Best ATI card for AGP 8X slot

[DarkStar]

Can Anyone tell me what the best ATI card is
for any PC machine with a AGP 8X slot and
Windows XP Pro ?

Are there any ideosyncrasies to watch
out for with ATI cards like SIS chipsets or ???

 

[First of One]

Can Anyone tell me what the best ATI card is
for any PC machine with a AGP 8X slot and
Windows XP Pro ?

X850XT Platinum Edition, hands-down. Use the TomsHardware interactive charts
to make benchmark comparisons: http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.html

Are there any ideosyncrasies to watch
out for with ATI cards like SIS chipsets or ???

There were some issues in the Radeon 9700 days with SiS645 boards. I believe
those have been resolved a long time ago. In the past I used a 9800 Pro on
an SiS735 board (ECS K7S5A Rev 3.1) without problems.

Be aware that, due to dwindling supplies, the X850XT is quite expensive,
well over $400. The Platinum Edition even more so. You may find the X800XT,
in particular the ATi All-in-wonder version, to be a far better value.

 

[AAvK]

Can Anyone tell me what the best ATI card is
for any PC machine with a AGP 8X slot and
Windows XP Pro ?

Are there any ideosyncrasies to watch
out for with ATI cards like SIS chipsets or ???

I believe it's x850 series (Corrections welcome) that is not a "pro" card, which
has 12 pixel pipelines compared to 16, the more the merrier. However some
nVidia based cards have 20 and 24 pixel pipelines, though I think most of those
are for pci-e. It would take some 'net research on your part. My card is an
X800XL / 256 with 16 PP, playing Quake 4 and Doom 3 like a champ just under
"ultimate" graphics settings (high) @ 1024x768, just a leeeedle blippy and choppy
with driver 6.3.

WinXP sp2
Abit IS7 / 865PE/ICH5
Intel P4 2.60C/HT, Thermalright XP-90 cooler, 92MM 57 CFM Panaflo
1GB kingston PC3200 dual channel RAM with heat spreaders
ATI X800XL AGP, Thermalright V-1 cooler with two fans
Creative Audigy 2 / Logitech Z560 4.1
Maxtor 80GB /8MB IDE, Abit Serillel SATA adapter to board
Maxtor 40GB /2MB IDE to board IDE
Coolmax CR-550B (550 watts, single 140MM fan)

 

[AAvK]

just a leeeedle blippy and choppy with driver 6.3.

Correction, it's CCC 6.4.

AAvK

 

[Paul_in_NC]

My 2 cents:

I'd definately steer you towards an "affordable" ATI AGP video card
that has tremendous bang for the buck:
HIS Hightech HX85PRF256-3VIAN Radeon X850PRO 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO
AGP 4X/8X Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814161172

Of course, if you want to go completely over-the-top, you could empty
out your bank account and go for one of these:
ATI FireGL X3-256 FireGL X3 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 AGP 4X/8X Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102462

FWIW, I just purchased the HIS card (first card listed above) as a
"last hurrah" for my aging AMD Athlon 2600+ based system and it works
exceptionally well as a replacement for the HIS HighTech

 

[Paul_in_NC]

My 2 cents:

I'd definately steer you towards an "affordable" ATI AGP video card
that has tremendous bang for the buck:
HIS Hightech HX85PRF256-3VIAN Radeon X850PRO 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO
AGP 4X/8X Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814161172
This card can be flashed with an XT/PE BIOS to open up the other four
pipelines, but going that route is not for the timid nor the faint of
heart.

Of course, if you want to go completely over-the-top, you could empty
out your bank account and go for one of these:
ATI FireGL X3-256 FireGL X3 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 AGP 4X/8X Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102462
Mind you, the FireGL cards aren't really optimized for gaming. I just
threw it in there for the "Huh?! Say what?!" factor.

FWIW, I just purchased the HIS card (first card listed above) as a
"last hurrah" for my aging AMD Athlon 2600+ based system and it works
exceptionally well as a replacement for the HIS Hightech 9800PRO 128MB
AGP card that was in there.

Now, there are a lot of "other" (translation: non-ATI chipset) options
for high-end AGP cards out there...but you did say ATI, right.

Hope I've been able to be of service to your cause,
Paul_in_NC

 

[First of One]

There we go shopping for DarkStar...

http://www.mwave.com/mwave/skusearch.hmx?SCriteria=3592857&CartID=done&nextloc=

All-in-Wonder X800XT cards are inexpensive, and you get the full 16
pipelines.

