9800 NP vs 9600XT

[joker_927]

I was wondering which card to buy.

I would have to get the 9800 Non-pro right now because they don't make them anymore or soemthing similar to that. I can buy a Power-Color ATI Radeon 9800 for $285 shipped. Or I could wait for the 9600XT which will cost $199.

Supposedly the 9600XT will ship WITH HL2!!!! But because of someone stealing the source code and now MAKING a demo for the game, valve may delay it till April 2004! This is NOT confirmed, so it just makes the gamble harder.

I was looking at a review of a 9800XT, and they say that it is about 10% faster than the 9800 PRO 256MB version. Well the 256MB version performed horribly anyway! The DDR-II was hot and slow. The 9800 PRO 128MB performed BETTER than the 256MB version in most tests.

So, by putting two and two together, I conclude that BOTH the 9800XT and the 9800 Pro 128MB perform ABOUT the same.

I haven't seen nay reviews for the 9600XT, but im guessing it performs WORSE than the 9800XT (obviosuly) and that my obvious choice would be to buy the PowerColor 9800 128MB card right now.

So am I right in assuming all this? It's been so hard. Plus my cd-rw blew up yesterday.

thx

[bfcx]

Could think about getting a 9700 Pro 128 and OC it to a 9800 speeds, thats what i do and i'm quite happy, but i really wanta see if the 9600XT will be faster than my 9700 Pro.

If HL2 is delayed the XT cards will ship coupons for a free copy i've heard.

[joker_927]

I was gonna buy a 9800 non pro and flash the bios to be a 9800 Pro.

A video card roundup I read showed the 9700 PRO ran faster than a 9800 non-pro.

Wierd...

I know both ATI and Nvidia have their next-gen cards right around the corner so it's pretty pointless to buy a TOP OF THE LINE card right now. I just want something that will play HALO, HL2, and Max Payne 2 well.

WHERE ARE THE 9600XT benchies!!!!

[tgxiii]

I don't think the 9600XT is available for testing yet... is it?

[joker_927]

well neither is the 9800XT, but some reviewers got testing models.

[joker_927]

Is buying a PowerColor 9800 non-pro right now for $285 a good investment?