X850 PE vs 7600gt

[markkleb]

The x1800gto is bigger, hotter and cant be unlocked.

The 7600GT is smaller, dosent need extra power, Has SM3.0

The X850PE is MUCH faster(256bit mem) but SM2.0

So it looks like in the under $200 range its between these 2..

What do u like better?

 

[gygabite]

I'd go for X850XT-PE, its a "complete" card, not crippled and cut.Better buy yesterdays highend cards than current midrange cards.

 

[EnglishLion]

I'd choose the 7600GT myself. It's supposed to be a very good card. A recent group test in CustomPC puts them neck and neck on current games. However the 7600GT has the advantage of SM3 and being a newer chip it draws less power (test rig draws 194W v 226W - cycling 3dmark06). Of course they rate the X1900XTX as the best card but that's costs a few buttons more!

They managed to OC their test card from 560/700 up to 680/850 too, which is pretty good OCing.

Unfortunately their web site is kept a few months behind the magazine to avoid undermining the sales of the mag, but it'll appear in the labs section @ www.custompc.co.uk eventually (June edition of mag).

 

[Tatty_Two]

This seems to be a common topic at the moment, you know, the last generation high end card versus the newer generation mid range card, there is of course no clear and correct answer, both have key attributes in their favour, if you will forgive me for my laziness I am gonna paste what my views were in a recent other thread, I think as an 850xt owner I was being fairly honest and diplomatic (albeit just a little biased!) it goes like this:

"You are posing yourself the problem everyone faces on a tight budget, do you go for the more upto date current mid range card with SM3.0 or opt for a high end previous generation card without SM3.0? Only you can really answer that and we all have differing opinions most of which are valid to some degree.
I had a 6800 with SM3.0 prior to my non SM3.0 current card, the 6800 was good, in BF2 I could however only manage mid range visual settings with little or no AA/AF but I had my nice lights and additional effects, now with my 850xt running far in excess of PE speeds I dont get the SM3.0, what I do get though is maxed settings with loads of AA/AF and lets be clear here for one minute.....both visually and gameplay wise there is no comparison the 850 without SM3.0 wins hands down! Fact (IMO).

Now that only applies if you are playing the most demanding games where a 1600xt (or in this case 7600GT) for example just has not got the processing power of the 850xt, I would imagine in CSS or DoD the 1600xt (or 7600GT) would be lovely and give you that SM3.0, these 2 games actually support dynamic lighting in SM2.0 so you get some of the quality as well from the 850. The 1600xt and 7600GT are excellent value for money cards and it is more future proof but I feel today in demanding games there is little point in having the SM3.0 if your resolution and/or display settings are mediocre cause you just dont have the revs to run it smoothly. I got a 32FPS increase in DoD when I got the 850 over the 6800 and 21FPS in BF2, whatever game your playing, if you cant keep the framerate above 30FPS the experience is going to be shallow. I have not missed SM3.0 in the slightest! But hey, thats my opinion".

 

[markkleb]

thank you Tatty_One for the insight.

 

[Tatty_Two]

But I would never buy the PE, for the price hike just get the straight 850xt, most O/C to PE speeds in any case on stock cooling and if you can get your hands on a HIS ICEQ II... turbo version or not you get the ATI Silencer 5 Rev 2 as standard allowing you to clock to scary speeds!

 

[pt]

I would go for the 7600 gt, only because it has newer technology and doesn't get has hot as a x850xtpe and if it can get to 680/850 all the better

 

[markkleb]

I just bought the X850 XT for $135 what a great deal. I have 4 of the ACcooling coolers so that will be no prob.

I was gonna get the 7600GT cause it was smaller so there would be more room in the case for Water cooling and all my HDDs(4) but its so slow compared to the X800 series.

I looked at the X1800GTO ($169)but it is a LOT hotter and draws a LOT more power.

And I wanted 16pipes and 256 bit memory.

