OK help me make a QUICK decision on what vid card to order...

[SilentDeath]

http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthre...eadid=33767385
Quick search on google found this, which is my opinion.
If you havent seen that demp, run it now, the bump mapping looks quite uber

Although I prefer ATI as a company, I prefer the way it does things (compare ATI's GITG with Nvidias TWIMTBP for example and you know what I mean).
I still think nvidia makes good product s(even if it does use far too much marketing budget on them!).

Ati is going to need ps3, how soon I dont know, but Im equally tempted to get a nvidia card or x800xtpe, but not yet. I want to wait and find out later on.

[Nomadd]

Re: "I hope the nvidia cards arent AWFUL in hl2?"

Er, no. :-) Spent last night playing with the HL2Beta that got leaked over a year ago on my 6800GT. This is old, unoptimised code that treats the NV40 like an NV30, so hardly showing the 6800GT in it's best light. And the result is that the game is perfectly playable, nice looking, and nice and smooth (with 4xAA and 8xAF). It was pretty jerky and ugly on my Ti4600, but the 6800GT is sweet.

Bearing in mind how much better (i.e. vastly) the final HL2 code will be for the 6800 series, all I can say is that niether the GT or the Ultra will have any problem making this game look sweet (and remember, HL2 is a game that's mainly been developed on far less capable cards - 9800Pros/XTs).

Cheers,

Nomadd

[Noxis]

Please Noxis, lets not get childish about this. You've brought a 6800Ultra, and thats great, I hope you're very happy. If you are insecure, please don't clog up the forums with posts like that, making childish comments.

These kind of flame producing comments are not what I would expect from a forum moderator, I admin a few forums (one exceptionally large one) I would not allow this from my mods.

However you are correct the XTPE is an excellent card I dont want to take anything away from it.

Having read many forums I am sick of the ATI fanboi mentality. Reading through this thread you will see many automatically making the assumption that the XTPE rules all, a swift hard lesson (or kick in the nuts) helps remind people and open eyes to go out and form opinions of their own.

[Stewart]

It wasn't a flame producing comment, I was simply trying to put forward a few reasons why you might feel the need to say what you did, and point out that whatever the reason; I'm not interested and it stops now.

I say again, Noxis, please don't clog up the forums with childish comments such as the 'Have fun playing Doom III on your X800XTPE ' message you posted earlier. This can lead to ATi - Nvidia arguements, that are petty in nature, and have no place on this forum.

You've since claimed this was 'a joke' and I've accepted this.

If you want to tell us anything about the current high end cards, please do, but avoid the type of post you made ealier in this thread.

Many thanks,

Vaul.

[Richdog]

This has already been settled, the 6800U wins at some tests, while the X800XT wins at others. There's no need for endless debates or handbag swinging.

And just out of interest does "Don't be a tit all your life mate" class as something you say on your own forums? Seems if youre an admin on several forums you'd know not to speak to people like that and incite arguments... Im not getting involved in any arguments but it seems the first person to throw their dummy out of the window here was you. People who can't debate without getting offensive just don't get much respect in my book.

Anyway i'm only making a statement as I started the thread and it's getting a little more heated than i'd like, no reason not to keep things perfectly civil and get a better tone to the posts.

[Stewart]

Right, time to draw a line under it now, or the thread is lost.

Debate away people, but keep the level of debate above 'Hahaha! My card is 0.8fps faster than yours, because you suck!!11!!'. No need for it, and I'll remove it as soon as its posted.

Now we all know where we stand. End of story.

Richdog - I think the GT would be a good choice if the X800XT takes an age to come. I'm going to hold out for it though - good price after all. Just wondering how long its going to take... weeks? Months?

Can you imagine? I'll be sitting there, with a shiny new gaming rig, minus the graphics card, scratching my bits, waiting for it to arrive, whilst everyone else is playing Doom III.

Arrrgh!

[Noxis]

I am not interested in taking this further, I apologise for the "tit" comment but it was purely in retaliation to Vaul bringing the tone of the thread down (in my eyes) with me reducing myself to what I saw as his level.

At the time of the "tit"gate scandel I was not aware that Vaul was a moderator and it really took me by surprise after reading is previous post. Where I am flamed for being "childish" and "insecure" which I find exceptionally insulting.

