oh, what 2900xt to buy...

[DecomposingStar]

There's the question.

There's about 6 different makes that i've seen, from various companies, and none of them have much information on what they include compared to other cards.

So what make of 2900xt should I get? PowerColor, Gigabyte, Asus, Sapphire, HightechHD?!

And no, i don't want to hear any "Get a GTX/S" stuff.

[Hasnath]

All of them use the reference design so grab the cheapest, most should have the valve coupon thing so it's down to you where you wanna but it from really. Look for the one with the longest warranty would be my suggestion.

At the moment I haven't come across any package that has the elusive 8pin pci-express adapter

[Toobad]

The general consensus seems to be that these puppies run hot and noisy at full tilt and I've seen nothing but reference boards so far. The smart money seems to be on HIS coming up with an IceQ 3 edition but nothing has broken cover yet. I'm interested in this card to drive a 30" screen but unfortunately it will have to reside in an HTPC case. It has been said the UVD implementation will outperform an 8800 Ultra on the HD side of things. I will wait until July before I jump.

[DecomposingStar]

They said the noise and/or heat problem will be sorted in driver update. Heat doesn't bother me, i like a cooling challenge

I currently have a HIS card, i find them pretty damn good, and good value.

Thanks for the info.

[Blitzen]

Dont buy any of them.
Go for the nVidia 8800GTS/GTX

Cooler/Quieter and as fast if not faster.

[this_is_gav]

And no, i don't want to hear any "Get a GTX/S" stuff.

And a valid opinion given the sheer lack of pace in driver maturity.

Just get the cheapest you can if you don't have a specific need. The only real swinger for most would be video in functionality as well as the standard video out... but I think all HD2900s have VIVO anyway. The rest of the bundles are pretty much limited to a random game (which you'll probably not want anyway) and how many DVI-VGA converters there are.

[DecomposingStar]

And no, i don't want to hear any "Get a GTX/S" stuff.

Dont buy any of them.
Go for the nVidia 8800GTS/GTX

Cooler/Quieter and as fast if not faster.

no.

I'm currently running on a X1600.... It's runs new games on low settings, and i don't think it does my computer justice. I know the drivers for the 2900 aren't tip top, but they are better than nVidias drivers were when they brought out their cards. And judging by the benchmarks, running Oblivion (for example) at 1440x900 top spec, will yeild some good frames... What more could i really want for the time being?

[Blitzen]

Well i posted it anyway cos its true

[DecomposingStar]

Well i posted it anyway cos its true

But it's nVidia... Case closed.

[Toobad]

I thought the HD 2900XT was the answer I'd been looking for - my Q6600 would be fully utilised encoding HD camcorder footage in the background whilst I could be watching an HD film because the UVD hardware on the card makes no demands on the quad for HD playback.

It now turns out that AMD have been very careful not to draw attention to the fact that they haven't been able to perfect a driver for their UVD that will allow HD decoding on this card! Yet their marketing department still bangs on about its AVIVO HD abilities in a kind of 'smoke and mirrors' way. Their spin on this failure is that the 2900 is a high end card and they would expect it to reside in a system whose processor is sufficiently powerful to deal with the HD overhead. Anybody who bought this card thinking the UVD was the deal clincher must feel like the proverbial Welsh coalmine - well and truly shafted!

I'm going to take a look at the Sapphire HD2600XT Ultimate when it comes out in July. It may not give me 35+fps at 2560 x 1600 but it will have a working UVD and the bonus of being completely silent and hopefully a lot cheaper.

[Blitzen]

But it's nVidia... Case closed.

See the light
Buy a cheaper card that is
1. as fast/faster
2. Quieter
3. Cheaper
4. Cooler

[redlight]

See the light
Buy a cheaper card that is
1. as fast/faster
2. Quieter
3. Cheaper
4. Cooler

I did. I have always went ATI my other rigs both have ATIs(X1950XT and X1800XL)and I held off for ages for the ATI offering.
But in the end I went Nvidia.
Seems to me the HD 2900XT was shoved out to stop the hemorrhaging of their customers to Nvidia.
I think this card will be discontinued in a couple of months as it is just a stopgap.
So 8800GTS for me until ATI get their act together.
Sorry ATI but at the moment you seem to have lost focus.
Yes I know it took a good while for the 8800 to work properly. But Nvidia started with a good card not a botched together space heater.

[DecomposingStar]

For christ sake, can i not post a question about graphics cards without having people try to sell me the other end of the stick?

I'll rephrase;

I HAVE DECIDED TO BUY AN ATI 2900XT. FROM YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE, WHAT CO-COMPANY OFFERS THE BEST PACKAGE?

I don't care about nVidia, they have caused equal problems on the release of their DX10 cards, and have finally got it together now. I'm buying a graphics card to upgrade from my X1600, but i'm not going to buy a DX9 card, whats the point?

Straight answers please, it's not that hard.

[greektony]

an ati one?

[jimbouk]

The answer is already there. They're all based on the reference design so it's down to which company offers the best warranty for the money.

It doesn't look like anyone else has bought one, so grab a pen and paper and head round the websites making notes.

[DecomposingStar]

I have read the sensible answers, and i'm more or less decided. It's just all a bit silly.