x600xt or 6200TC?

[Mugz]

I need the opinions of USERs here, please, before I go sane.

Before I get the chorus of 'get the 8800GTX!' or 'get the x1950XTX!' the machine is not meant for gaming. At least not yet. I'm looking at getting the 8800GTX or equivalent when I build up my C2D rig next year.

Choice1: ATI X600XT 256MB 128b PCI-E.
Choice2: nVidia 6200 256MB 128b PCI-E w/Turbocache.

The turbocache, as I understand it, means the 6200 actually has 128MB and uses 128MB system RAM to fill in - does this improve performance, decrease it, or isn't this a factor in this choice?

I am biased toward nVidia, not a fanboy though... 2 of my favourite gfx cards were ATI...

 

[enewmen]

NEVER get turbocache. (unless using only office apps) - It's DOG slow.
If you just need a card to give some graphics until you get a good card, get a normal 256 meg and 128bit memory nv6200. Both cards are slow, but the 6200 at least doesn't have shared memory. The 6200 has sm 3.0 and a few other small advantages over the x600. There are many fans of the x850 series (for good reasons), but I don't think you want to go that path.

Also, I don't suggest the x1950 xtx or 880gtx unless you KNOW you need it. If you are not sure, you might do just as well with a future 8600gt or a current x1950 xt. Those last 2 cards are cheaper (than the 8800gtx) and will use less power.

 

[4745454b]

In terms of pure performance, the x600XT is faster. The x600 series is just the 9600 card on the PCIe bus. There should be the bridge chip somewhere on that card. You say the machine isn't going to be used for gaming (yet), so what is it going to be used for? If you want the faster of the two, its the x600. If your just looking for something to hold you over, its the cheaper one.

 

[Mugz]

Thanks for the advice - I really had to get that turbocache thing cleared up before making a mistake.

I have the choice between those two specific cards, since I can get either for vastly sub-par prices. I have to build up a machine for 9 months heavy use, and have to do so on as tight a budget as possible. Mainly I'm getting bits that are being sold off by suppliers as either end-of-life or out of warranty, hence their low (low) prices. Actually, the only component I'm paying list for is the CPU (P4D 925).

I'm only going to look at the heavier-duty gfx cards, mobo and other bits when I have the budget to do so. Thanks again!

 

[Mugz]

Lucky for me then that the faster option is also cheaper (by a whole R100.00) and has 256MB TRUE memory as opposed to 256MB of which half is system RAM.

The use of the machine will be mainly along the lines of the more basic older (pre-2005) games, coding (for PLCs and other industrial automotion systems), internet, movies/music, ripping and misc other shite.

Thanks!