Tom's Hardware > Forum > Graphic & Displays > Graphics Cards > 2 Radeon X1600 XT Video Cards or 1 X1900XT card with a catch

2 Radeon X1600 XT Video Cards or 1 X1900XT card with a catch

Forum Graphic & Displays : Graphics Cards - 2 Radeon X1600 XT Video Cards or 1 X1900XT card with a catch

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diaco1974   05-10-2006 at 01:53:06 AM

So I am getting a new computer.
ASUS A8R32-MVP Deluxe - MB
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400 - CPU
Corsair TWINX2048-3500LLPRO - mem
I am getting a free Radeon X1600XT from my father in law.
My question is; do I save up and buy a single X1900XT or just get a second X1600XT and put it in crossfire mode?

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GherkinPekul   05-10-2006 at 02:31:25 AM
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I am building a new rig with the same motherboard very soon. I was in the same quandry. On my budget, I am going for one x1800xt for now. It looks like you are planning to overclock based on the board and the ram choice, so why not get an Opteron? I'm getting the 170, which is cheaper than the x2 4400. If you don't plan on OC'ing, that ram, though very nice, might be overkill. That's my 2 cents.

Reply to GherkinPekul
angry_ducky   05-10-2006 at 03:17:28 AM
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Quote :

I am building a new rig with the same motherboard very soon. I was in the same quandry. On my budget, I am going for one x1800xt for now. It looks like you are planning to overclock based on the board and the ram choice, so why not get an Opteron? I'm getting the 170, which is cheaper than the x2 4400. If you don't plan on OC'ing, that ram, though very nice, might be overkill. That's my 2 cents.



I agree with everything that you're saying. That RAM is very nice, indeed, but value select will do if he's not overclocking. Or the cheaper XMS stuff.

Reply to angry_ducky
illicitsc   05-10-2006 at 04:22:35 AM
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get the free x1600xt duh! and wat ever u do dont buy another one. dont even open the free one... sell it or return it for cash and buy the x1900

Reply to illicitsc
davidflet9   05-10-2006 at 10:17:26 AM
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get the x1900 that would finish your setup very nicely, two x1600 cards are really nothing special!

Reply to davidflet9
Primitivus   05-10-2006 at 11:16:56 AM
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Indeed there's no comparison. A single X1900XT would be faster than FOUR X1600XT if that kind of thing was possible. Sell the X1600 and get the X1900 if you're serious about gaming, which you probably are, judging by your choice of components. If you don't game much though the X1600 is decent, not to mention FREE in your case. If I were you though, I'd keep the X1600 for a few months while I saved enough for the next gen of GPU's due out shortly

Reply to Primitivus
fainis   05-10-2006 at 11:49:33 AM
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here it is my friend ...

one x1900xt(x)....will crush...destroy.....smash..whatever ....the two x1600......
x1600 is very weak and i don`t think two of them can make an impression......the crossfire story is to long to be discussed in here...

and i see another problem ...you said you`ll gonna get one from your father ....what kind of board?.....crossfire will require a master card .....and i`m sure you`ll have complications .....

Reply to fainis
mdd1963   05-10-2006 at 01:42:05 PM
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"Single X1900 will DESTROY dual X1600. "

I formally 2nd that!!!!

Reply to mdd1963
ara   05-10-2006 at 02:46:27 PM
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yeah, i agree with the x1900 story...

but...

Quote :

and i see another problem ...you said you`ll gonna get one from your father ....what kind of board?.....crossfire will require a master card .....and i`m sure you`ll have complications .....



i think the x1600's were the only GPU's which didn't need a master card for Crossfire operation?

Ara

Reply to ara
fainis   05-10-2006 at 02:51:01 PM
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not sure about this one....that`s why it needed to be checked out.........crossfire for this type of card is a joke anyway so .........

Reply to fainis
Datman   05-10-2006 at 03:54:02 PM
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Go the X1900XT.

X1600XT in crossfire, just a joke compared to the X1900XT.

Reply to Datman
Cleeve   05-10-2006 at 04:42:47 PM
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Quote :


i think the x1600's were the only GPU's which didn't need a master card for Crossfire operation?

Ara



Yeah, X1600/X1300 cards don't need a master card.

But still, no contest. Two X1600's won't even challenge an X1800, never mind an X1900...

Reply to Cleeve
ara   05-10-2006 at 07:14:00 PM
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yeah, i know it's no challenge, just pointing out that he was wrong about needing a master card with the x1600's (and you pointed out the x1300's too)

btw, if the low end cards can do CF with no master card, why didn't they make the high end do the same...?

