2900XT Review

the_champ_101 · 31 May 2007 at 18:08

Well it's either both parties are lying or both cards run really hot, in which case I
might as well turn back to my X1900XT

Tom|Nbk · 31 May 2007 at 18:08

Ignore.

Tom|Nbk · 31 May 2007 at 18:10

the_champ_101 said:
Well it's either both parties are lying or both cards run really hot, in which case I
might as well turn back to my X1900XT

They both run as hot if not hotter than the previous gen. Wait for 65nm that's when things should get cooler.

Squakingcow · 31 May 2007 at 18:11

In this thread somebody was complaining about their gts idling about 75-80*c (ok, it's a relitivly extreme case, but quite a lot idle at 65-75).

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17735682

esiemi · 31 May 2007 at 18:21

i had a ASUS GTS 640, and with overclock of 630/2000 the highest temps i had was 68 C and i could never hear the fan. in fact fan never went over 60-70% spin.

and why is everyone saying that WHEN the card drivers mature it will be a good card AND how long would that be? 3 months? or more? might as well wait for that x2950 and G90 card, they be out by that time.

other thing about the drivers is that they been developing the card for more than 3 years (i think i heard this somewhere) so you saying they havent had enough time to develop some good drivers?

LETS face it the main draw backs of this card is the HEAT,FAN speed and POWER consumption, end of, and they can only fix this by die shrink to 65nm which the x2950 will be hopefuly.

i really hope ATI pull out their fingers out of their *** and release a nvidia killer next time, R650 i hope

RostokMcSpoons · 31 May 2007 at 18:27

the_champ_101 said:
I am a source engine game expert and I need this engine to run properly for the visuals and physics in order to play cs:s at my required standard, I can tell you if I feel the game hasn't changed from the X1900XT then its not a problem like you are suggesting, if theres no problem in the first place then I can't get rid of something thats not there, use your brain for god sake.

The thing is that it doesn't affect all Source games: HL:LC and Episode 1 are fine. But HL2 and DOD:S aren't:

If that's not broken, I don't know what is!

Image pinched from this thread at Rage3d: http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?t=33892108

An ATI person has responded in another thread on this issue:

Yes, this is an incompatibility with fixed function fog for DX9 and new DX10 fog. The other company had the same issue. We're finishing up a driver work-around (no perf hit) and hopefully it will be out soon.

Link: http://www.rage3d.com/board/showpost.php?p=1334960724&postcount=8

edit: image resized

Tom|Nbk · 31 May 2007 at 18:30

Another example I've just taken here, the issue does exist. (Sorry about the Jpeg quality)

Tom|Nbk · 31 May 2007 at 18:32

RostokMcSpoons said:
Sorry about the big image - I don't know if it's possible to size it differently...?

Use http://www.imageshack.us/ to resize

SS-89 · 31 May 2007 at 18:37

Cyber-Mav said:
my x1900xt manages that game at that rez even with AA on. so no miracles performed by the 2900 in that department.

I wasnt saying it was a miracle lol, i was just stating the fact that my m8s 2900xt runs c&c3 fine unlike the OP. He has 4*AA and 16*Af on as well.

ashmanuk67 · 31 May 2007 at 19:04

Hi all my first post

I can not believe that this radeon hd2900 is such a complex topic.

I have a radeon x850xt agp, it is or was a good card call of duty 2, BF2 and day of defeat/HL2 are the games i mainly play and love.

I have not up graded my kit for a very very long time now, And now i have money in the bank to upgrade my m/b,memory,gfx,cpu and power supply and i can not wait, "i am 40 years old yet iam very very excited

.

Anyways the one thing i am stuck on is this battle 8800gts oc 640 or the hd2900 :confused:

, I am waiting for call of duty 4 and crysys hence the big upgrade.

So many talk about getting the hd2900 and if its crap then get another high-end card, well for me i can only afford a good card once every 2-3 years.
Some ppl just have to much money :eek:

I SO WISH IT WAS EASY LOL

tereu5 · 31 May 2007 at 19:50

ashmanuk67 said:
Hi all my first post

So many talk about getting the hd2900 and if its crap then get another high-end card, well for me i can only afford a good card once every 2-3 years.
Some ppl just have to much money

I SO WISH IT WAS EASY LOL

welcome here m8
hmm once every 2-3 so if i was You i think i could w8 another 4 or 5 months then NV will release new product and 2900xt will have new core (2950)
or dont hesitate and grab GTX for 340ish

ashmanuk67 · 31 May 2007 at 20:08

Thank you for the warm welcome.