But for $135 how do you NOT get the X850XT? It was too good of a deal...

 

[Tatty_Two]

I just bought the X850 XT for $135 what a great deal. I have 4 of the ACcooling coolers so that will be no prob.

I was gonna get the 7600GT cause it was smaller so there would be more room in the case for Water cooling and all my HDDs(4) but its so slow compared to the X800 series.

I looked at the X1800GTO ($169)but it is a LOT hotter and draws a LOT more power.

And I wanted 16pipes and 256 bit memory.

But for $135 how do you NOT get the X850XT? It was too good of a deal...

VERY nice deal!!

 

[markkleb]

Thanks Tatty and thanks again for taking the time to give a through opinion. Mark

 

[Nergal]

X850XT all the way baby!!!

You can buy in 1-2 years a 7900GTX or so^^

low price I'd go for an X850
mid price: 7900GT
high price: X1900XT @XTX ^^

going to buy myself an x850xt or 7900gt, can someone tell me if that 7900Gt is reallt load sbetter or not? Also, will it hold in an shuttle? (limited PSU) an will it overclock decently?

 

[markkleb]

for the shuttle I would get my old videocard. Its a HIS X800 GTO IceQ II video card. It OCs to 575/650 easy and has the very good AC cooler and NO extra power is needed.

I think the 7900 would KILL ur PS.So would the X850XT.

 

[Tatty_Two]

Thanks Tatty and thanks again for taking the time to give a through opinion. Mark

Always a pleasure! (even if at times I am a little biased!).

 

[Tatty_Two]

Damn this forum is far too clever! was hoping to cheat and vote for the 850 again but it won't let me :shadedshu

 

[zekrahminator]

I just bought the X850 XT for $135 what a great deal. I have 4 of the ACcooling coolers so that will be no prob.

No fair, I had to pay $214 for mine . Any chance you could send one of your spare ATIsilencer5's to me? I was thinking on going and buying one but if you have alot of spare ones...I'm sure we could work something out .

 

[markkleb]

hey zek this is hard to beat...
http://www.svc.com/avc-at5-r2.html

 

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Hey marklebb, I have a VF700-Cu LED on my XL right now and I get about 37idle/60 load. Will that AC help me out alot. I get decent temps but usually my temps are that because of my ambient temps.

 

[markkleb]

Hey Azn, The AC coolers rock. First the plate is copper(not alum) second they are very quiet, third they are $20....

And best of all they take the hot air from ur case and send it out instead of swirling it around.

 

[Azn Tr14dZ]

I might get one with my new comp

 

[zekrahminator]

Thanks for linky markkleb! I have a birthday coming up, that's probably going at the top of my list . 37 idle/ 62 load in a warm room means that when summer comes this thing is going to COOK. I've pretty much mastered my fan speeds, but hey, a new cooler is ALWAYS fun .

 

[markkleb]

Dont forget the AS5. And have fun...

 

[zekrahminator]

I don't trust myself with AS5 on a VGA core . The stock stuff is supposed to be AMAZING, better then AS5 on Arctic Cooling Coolers. I'm pretty much new to cooler replacement. I've done it before, but...I'll stick with the safe side.

 

[EnglishLion]

I still stand by the 7600GT myself. You're not trading performance for sm3.0, you're getting similar performance +SM3.0 as a bonus.

Also you can SLi 7600GT cards!

 

[HookeyStreet]

The stats here (click the link) speak for themselves, the 7600GT may be the 'newer' card but it still doesnt match upto the X850XT/X850XTPE for shear power!

http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=55&card2=385

http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=56&card2=385

X850XT 7600GT (IMHO)

 

[Tatty_Two]

Hey marklebb, I have a VF700-Cu LED on my XL right now and I get about 37idle/60 load. Will that AC help me out alot. I get decent temps but usually my temps are that because of my ambient temps.

Just look at my speeds in spec, never go above about 58C to answer your question.