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gaaaaaa! its all so confusing... want new card, need help :)

locutus12

locutus12

locutus12

Permabanned
Joined
11 Mar 2004
Posts
5,884
gaaaaaa! its all so confusing...

hi, ive currently got an X800GTO2 @ X850XT i noticed that 3dmark 06 now comes with sm3.0 tests which is a good indicator to me that it wont be long before all games are sm3.0 with hdr and i will be left missing features which i want to see... so ive got 2 choices...

X1800XL not as powerful as the 7800GT in its raw state but factor in AA + AF @ 1024x768 or higher and it edges ahead in most areas, however using sm3.0 in a game like Age of empires 3 produces much lower frame rates than if i were to use my current sm2.0b graphics card, (according to toms hardware)
i can buy this for £160


then there is the 7800GT, no need to say anything really, we all know what they can do. i can pick one of these up for £180


of course it does mean selling my current card which is only 3 months old anyway :(

i just dont know :(


p.s. can you do anything special with the X1800XL ? bios mods, ect ect ?
 
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I wouldn't upgarde your card just 'cause of 3dmark 06. the difference with sm3.0 is nice, I've played the Far Cry on my pc with my x850xt and on my bro's with a 6800 ultra but it wouldn't force me to change card just to have 1 or 2 more effects. Wait a little while longer untill you can get a card that you'll see a BIG gain in normal performance AND have the support for sm3.0.
 
well its not just because of 3dmark 06, i want HDR and i had a 6800NU and as much as my GTO2 is more powerful than a 6800NU, the textures looked warmer and fears textures shined more if that makes any sence, also ive got a copy of lost coast here which i am refusing to play till i can play it properly, also a little more power for fear, and BF2 special forces would be nice,
 
I played far cry with me old X1800XL with HDR activated and I liked it that much I've started playing the whole game from the begining again. With regards to the 7800gt, its a bit faster at stock, but apparently the X1800XL clocks better and some games better, the again the 7800gt plays other games better, so its a bit of a toss up really. If you must buy now, I'd go with the X1800XL meself. Also the IQ is superior with the ati card btw, and noticeably so too. This only my opnion btw, and other ppl here would suggest the 7800gt.
 
actually i thought this post had dissapeared so i reworded my question in a new one (please dont kill me mods, it was a mistake...)

thanks for your input pieman109, but im afraid i am gonna have to sound utterly uninfomred and ask, what is IQ? and why is higher better? :)
 
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