Author Topic: ATI 2900, what's the scoop? (Read 177 times)

Krusty · « **on:** July 20, 2007, 02:14:10 PM »

I recently saw this card on NewEgg. I'm guessing it's the successor to the X1950 I heard about a while back. It costs a bundle (which means it's new!) and I was wondering how it stacks up.

So, what's the scoop on this card?

NOT · « **Reply #1 on:** July 20, 2007, 04:18:26 PM »

on par with the 8800s, but runs extremely hot. from all ive read about it you could heat your house with it.

NOT

Fulmar · « **Reply #2 on:** July 20, 2007, 05:07:36 PM »

It benches about the same as a 8800GTS 640mb. Loses to the GTX is some tests, but can beat it in others*. Kind of like middle ground between the GTS and GTX. When it first came out it did worse. It seems new drivers have helped benchmarks on it. And it does run hot.

* A lot of new games are being coded particularly to either Nvidia or ATI cards. See BF2 and Crysis etc. These are continuing to be the key factors and why Nvidia beats ATI in one game and ATI beats Nvidia in another. Yes, there is more to it than that at times, but just look at the FPS benchmarks on the games. Then play the game and watch the opening splash screen say "Best played on Nvidia cards" etc etc.

Krusty · « **Reply #3 on:** July 20, 2007, 05:11:40 PM »

Hrm... when it came out it did worse...

I'm guessing the raw performance of the card hasn't changed, and that they've only found ways to tweak the benchmarks (what they've been doing for well over 5 years now), but it's still impressive that they're almost competing with Nvidia's top-line model.

The heat will be a real issue in the long run. Sounds like they just took existing technology and ran more juice through it. If/when they actually redo the architecture from scratch, that will be a true competitor for the Ge8800s!

(*that* I'd like to see!)

Mind you I don't know personally how it runs, all just conjecture.