ATI round-up
time. Over the past year we collected a few ATI PCI-e Video Cards so the
plan is to run these cards using some basic synthetic 3D and bandwidth
analyzing tools (AKA Benchmark Software). Then using the data collected
and the hardware specs plus the current retail price to see exactly what
card is the best value. The cards we are going to use are as fallows.
ATI Radeon X700 Pro, PowerColor Radeon X800 Pro (Bravo Edition),
Sapphire Radeon X1300 Pro, and last Sapphire Radeon X1600 XT. We will be
using one machine to run all tests and evaluate performance. The Idea
behind that is to limit and exterior conditions that may alter the
testing. Remember our results may differ from other folk’s tests, so
don’t expect to achieve the same results unless you can definitively
say you have the exact hardware and software setup we have in the lab.
Enough said lets move on to the evaluation.
Hardware
Specs Comparison:
Competative
Price as of 01-10-2997
$49.99
$159.99
$76.99
$74.99
$109.99
Model
X700Pro
X800Pro
Bravo Edition
X800GT
X1300Pro
X1600XT
Brand
ATI
PowerColor
PowerColor
Sapphire
Sapphire
Model
100-437402
R43C-NVD3D
R43CA-GD3D
100143L
100146DDVIL
Interface
PCI
Express x16
PCI
Express x17
PCI
Express x18
PCI
Express x19
PCI
Express x20
Chipset
Chipset
Manufacturer
ATI
ATI
ATI
ATI
ATI
GPU
Radeon
X700PRO
Radeon
X800
Radeon
X800GT
Radeon
X1300PRO
Radeon
X1600XT
PixelPipelines
8
8
8
4
12
Core
clock
425MHz
392MHz
475MHz
600MHz
587MHz
Memory
Model
X700Pro
X800Pro
Bravo Edition
X800GT
X1300Pro
X1600XT
Memory
Size
256MB
256MB
256MB
256MB
256MB
Memory
Interface
128-bit
256-bit
256-bit
128-bit
128-bit
Memory
Type
GDDR3
GDDR3
GDDR3
GDDR2
GDDR3
Memory
Clock
800MHz
700MHz
980MHz
800MHz
1386MHz
3D
API
DirectX
DirectX
9
DirectX
9
DirectX
9
DirectX
9
DirectX
9
OpenGL
OpenGL
2.0
OpenGL
2.0
OpenGL
2.0
OpenGL
2.0
OpenGL
2.0
Ports
Model
X700Pro
X800Pro
Bravo Edition
X800GT
X1300Pro
X1600XT
D-SUB
1
No
1
1
No
DVI
1
2
1
1
2
TV-Out
S-Video
/ Composite Out
HDTV
/ S-Video/Composite Out
HDTV
/ S-Video Out
HDTV
/ S-Video/Composite Out
HDTV
/ S-Video/Composite Out
VIVO
No
Yes
No
No
No
General
Tuner
None
None
None
None
None
RAMDAC
400
MHz
400
MHz
400
MHz
400
MHz
400
MHz
Max
Resolution
2048
x 1536
2048
x 1536
2048
x 1536
2560
x 1600
2560
x 1600
Dual-Link
DVI Supported
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
RoHS
Compliant
Yes
Cooler
With
Fan
With
Fan
With
Fan
With
Fan
With
Fan
Operating
Systems Supported
Windows
2000/XP
Windows
2000/XP
Windows
2000/XP
Windows
2000/XP
Windows
2000/XP
Features
Vista
Ready
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Model
X700Pro
X800Pro
Bravo Edition
X800GT
X1300Pro
X1600XT
Features
Installation
software requires CD-ROM drive
DVD playback requires DVD drive
SMARTSHADER
HD
SMOOTHVISION HD
3Dc
VIDEOSHADER HD
High
Performance Memory Controller
Ultra-Threaded Shader Engine
Avivo Video and Display Platform
CrossFire
Hydravision 3
Microsoft
DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 3.0
Ultra-Threaded Shader Engine
Avivo Video and Display Platform
CrossFire
Clearly
the Performance results show that the X1600 XT performs the best for
gamming or 3D rendering and then the X800 Pro, Last is a toss up between
the X1300 Pro and the X700 Pro. One oddity was noted if you look closely
at the 2D rendering scores from PassMark the older X700 blew all the
other cards out of the water. This might be attributed to the older
driver version used only on the X700 6 series I believe it was where the
rest used the latest 8 Series driver from ATI.. These results are hard
to explain but the truth is the results did not impact the end results
enough to make a large difference.
All these
cards are in the 50 – 150 USD price range starting with the
lowest going to the highest, 50 for the X700 Pro, 75 for the X1300 Pro,
110 for the X1600 XT, and last 150 for the X800 Pro Bravo edition. While
the X800 and X1600 performed comparably the same can be said about the
X1300 and X700 but the X700 is around ½ the price of the X700 so in my
mind it is an easy choice. However when talking the comparison of the
X800 and the X1600 you need to take additional information and factor
them in. One thing to consider is possible other options for instance
with the X800 Pro Bravo (what we had to test) if Video editing is not a
major concern there is a much lower cost substitute averaging around 77
USD the X800 GTO. This model should perform at the very least as well as
the Bravo edition you just lose the extra Video In/Out power and the
Software bundle for the editing features. In conclusion lets be
completely honest when it comes down to it the price will most likely
determine exactly what card you buy and in this case it is hard to make
that call. Best bang for your buck is the X700 for low cost moderate
cost the X1600 XT but if the X800 GTO is factored in you might lean
towards the X800 for best in price range.
