X800 vs. HD2600XT - Big difference or not worth it?

[scabbo1]

This may seem like a stupid question but will I see a good performance increase with an upgrade from my current X800 to a HD2600XT?

I am on a limited budget so if its not worth it I am not going to upgrade. Is there any location to compare the two cards side by side ie a 3dmark test?


Thanks!!! a ton all.

 

[major53]

scabbo1 you can compare both video cards by going to the charts @ toms hardware under video,it will compare both cards and give you a better idea on what you are looking for,oh by the way,what is the budget for the card?hope this helps you out. http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/graphics-cards/3dmark06-v1-0-2-hdr-sm3-0-score,538.html

 

[scabbo1]

I tried doing that but could not find the X800 - am I doing something wrong?

 

[dirtmountain]

This hierarchy chart shows the X800 and should help.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/Best-Graphics-Card,2011-6.html
it shows only a 3 step upgrade (depending on the X800 model) That's the minimal noticeable upgrade that Cleeve recommends. Does your system have an AGP or PCIex16 graphic card socket ?

 

[scabbo1]

System

Asrock 939 Dual Sata2
AMD 4000 939
2GB DDR400
Win XP

PCIex16

 

[scabbo1]

Current Vid card:

SAPPHIRE 100105SR-BL Radeon X800XL 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card

 

[SuicideSilence]

You will see a performance increase, but nothing major. Mabye spend a little bit more money and get a 8800gs or 9600 gso? Ive seen a 8800gs on newegg for 79$ and free shipping.

 

[major53]

scabbo1 sorry about the bad link,dirtmountain is right your not going to see that much of a improvement,between the x800 and the 2600 xt .what is the amount you can spend on a video card.don't know what you are trying to runn on that system(gamming etc)I probably wouldn't try to upgrade untill I upgraded some of the other parts.

 

[dirtmountain]

Normally i'd say that a 3 tier upgrade isn't worth the money, but if you're willing to deal with a rebate offer then this 2600XT for $20 after rebate may be worthwhile. (i hate rebates) You will not see a "good performance increase" only a mild one.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121082

^ i agree with suicidesilence. A 9600GSO can be had for about $75 after rebate or a HD3850 for the same amount and would be a much more noticeable improvement.......please list your power supply before buying either of the upgraded cards though

*edit* sorry just noticed that you have a 800XL, only a single tier, you would probably see no improvement by going with that 2600XT

*further edit* the X800XL uses the same amount of wattage as the 9600GSO uses
http://www.atomicmpc.com.au/forums.asp?s=2&c=7&t=9354
so logical budget upgrades would be a 9600GSO at $70 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162013
or a HD 3850 $75 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131096

 

[megamanx00]

Go with at least a 3850. They can be had with 512 RAM for less than $100 before any mail in rebates. If that's too much for you then wait for the 4650 and 4670s to come out or save for an 8800.

 

[scabbo1]

Ok I think the 8800GS looks good at $84 at newegg.com done!



Major 53 the board that I have will allow me to goto AM2 so I can upgrade that easily - any recommendation on that - ie good chip for the $

 

[mactronix]

Hi scabbo1,
Trying to get a direct comparison is going to be hard as the two cards are a couple of generations apart.
Also people who are telling you there isnt much differance between the two are just plain wrong.
How differant will depend on which X800 model we are talking about, but the 2600 supports a differant shader model which means things will visually look better for starters.
I had a X800XL and upgraded to a X1650 XT and not only was the picture visually better due to the differance in the shader model, it was actually faster as well. When you consider that a 2600XT runs at a similar level to the 1950 pro its easy to see that it has to be faster than an X800. As i said how much depends on the model we are talking about and also which games you are playing will make a differance.
Give us an idea of budget and where you are shoping UK/USA and we will see what we can find you.

mactronix

 

[pauldh]

Ok I think the 8800GS looks good at $84 at newegg.com done!



Major 53 the board that I have will allow me to goto AM2 so I can upgrade that easily - any recommendation on that - ie good chip for the $

What motherboard? Is it an AM2 mobo, or an Asrock 939 that supports Am2 through the cpu upgrade card? Your wording makes me think it's the later. If it's the upgrade card you will want a Windsor core Athlon 64 X2 cpu, which will limit your options. I have that setup myself with a Windsor X2 5600+.

