x300se vs 9600pro

[lemmiwinks]

which one is better overall? would the x300se be able to play Half-Life 2 decently?

 

[Insomniak]

In a word: nottachanceinhell

 

[Sonic587]

9600pro hands down. That should play HL-2 decently(Don't expect miracles).

 

[RussianSensation]

Ok listen

X600pro = 9600pro performance
x600xt = 9600xt performance + 22% faster memory (730 vs 600)

X300 = 4 pipelines, 128-bit memory => SLOWWWWWWWWW

so dont even ask about SE
_________________
You best bet card <$200 is 9800Pro 256-bit (probably from MSI RX9800Pro with XT core)
Your 2nd best bet is a 5900xt
~$160 your best bet is 9700Pro
~$150 your best bet is 9700non-pro

Disclaimer: ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BUY X300/X600 SERIES = DO NOT WASTE YOUR $$$$ = THOSE CARDS ARE OBSOLETE THE MOMENT YOU BUY THEM

 

[lemmiwinks]

this might sound a little stupid, but does PCI Express have its own slot? If yes, are they compatible with AGP?

 

[Marsumane]

Originally posted by: lemmiwinks
this might sound a little stupid, but does PCI Express have its own slot? If yes, are they compatible with AGP?

Yes
No

Just get an AGP card cuz i assume thats what u have on your system. The 9600p will suit u fine for hl2/D3 at playable framerates and even a little eyecandy.

 

[lemmiwinks]

well my problem is, i just bought a Dell comp for college and it only had the option to ship with a x300se. since i now only have a PCI express slot, whats my best solution if I wanna play HL2? cheapest option is best right now(gotta watch budget)

 

[ZobarStyl]

Sorry bro, dell ripped you off. Any computer sold with a PCI-E slot shouldn't be held back with something as slow as a x600, much less a x300 SE...they are claiming the x300 is about 2x as fast as a 9200, so let's assume that's PR BS and say it's 50% better...it's still no better than my old Ti4200...add the fact that it's an SE version and you would've been better off with a hamster on a wheel with a D-Sub coming out of it.

The only reasonable card you would want to buy especially for HL2 would be a x800SE (slightly better than 9800XT) or wait till that first college christmas and get a x800XT.

Edit: How ATi can say things like it's twice as fast as the 9200 is beyond me, when it's pretty much the same stuff at 30% higher core clocks and the exact same ram clocks (your SE has 64-bit ram). So what I said before about 50% better is a stretch as well.

 

[MichaelZ]

add the fact that it's an SE version and you would've been better off with a hamster on a wheel with a D-Sub coming out of it.

lol. you sir just made my day with that comment. :beer:

 

[imported_SpitFire]

By the time HL2 comes out.. hah. Don't buy a new card untill it does FINALLY go gold at least, should be end of August if its on schedule (only god knows) Maybe by then some PCI express x800 series cards will be available.

 

[Alkaline5]

There aren't many after-market options available for PCI Express right now, and what is available is mostly either junk or overpriced (or both). Like SpitFire said, you're better off to wait if HL2 is all you'll be playing.

 

[m95680]

Not to worry, I brought mine with the x300se too but I just process an exchange with dell for extra $150 for a x800se. Call them before they are out.

 

[OnEMoReTrY]

One "sucky edition" to the next =O

 

[Pete]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation
Ok listen

X600pro = 9600pro performance
x600xt = 9600xt performance + 22% faster memory (730 vs 600)

X300 = 4 pipelines, 128-bit memory => SLOWWWWWWWWW

Um, the X600 also has 4 pipes and 128-bit memory. I think the only differences between the X300 and X600 are clock speeds. Obviously any SE will suck with only 64-bit memory.

If you're stuck with a PCIe slot, you're fairly screwed in terms of price performance. Not many deals to be had with new cards in short supply.

Here's a review comparing the X600XT with the PCX5900. Neither are barn burners. I'd really try for a PCIe 6800GT to complement your new rig (P4, right?), but m95680's suggestion to upgrade to an X800SE for $150 sounds like a far better bet than any X300/X600. If that X800SE has a 256-bit memory bus, it'll be a better card than a PCX 5900, period. If it packs only a 128-bit memory bus, it's probably still a good upgrade for only $150.

(I don't mean to rub it in, but an Intel P4E with a PEG slot doesn't seem like the way to go for a budget college PC, unless you know that Intel CPU will run a specific app of yours faster than an A64. Or does Dell offer Celeron CPUs on PCIe MBs? Either way, an A64 on an nForce3 Ultra seems like the current high-end system to have, IMO.)

Edit: X800SE specs look great for $150. I'd go for it.

Dell are listing PCIe X800 SE's in one of their system specs. The specs are: 425MHz, 8 pipes, 128MB of 350MHz RAM 256-bit bus. Dell have an increased system price of $180 over the default X300SE.

 

[m95680]

Sorry the price went up a bit, try to talk them down.
For everyone out there has no tech knowledge.....All x800 cards are built on the same core and the x800xt has all 16 pipes on, x800Pro has 12 on and x800se has 8 on. But most likely one of us (power users) would figure out how to activite the rest of the available pipes in a month or two.

So, those who really like AGP so much - kiss my a**.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: m95680
So, those who really like AGP so much - kiss my a**.

Yeah, I mean, you're getting so much more performance on a known stable platform for so much less money. </Sarcasm>

- M4H

 

[vshah]

Originally posted by: i82lazyboy

add the fact that it's an SE version and you would've been better off with a hamster on a wheel with a D-Sub coming out of it.

lol. you sir just made my day with that comment. :beer:

hehe mine too in the sig it goes

 

[ZobarStyl]

Lol I wrote that a month ago, glad someone enjoyed it...

To the guy who thinks you can get 2x the pipelines out of the x800SE, no chance. ATI cards with 4 pipes disabled from the possible max (9800SE, x800Pro) are still hit-and-miss in their ability to be re-opened; even the models that can be modded back to the higher end version aren't always stable (artifacts, general crappiness). I mean, aren't most of those cores just failed versions of the high end that just get specs lowered and relabeled? So what makes you think the x800SE can get a full 8(!) pipes from modding alone?

And why the hell would you cap on AGP when there isn't a single gaming-oriented card in existence that take advantage of PCI-E and it's more expensive to boot?

And sorry but there's already a discrepancy in your 2 posts

For everyone out there has no tech knowledge.....

But most likely one of us (power users)

I brought mine with the x300se too but I just process an exchange with dell

Here's a hint bro; if you are buying anything at all from Dell, you are by no means a tech-savvy power user. Everybody else here who considers themselves tech-knowledgable builds their own rig(s) from the ground up. But I guess nothing says 'I know my hardware' like buying an overpriced, underpowered and undercooled rig from Dell, right?

Welcome to AT

 

[m95680]

Tech Savvy power user does not equal to paying a good price for a reasonable machine.

I paid $1466 for my 8400 with 1g memory and a 20" 16ms LCD and with all the upgrade that I am bring from my old machine - 2 raptors to run on raid 0 and 2 160gb sata drive on raid 1. So, I have a machine that run like most $3000+ rig for less than two........Did I hear someone want to build a $3000 rig.......

I like to get a porsche 911 turbo someday but I end up with a Corvette with Callaway twin turo for half the price.

Have fun and spend the money.

 

[SneakyStuff]

Don't worry at all, the x300se will hold you over for a bit, but when you get the chance, or when prices drop, get yourself an x800se. THEN you will be in the game