x1950 vs HD2600?

[relisys]

Hi i'm a regular gamer (play cod4) and i'm looking for a pci-e graphics card, to replacemy piece of **** x1600pro. I saw the x1950 and was recommended the HD 2600, is it really good or better? Or is there are any other graphics cards ( ATI or nvidia welcome) you could recomend for round the same price and of similar quality.

 

[WR2]

Have you checked your power supply? What monitor resolution do you use?
You're looking at: (LOTS of different models and features available)
2600XT 256/512MB models from ~$80-$100 after rebate
1950Pro 256/512MB models from ~$105-$125 after rebates
HD3850 256MB model from ~$170 after rebate
2600XT 1950Pro HD3850 sample prices

Performance wise they look like this in COD4 (note the AA/AF - you'll get more FPS with less IQ-Image Quality)

You can get a 8800GTS/256 for about $125 after rebate

More benchmark reviews between those card here: FiringSquad 3850/3870 review

 

[relisys]

I have a 600w power supply, 20" monitor, AMD x2 6000+ 3.0ghz, 4 gig of ram, jesus those frame rates are low on that graph, i run mid spec graphics at about 30 odd fps, not great but hey.

 

[relisys]

sorry forgot to say thats the spec of the new pc i bourght but cant use it till i get a graphics card, i get 30 odd fps on my current **** 1.

 

[WR2]

Usually the benchmarks are done a the highest quality settings. That way you see the performance shown at Best Quality instead of the medium or low quality that older/weaker GPUs use to get playable FPS. If you turn off AA/AF and set quality to medium you can expect a big jump in FPS.

Your new PSU should be good. A 20 LCD widescreen needs a good GPU to pump out the 1680x1050 pixel data.

 

[relisys]

ahh ok, so by the looks of the graph out of the 2 the x1950pro is the better of the two, i just thought th 2600xt would be better because it has a faster clocking speed.

 

[Arklon]

Get an HD3850 if you can afford it. Or two. Or four.

 

[WR2]

2nd vote for 3850 - especially if you're looking at other games in the year or two ahead.

 

[aznstriker92]

Where are these benchmarks from.

 

[decripple]

Go with the HD 3850 it is absolutely worth the price it kills both of the cards you mentioned and is at one of the best price/performance ratios right now.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

You can get a 8800GTS/256 for about $125 after rebate

Do you have a link? Or is that a GF8600?

Cause I don't think you can find a GT-256 in stock for that price let alone a not yet released GTS-256.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Cheapest HD3850 I've seen was at BestBuy @ $159;
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8636657&type=product&id=1194053242019

 

[WR2]

Do you have a link? Or is that a GF8600?
Cause I don't think you can find a GT-256 in stock for that price let alone a not yet released GTS-256.

8600GTS @ $125 would be right. And in that $100-125 range I think the OP was considering.

Benchmarks from FiringSquad 8800GT/256 review

 

[F34R1355]

Raw performance: X1900 > HD 2600
Features: HD 2600 > X1900
If you are looking to still use the card to play most games in the next couple of years choose the HD 2600. If you want to chance that developers do not go DX10 for X1900.

 

[willster]

Except the HD 2600 is woefully inadequate for good quality DX10 gaming. Get an HD 3850 if budget allows or get an X1900 XT version if you can find one as it offers better performance than the 1950 pro.
DX9 is a huge market and it will still be here in 2 years time (especially as it offers better performance than DX10 which we all know was massively overhyped!)

 

[relisys]

Ok awsome , what about the 8600GTS any good or is the HD 3850 more powerfull?

 

[cleeve]

The 3850 absolutely dominates the 8600 GTS. Not even in the same league.

 

[WR2]

That COD4 chart makes the 8600GTS performance "look" closer to the 3850 than it should.
If you look at some of the other gaming benchmarks you'll see the 3850 has the potential to be
quite a bit more powerful than 8600GTS.

These charts from review @ ExtremeTech
When you consider the price difference between 8600GTS and 3850 is only ~$35-45 I don't
think anyone can really recommend 8600GTS as the better option. The "before rebate" cost
of the 8600GTS is around $145 or even higher depending on the make/model.

 

[F34R1355]

3850 >>>>>> 8600GTS

 

[relisys]

I thank you guys for all your help, hope to order the HD3850

 

[cleeve]

how many FPS you get depends on the game.

Anything more than the refresh rate of your monitor... if it's LCD, probably 60 HZ which equals 60 fps - is a waste.

 

[norton]

I was looking at the x-1950Pro, but not sure if I have enough power. My PSU is 300w.

 

[relisys]

Why does the HD2600xt have a higher Core Clock Speed of 800 MHz than the hd3850's 668. I'm a real nub when it coems to computers, even though i spend most of my time using them .

Also what about the HD 2900 GT? is that any better, found it for £100 which is in my price range but whats it like in comparison to the HD3850?


Norton you need atleast a 500w PSU, my bro has one. I would recommend a 600w psu

 

[pauldh]

The HD3850 is better than the HD2900GT. In COD4 it's not a blowout like in some other games. http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/amd_rv670_performance_preview/page12.asp

Notice, in COD4, the 2900GT is about like the X1950 pro, 8600GTS, and HD2600XT without FSAA. With FSAA like these charts, the HD2600XT falls behind the others. Overall I put the 2900GT above the X1950 pro/8600GTS, but not by much. Priced right, it's ok, but at launch the 2900GT's price/performance was aweful. The 3850 is the better card for sure though. If you can stretch your budget to include the 3850, it's your card.

 

[relisys]

thank you very much pauldh, you speak with such sense and fluency. You have just made me make my mind up, i'm going to get a HD3850, in my price range and from what i hear it's got for a couple of years. Thank you m8.

Actually if i wait a few weeks longer i can afford the HD3870 so i'll get that one instead.