Anyone seen any PCI-E Graphics cards reviews/previews?

[TiG]

Guys,

Just wondering if there are any decent reviews out there at all, just googled it and not found much. Anything that google has missed??.

If not anyone got any expectations after the 8x AGP from 4x AGP increase didn't materialise?

TiG

[mike_w]

In my opinion, the main thing about PCI Express is SLI rather than the greater speeds - cards don't use all of the 8x AGP bus, so PCI Express doesn't make any difference in that respect so far as I know. But SLI is interesting, especially so with the 6600GTs. You can buy a card now that can handle the latest games for quite a while, then stick another one alongside when it begins to struggle. It's handy to save money, or if you you don't have the money for two 6600GTs/a 6800GT/Ultra/equivalent, and you don't waste money since you're keeping the card you already have.

[Agent]

The only real advantage of PCIe graphics cards at the moment is better future proofing, and the slot can provide more voltage to the card - cutting out the need for more than one molex connection.
Benchmark wise, there is virtualy no difference.
Like Mike said, 8xAGP is no where near fully used, nevermind PCIe.

[DR]

Do you not read HEXUS

[TiG]

heh maybe i should have said AMD PCI-E and graphics cards, i think the point was for something that was hyped about 6 months back, i've seen hardly anything in terms of features on this software?.

Plus where are all the cards?

TiG

[DR]

NF4 - we have done the only review in the UK

Cards - we have X800/x600/x300/x700 6600gt/6800ultra/6800gt all in PCI-E so the rest of the world will soon

[Zak33]

But SLI is interesting, especially so with the 6600GTs. You can buy a card now that can handle the latest games for quite a while, then stick another one alongside when it begins to struggle.

Dont wanna scare you but this is so unlikely to actually happen.

Why? Cos vid cards move really fast. If you buy two at the same time, you'll have a result. But lets say someone buys a 6600GT in January, happy as larry with it, and then in October decides to buy a second one.

It is my guess that simply buying ONE NEW GEN CARD and selling the old one second hand to make up the difference will be just as fast as the SLI setup.

Its pure conjecture...I have no wy of knowing if thats likely. But I bet SLI falls on its bum as an Upgrade route. It WILL attract double purchases in one hit. But I dont see it as a "step up" for a later time.

[mike_w]

It is my guess that simply buying ONE NEW GEN CARD and selling the old one second hand to make up the difference will be just as fast as the SLI setup.

Hmmm, you're probably right. But then again a top range card costs about £300 (for a 6800GT, I think, correct me if I'm wrong), and a mid-range about £140 whereas the 6600GT will be a last generation mid-range card - look how cheap the 9600Pros/XTs are now. Slapping in another 6600GT would be fairly cheap compared to the new generation cards, and I don't think you could sell the 6600GT for much if there's a new generation out.