X1950XT or 8600GTS

[Ankira]

I'm sorry if this question repeats other threads; I've looked around and couldn't see a definitive answer.
My choices:
Connect3D Radeon X1950XT (£147)
BFG 8600GTS OC 256MB (£141)

The X1950XT apparently runs better on DX9 games, but then the 8600 runs DX10 for the future.

I'm leaning towards the BFG card (Link) as it's overclocked already and looks like good value.

I have seen disapointing reviews of the 8600, so am not 100% convinced.

I'm looking at this for a gaming upgrade for Oblivion, NWN2, BF2142, etc (My Hardware Thread)

Any thoughts / advice?

 

[jeff_2087]

The 1950XT for sure. Although the GTS can run DX10 games, it'll probably be a pretty sad attempt at it. It can't even handle current games at high quality settings, much less future games.

 

[blade85]

1950xt

 

[Farhang]

One more X1950XT vote here! 8)

 

[cottonball]

1950XT all the way.

 

[M3d]

X1950XT hands down.

 

[jay2tall]

The 8600gts can't even keep up with the x1950Pro let alone the XT. The XT just blows it clean out of the water. Unless you are looking for COMPLETE DX10 compatibility right now, which is not needed, get the dang ATI card. Nvidia has the high end of the market right now but ATI still has the mid range cards.

Just look through this article:
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2975

 

[Gary_Busey]

Go with the 8600GTS














Psyche, X1950XT.

 

[Dr_asik]

X1950XT. :trophy:

 

[purdueguy]

I have the X1950XT. It runs Neverwinter Nights 2 perfectly on my Viewsonic 22" Widescreen at 1680x1050 resolution with all of the eye-candy on.

DX10 games aren't even available and when they do get here later this year, in my humble opinion, only the high end cards will run them sufficiently well. Getting a DX10 game is about eye-candy and why bother running a DX10 game on low resolution because of an insufficient video card.

One question would be: Will it be better to run DX9 at high resolution or DX10 at low resolution? My guess would be to run DX9 at high resolution.

I agree with the majority. Get the X1950XT.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

If it was only Oblvion then it'd be closer, but the X1950XT just walks alo over the GF8600 right now.

 

[Ankira]

Thank you everyone!

I wasn't expecting such a resounding vote for the ATI card. I'm guessing that if my budget stretched to a 8800, things may have been different, but as it is I'll be going for the X1950XT (and then look to upgrade to a 8800 in a year or so when they've come down to £50 )

Thanks !

 

[blade85]

i doubt they would come down to £50....at least not for another 5 years....but yeah you can hope

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Brand agnostic in these things. If you can swing a GF8800GTS-320 for only a small bit more, then definitely go that route.

Of those you found the X1950XT is the better deal.
And that's going to be the problem for the GF8600s until they can prove whether or not they can play DX10 titles with the effects turned on at reasonable framerates.

 

[Glacier]

Thank you everyone!

I wasn't expecting such a resounding vote for the ATI card. I'm guessing that if my budget stretched to a 8800, things may have been different, but as it is I'll be going for the X1950XT (and then look to upgrade to a 8800 in a year or so when they've come down to £50 )

Thanks !

I'm glad you have decided to take the X1950XT over that weak DX10 card. By the time DX10 games really get going, the 8600 won't even meet the minimum requirements.

 

[desidude006]

x1950xt for the best bang for the buck or wait for ati's mid range to come out.

 

[fender22]

Haha 'nough said

 

[sirheck]

If it was only Oblvion then it'd be closer, but the X1950XT just walks alo over the GF8600 right now.

Thats what i was gonna say.

 

[Gundam1s]

My vote goes to the 256MB x1950xt.
512MB would cost a bit more but why consider it if the 8800GTS is only 20 bucks more than it?

 

[cleeve]

Ditto what everybody else said.

 

[mrmez]

1950XT... cos i gots 1

Usually any NV card with x7xx or lower ends up being less that ideal for gaming. The x8xx and x9xx cards are obviously the good ones.

So even tough ur getting an 8 series dx10 card, it will be 'of the gay'

Using my NV multiplier trick...

Eg: 7900 vs 8600

7900 = 7x9= 63
8600 = 8x6= 48

7900 wins

Yah yah, i know its not SUPER accurate, the 8 series being so much better than the 7 has thrown it out a bit. But it can be helpful.

BTW... when will we see some THG benchies? AAAND what happened to the price/performance graphs?

 

[SEALBoy]

Absolutely no contest. X1950XT walks all over the 8600GTS.

DX10 support? Blah! Not much point if the card's not powerful enough to run any DX10 game.

 

[Canuck1]

I find this thread interesting for a couple of reasons:

I'm shopping for a video card for a HTPC I will build. I am wondering what to choose of these:
1) Nvidia 7900 or 7950
2) ATI X1950XT

I would like the option of HD (High Definition) so that is why I'm looking at the higher range of video cards.

3) I would like the option of installing a Linux distro and virtually all distros are quite picky about the video cards that are used.

Of the video cards I listed above, are any of the cards workable in linux? Does anyone know? I will research but if anyone knows offhand, that would be great. I would just like the option and to make things a little easier if I have a linux distro on a partition. It's not essential but depending on how the video card works in video recording/encoding (etc.) and in linux, that could be a deciding factor if prices and performance are relatively close.

 

[monst0r]

Absolutely no contest. X1950XT walks all over the 8600GTS.

DX10 support? Blah! Not much point if the card's not powerful enough to run any DX10 game.

8600 is such a big step down from an 8800 series card, if your in the price range, go w/ the 8800gts320mb. you won't have to upgrade for many years to come..

if you're not willing to spend that much on a card, then go w/ the 1950xt :trophy:
it will DOMINATE the 8600..

nvidia needs to have a medium card in between the 8600 and 8800, way too big of a step

 

[fender22]

My vote goes to the 256MB x1950xt.
512MB would cost a bit more but why consider it if the 8800GTS is only 20 bucks more than it?

exactly! not to mention the 8600 is predicted not to even handle dx10 all that well if at all playable... really with idda got the 1950xt stead of my 7900GT aghh different marketplace then...

I think hes got the point here.. So yeah, no many post hes prolly already bought it lol