X800GTO2 or X1300 ?

[Fatboy40]

My X700Pro died on Thursday in the middle of Battlefield 2 so it's time for a new card.

I'm on a budget so what should I go for ?.

So far I'm up for the Sapphire X800GTO2 but as I can get the X1300 Pro for less should I go for that instead ?. In theory it's better than the Sapphire plus it has full DirectX 9.0c suppport.

Opinons ?.

Ta

[mike_w]

Definately the X800GTO - the X1300 is slower (to my knowledge), and you can always overclock the X800GTO.

[zulander]

another vote for the gto or gto2 if u can get hold off it. Both seem highley overclockable and decent cards in there own right. Just having a quick look around the net and off about 5 sites they have all given it editors choice or simelar awards

[Fatboy40]

Thanks people

It seems liek the Sapphire GTO2 once the extra pipelines are unlocked will match an X1600 it just seems that it's a rare card.

Anyone know where else you can get it apart from OCUK (rather not use them if possible).

Will a standard X800 GTO perform any better though than my old X700 Pro (not by much a think ?).

[Ricco]

The connect3D GTO cards are supposed to unlock, and can be had for around £120.

[Octavean]

Let’s put things in perspective:

The Sapphire X800GTO2 (and so I hear some version of the Connect3D GTO 256mb) can unlock and overclock to X850XT PE specifications and beyond with a 100% success rate. The X850XT PE can be very competitive with the new X1800XL (minus SM 3.0) and by association, so too is the considerably cheaper X800GTO2

X1800XL = ~$400
X850XT PE = ~$335
X800GTO2 = ~$219 –to- $250 (OEM–to-Retail)

If you can get an X800GTO2 or the right connect3D GTO card then it would be a step up from a standard GTO or even the X1600/X1300 class of cards (on non-SM 3.0 apps).

[Fatboy40]

Sapphire X800 GTO2 it is then

The latest Custom OC mag raves about it so there goes my money.

Seems no where other than OCUK stocks them ?

[fredered]

dont think they are, according to one of the guys on their forum they bpught pretty much all of them so there wouldnt be any competition, and i cant see anywhere else getting it as its meant to be limited edition, but keep looking you may see it somewhere

tekheads and microdirect used to have i geuss there is a small chance they could get more stock

[NightshadowUK]

You can (at your own risk) unlock the extra pipelines, 16 I believe the total will be and after a lil more tweaking (ATiTool) you'll have one hell of a card.

Does anyone know how long the GTO2 will be available for? I REALLY want one but I'm probably gonna have to wait a month or so.

[zulander]

I was reading OCUK before and it seems that bar about 60 units they have taken the last lot of stock for this card. i dunno how they are selling but im guessing a month at very best more probably a week or 2.

[NightshadowUK]

Nice one zulander, I think I'll sleep on it and see how I feel tomorrow. At the moment I can't think of a reason why not to buy it.

[Octavean]

OK, here are some benchmarks so that you can compare the X1800XL (at stock speed) to an X850XT PE (at stock speed and an X800GTO2 at 540/590 with 16 pipes). Also included in addition to the X1800XL and X850XT PE are the X1800XT, 7800GTX, X1600XT and X1300 Pro.

http://graphics.tomshardware.com/gra...d_land-14.html

3Dmark has a tendency to favor the X1800XL over the X850XT PE (X800GTO@540/590/16) but real world games are a different story.

I seem to recall another set of benchmarks that include the X1800XL and the X850XT PE as well so I might post them too if I can find them. Naturally, I would prefer an X1800XL/X1800XT or a 7800GT(X) but if you don’t want to meet the price that these cards command,….an X800GTO2 will definitely do.

***edit***

OK, here is another set of independent benchmarks that have both X1800XL and X850XT PE numbers. You have to look closely though because they do not simply lump all the cards together. Anyway this set has a very similar outcome as the other set of benchmarks with respect to the X1800XL and X850XT PE.

http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid...e=expert&pid=9

Note that the first set consists of X1800XT, X850XT (PE) and 7800GTX (450/1.25) and the second set consists of X1800XL, 7800GTX(450/1.25) and 7800GT (450/1.05).

[NightshadowUK]

I see you have a GTO2 overclocked to X850XT PE speeds, what cooling have you got that thing on? Please tell me it's stock!

And how're you finding the card in general?

[Merlin4458]

Also what is this and is it free ATI HDTV Wonder ....

I have a x850 xt pe, would u suggest overclocking the card at this stage, i,e are there any simple overclocks that wouldnt harm the card and can provide and obvious performance to the eye?

[Octavean]

I used stock cooling. The RAM is cooled on both sides.

The Sapphire X800GTO2 uses the same PCB as the X850XT xx complete with six-pin power connection. The same R480 chip is used and 1.6ns RAM,….(I think I didn’t actually check my card). It’s a great card whether you consider the lower price tag or not. Doom3 and Quake4 look great and play smoothly!!!

It runs relatively cool and fan speed is adjusted on the fly, although, you can force fan speed to what you want.

BTW, I have had the core up to 600 and I have had the MEM up to 600 as well. I didn’t stress test it though but I know that it can do more then the 540/590 I typically leave it. At 540/590 it is rock solid!!!

[Ricco]

But the GTO2 does not 100% mod to the XT PE, so its still a risk for sure...