x850xt or 7600GT

X850XT or 7600GT

  • X850XT

    Votes: 24 44.4%
  • 7600GT

    Votes: 30 55.6%

  • Total voters
    54

nubetube

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X850XT all the way, even though I am an nVidia fanboi. The 850xt is a lot better. 7600GT has crippled 128bit.

7600GT - Swimming across a lake filled with pirahnas using only your feet, and 15fps in pong.

X850XT - Walking across a 3ft high pool, 10,000+ fps in Pong.
 

radeonninjaxt

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Some nvidiots will argue that the 7600GT is superior because it has SM3, only problem is this card not powerful enough to fully utilize the advantages of SM3 without taking a big performance hit.

Go for the 16pipline 256mb X850XT, it will run circles around the wimpy 7600GT with 12pipelines and 128mb memory.
 

teh_squaterer

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I would go with the 7600GT. If you look at performance tests, the X850 and 7600GT both trade blows. The 128-bit interface really doesn't cripple nearly as much as you would think. SM3 is also a nice point, because it is just barely powerful enough to really take advantage of it.

Edit: Ninjaxt, the 7600 has 256MB of memory. The 4 less pipes is mostly made up because of the higher clocks.
 

Multiplectic

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Let's face it, the X850XT was glorious in its days, but in the SM3 era, its showing its age...
You wanna play the latest games with the eye-candy features? (even though not as fast as a 7900...) go for the 7600GT
Both cards have 256 MB, and the 7600GT compensates the less pipelines with higher clocks. It's cooler, and consumes less power. Why would you buy old technology?
Sounds like I'm a fanboy or something, but I only rely on facts 8)
 

SiPex

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I agree with radeonninja it wont run as fast becuase it uses SM3 but not powerfull enough. I think im going to buy the ATi
 

Aids

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Let's face it, the X850XT was glorious in its days, but in the SM3 era, its showing its age...
You wanna play the latest games with the eye-candy features? (even though not as fast as a 7900...) go for the 7600GT
Both cards have 256 MB, and the 7600GT compensates the less pipelines with higher clocks. It's cooler, and consumes less power. Why would you buy old technology?
Sounds like I'm a fanboy or something, but I only rely on facts Cool



I agree with Multiplectic, the 7600gt will last you longer as far as newer technology goes. The x850 was, as he said, good in its days but now with out sm3 and other newer tech's its becoming legacy. 7600gt is an inexpensive upgrade that can last for a while, at least until even newer games come out. Then its time to open up the wallet a little wider for something a little more enthusiast.[/quote]
 

jbscotchman

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I'm sorry but people that say the 7600GT isn't powerful enough for Shader Model 3.0 are idiots and have no idea what they're talking about. That argument may have been true with the 6600GT, but the 7600GT is twice as powerful and is fully capable of utlizing Shader Model 3.0 in the games that support it. The whole 128-bit memory argument is another proof of ignorance. Neither card is capable of playing games like FEAR, COD 2, or Oblivion at 1600x1200 with AA and AF.

The 7600GT is a mid-range card thats not designed to play future games at those settings. Most people, like myself buy mid-range cards because you typically play at lower resolutions like 1024x768 with little AA/AF which means the 128-bit memory interface is never an issue. The X850XT was a powerhouse back in the day and is still a great card, and performs roughly the same as the 12 pipeline, 128 bit 7600GT.

Both cards will give you great performance as long as you don't plan on playing games at high resolutions with lots of AA/AF. However the 7600GT does have the advantage because it is fully compatible with DirectX 9.0c and supports Shader Model 3.0. Sure some people say that its no big deal but it is a clear advantage whether people want to admit it or not. I know when Unreal Tournament 2007 is released I'd rather be playing it on a 7600Gt instead of an X850 XT.
 

SiPex

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OMG all these opinions is making it such a hard decision. Any one have some benchmark scores of both cards with the same program?
 

cleeve

Illustrious
The benchmarks say the same thing.

No clear winner, they both trade blows. The 7600 GT has a SM 3.0 advantage but it doesn't mean that much because it's not powerful enough to use HDR it under stress in titles like Oblivion.

Nobody's going to buy either and lament not getting the other one. They're pretty damn close.
 

