9800Pro vs. X800's visual quality?

[JMI]

Hello,

I'm considering an upgrade from an All-in-Wonder 9800 Pro to All-in-Wonder
x800XT. Since the price of this card has dropped dramatically (likely
because it's an AGP card) I figured I'd at least consider the upgrade. Of
course the x800 XT should be a much faster card, but what about the visual
improvments of this card. Should I expect a big difference in visual
quality?

The games I play are Need for Speed Most Wanted, Underground 1 & 2,
F.E.A.R., Unreal Tournament 2003 &2004 (and 2007 when it comes out), Colin
McRae Rally 4, and Quake 4 (at least those are my newer games. I still like
to play UT Game of the Year now and then.)

Should I expect to see much better graphics in my newer games? I've maxed
out the settings in ATI Control Center and in each game, but I still don't
see what I've seen in some other screen shots of the same games
(particularly Most Wanted and Quake 4).

How much better would the graphics be? Any screenshot comparisons on the
net?

Much appreciated,

Jeff

 

[First of One]

I'm considering an upgrade from an All-in-Wonder 9800 Pro to All-in-Wonder
x800XT. Since the price of this card has dropped dramatically (likely
because it's an AGP card) I figured I'd at least consider the upgrade. Of
course the x800 XT should be a much faster card, but what about the visual
improvments of this card. Should I expect a big difference in visual
quality?

The X800XT has for all intents and purposes the same 3D feature set as the
9800 Pro. The X800XT is much faster, obviously, which allows you to use
higher AA and aniso. settings at a playable framerate.

Should I expect to see much better graphics in my newer games? I've maxed
out the settings in ATI Control Center and in each game, but I still don't
see what I've seen in some other screen shots of the same games
(particularly Most Wanted and Quake 4).

Maxing out the sliders in the Control Center would make Quake 4 a slideshow
on the 9800 Pro, from what I've seen, but it should give you as good a
visual quality as any high-end card. Where are the screenshots you mention?

 

[JMI]

The X800XT has for all intents and purposes the same 3D feature set as the
9800 Pro. The X800XT is much faster, obviously, which allows you to use
higher AA and aniso. settings at a playable framerate.


Maxing out the sliders in the Control Center would make Quake 4 a slideshow
on the 9800 Pro, from what I've seen, but it should give you as good a
visual quality as any high-end card. Where are the screenshots you mention?

Here are some site which have some screenshot of the (I belive) the PC
version of Most Wanted:

http://www.nfscars.net/media.php?do=view_screen&section=nfs9&id=72

http://www.nfscars.net/media.php?do=view_screen&section=nfs9&id=56

http://www.gamershell.com/pc/need_for_speed_most_wanted/screenshots.html?id=176

http://www.nfscars.net/media.php?do=view_screen&section=nfs9&id=59

http://www.gamershell.com/screenpop.php?id=189152

http://www.gamershell.com/screenpop.php?id=187414

http://www.gamershell.com/screenpop.php?id=187413

http://www.gamershell.com/screenpop.php?id=187412

http://www.nfscars.net/media.php?do=view_screen&section=nfs9&id=68

http://www.nfscars.net/media.php?do=view_screen&section=nfs9&id=57

No matter what I do, I can't get my 9800Pro to give me image quality
this good! I even updated the drivers to the latest version by ATI.
Would the Omega drivers give better image quality? Also, doesn't the
X800 have some other visual features that the 9800Pro doesn't have that
would give it better visual quality than the 9800Pro.

http://apps.ati.com/ATIcompare/result.asp

Thanks for the help!

Jeff

 

[First of One]

Here are some site which have some screenshot of the (I belive) the PC
version of Most Wanted:

<snipped>

You'd think if the review sites are gonna show "beauty shots", they'd at
least turn on FSAA. All the jagged edges are quite amateurish.

