Graphics Cards

V_MANV_MAN V-MAN Join Date: 2002-11-03 Member: 6217Members, Constellation
edited May 2007 in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Need some advice please :)</div>My current card is a Geforce 6600GT 256MB AGP 8X. Stock card made by a nobody brand.

Right a friend of mine has built a new system using PCI Express and has given me his old AGP card. What I want to know is the card that he's given me better or worse than my current one. It's a Gigabyte ATi Radeon X800 XL 256MB AGP 8X. The card has no fan which made me think it was one of them budget cards at first but the heatsinks are huge and made of copper (one each side of the card) and are connected by heat pipes.

Here's link to the PCI express version of the card <a href="http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=801" target="_blank">http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=801</a> the heatsinks and heat pipes are the same as on the card my friend gave me.

I did some research myself but came up with conflicting info. Any tech heads on here that can give me some advice or a straight "that one is better" answer.

Comments

  • FaskaliaFaskalia Wechsellichtzeichenanlage Join Date: 2004-09-12 Member: 31651Members, Constellation
    edited May 2007
    X800 XL 256MB AGP is the better one.

    Tacts are way higher.

    300 vs 400

    AND

    500 vs 980

    thats also the main reason why the x800 retails for 50€ more than the 6600GT
  • SpaceJesusSpaceJesus Join Date: 2004-07-02 Member: 29683Banned
    Yeah, but its an ATi so .... :/
  • FaskaliaFaskalia Wechsellichtzeichenanlage Join Date: 2004-09-12 Member: 31651Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1624204:date=May 1 2007, 06:18 PM:name=SpaceJesus)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SpaceJesus @ May 1 2007, 06:18 PM) [snapback]1624204[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Yeah, but its an ATi so .... :/
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Believe me I hate ATI as well, but in this case it is hands down: Both cards are from the same generation, BUT the x800 is clearly the supreme model.

    Pipes are the same they both use gddr3 ram, architecture is the same .... they are pretty much the same except for the tacts.
  • JimmehJimmeh Join Date: 2003-08-24 Member: 20173Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1624204:date=May 1 2007, 05:18 PM:name=SpaceJesus)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SpaceJesus @ May 1 2007, 05:18 PM) [snapback]1624204[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Yeah, but its an ATi so .... :/
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    lol, fanboy.
  • Cereal_KillRCereal_KillR Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1837Members
    What's wrong with ATi? I got a 9800pro and it's great!
    Oh yeah, I'm stuck a few years back... Sorry...
  • V_MANV_MAN V-MAN Join Date: 2002-11-03 Member: 6217Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1624205:date=May 1 2007, 05:24 PM:name=Faskalia)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Faskalia @ May 1 2007, 05:24 PM) [snapback]1624205[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Believe me I hate ATI as well, but in this case it is hands down: Both cards are from the same generation, BUT the x800 is clearly the supreme model.

    Pipes are the same they both use gddr3 ram, architecture is the same .... they are pretty much the same except for the tacts.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


    noob question whart are tacts?
  • FaskaliaFaskalia Wechsellichtzeichenanlage Join Date: 2004-09-12 Member: 31651Members, Constellation
    edited May 2007
    <!--quoteo(post=1624211:date=May 1 2007, 06:50 PM:name=V_MAN)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(V_MAN @ May 1 2007, 06:50 PM) [snapback]1624211[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    noob question whart are tacts?
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    the plural of tact. messured in hertz=s^-1

    So a tact of 500 mHz means that it can do 1024 (thats the mega) times 500 whatever in every second.

    I think it is also often called frequenzy.

    You know, "My PCs CPU is tacted with 2,4 gHz." Is actually quite informative but seems to have been replaced with: "Yo, I gotz 2,4 gigashizzles."

    EDIT:

    Meh, It seems that the brits and the amis, totally slaughtered the correct terms and simpy use

    # Core Clock Speed: 520 MHz
    # RAMDAC Clock Speed: 400 MHz

    Clock Speed for tacts <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />

    Thats just plain stupid:
    Hey, whats up: I have a clock speed of 520!
    What, so fast? Seems you should ride your clock to work instead of your car!
  • ArmageddonArmageddon Join Date: 2005-01-07 Member: 33055Members
    Um if I read this website correctly, you're not supposed to compare the gpu speed...

    <a href="http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/131" target="_blank">http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/131</a>

    <!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->When you compare chips, you have to be very careful. Judging from the table, a Radeon 9800 may seem slower than a Radeon 9600 Pro, since its clock is inferior, and a Radeon X700 Pro seems faster than a Radeon X800 since it uses a higher clock rate.

