6800GT SLI or X850XT?

[RobotOfHatred]

Well, which one of these 2 choices are better and why? (Will play mostly Half-Life 2 DM, And Doom3 Multi, with a smattering of Far Cry)

Which of these 2 options is just more powerful?

 

[darkswordsman17]

Great another thread about this (I'm not aiming this at you OP, but rather at the argument that will ensue).

The 6800GTs are undoubtedly faster/more powerful, however, not enough to warrant their price, esepecially at current going rates for these cards.

I would recommend the X850, it'll be plenty fast and you won't have to go out of your way to make sure you have a strong enough power supply and SLI motherboard and everything else.

 

[RobotOfHatred]

Hmm... seems like the ATI seems more logical. Plus, I want a card that will last a while (at least 2 years). Since Im currently playing with 5 year old tech in my system (Apollo Geforce MX 440SE, Oced to Core Clock: 415mhz, Memory clock: 360mhz,128mb)

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: RobotOfHatred
Hmm... seems like the ATI seems more logical. Plus, I want a card that will last a while (at least 2 years). Since Im currently playing with 5 year old tech in my system (Apollo Geforce MX 440SE, Oced to Core Clock: 415mhz, Memory clock: 360mhz,128mb)

If you want a card that is "more logical for two years" the 6800GTs are your ONLY choice.
1. DX9C - may come in handy in next two years.
2. Additional power of SLI will for sure come in handy in the next two years.

 

[zakee00]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: RobotOfHatred
Hmm... seems like the ATI seems more logical. Plus, I want a card that will last a while (at least 2 years). Since Im currently playing with 5 year old tech in my system (Apollo Geforce MX 440SE, Oced to Core Clock: 415mhz, Memory clock: 360mhz,128mb)

If you want a card that is "more logical for two years" the 6800GTs are your ONLY choice.
1. DX9C - may come in handy in next two years.
2. Additional power of SLI will for sure come in handy in the next two years.

obviously the SLi 6800GT's are more powerfull, and have more features, but they are way more $$$.
up to you.

 

[RobotOfHatred]

hmm... If any canadian can find me an 6800GT which isnt an obsene price (most I've found are >$600) then Ill consdier it, I wont get it all at once, Get 1 6800GT for now. Save up for a month (part time job) get a second one...

decision decisions...

 

[ronnn]

Link Will be under $600 in a sale soon. That said, over $1000 Canadian for 2 of these is such a sad waste, but if you have the cash - it is yours to spend.

 

[Justin343563611]

it's cheaper right now to go with an x850 rather than 2 6800 GT's with the outrageous pricing.

 

[zakee00]

Originally posted by: Justin343563611
it's cheaper right now to go with an x850 rather than 2 6800 GT's with the outrageous pricing.

DUH...but you get alot more performance with two 6800GT's

 

[Pete]

Chumbo sells two BFG 6800GTs and a 530W BFG PSU for about $850. They also offer a single BFG 6800GT for $400. Dunno if they ship to Canada. They're also both "Highly Allocated," which appears to be code for "Get in Line, Buddy."

That's compared to PriceGrabber's best prices of $505 for a X850XT or $600 for a X850XTPE. Actually, Chumbo appears to sell the ATi X850XTPE for $485 shipped (!), but it's "on order" ATM.

Well, dual 6800GTs should certainly be faster than a single X850XT/PE (you're basically looking at 32 pipes at 370MHz vs. 16 pipes at 520-540MHz, so roughly 12GP/s vs. 8.5GP/s). Are they worth an extra $350 (and possibly having to change your PSU to the BFG one, which may not be as quiet/fancy as your current one)? Considering how fast the X850 appears to be in current games at even 16x12 4x16 and the fact that SLI doesn't appear to add performance in /all/ games (ATM, anyway), I'd say probably not. I'd put that $350 away to upgrade to the R600 or NV60 in a year.

But you may want the SLI combo's higher performance and FP buffer and SM3 featureset (essentially a R520/NV50) right now, and be willing to pay extra up front for a system you probably won't have to open up for at least a year (well, except maybe to add a faster CPU to better complement all that GPU power). All I can suggest is to read as many SLI reviews as you can to see benchmarks of a X850XT vs. SLI'ed 6800GTs in the games you'll play. If you'll be driving a 19x12 display, tho, and want full AA and AF, you'll probably want to go with the SLI'ed GTs.

 

[imported_humey]

In 2 years u will have no DX as its known now, it will be called Avalon and is on test now and will ship when Dx10 was to be released.

Avalon is going to be avail for xp but will be in longhorn.

 

[chinkgai]

Originally posted by: Pete
Chumbo sells two BFG 6800GTs and a 530W BFG PSU for about $850. They also offer a single BFG 6800GT for $400. Dunno if they ship to Canada. They're also both "Highly Allocated," which appears to be code for "Get in Line, Buddy."

That's compared to PriceGrabber's best prices of $505 for a X850XT or $600 for a X850XTPE. Actually, Chumbo appears to sell the ATi X850XTPE for $485 shipped (!), but it's "on order" ATM.