I have nothing further to say on this matter.

[Richdog]

OK fair enough, both of you have a point from where i'm standing, Vaul went a bit over the top with those comments, and you called him a tit. so as far as everyone should be concerned that's the issue over. Karma is achieved.

Noxis, did you say you already have a 6800GT? Im seriously considering changing my order to a PCWORLD 6800GT as they're in-stock... i'd be very interested to see how they perform in HL2 as against the X800XT though. Shame no benchies have been released.

[Stewart]

At the time of the "tit"gate scandel I was not aware that Vaul was a moderator and it really took me by surprise after reading is previous post. Where I am flamed for being "childish" and "insecure" which I find exceptionally insulting.

Your post 'Have fune playing Doom III on your X800XTs ' was childish, and is exactly the sort of comment we need to avoid. It was also the moment you brought the tone of the thread down yourself.

Thanks for understanding.

[Noxis]

OK fair enough, both of you have a point from where i'm standing, Vaul went a bit over the top with those comments, and you called him a tit. so as far as everyone should be concerned that's the issue over. Karma is achieved.

Noxis, did you say you already have a 6800GT? Im seriously considering changing my order to a PCWORLD 6800GT as they're in-stock... i'd be very interested to see how they perform in HL2 as against the X800XT though. Shame no benchies have been released.

I actually have a Ultra XFX jobby, excellent card as well I had a XTPE which is also a very good card but I didnt find it as consistent despite higher peak frame rates. This I believe is due to the higher CPU load taken to run the card at peak performance.

[Stewart]

Rich - You thinking of cancelling your order with LowestOnWeb then mate?

[Richdog]

Well I am to be honest, although I dont desperately "need" the performance of a next-gen card now, i've got the whole "money burning a big fricken hole in my pocket" syndrome, and my 9800PRO just ain't suited to a 2.5Ghz A64. It's like doing the 100m sprint in clogs.

I'll contact them tommorrow and get the lowdown, if I get some vague "the suppliers say 2 weeks" bollocks, then i'll go for a 6800GT. But from what i'm gathering, X800XT's are rarer than purple sheep at the moment.

Noxis, what does your Ultra clock to then, is it much higher than the GT's?

[Stewart]

Some interesting benchmarks. I wonder if ATi can close the gap somewhat, with a new driver release? I mean, the flagship X800XTPE is getting beaten by the 6800GT, never mind the Ultra.

Reminds me of the time 5900Ultras were getting beaten by 9600s in DirectX 9 tests. I was all ready to get a 5900Ultra noticed those benchmarks, and switched to a 9800pro.

I know Nvidia is expected to have the upper hand in Doom III, but for the X800XT to be getting beaten by the GT is a worry.

How much did Nvidia close the DX9 gap on the 9800pro with their 5900Ultras, in driver release's? Do we reckon ATi can gain a bit of ground, or will they settle for a horses for courses situation and accept that OpenGL is Nvidia ground?

After all, ATi are banging on about Half Life II being 'their game', with vouchers and stuff. Are they looking to even the score with their cards performance in the other big FPS out this year?

[Noxis]

I have not tried clocking the Ultra yet as I am waiting on a the GPU water block to be released and I was busy solving a random freeze puzzle (turned out to be fast writes and nf3 chipset).

The XFX comes pre-clocked to 425/1200 anyway so is a bit of a performer.

In regards to 6800 and HL2 more than one source are rumouring that the 6800 is gonna be very good on this as well. I think Dave (Xev) has mentioned this as well as other *inside* type sources. However we are never gonna know (or believe) until we see it for ourselves or have official benchmarks done D34 stylee.

I have to say kudos to ID for the way they have done the official benchies, invite both card manufactorers there, ensure neither have tested the final gold version. Then allow them to both use their best hardware + drivers.

[Richdog]

lol OK couldn't wait any longer and just ordered a PNY 6800GT from PCW Component centre, paid for Saturday delivery so hopefully all will be cool. But I may keep the X800XT PE too and maybe sell the 6800GT on Ebay... or sell the X800XT PE for a profit, should make at least £40 on it as they're so rare. In fact that's a damn good idea!

OOOO saturday morning! And to think I just got my refurbed 22" Compaq P1220 delivered today too. Can we say 1600*1200 anyone?