I'm deciding between the RADEON X850 PRO or RADEON X800 XL . My computer uses only AGP. I'm looking for a midrange card that is below 200 dollars. Also when looking at the specs I was told to pay attention to the parallel rendering pipelines then the core clock and memory clock. I'm not too sure whats more important. Also, if none of the cards i have mentioned above are no good should i just go with the X1300/X1600 models from ati?
Which Graphics card??
- Thread starter laserazer
- Start date
In all the benchmarks I've seen the X850XT (and even the X800XL) blow the X1600 away in terms of speed (FPS). I'd avoid the X1300 for gaming. However, the X8XX series cards don't support the latest DirectX 9.0c features, so you won't have some of the eye candy you'd get with the X1600 like HDR. So what is more important to you, frame rate or SM3.0/HDR? If overall speed and frame rate is more important, I'd spring for the X850XT. If you really care about HDR and are willing to accept the frame rate hit that comes with it, get the X1600PRO. If you don't understand anything I'm talking about, then maybe the X800XL would be the ideal choice 
I think the X850PRO only has 12 pixel pipes, where the X800XL has 16. I believe the X800XL slightly beats the X850PRO in most benchmarks, but you might want to look it up. I think you'd be happy with either card, go for the one that's less expensive. This article might give you some more insight:
http://www.anandtech.com/printarticle.aspx?i=2290
I think the X850PRO only has 12 pixel pipes, where the X800XL has 16. I believe the X800XL slightly beats the X850PRO in most benchmarks, but you might want to look it up. I think you'd be happy with either card, go for the one that's less expensive. This article might give you some more insight:
http://www.anandtech.com/printarticle.aspx?i=2290
id suggest getting a sapphire x800gto and just overclocking it... you can get it unlocked to be a x850xtpe http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102002
150 dollars too, so you should stay under budget.
150 dollars too, so you should stay under budget.
[quote name='BasketCase1080']id suggest getting a sapphire x800gto and just overclocking it... you can get it unlocked to be a x850xtpe http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102002
150 dollars too, so you should stay under budget.[/QUOTE]
That's the Sapphire card I have, but it flashes to an X800XL not an X850XTPE. Still a good deal though if you can't find an X800XL and you're comfortable with doing a BIOS flash. Although it's not 100% guaranteed that you'll be able to unlock 16 pipes.
150 dollars too, so you should stay under budget.[/QUOTE]
That's the Sapphire card I have, but it flashes to an X800XL not an X850XTPE. Still a good deal though if you can't find an X800XL and you're comfortable with doing a BIOS flash. Although it's not 100% guaranteed that you'll be able to unlock 16 pipes.
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