    However, Radeon 9800 accesses its memory using a 256-bit interface and processes eight pixels per clock pulse, while the Radeon 9600 Pro accesses its memory using a 128-bit interface and processes four pixels per clock pulse. This means that memory access and processing performance of the Radeon 9800 would the double of that of the Radeon 9600 Pro if they were working at the same clock. In other words, a Radeon 9600 Pro would have work at 650 MHz and access the memory at 1.360 MHz to have the same performance of the Radeon 9800.

    The same idea goes for the Radeon X700 Pro example, it accesses memory using a 128-bit interface and processes data at 8 pixels per clock tick, while Radeon X800 accesses memory using a 256-bit interface and processes data at 12 pixels per clock tick.

    Therefore, it is not correct to compare graphic chips only through their clocks. For the processing performance you will have to compare the clocks and the number of pixels per clock. As of the memory, the right way to compare its performance among different chips is through their memory transfer rate, which is calculated using the formula (clock x bits per clock)/ 8.

    As you can see in the table, "SE" chips are the simplest and access the memory at only 64 bits per time. Another detail is that ATI uses the letters "XT" to indicate the fastest chip in a series, while its competitor, nVidia, uses the same letters to indicate the simplest chip in a series.

    "PE" stands for "Platinum Edition" and are models even faster than the "XT" models, aimed to gamers with money.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
  • FaskaliaFaskalia Wechsellichtzeichenanlage Join Date: 2004-09-12 Member: 31651Members, Constellation
    Well I did compare the 2 cards and they are basically the same, except for the clock speeds.

    Go figure...
  • ArmageddonArmageddon Join Date: 2005-01-07 Member: 33055Members
    eh, maybe i misread it <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/confused-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="???" border="0" alt="confused-fix.gif" />
  • FaskaliaFaskalia Wechsellichtzeichenanlage Join Date: 2004-09-12 Member: 31651Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1624205:date=May 1 2007, 06:24 PM:name=Faskalia)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Faskalia @ May 1 2007, 06:24 PM) [snapback]1624205[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Believe me I hate ATI as well, but in this case it is hands down: Both cards are from the same generation, BUT the x800 is clearly the supreme model.

    Pipes are the same they both use gddr3 ram, architecture is the same .... <b>they are pretty much the same except for the tacts.</b>
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    oO Misread <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/confused-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="???" border="0" alt="confused-fix.gif" />
  • V_MANV_MAN V-MAN Join Date: 2002-11-03 Member: 6217Members, Constellation
    I just tested the X800 XL and it's broken anyway <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/confused-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="???" border="0" alt="confused-fix.gif" />
  • WarriorWarrior Join Date: 2003-02-16 Member: 13624Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1624233:date=May 1 2007, 12:09 PM:name=V_MAN)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(V_MAN @ May 1 2007, 12:09 PM) [snapback]1624233[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    I just tested the X800 XL and it's broken anyway <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/confused-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="???" border="0" alt="confused-fix.gif" />
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    How so
  • FaskaliaFaskalia Wechsellichtzeichenanlage Join Date: 2004-09-12 Member: 31651Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1624233:date=May 1 2007, 09:09 PM:name=V_MAN)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(V_MAN @ May 1 2007, 09:09 PM) [snapback]1624233[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    I just tested the X800 XL and it's broken anyway <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/confused-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="???" border="0" alt="confused-fix.gif" />
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Is the GPU fan running?

    Did you uninstall the 6600 drivers and install standard vga drivers, before exchanging the cards?

    Does the screen stay black, or can you see a boot screen before it turns black?

    Did you try the VGA and the DVI exit?

    Does your BIOS recognize the card?

    Does your MOBO support that card type?
  • Crono5Crono5 Join Date: 2003-07-22 Member: 18357Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1624210:date=May 1 2007, 12:43 PM:name=Cereal_KillR)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Cereal_KillR @ May 1 2007, 12:43 PM) [snapback]1624210[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    What's wrong with ATi?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Bad Linux support! >:(
  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    <!--quoteo(post=1624517:date=May 2 2007, 10:12 PM:name=Crono5)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Crono5 @ May 2 2007, 10:12 PM) [snapback]1624517[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Bad Linux support! >:(
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    You could also state whats wrong with Linux <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
  • AbraAbra Would you kindly Join Date: 2003-08-17 Member: 19870Members
    Ontopic: I have a lot of graphical artifacts showing in some games, mostly stalker which suddenly has become so unstable I can't play it. graphical artifacts, then a couple of secounds, CRASH and sometimes something about a nvidia driver or something. I have tried reinstaller nvidia drivers and everything. have the GeForce 7900 GT card. Have done some clocking but nothing much, and its default now or lower. help?
    Sometimes the artifacts shows when I start my computer (like... in DOS or what it is... you know before windows)

    When I run 3DMARK06 it crashes at the 3rd test (and shows artifacts at the other tests).
    Help.