Ian

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Those who say the 7600GT is cripled because of its 128 bit memory are incorrect. It makes up for that with a very nice architecture and super high memory and clock speeds.

It mainly depends on what games you play, as the 7600GT wins some and loses some when pitted against the x850xt.

Basically I would say at this point it is personal preference, game dependent, availability, etc. Going with either card you won't be dissapointed.
 

radeonninjaxt

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Smart choice! what good is a video card with SM3 when its no where near powerful enough to fully utilize it without turning your game into a 15fps slide show :lol:
 

radeonninjaxt

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The X850XT will alow him to run the latest games on high settings with a nice resolution, you people need to also remember there is very little difference in SM3 vs SM2b that the X850XT uses. Also there are very few games if any which require you to have SM3.


When it comes down to it the 7600GT is only going to net you med settings in most of the latest games and when it comes to HDR and other SM3 techniques this card is just not gonna cut it as its simply to weak to appreciate those kind of visuals without turning things into a slide show. I cannot believe some of you people think this card will hold him over for a good while with some of the latest games coming out! no way no how.
 

radeonninjaxt

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The X850XT was a powerhouse back in the day and is still a great card, and performs roughly the same as the 12 pipeline, 128 bit 7600GT.

Complete and utter bs, try looking at some benches for both cards.

Both cards will give you great performance as long as you don't plan on playing games at high resolutions with lots of AA/AF.


Again more bs from a closed minded Nvidiot fanboy :roll: that might be true of your 7600GT and thats just part of the down fall of having only 128mb of video memory! My last card was an X850XT and I played all my games at 1280X1024 with 2-4 antialiasing and 8-16anisotropic filtering, BF2, Doom 3, Halflife 2, Far cry.......... All games ran around on high settings.

I know when Unreal Tournament 2007 is released I'd rather be playing it on a 7600Gt instead of an X850 XT.

ROTFLMAO have fun with your slide show! your an idiot if you think this game will be anywhere near playable on that weak card of yours using SM3. :roll:
 

Multiplectic

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Well, you might want to watch your words boy, or I should say "Atidiot"??
The 7600GT has 256MB of VRAM, as every mid-range actual card has...
I'd bet that the 7600GT dances circles around the X850XT in newer games...
And BTW, it takes an awesome, powerful SLI or Crossfire setup to run Oblivion like it should, and no X850XT could do any better than a 7600GT in such a game
 

radeonninjaxt

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Well, you might want to watch your words boy, or I should say "Atidiot"??
The 7600GT has 256MB of VRAM, as every mid-range actual card has...
I'd bet that the 7600GT dances circles around the X850XT in newer games...
And BTW, it takes an awesome, powerful SLI or Crossfire setup to run Oblivion like it should, and no X850XT could do any better than a 7600GT in such a game

7600GT has a 128-bit memory interace compared to the X850XT's 256-bit memory interface, the fact that both cards have 256mb video memory is only telling half the truth. Just another one of Nvidias great marketing ploys that you Nvidiot fanboys buy into. Sorry if I didnt make that clear enough the first time :roll:

Take any game out there to date and turn on 1280X1024 with 2aa and 16anio enabled and the X850XT will rip that pathetic 7600GT to shreds. Your an idiot if you think that card will hold a candle to the X850XT.

And as said before SM3 will cripple that card.
 

radeonninjaxt

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BF2 at 1280X1024 with 4aa 46.8 FPS with the 7600GT
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2717&p=10
BF2 at 1280X1024 with 4aa 65.3 FPS with the X850XT
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2466&p=3

It is very difficult to find many benchmarks comparing the two cards, I guarentee you though that this is only 1 of many examples that proves the 7600GT to be inferior to the X850XT when high resolutions are enabled and features such as AA and Anisotropic filtering. That 128bit-memory interface is a bottleneck to the on board 256mb memory! The 7600GT is a decent mid range card but it is simply underpowered compared to the X850XT when it comes to higher resolutions with all the eye candy enabled.