From what I read, Most Wanted doesn't employ true HDR, but uses an
"overbright" bloom effect to get the sun glare, accessible to all video
cards. Therefore, in the game options, be sure to set Over Bright to "on"
and Visual Treatment to "high". Then max out all the other options. This
should give you the best image quality possible in the game. For more
details, follow this guide: http://www.tweakguides.com/NFSMW_5.html

No matter what I do, I can't get my 9800Pro to give me image quality
this good! I even updated the drivers to the latest version by ATI.
Would the Omega drivers give better image quality?

Nope. I'd actually recommend against using Omega drivers. Judging from the
Tweakguides guide, most of the difference comes from setting the in-game
options correctly.

Also, doesn't the X800 have some other visual features that
the 9800Pro doesn't have that would give it better visual
quality than the 9800Pro.

http://apps.ati.com/ATIcompare/result.asp

The ATi online utility doesn't compare any 3D features. All the
"Videoshader", "Fullstream HD"... marketing gibberish pertain to video
playback. They have no impact on 3D games.

 

[JMI]

<snipped>

You'd think if the review sites are gonna show "beauty shots", they'd at
least turn on FSAA. All the jagged edges are quite amateurish.

From what I read, Most Wanted doesn't employ true HDR, but uses an
"overbright" bloom effect to get the sun glare, accessible to all video
cards. Therefore, in the game options, be sure to set Over Bright to "on"
and Visual Treatment to "high". Then max out all the other options. This
should give you the best image quality possible in the game. For more
details, follow this guide: http://www.tweakguides.com/NFSMW_5.html


Nope. I'd actually recommend against using Omega drivers. Judging from the
Tweakguides guide, most of the difference comes from setting the in-game
options correctly.


The ATi online utility doesn't compare any 3D features. All the
"Videoshader", "Fullstream HD"... marketing gibberish pertain to video
playback. They have no impact on 3D games.

Ok, I've gone into the settings of the game, set it to 1280x1024 resolution,
maxed everything else out, along with my settings in the Catalyst Control
panel including FSAA. I'm getting not much more than 30 fps, and sure it
looks better, but it still not as good as the screenshots I posted before.

What else could be controlling the image quality?

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[James H.]

Hello,

I'm considering an upgrade from an All-in-Wonder 9800 Pro to All-in-Wonder
x800XT. Since the price of this card has dropped dramatically (likely
because it's an AGP card) I figured I'd at least consider the upgrade. Of
course the x800 XT should be a much faster card, but what about the visual
improvments of this card. Should I expect a big difference in visual
quality?

The games I play are Need for Speed Most Wanted, Underground 1 & 2,
F.E.A.R., Unreal Tournament 2003 &2004 (and 2007 when it comes out), Colin
McRae Rally 4, and Quake 4 (at least those are my newer games. I still like
to play UT Game of the Year now and then.)

Should I expect to see much better graphics in my newer games? I've maxed
out the settings in ATI Control Center and in each game, but I still don't
see what I've seen in some other screen shots of the same games
(particularly Most Wanted and Quake 4).

How much better would the graphics be? Any screenshot comparisons on the
net?

Much appreciated,

Jeff

 

[Nick Dalton]

If you have any sense you'll stick with the 9800 till you upgrade to PCI-E
and have to get a totally new system. Unless you can get one at a really
reasonable price..... 8)

 

[JMI]

Do you think $135 for an X850Pro w/VIVO (almost an All-in-Wonder card
withouth the tuner which I can't use cause I've got DirectTV) is a
resaonable price?

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[Gordon Scott]

Do you think $135 for an X850Pro w/VIVO (almost an All-in-Wonder card
withouth the tuner which I can't use cause I've got DirectTV) is a
resaonable price?

Thanks,

Jeff

I dont think so x850pro is junk compared to xt, I went from a 9800 pro to
a aiw x800xt,
I play cs:s Im happy, I always maxed out the eyecandy previously, it
doesnt look all that diff but plays better, dont forget I dont think the
x850xt or the x800xt were fully directx 9c compliant so we are missing
out a little in that regard, but as you and I were prolly in the same
boat the x800xt aiw was the best bet for the buck for AGP, I payed $200
in may for mine.