You know what us guys are like "wont it and wont it now" lol

Yes you are right i should wait, but then the new core cards will more than likely push my budget too high.

ashmanuk67 · 31 May 2007 at 20:25

Hi again,
Have a look at this tech report i have not read the whole thing, could you all post your comments please.

Thank you..... http://techreport.com/reviews/2007q2/radeon-hd-2900xt/index.x?pg=1

Gerard · 31 May 2007 at 20:38

the_champ_101 said:
I am a source engine game expert and I need this engine to run properly for the visuals and physics in order to play cs:s at my required standard, I can tell you if I feel the game hasn't changed from the X1900XT then its not a problem like you are suggesting, if theres no problem in the first place then I can't get rid of something thats not there, use your brain for god sake.

I guess then my screenshots from when i had my 2900 are also showing no problem, mr expert. :rolleyes:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/gerald.marley/dod_donner0000.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/gerald.marley/dod_donner0001.jpg

the_champ_101 · 31 May 2007 at 22:36

I haven't tried DOD Source I have to admit, but all the problems in Counterstrike, Episode 1 and lost coast shows no problems.

evilcrowuk · 1 Jun 2007 at 15:29

the_champ_101 said:
After all this debate about the 2900 and its issue, I received my HIS one yesterday from overclockers and I have to say all the critics were right! The graphic card's performance is not great and runs quite hot even when the fan is spinning at 100%!

First the performance: it's ok on games with mainly polygon processing rather than
processor calculations, e.g. good = War Of Warcraft or if you want more demanding: Test Drive, bad = C&C3 or Rollercoaster Tycoon when you fill the game with units and the cpu is heavily loaded this card is really poor which might suggest why most of the benchmarks favour the G80 series with max AA and high resolution. The overall picture quality is sublime as you'd expect and the fogging issue is non existent on source engine games e.g. HL2 Episode 1 or Loast Coast, didn't know what the fuss was all about, hey maybe some of you need a new monitor which can display the games properly lol.

Overclocking is not an issue and the 8-pin connector worry is also no problems, but I must say at these temperatures I wouldn't stretch the card too far in the coming summer months. The fan isn't as loud as I feared running at its maximum but not as quiet as my old 1900 and also not as quiet as most G80 I've heard, although if both fan was at 100% I say this makes slightly less noise, ATI needs to fix the issue.

Overall I think the card failed in the attempt to beat the 640MB 8800 GTS at a lower price, If you are a ATI/AMD loyalist then this is an option but in real life gaming then I suggest people with their G80 series to be settled and wait for new candidates such as the 65nm R650 or even the G90.

I for 1 will send this thing back and follow in Esi's step and get a 320MB GTS to tie me over until a G90, wise move my friend.

Your full of it, i bet you don't even have the card, just some random pleb talking balls. The fact you say that there is no fog issue in valve games shows you know NO SWEARING..

Boogle · 1 Jun 2007 at 15:56

Roflcopter.

"and the cpu is heavily loaded this card is really poor which might suggest why most of the benchmarks favour the G80 series with max AA and high resolution"

Bit of a contradiction there. CPU heavily loaded... when AA or high resolutions are used? If the CPU is heavily loaded then both cards would perform almost identically.

An "expert on source engine" are you? Wouldn't happen to know the method it uses for HDR would you?

Additionally you mention that its slightly quieter than the 8800 when both are running at max fan speed. How do you know this? Your previous card was an X1900. If you have both a 2900XT and an 8800 right now to compare, then you wouldn't need to purchase a new 8800GTS 320MB which incidentally is nerfed at those high resolutions with AA that you were berating the 2900XT about.

Please, leave the reviewing to the professionals.

the_champ_101 · 1 Jun 2007 at 15:57

evilcrowuk said:
Your full of it, i bet you don't even have the card, just some random pleb talking balls. The fact you say that there is no fog issue in valve games shows you know ********..

so i dont have it do i?

LOOK

***DELETED*** , cut the attitude

FACE IT, its a NO SWEARING ,READ THE FAQ - AGAIN !!! card.

bfar · 1 Jun 2007 at 16:10

evilcrowuk said:
Your full of it, i bet you don't even have the card, just some random pleb talking balls. The fact you say that there is no fog issue in valve games shows you know ********..

Whoa there! Nerds on FIRE here

Psypher5 · 1 Jun 2007 at 16:10

cut the swearing :/

And how are you a source engine expert? lol