X1800XT or X1900XT - Uhm, ahh!

[fat_wife]

Hellooo, okay - so here it is guys..

ATI Radeon X1800 XT 256MB

or

ATI Radeon X1900 XT 256MB

Answers on a post card please (I'd prefer you to post here though), if any users have any pros/cons for me that would be cool - and just general opinions on both/either cad.

I only play CS:Source really, anyone with either of these cards, how do you find it handles the source engine?

Rest of the Rig..

Gigabyte DS3
XMS2 2x512 800mhz
C2D E3300/AC freezer pro 7

Thanks in advance!

 

[Zefan]

Depends what resolution you're running it at, but unless you have triple super massive displays both of those should destroy the source engine, allowing plenty of nice AA and AF

 

[meansizzler]

Hellooo, okay - so here it is guys..

ATI Radeon X1800 XT 256MB

or

ATI Radeon X1900 XT 256MB

Answers on a post card please (I'd prefer you to post here though), if any users have any pros/cons for me that would be cool - and just general opinions on both/either cad.

I only play CS:Source really, anyone with either of these cards, how do you find it handles the source engine?

Rest of the Rig..

Gigabyte DS3
XMS2 2x512 800mhz
C2D E3300/AC freezer pro 7

Thanks in advance!

X1800XT can be overclocked easily, x1900xt has 48 pixel shaders so should give you more FPS on shading intensive games, pretty much all of the latest games out..

 

[fat_wife]

I've always played 800*600 (since the days of 1.4 - having the option of playing 1024+ brings a tear to my eye.

But yes, probably 1024*768!

Also (stupidly I posted this without checking for past threads or seaching) - should I hold out for the X1950 ?

EDIT: and thanks meansizzler

Keep the opinions coming.

 

[Zefan]

Surely you don't need a rig like that for 1024x768?

Seriously just save your money and get a 7600gt

 

[akirru]

Surely you don't need a rig like that for 1024x768?

Seriously just save your money and get a 7600gt

Yeah but atleast he can have things maxed in games like AA/AF and not have to worry so much about the perfomance hit with a card like that.

 

[Zefan]

I doubt he'll want af or aa if he's been running 800x600 for this long.

I preume you're a hardcore cs'er? I have a lot of friends who are really in to CS and they run the lowest res possible with no visual goodies to make it as simple and as smooth as possible. Still both cards are very good deals.

 

[fat_wife]

Possbily even 1280*1024

Haven't made that descision really yet, in all honesty (as I said I've always played CS in 800*600!) - It just depends what I can get used too.

And yeah Zefan, I am using a huge config atm and I am desperate to get rid of it - I will probably shift up a notch or two in regards to resolution, and probably AA.

 

[Killajaz]

The X1800XT at £120 is great value for money and will last you a long time.
You will be fine for a long time with that card.

I havent noticed any critical slow downs yet and playing at 1280x1024 with AA/AF and eye candy.

 

[Jack Bauer]

If you up grade your card m8 its worth putting atleast the shadows on full. They are much better on source and can give positions away quite easily.

 

[ReeMISM]

X1900XT is a fantastic card had one for a couple of weeks now very impressed upgraded from a 6800GT and boy the difference is amazing.Get the X1900XT it,s worth it ..

 

[Vegeta]

X1800XT can be overclocked easily

I'm sorry but thats just wrong
Can be overclocked easily in ATI CCC bt that overclock is limited and is a tiny overclock, overclocking properly is a pain and most dont bother.

 

[Darkwave]

I'm sorry but thats just wrong
Can be overclocked easily in ATI CCC bt that overclock is limited and is a tiny overclock, overclocking properly is a pain and most dont bother.

My X1800XT overclocked to 730/900 with no hassle at all in ATI Tool, that was before the latest version of ATI Tray Tools came out with X1K support and it's even simpler now.

fat_wife: If you mostly want to play Source games then the X1800XT is far more than enough, you will love it. Only bother buying the X1900XT if you plan to play other, more graphically demanding games like Oblivion or something. Of course, the X1800XT performs great in that too.

 

[squiffy]

Go for the X1800XT, considering you're not running that high rez.

 

[Booner!]

X1800XT is fine for me, i run Source games at 60fps constant with lots of goodies on!

 

[Naffa]

X1800XT would be fine. But I was exactly the same as you, upgraded to play HL2 and CSS. Luckily I went way ott and bought a 7800GTX because pretty soon after I wanted to play loads more graphically intense games.

I would recommend the X1900XT as I would image you to start playing more games as time goes on.

 

[fat_wife]

Yeah, totally.

I don't want to have to upgrade once again when Quake Wars comes out

Luckily yesterday I read over the ATI tools thread. It recomends at least 580w for the X1900 - If I hadn't read that I'd have been buying a 400w. Is the difference that detremental?

Awesome guys anyway, you've been a great help - thanks.

 

[oweneades]

Yeah, totally.

I don't want to have to upgrade once again when Quake Wars comes out

Luckily yesterday I read over the ATI tools thread. It recomends at least 580w for the X1900 - If I hadn't read that I'd have been buying a 400w. Is the difference that detremental?

Awesome guys anyway, you've been a great help - thanks.

A decent* 450W PSU will suffice quite nicely for a X1900XT. Although it does depend on what else you have in your pc. (if you are running a lot of HD's etc then a higher wattage PSU will be better).

* By decent I mean one with strong 12v rails. (18a + should be fine)

As for your gaming even at 1280x1024 a X1800XT will be more than enough for what you want to do.

Especially on the source engine which the ATI cards really eat for breakfast.

 

[z0mbi3]

Surely an x1950 pro would be a nice solution for the price?

 

[Darkwave]

* By decent I mean one with strong 12v rails. (18a + should be fine)

I hope you mean 18a on each rail. Personally I think anywhere above 26a or 28a combined is fine but below that you're probably going to have problems.