256-bit gfx...worth it?

[fkdup74]

if i go 256-bit then i'm basically stuck with x800/6800 or better...
(although neither card would be bad to be "stuck" with....)
which means a few more bucks
ATi x800 XL PCI-E (256 MB/256-bit) is going locally for 300 bucks
cant remember the 6800 prices, but probably in the same neighborhood

opinions?

[Snee]

It's probably worth it if you can afford it.

I think the 6800s will last longer as they have pixelshader 3.0, which will apparently be the bee's knees in a bit.

Go with a 256meg version while you are at it. (128megs will do fine if you don't wanna' spend that much)

[fkdup74]

yeah i was figuring on going 256 MB as well
which pretty much cinched it to a x800 or 6800
nVidia has a pcx5900 chipset thats a cheaper 256-bit, but only 128 MB

i thought of going all out for an x850 XT...
but i read some reviews that say they run hotter than a two dollar pistol
even with the GPU fan pulling air outside the case

[Snee]

I don't think the x850s have pixelshader 3.0.

So go with a 6800

[Peerzy]

I don't think the x850s have pixelshader 3.0.

So go with a 6800

6800 all the way.

[fkdup74]

hmmm.....
just did some re-checking.....
theres a 150 dollar price jump from the x800 XL to the 6800 GT

the x800 XL is starting to look REAL nice

this is what i can grab for 299 bucks:

- Specifications -

Chipset/Core Speed: ATI Radeon X800 XL/400MHz
Pixel Pipeline: 16
Memory/Effective Speed: 256MB GDDR3/980MHz
BUS: PCI-Express X16
Ports: VGA Out(15 Pin D-Sub) + TV Out(HDTV/S-Video/Composite Out) + DVI
Support 3D API: DirectX 9, OpenGL 2.0
Max Resolution@32bit Color: 2048X1536@85Hz
RAMDACs: 400 MHz

this is for 450 bucks:

- Specifications -

Chipset/Core Speed: nVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT/350MHz
Pixel Pipelines: 16
Memory/Effective Speed: 256MB GDDR3/1000MHz
BUS: PCI-Express x16
Support SLI (Scalable Link Interface): Yes
Ports: TV-Out(S-Video Out) + 2x DVI
Support 3D API: DirectX 9.0c(Shader Model 3.0), OpenGL 2.0
Max Resolution@32bit Color: 2048X1536@85Hz
RAMDACs: 400MHz

the only thing i sacrifice is the pixel shader 3.0 and SLI support
but i didnt like the reviews i read about SLI, so not worried about that
so what would i lose w/o pixel shader 3.0?
a few frames per second?
or is it worse than that?

[Snee]

It won't last as long.

Some games won't run without pixelshader 3.0 in the future. I think.

[fkdup74]

It won't last as long.

Some games won't run without pixelshader 3.0 in the future. I think.

i'm looking into it ATM (2.0 vs 3.0)
theres tons of links for reviews,
not like some of the reviews i've searched for recently

hehe, i almost shit when i saw this one:
http://www.tbreak.com/reviews/article.php?id=322