AIW X600 Pro vs AIW 9800 Pro - which is better?

[AlpineJay]

I'm starting to pull together components for a new rig I'm trying to build (probably in a month or two - but I'm researching and jumping on any noticeable deals - for example the Antec Lanboy case for $40 AR at CompUSA this week) and I ran across the X600 Pro and 9800 Pro, both AIW.

I know I want the AIW model because the system I built for my brother has an AIW 9800 Pro on it and I'm pleased with it. I've ruled against a separate tuner card for my rig for that reason. I know quite a bit up to the 9800 series chips but I know little about the new X series chips. How do they compare up against each other? The X600 is 211 and the 9800 Pro is 239 at Newegg. The X600 has a 400MHz RAMDAC and 256MB of 600MHz vid mem, whereas the 9800 Pro has a 380MHz core and 128MB of 680MHz vid mem. Spec for spec they appear similar minus the double video memory stuff. I can't really understand why the X600 is cheaper for that reason. I'm inclined to believe that the X600 Pro is a better card but would love any of your expert advice/opinions. I know that the 9800 Pro is a great card, just don't know if the legend continues on for the X series.

This also brings up another question of AGP vs. PCI-E. I'm trying to build a system with Athlon 64 3500+ and have the option of the nForce 3 setup or the nForce 4. I know this has already been asked before but I'd like to know if the X600 Pro and the nForce interface well. I'll probably go with the NF4 4X or ultra (I have no real interest in SLI) for the sake of having the new technology in hand but if there's strong recommendation for the AGP then i may reconsider.

BTW, I'm not a huge gamer but do a good amount of video editing and would love to dip my hands into some games (not FPSs, though, not my thing) in the future. So with all this information, what do ya think? Thanks in advance.

[zippyjuan]

Here is one comparison: http://reviews.pimprig.com/video_cards/sapphiretech_x600_pro_vivo.php?page=4

The X600 was designed to be about the same as the 9600. A better PCI Express card for about the same money would be a 6600GT which matches the 9800 in many tests and beats it in a lot more. If you are concerned about the future, it also includes Pixel Shader 3.0 which ATI does not at this time. The 6600GT is available in both AGP and PCI Express versions.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2277&p=3

[bachviet]

Here is one comparison: http://reviews.pimprig.com/video_cards/sapphiretech_x600_pro_vivo.php?page=4

The X600 was designed to be about the same as the 9600. A better PCI Express card for about the same money would be a 6600GT which matches the 9800 in many tests and beats it in a lot more. If you are concerned about the future, it also includes Pixel Shader 3.0 which ATI does not at this time. The 6600GT is available in both AGP and PCI Express versions.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2277&p=3
BTW he wants a video card with built-in TV tuner so the 6600GT is out. I would get the 6600GT over the R9800Pro right now.

BTW the R9800Pro is defiinitely faster than the X600Pro.

[nate el bueno]

well if the tv tuner isnt a huge issue, sure, go with the 6600 gt, but if you do video editing, wildcat vp has some nice cards out for that. by the way, what does gt stand for? :stupid:

[shocky123]

Who knows.....
Grand Tour?
Grand Tourismo?
Great T?


I don't know heh.. :rolleyes:

[AlpineJay]

Looks like I'm going with the following setup for basics, comment on them as you wish:

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 90nm
1GB Kingston HyperX DDR400
Asus VIA K8T800Pro with Wifi option
ATI AIW 9800 Pro with remote wonder
WD Raptor 36.7GB SATA 10,000rpm for system files
Two Seagate Barracuda 200GB HDDs for media
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum
Pioneer DVR-108 16X DVD+/-RW
Asus 16X DVD-ROM
Antec Super LanBoy case w/ TrueBlue 480W supply

Looks to come out around 1550 through ZipZoomFly. Not too bad of a price for something exactly catered to me. What do you think?

[Bires]

Looks like I'm going with the following setup for basics, comment on them as you wish:

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 90nm
1GB Kingston HyperX DDR400
Asus VIA K8T800Pro with Wifi option
ATI AIW 9800 Pro with remote wonder
WD Raptor 36.7GB SATA 10,000rpm for system files
Two Seagate Barracuda 200GB HDDs for media
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum
Pioneer DVR-108 16X DVD+/-RW
Asus 16X DVD-ROM
Antec Super LanBoy case w/ TrueBlue 480W supply

Looks to come out around 1550 through ZipZoomFly. Not too bad of a price for something exactly catered to me. What do you think?

Why a separate DVDROM?
Are you sure you want a AIW, rather than a separate video card (that you can update later) and a TV card?
Everything else looks good...but pricey.
Newegg isn't cheaper?

[zippyjuan]

ZIpZoomFly is often just a little cheaper than Newegg or just a bit higher on most items. I usually shop both.

[AlpineJay]

Newegg charges 6% sales tax in NJ and charges shipping. Some of their prices are slightly cheaper but when they're all added together ZZF is around 50 bucks cheaper for me. AIW is there because R9800Pro is just about the best ATI card I can get - I believe - that is AGP. I'm not at all a gamer yet so I feel that's a good starter card - better than the X600Pro that I was initially asking about.

I'm a video editor and the second optical drive at 32 bucks makes sense for me as I can make copies of DVDs on the fly with a second drive in place. I really am hoping I run into a better deal on the SB Audigy as I know CC just had a sale on them for 100 AR - I'm currently set to pay ~165 which I really don't want to stomach.