Well, dual 6800GTs should certainly be faster than a single X850XT/PE (you're basically looking at 32 pipes at 370MHz vs. 16 pipes at 520-540MHz, so roughly 12GP/s vs. 8.5GP/s). Are they worth an extra $350 (and possibly having to change your PSU to the BFG one, which may not be as quiet/fancy as your current one)? Considering how fast the X850 appears to be in current games at even 16x12 4x16 and the fact that SLI doesn't appear to add performance in /all/ games (ATM, anyway), I'd say probably not. I'd put that $350 away to upgrade to the R600 or NV60 in a year.

But you may want the SLI combo's higher performance and FP buffer and SM3 featureset (essentially a R520/NV50) right now, and be willing to pay extra up front for a system you probably won't have to open up for at least a year (well, except maybe to add a faster CPU to better complement all that GPU power). All I can suggest is to read as many SLI reviews as you can to see benchmarks of a X850XT vs. SLI'ed 6800GTs in the games you'll play. If you'll be driving a 19x12 display, tho, and want full AA and AF, you'll probably want to go with the SLI'ed GTs.

good answer, couldnt have said it better myself

 

[ohnnyj]

I would go with the X850XT if you can find it for a decent price.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Well seeing as he asked which has more power, that would be the SLI 6800GT's.

Also i wouldn't even go for the X850XT PE, simply get the X800XT which is just as fast.

Additionally i would highly recommend buying one 6800GT right now which is very fast almost as fast as the X800XT. Then later when prices fall or you just want more power, simply get another one and SLI the two. Much better choice.

-Kevin

 

[RobotOfHatred]

I didnt say the PE, just the X850XT (I want the X850 because of the nice fan=good Overcloaclability)

The problem is that 1)I cant find a 6800GT (PCI-E) For as chea as I can find anX850XT (690)

2)An SLI Mobo is $90 more then a regulare NF4-FX Gigabyte PCI_E mobo

 

[Appledrop]

sli is simply not worth the hassle imo, get an x850xt and you will be happier i feel, even if slightly less powerful, but highly potent * i have a x800xt pe (about same as an x850xt ) and i am very pleased, can play hl2 at 16x12 6aa 16af at >80 fps, so i dont feel it NEEDS to be faster; by the time it does, dx 9 will be old hat, and i will be wanting to upgrade to a DX 10 card.

this post is a bit incomprehensible but hey its 1 am where i am, but just get the x850xt. trust

 

[RobotOfHatred]

Quci question, how large is the minimumsize in inches a monitor (CRT) has to be so it can support 1600x1200? since its waht I want to be gaming at.

Thanks

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: RobotOfHatred
I didnt say the PE, just the X850XT (I want the X850 because of the nice fan=good Overcloaclability)

The problem is that 1)I cant find a 6800GT (PCI-E) For as chea as I can find anX850XT (690)

2)An SLI Mobo is $90 more then a regulare NF4-FX Gigabyte PCI_E mobo

Not if you take a pencil to the Northbridge

The problem is that 1)I cant find a 6800GT (PCI-E) For as chea as I can find anX850XT (690)

Where in the hell are you looking?? 6800GT PCI-E run about $350, where are you seeing a 6800GT over $600??

sli is simply not worth the hassle

What hassle are you talking about? All you do is pop in the second card and enable it in drivers, what is so hard about that.

-Kevin

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: RobotOfHatred
Quci question, how large is the minimumsize in inches a monitor (CRT) has to be so it can support 1600x1200? since its waht I want to be gaming at.

Thanks

It doesn't matter the size. THere are probably 15" monitors that can do 16x12. Just check the monitor before you buy, it will give you a max resolution.

Generally speaking a 21" monitors native resolution is 16x12, whereas a 19" 12x10, a 17" is 10x7, 15" is 8x6.

-Kevin

 

[RobotOfHatred]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek


Where in the hell are you looking?? 6800GT PCI-E run about $350, where are you seeing a 6800GT over $600??
.

-Kevin

In canada a PCI-E 6800GT is over $600 pretty much everywhere Ive looked.

Since I've found an X850XT for a fair amount cheaper ill go with that (pluss, like I said before, an SLI mobo is expensive)

 

[Gamingphreek]

Link

Yes Monarch ships to Canada.

Seems a whole hell of a lot lower than $690.

-Kevin

 

[RobotOfHatred]

Im getting a but of a problem with Monarch, Im doing a fake order, But in the part where it sais "Sales Tax" After shipping (which is free, a plus I suppose) it shows no dollars, is Tax exempt from Monarch when shipping to canada?

Thanks

 

[Gamingphreek]

What do you mean fake order. You are simply ordering and they are sending it to Canada.

As for Sales Tax, i think CA, NJ and some other US states pay that. Im in Virginia and i dont pay sales tax when i order from Monarch or Newegg.

-Kevin

 

[RobotOfHatred]

Bah, even IF I get a 6800GT from Monarch. Im pretty much sure I have to pay ontario tac (15%) and whatever american tax is. Even if all I have to pa are canadian tax, coupled with an SLI mobo, it still becomes more expensive getting 1 6800GT with an SLI mobo then getting an X850XT with a non SLI mobo.

Screw it, Im getting the X850XT

 

[ohnnyj]

As far as monitors go, if you are going LCD you will most likely have to get a 20"+ as anything smaller will not have a native 1600x1200 resolution.