Author Topic: ATI X300 vs X800? (Read 537 times)

Wilbus · « **on:** August 21, 2004, 07:59:00 AM »

Hey all, haven't been able to stay up to date on the computer market (or even fly AH

) for the past few months so need to ask a question. Getting a computer to my girlfriend, won't be building this one my self so ordering it from Dell (all anti Dell people/Anti buy computer etc don't need to bother with answering my question

).

I get to chose from a X300 graphic card or an X800. The X800 is quite a bit better I believe but how much better? She wants to be able to play modern games, the X300 should be enough for a while, right?

ChasR · « **Reply #1 on:** August 21, 2004, 11:07:13 AM »

X800 is way better than the X300.

RADEON X300 Technology Specifications
Four extreme parallel 3D rendering pixel pipelines
Two programmable vertex shader pipelines
PCI Express x16 lane native support
64-bit or 128-bit memory interface supporting 64MB, 128MB, or 256MB DDR1 memory configurations
Full DirectX® 9 support

RADEON X800 Technology Specifications
160 million transistors on 0.13 micron low-k fabrication process
Up to sixteen extreme parallel pixel pipelines
Six programmable vertex shader pipelines
256-bit quad-channel GDDR3 memory interface
AGP 8X support or PCI Express ™ support

The X300 should be in the same class as the 9600 pro/XT. The X300 SE is seriously crippled (64 bit memory interface) and should be avoided.

The X800 Pro (12 pixel pipes) is about twice as fast as a 9800 XT and almost 3 times as fast (very round number) as the 9600 XT and the X300.

The X800 XT (16 pixel pipes) is faster still, around 40% faster than than the x800 pro.

Wilbus · « **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2004, 04:59:06 AM »

OK, do you think the X300 would be enough to play modern games or rather, games coming this year? How does it compare to my good old Radeon 9700 pro? Should be worse then the 9700 pro right?

Do you think it would be worse to spend anotehr 200 dollars on the X800 right away?

FOGOLD · « **Reply #3 on:** August 22, 2004, 06:22:14 AM »

I suspect you wouldn't notice much improvement on a 9700 Pro. It is still an excellent card. You would have to go to the fastest new generation card to notice an improvement on a 9700 Pro, assuming your CPU can even feed it.

My personal opinion is that it's worth being patient with upgrades and waiting two or three generations before upgrades. For example I went from a Geforce 3 Ti500 to a 9800 Pro (once they dropped to £150) although I know my XP2000+ is scarcely man enough to push it.

I have no intention of upgrading CPU/Mobo etc till BTX and PCI Express are fully available and setled.

Wilbus · « **Reply #4 on:** August 22, 2004, 06:32:32 AM »

Rgr that Fogold, I am not really upgrading though, just making comparisons between a 9700 Pro and an X300. I am getting a computer for my girlfriend and can't decide wether I should go with the X300 or X800, price difference is about 200 dollars. It depends on how much she wants to pay for it, had I bought it for my self I would have gone for the X800 right away.

XtrmeJ · « **Reply #5 on:** August 22, 2004, 07:12:56 AM »

I have the X800 and it kicks ars Wilbuz. Deffenetly worth the wait.

Wilbus · « **Reply #6 on:** August 22, 2004, 08:36:12 AM »

Roger thanks bro, will try and make her spend the extra 200

FOGOLD · « **Reply #7 on:** August 22, 2004, 11:36:44 AM »

Ah Wilbus now I understand. If she is a gamer go for it if you can afford it, bearing in mind she will have a faster machine than you for a while:D

Wilbus · « **Reply #8 on:** August 23, 2004, 03:01:53 AM »

Yah FOGOLD; that's the problem, I'm not sure I can handle that .

Well, she's not a gamer really but she says she wants to be able to play games, IMO it would be worth going with the X800, we'll see what happens

(and if she does I'll have one hell of a machine to play DOOM III on once it gets out ).

XtrmeJ · « **Reply #9 on:** August 23, 2004, 06:36:33 AM »

*caugh* Doom 3 has been out. *caugh*

ChasR · « **Reply #10 on:** August 23, 2004, 09:27:38 AM »

If you intend to play Doom, you absolutely MUST have the X800.

Wilbus · « **Reply #11 on:** August 23, 2004, 02:34:39 PM »

RGR Chasr, judging from what I've seen from it it sure looks like it. I MUST get her to get the X800

Doom 3 out already?

XtrmeJ · « **Reply #12 on:** August 23, 2004, 04:16:49 PM »

Yah, I know a few ppl who have it already. Maybe it's on back order or something, it's out tho.

Wilbus · « **Reply #13 on:** August 24, 2004, 05:02:27 PM »

Just found out the two options were either X300 SE or X800 SE, puts things in another perspective... not sure how an X300 compares to older AGP radeons but I don't consider the X800 SE worth 200 extra. Will look into building a computer for her instead, see how much that will cost.

ChasR · « **Reply #14 on:** August 24, 2004, 05:28:06 PM »

SE stands for Sucker Edition. Why pay big bucks for a crippled card? You've done the right thing in avoiding them.