    Offtopic: Spines in brines.
  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    edited May 2007
    well lets list what could be wrong and what could be checked:

    - card overheating

    you could run a temp program to see how hot it runs when doing these tests (if you can get back in the OS at all that is :/ )

    - card damaged

    Hmm diagnostic tools for 3dcards, just a googled example:
    <a href="http://www.sofotex.com/Video-Card-Stability-Test-download_L33976.html" target="_blank">http://www.sofotex.com/Video-Card-Stabilit...oad_L33976.html</a>

    - damaged AGP slot, had it happen to me before and a new card didn't fix the issue. So I tried my old card over at a mates compy and it worked... You'd have to buy a new motherboard to fix this issue, I'm afraid

    - What you could also do is deinstall the drivers, remove it from "system--> properties --> hardware --> hardwaremanager. and reboot the computer. Then for testing purpose install the default driver which came with you card/computer and see if this fixes it (probably not though, since what you describe sounds more like one of the options above)


    [edit]
    I'm still am proudly running a Sapphire 850XT 256MB plat PCI-E <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />


    offtopic: They are so bloody cheap...
  • AbraAbra Would you kindly Join Date: 2003-08-17 Member: 19870Members
    Well okay, I tried the benchmarking test program thingy you linked to, measured tempature with nvidias tool. It topped at 78 celcius! Thats pretty much isn't it? And that is just in a benchmark like that... wwas running like 2000 fps. It showed the same signs as ingame. Artifacts showing, then some mayor crashing and blacking out. Soo, I need coolage on my GPU? What is the cheapest and best easiest thing to buy?

    I can't tell if the card or my motherboard is permanently damaged, don't know how to tell.
    Thanks though.
    Offtopic: There are no Adverts on the telly, whatever shall we do?
  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    edited May 2007
    Hmm, well that is rather hot indeed. My 850XT runs up to 55-60C on warm days when it really get hot (probably this summer again) it can get up to 65C

    This is on standard cooling. One more thing you could try to see if this is truly heat related to run the test again with an open case and blow a fan like <a href="http://www.bijnsolutions.nl/upload/images/2520_classic_fan_lr.jpg" target="_blank">this</a> onto it to cool it down severely. See what you temps do and see if the artifact problem is gone.

    Also your motherboard and card are usually safe to run up to temps of about 90-95C, but just make sure you don't run at those temps to long or some melting might occur

    Anyway if it is heat related and you are using a passive cooling solution like that (I used it to on my 9800XP pro a while back) and it had the tendency to run at temps up to 75-80 C. Those passive cooling with heatpipe solutions only work effective IF you have a good airflow in your case AND the overall climate temp isn't too high.

    I had one from zalman and upgraded it wit a 120mm fan, which didn't do much to fix the heat issue either. mainly because it created a turbulence inside the case. disturbing the airflow. As a result the HDD's and CPU also ran at a higher temp. --> Cascading effect was that the graphics card now also went up to 90C.

    If you ask me, those heatpipe solution are nice ONLY if you have low temps and low climate temps. Otherwise you are best off with a NONE passive solution which actually transfers the hear out of you system trough the back...



    I hear the Arctic cooling silencers are quite good in actually getting the heat out the back of the case AND are also quiet
  • AldarisAldaris Join Date: 2002-03-25 Member: 351Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1624214:date=May 1 2007, 06:00 PM:name=Faskalia)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Faskalia @ May 1 2007, 06:00 PM) [snapback]1624214[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Meh, It seems that the brits and the amis, totally slaughtered the correct terms and simpy use

    # Core Clock Speed: 520 MHz
    # RAMDAC Clock Speed: 400 MHz

    Clock Speed for tacts <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />

    Thats just plain stupid:
    Hey, whats up: I have a clock speed of 520!
    What, so fast? Seems you should ride your clock to work instead of your car!
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Just...Wow. Welcome to a billion years ago. How can you not know that the vast majority of the world uses those terms?
  • ZaggyZaggy NullPointerException The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-12-10 Member: 24214Forum Moderators, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Onos, Subnautica Playtester
    Fanless Gigabyte ATi Radeon X800 XL 256MB AGP 8X > No Name Brand GF6600GT.

    I've had my share of problems with my 6600gt, should've bought a gf6800 or ATI x800.
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