comparison of x1600 & x1800

[irot]

hi, im looking to buy a new graphics card, right now my options come down to an x1600xt or and x18000xl.
the only difference between them that i dont understand is the memory interface.
an x1600 has a 128-bit 4-channel GDDR3 interface, and an x1800 has a 256-bit 8-channel interface.
what does this actually mean in terms of gaming and general 3D performance? is it a major handicap/difference (128-bit compared to 256-bit)?
i use my computer for gaming, video editing (vegas), and 3d design (maya, 3d max).

thanks for reading, hope somebody could enlighten me

 

[Hameedo]

an x1600 has a 128-bit 4-channel GDDR3 interface, and an x1800 has a 256-bit 8-channel interface.

and that's enough !....more memory bandwith increases it's capicity ..and the amount of infromation it can store ...

there is another difference ...I think X1600 as 12 Pipline pixel but X1800XL has 16 pipline pixel....and that is a major factor of 3D performance ...
they aslo differ in the numbre of shader units ....

Generally I wouldn't leave X1800XL ..it waaaaaay better than X1600...

 

[irot]

Generally I wouldn't leave X1800XL ..it waaaaaay better than X1600...

i appreciate your opinion, and of course the x1800xl is better, i know that much.
i'm just wondering if the performance gap between the two caused by one having 128-bit and the other 256-bit justifies the $150-200 price gap.
because just like most of us here, money IS a concern when buying new hardware.

 

[dedla]

The prices haven't been fluctuating too much in the past couple of weeks that I've seen, it just depends on what you feel comfortable parting with at the time. I've been dead-set on an x1800xt for months now, but it won't matter much since I don't have a MB or CPU picked out yet. The x1900 should be out by now, I haven't even glanced at it yet, but just wait a few weeks, see what prices do.

I'm sure there's plenty of people that can give you sells pitches on why you should buy the better card. I just suggest settling on what you feel you need and save for it.