For all you people that think the 7600GT is more than adequate to handle SM3 and HDR with any of the latest games then you should take a look at Firingsquads review of oblivion. In the most demanding parts of oblivion with the Foilage and HDR enabled at 1280X1024 it cripples the 7600GT with a whopping 17.5 fps! you have to take the resolution down to 800X600 in this area to even get playable framerates! just barely 31.6fps! Who the hell wants to play a beutifull game like oblivion at 800X600 resolution!? Granted there are plenty of other places where the game is playable I only used this to prove a point as to how demanding it can get and trust me there are lots of places outside with foilage and trees so its kinda hard to avoid those low dips in FPS!

These same places also put a majore strain on the highest end video cards such as the X1900XT and the 7900GTX which both of these cards are way more powerful than a 7600GT.

Oblivion in particular has set the standared for graphics and its only going to get ever so more demanding. Too think the 7600GT will hold you out for any real length of time using SM3 and HDR features is just being foolish and naive. It simply doesnt have the power necessary and with these games looking as good as they do who wants to have to lower settings and disable eye candy just to get good FPS?
 

Anoobis

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You'll be happy with either one.

If space is a limitation, then go with the 7600GT as it is only a single slot wide card where the X850XT will take up 2 with its size. The 7600GT also doesn't require a hookup to the PSU like the X850XT does but that is more of a moot point since both have the same 350W power requirements.

Argueing over SM 3.0 is also a moot point since neither card can take full advantage of it and also since most games don't even use it yet.
 

jbscotchman

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Battlefield 2 and Oblivion are two games that favor ATI cards more than Nvidia so yes, the X850XT probably is better in those situations. But feel free to dig up some more benchmarks of games like Doom 3, Quake 4, Chronices of Riddick, Serious Sam 2, and even Half Life 2.
 

pauldh

Illustrious
Well, you might want to watch your words boy, or I should say "Atidiot"??
The 7600GT has 256MB of VRAM, as every mid-range actual card has...
I think it's hilarious that 128-bit memory interface vs. 256-bit memory interface keeps getting confused with 128MB and 256MB of RAM.

I'd bet that the 7600GT dances circles around the X850XT in newer games...
And BTW, it takes an awesome, powerful SLI or Crossfire setup to run Oblivion like it should, and no X850XT could do any better than a 7600GT in such a game
Ouch, you picked the wrong battle as the X850XT would absolutely destroy the 7600GT in Oblivion. FiringSquads Mainstream Oblivion review shows the slower X800XL easily beats the 7600GT in the outdoor foliage. Only downside is no HDR in Oblivion with the X800's. But FSAA and bloom the X850XT would make a joke out of the 7600GT. Shoot, I'd wager the X850XT would do fsaa/bloom better than a 7800GT. Other new games the 7600GT does well in though, hense why I say you picked the wrong battle.
 

jbscotchman

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This has been posted before in other threads, but its the only real comparison available at the moment.

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2006/03/21/bfg_7600_gt_oc_ati_x1800gto/5.html

I'd prefer to see a more direct comparison with both cards using the exact same settings, but as you can see the 7600GT beats the X850XT in F.E.A.R., and NFS Most Wanted, while in Battlefield 2 the X850XT has a small advantage. So again, both cards are good and trade blows with eachother, but the 7600GT does have the upper hand because it supports Shader Model 3.0 whether you think thats a big deal or not.
 

radeonninjaxt

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Shoot, I'd wager the X850XT would do fsaa/bloom better than a 7800GT. Other new games the 7600GT does well in though, hense why I say you picked the wrong battle.

And you would be correct in saying that! the X850XT is actually outperforming the 7800GT by a good margin in Oblivion.

X850XT vs 7800GT is a much better comparison.
 

radeonninjaxt

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This has been posted before in other threads, but its the only real comparison available at the moment.

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2006/03/21/bfg_7600_gt_oc_ati_x1800gto/5.html

You know whats pathetic about that test? its the 7600GT Overclock version going up against a stock X850XT. You know whats even more pathetic? the fact that you neglect to mention that.

Guess what? an X850XT can be overclocked too :roll:


In most of those comparisons there were 2fps difference between the two cards and yes I know they were dumb and didnt do a direct comparison with some of the same features enabled but my point is that you can take an X850XT and overclock and meet and most likely exceed those numbers.