Ara

Reply to ara
diaco1974   05-10-2006 at 08:27:41 PM
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Thanks for all the responses.

I have a question on the recomendation of getting an opertron chip over an X2 chip. Would the opertron really work ~the same as an X2 chip?

ty

Reply to diaco1974
Primitivus   05-10-2006 at 08:36:03 PM
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They are the same (look at the specs). Opterons usually overclock better if you're into that kind of thing

Reply to Primitivus
Anoobis   05-10-2006 at 09:15:38 PM
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Quote :

btw, if the low end cards can do CF with no master card, why didn't they make the high end do the same...?

Ara



Because BestBuy probably sells more low to mid-range cards than they do high end???

Reply to Anoobis
rodney_ws   05-10-2006 at 10:10:00 PM
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Quote :

Indeed there's no comparison. A single X1900XT would be faster than FOUR X1600XT if that kind of thing was possible. Sell the X1600 and get the X1900 if you're serious about gaming, which you probably are, judging by your choice of components. If you don't game much though the X1600 is decent, not to mention FREE in your case. If I were you though, I'd keep the X1600 for a few months while I saved enough for the next gen of GPU's due out shortly



I think Primitivus made an EXCELLENT point... sure, the 1900 is a better card that 1600 Crossfire setup, but the 1600 is a capable card and will prove as passable until the next batch of DX10 cards are available... I have a 7800 GTX 256 MB and although it's not a top-notch card anymore, I do believe it'll hold me over until the next-gen cards are out... never considered a 1900/7900 or a 7800 SLI setup.

I believe you should stick with the SINGLE FREE 1600 for now and wait... why blow $450+ on a 1900 that is going to be yestertech in another 6 months?

Reply to rodney_ws
Cleeve   05-10-2006 at 10:15:36 PM
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Quote :

why blow $450+ on a 1900 that is going to be yestertech in another 6 months?



You could say that about every top-end videocard at any given time.

But yeah, probably would be a good idea to try the X1600 and see if it does the job for you, before blowing a wad...

Reply to Cleeve
waylander   05-10-2006 at 10:40:11 PM
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Quote :

Good points, but if you have a chance to own a top-line card, would you settle for a low-end card?



I would if it was free...

Reply to waylander
ivoryjohn   05-10-2006 at 10:41:46 PM
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Quote :

.....crossfire will require a master card .....and i`m sure you`ll have complications .....



Actually, x1600's x1300's don't require master card. And the upcoming 6.5 drivers are supposed to allow x1800xl's and x1800gto's without master card.

The 1600 never amounted to much. Even now I have seen the 1800xt listed as a mid-range when not so long ago the 1800xl was high end.

I have an 1800xl, and am hoping to add a gto in cf as a simple inexpensive upgrade, but I have to be realistic. Crossfire has, so far, been less impressive than SLI, and SLI has not been so impressive itself (compared to whatever comes out as next generation).

Reply to ivoryjohn
rodney_ws   05-10-2006 at 11:02:48 PM
- 0 +

Quote :

why blow $450+ on a 1900 that is going to be yestertech in another 6 months?



You could say that about every videocard at any given time.

But yeah, probably would be a good idea to try the X1600 and see if it does the job for you, before blowing a wad...

Now is a unique time thanks to Bill Gates & Co. trying to force everyone to Vista... DirectX10 won't be an option on Windows XP so a DX9 card (all current cards) will definitely show its age when DX10 cards drop.

I agree that all cards are yestertech in 6-9 months, but this appears to be a particularly unique cycle.

Reply to rodney_ws
Cleeve   05-10-2006 at 11:49:02 PM
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I dunno. People sang the same song when the 9700 PRO came out... all directX 8 cards will be useless! Upgrade to a DX9 Card!

But in the end, there were at least three years ahead for DX8 cards. Vista will eb the same thing, nobody's going to develop a game that doesn't support DX9, and limits their potential user base that much. it just doesn't make fiscal sense.

Reply to Cleeve
Primitivus   05-11-2006 at 11:07:59 AM
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Quote :

I dunno. People sang the same song when the 9700 PRO came out... all directX 8 cards will be useless! Upgrade to a DX9 Card!

But in the end, there were at least three years ahead for DX8 cards. Vista will eb the same thing, nobody's going to develop a game that doesn't support DX9, and limits their potential user base that much. it just doesn't make fiscal sense.



Agreed

Reply to Primitivus
FITCamaro   05-11-2006 at 01:13:45 PM
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The lower end cards can do Crossfire without a Master card, but I believe there is a decently significant performance gain by using one. Maybe I'm wrong though. I know the 6600 suffers in SLI from not using the SLI bridge between the two cards.

Reply to FITCamaro
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