Picked up a 9800 pro today

[Pluvious]

But what you are failing to realize is that with the Radeon X800 series,
what you see is what you get - it is basically just the Radeon 9800 on
steroids - the 6800Ultra, as traditionally with most of the Nvidia cards,
could have huge leaps in performance from future driver releases...so the
benchmark comparisons you are seeing are definitely pre-mature. It would not
be out of the ordinary to see increases in performance anywhere from 5-25%
simply from driver updates. Wait until the 6800U has a couple driver updates
and it *might* be a very different picture.

Also, the link listed below is by no means a be all end all for benchmarks,
I've seen numerous benchmarks that swing towards the 6800 U as well - right
now they are just about the same and it is doubtful that you will physically
notice huge differences between either the X800 XT or the 6800U, although I
have seen most reviews/previews claiming that ATI's image quality is a tad
better with the X800 XT vs. 6800U, again, wait until Nvidia releases some
updated drivers - everything that I've read claims that the 6800U still has
a lot of room for improvement, while the X800 is basically maxed out.

Don't get me wrong, I think both cards are great, and it's a good time to be
a gamer with either card - I personally will buy whichever one I can get my
hands on first -

Don't kid yourself, ATI blows away Nvidia at this point.

Pluvious

 

[Henrik Stavnshøj]

But what you are failing to realize is that with the Radeon X800 series,
what you see is what you get - it is basically just the Radeon 9800 on
steroids - the 6800Ultra, as traditionally with most of the Nvidia cards,
could have huge leaps in performance from future driver releases...so the
benchmark comparisons you are seeing are definitely pre-mature. It would not
be out of the ordinary to see increases in performance anywhere from 5-25%
simply from driver updates. Wait until the 6800U has a couple driver updates
and it *might* be a very different picture.

Also, the link listed below is by no means a be all end all for benchmarks,
I've seen numerous benchmarks that swing towards the 6800 U as well - right
now they are just about the same and it is doubtful that you will physically
notice huge differences between either the X800 XT or the 6800U, although I
have seen most reviews/previews claiming that ATI's image quality is a tad
better with the X800 XT vs. 6800U, again, wait until Nvidia releases some
updated drivers - everything that I've read claims that the 6800U still has
a lot of room for improvement, while the X800 is basically maxed out.

Don't get me wrong, I think both cards are great, and it's a good time to be
a gamer with either card - I personally will buy whichever one I can get my
hands on first -

Well, I'm sorry. Your comment sounds just as nVidia's comments have all too
often sounded: "We'll come back! Just You wait and see!."

But, honestly: It's been a while since nVidia could turn out the kind of
performance increase, they did with the early Detonator drivers.

And why is this, one might ask one self?
Well, couldn't it be because the competition has hardenened, so it's no
longer possible to launch a card with a built-in reserve, that one might put
to use later, when the opponents try to catch up ;-)

Honestly, I think that ATI has again struck the right balance here: Don't
make a card with excessive future-aimed features. Use what is needed here
and now, and make the fastest, and most economical chip for it.

Then, when the future arrives, make a new card ready to take it on

There has been discussion whether that extra feature* that nVidia has
implemented, makes the R6800 the superior card. (*Texture displacement.)
In a sense you of course can say that it does.

But the most reasonable argument I saw, stated this: The use of that
feature, first of all requires games that implement it. Secondly, if the use
of that feature slows the card down to a crawl, when actually used, of what
use is it then?

So what do you want?
A card that is fast, and has excellent image quality, here and now?
Or a card, that has a feature that might, or might not, be used in the
future, and which, if used, may proove useless?

I know what i would choose


/Henrik

 

[patrickp]

Now I feel bad, see, my Lady would be getting the 9800 Pro....
McG.

No, no - marriage is _not_ what I was proposing, McG! Besides
wouldn't that be sort of... bigamous?

patrickp

(e-mail address removed) - take five to email me

 

[McGrandpa]

No, no - marriage is _not_ what I was proposing, McG! Besides
wouldn't that be sort of... bigamous?

Well, I'm not married
McG.

 

[patrickp]

Well, I'm not married
McG.

Tsk! And you're a McGrandpa? ;-)))

patrickp

(e-mail address removed) - take five to email me

 

[McGrandpa]

Tsk! And you're a McGrandpa? ;-)))

Yep Been that-a-way twice. Got 4 kids, 4.9 grandkids. The 5th is
due any day now.
McG.

 

[patrickp]

Yep Been that-a-way twice. Got 4 kids, 4.9 grandkids. The 5th is
due any day now.
McG.

Prolific, eh? Congratulations! I like kids, but I couldn't manage a
whole one...

patrickp

(e-mail address removed) - take five to email me