Finally done?

[Firelord]

Not true at all. 3DMark2001 is still the best overall system test that simulates real usage. While most NEW games take advantage of DX9 functionality, many do not. And even the ones that do will run very well on a DX8.1 card as well. Most games require DX8.1 or better while only a handful actually require DX9.

Yes it is true that 3DMark05 is a better test for DX9 games, but that's not all you do with your computer is it? Also, neither 2k3 nor 2k5 are affected much by CPU power. 2k1 is greatly affected by both CPU and GPU, so it is much more valid as a general systems test.

Yes it is also true that there is a bigger difference between the X800XL and X850 XT PE in DX9 games, but nowhere near double. The price however is just about double in most parts of the world.

X850 XT is slower than X850 XT PE (which is what I compared).

Amen to that 3D'01 is still a great benchmark and takes into account everything from CPU to memory subsystems to graphics card. It is a more rounded benchmark than 3D'03 or 3D'05 because of the fact it tests everything.

Games are depend on everything on your system but 3D Mark 2003 and 2005 both are really all about the graphics card. I mean I have seen people with XP2500-M+ with x800xt pes getting within 100 marks of me in 3D-05 when I had an 3400+ (1MB Cache) @ 2.85GHz and an X800 Pro ViVo flashed to X800XT PE. Im reality in real games my FPS would be far far higher than theirs....

[nvening]

i think we should base it on a doom3 demo, a half life 2 demo and a far cry demo, find the average FPS and thats how good ur 3D performance is.

[Meiapaul]

I just still dont know weather to get the x850xt pe or not. Its such a good deal, but is it really.

Buy the X850XT PE. You won't find a better deal, and even though the performance gap may not be huge now, it will only get bigger, and you'll be able to sell it on for a higher price than the X800XL if you do ever come to sell it

Edit: I'm in exactly the same boat as you, and I think I might order the X800XT from scan for £186+del, it seems like a great deal, and it gives me £100 towards a TFT

[nvening]

and my friend will get annoyed that his 6800GT isnt better lol

[Firelord]

Why not gte the scans X800XT PCI-E card? Great value and to be honest is just as good as the x850.

For £183 can you go wrong?

[nvening]

So far:

[Meiapaul]

Tekheads have a special on today on WLAN, you get a router and one PCI card for ~£65, you'll save loads

http://tekheads.co.uk/s/product?product=604651

[nvening]

So we have it here, anything else?

[nvening]

sos wrony list, changed now

[noah]

looks good mate, but with the dfi board why not get some of the bargain bh-5 and have tighter 2-2-2-5 timings as i think that corsair is 2-3-3-6 and it'd be the same price.

just a thought

[oralpain]

3Dmark 2001 is a good benchmark, IF you run it at settings similar to those you player your games at.

The defualt test is kinda worthless now.

[nvening]

Oh yer, I forgot about pumping a few more volts into some BH-5 on that mobo.
Whats the best BH-5 out there, im willing to go up to £120

[noah]

as far as i know the komplett stuff is good, and its cheap

[nvening]

Could not see any, own brand did you mean? RAM confuses me. BH5 is just like what TCCD is right? A batch of RAM?

[Meiapaul]

http://komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?sku=309097&cks=SER

[skuzgib]

BH-5 are the chips used, so yes, likee tccd, ch-5 etc.