZy
actually i think i'm gunna upgrade my speakers first (my logitech z-680's) to the Z-5500's their on sale for $369cnd, I'll hold outfor a month or 2 on the video card i figure.

I don't know if you bought the z-5500's yet, but I would not upgrade from the z-680 to those. The z-5500's are a very minor improvement over your current set. Unless your z-680's are damaged, there's really no reason to "upgrade.";)

[pandaz3]

Originally posted by Bigjakkstaffa
With the G70 and R520 creeping into the headlines, and the R9800 Pro still performing reasonably well in todays titles i would wait a while if i were you. Not necessarily to pick up one of the next gen cards, but to see if prices on the X800's/6800's drop significantly in the next couple of months

--Jakk:t

I disagree...respectfully... I do not believe in waiting for technology unless I have to have that particular tech to do what I Need to do. Price drops are pretty iffy these days...If you wait isn't there some thing better... just a few more weeks. and then another few more weeks .... and another?

And since I'm half deaf I would go with a new Video card over speakers...

[zybch]

It used to be that you could wait a bit and get a good deal, but procrastination simply doesn't pay off these days.
You either buy now and be prepared to wear any potential price drops, or keep on waiting till eternity for the right product at the right price.

[KraZy_SkitZy]

Originally posted by Plaster
I don't know if you bought the z-5500's yet, but I would not upgrade from the z-680 to those. The z-5500's are a very minor improvement over your current set. Unless your z-680's are damaged, there's really no reason to "upgrade.";)


Well i didn't get either, the joys of being a vehicle owner kicked in, 4 days b4 pay day my rear windows spontainiously shattered drivin to work and a few days later my truck just didn't start, so hard to spend $200 on a new fuel pump (had to take the gas tank out and all that fun stuff :mad: ) which wasn't the problem after all it was a $20 relay switch that was shorting out :mad: o well ,didn't bother with my rear window, i'm reprioritizing myself, workin on gettin a new vehicle and a better payin job, nut thanx everyone for your input an info, maybe wen money is good again i'll look into new comp stuff again :p :t