If you are able to run a dual core cpu, the 8800GS will be a huge step above an X800XL. Even the 2600XT would have been worth it, but 9600GSO/8800GS/HD3850 would be alot better.

 

[DXRick]

I have a X800XT AIW. It only supports up to shader model 2.0, which means that I could not play the latest Tom Clancy Splinter Cell game.

I would definitely want to upgrade to a card that supports DX 10 (and shader model 4.0). So, I agree with the others and get at least a 9600GSO/8800GS/HD3850. [:mousemonkey]

 

[major53]

scabbo1 I have to agree with what pauldh says in his reply regarding the mother.

What motherboard? Is it an AM2 mobo, or an Asrock 939 that supports Am2 through the cpu upgrade card? Your wording makes me think it's the later. If it's the upgrade card you will want a Windsor core Athlon 64 X2 cpu, which will limit your options. I have that setup myself with a Windsor X2 5600+.

If you are able to run a dual core cpu, the 8800GS will be a huge step above an X800XL. Even the 2600XT would have been worth it, but 9600GSO/8800GS/HD3850 would be alot better.

am2 and 939 are different chip sets.

in you next post list all the parts that are in your pc now and I promise you the people in here will give you the best help you can find.also games you want to play now and in the future. mobo ram cpu ps etc.hope this helps you

 

[scabbo1]

Sorry you guys are right I should have clarified:

Asrock 939 Dual Sata - I purchased the cpu upgrade board already because I knew the longer I waited the harder it would be to find.

So the board will support AM2 - why do I need to stick to Windsor?

 

[nottheking]

Personally, aside from the DX 10 and high-definition video decoding capabilities, you won't really notice all that much of again in going from your X800XL to the 2600XT; mid-range cards (such as the 2600XT) tend to lag as much as a few years behind fairly high-end ones like your X800XL.

It will be an upgrade, but I have my doubts that it'll really be an upgrade that'll be all that worthwhile. A more powerful card might make sense, though.

(of course, this is all coming from someone who's still using an X800XT)

 

[major53]

scabbo1 you don't have to stick with the windsor cpu you can us any am2 cpu you want to, it was only a example.I would like to see that convertor board that you purchased.I'm thinking that it is a cpu pin socket that converts to a am2 socket right.

 

[scabbo1]

Major - here is the link:

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=AM2CPUBRD

 

[major53]

scabbo1 thanks for the link,would guess you are limited for the cpu heatsink and fan you can us on that card hey.

 

[megamanx00]

The the ARock website to for any BIOS updates as well as the level of CPU support. More than likely you're going to be limited as to the wattage. If your board can only support 95W, which is likely, it's going to limit your choices.

 

[caamsa]

Sorry you guys are right I should have clarified:

Asrock 939 Dual Sata - I purchased the cpu upgrade board already because I knew the longer I waited the harder it would be to find.

So the board will support AM2 - why do I need to stick to Windsor?

My wife has the same board and CPU upgrade with an AM2 4600+ windsor and it works great. I have tried it with my 6000+ windsor and it worked fine but it did not identify the processor in the bios but it did run at 3Ghz. Just make sure you update your bios if you have not already.

Not sure if all the brisbanes will work with the cpu upgrade card. You might want to google some searches before making a commitment to a new cpu. Again it might run at the correct speed but it might not identify the cpu in the bios. The CPU upgrade board only supports up to a AM2 4600+ but like I said I have head that others have successfully used a birisbane even the BE 5000+. But again that is what I read I have never tried a brisbane in my system.

Good luck

 

[pauldh]

scabbo1 you don't have to stick with the windsor cpu you can us any am2 cpu you want to, it was only a example.I would like to see that convertor board that you purchased.I'm thinking that it is a cpu pin socket that converts to a am2 socket right.

Official support for the Asrock AM2 upgrade card is only for Windsor core CPU's. Others may work, but be sure to research it well before buying a non windsor core X2. See the support list here:
http://www.asrock.com/mb/cpu.asp?Model=939Dual-SATA2

Note the X2 5600+ Windsor is not on the support list either, but the Windsor FX @ 2.8GHz is and I had seen others had it working so I went with the 5600+. The 6000+ Windor is under $100 at newegg. It too MAY work fine, but I can't say for sure.

Here is a pic of mine with the retail Windsore 5600+ and DDR2 installed.

 

[dirtmountain]

^ one of the reasons i like this site so much.