 

[gary]

Recommend the X800-XT 256MB AGP. I upgraded from a Radeon
9800 Pro 128MB to an AIW X800-XT AGP 8X 256MB card. So far,
it has worked really well. Comes with just about everything
you need, including excellent software, super-connector
"blocks" for consolidating all video-IN/OUT cables. I love
the included Pinnacle Studio software, one of the best for
editing/burning recorded video from your hard drive. Very
easy to use and easy to add sophisticated DVD capabilities.

The card has excellent 3D capability, good remote control.
X800-XT was installed in a Dell D-8300, P4, 3GHz, 800 FSB,
upgraded to 2GB Micron RAM from Crucial.com.

The only thing to keep in mind, this card requires a
connection to the power supply that is not a STANDARD power
supply connector. It uses a FLOPPY drive power connector.
So, unless you have purchased SEPARATELY, a 3.5" DRIVE POWER
CONVERTER CABLE, you'll need to remove the power cable from
your floppy drive and connect it to the X800-XT. So that's
what I did AFTER FIGURING IT OUT ON MY OWN, took a few
hours. Afterward, I did not have a floppy drive for awhile.
No big deal actually, but did want to get it connected
again if possible.

I tried to find out, both on this board, and from talking to
numerous sales reps in various computer stores, the exact
power cable I needed. Nobody seemed to know, and when I did
find out, I discovered they were VERY hard to find, even in
Radio Shack or other computer stores.

So I went to Belkin.com and searched through their huge
listing of power cables. I ordered 3 different ones
(directly from their web site) in the hopes that ONE OF THEM
would be the right one. Thankfully, one of them was.

It's called a: 3.5" (8.9cm) Drive Power Converter Cable,
4-Pin/4-Pin Mini-Connector Adapter. Belkin skew number is:
F2N507. Part number is: P95137.

It was fairly cheap, less than $10 I think. When I got it,
I was able to use this to connect one of my available power
supply cables with the X800-XT, and put the factory floppy
drive power cable back on the floppy.

I think the X800-XT is one of the few ATI cards that
requires a "Floppy" (3.5") power connector. Nearly all
other ATI cards either use a standard-size power connector,
OR the appropriate ADAPTER/CABLE IS PROVIDED "IN THE BOX" by
ATI. Not the case with the X800-XT.

Anyway, if I had known this BEFORE I bought the card, it
would have saved me HOURS of time, going to various computer
stores, Radio Shacks, etc., searching for the correct power
connector. So I hope this message helps others who are
might upgrade to the X800-XT.

Anyway, aside from this, I think it's a great card.
Beautiful graphics. I'm running it on a Dell 24" wide
screen LCD at 1920 x 1200, and the graphics are razor sharp,
brilliant colors.

Good luck.
Gary
================

 

[KCB]

Recommend the X800-XT 256MB AGP. I upgraded from a Radeon 9800 Pro
128MB to an AIW X800-XT AGP 8X 256MB card. So far, it has worked
really well. Comes with just about everything you need, including
excellent software, super-connector "blocks" for consolidating all
video-IN/OUT cables. I love the included Pinnacle Studio software,
one of the best for editing/burning recorded video from your hard
drive. Very easy to use and easy to add sophisticated DVD
capabilities.

I think this depends on *whose* version of the card? All manufacturers
don't include the same software or cabling. The OP needs to check each
one to see what's included in the box. For slightly higher performance,
the X850XT PE is still available for the AGP slot, and some versions of
the X1600 card.

Also, look for the 7800GS from NVIDIA's mfg partners; here is an article
from tomshardware.com comparing it with the X850XT PE and the 6800
Ultra.
http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/02/02/nvidia_7800gs_confirms_agp_aint_dead_yet/index.html

The card has excellent 3D capability, good remote control. X800-XT was
installed in a Dell D-8300, P4, 3GHz, 800 FSB, upgraded to 2GB Micron
RAM from Crucial.com.

The only thing to keep in mind, this card requires a connection to the
power supply that is not a STANDARD power supply connector. It uses a
FLOPPY drive power connector. So, unless you have purchased
SEPARATELY, a 3.5" DRIVE POWER CONVERTER CABLE, you'll need to remove
the power cable from your floppy drive and connect it to the X800-XT.
So that's what I did AFTER FIGURING IT OUT ON MY OWN, took a few
hours. Afterward, I did not have a floppy drive for awhile. No big
deal actually, but did want to get it connected again if possible.

Lots of after-market power supplies come with the needed extra floppy
connector. I'm sure Dell was just saving money when they decided not to
include one in your system. My 9700 Pro used the same floppy power
connector, but an adaptor was included with it. Here is one available
online for $1.49 + shipping.
http://www.buyextras.com/inpow4pinmal.html