X850XT v 6800 GT

[bloodfist]

I'm going to be placing an order for a PowerMac next week and the only thing I need to decide on is the graphics card. I did some searching on here and found comparisons with the XP v an 6800 Ultra, but none with the XT v a 6800 GT.

On the PC side, i know OpenGL is nVIdia's bread and butter, while DirectX is ATI's. Since we are dealing with Macs here, there is no such thing as DirectX for Macs so that aspect is thrown out.

I've looked at the benchmarks from barefeats.com and spec wise, the X850XT has the 6800GT beat by quite a margin. The actual real world tests reflect that advantage. So +1 for the XT.

I'm looking for others opinions on this. It seems the XT wins hands down. What do you think?

[doucy2]

my vote is for the XT ati products are denerally better then nvidia one and tend to last longer
but thats just my 2 cents worth

[RobHague]

Either will be great. There isnt much to choose between them, i think the 6800gt comes out on top in doom3 benchmarks or something for instance.

I was in the same situation and i was getting the X850XT, but the retailer i was ordering from told me Apple have to fit the x850xt so the system would be delayed at least 10 days.... so i went with the 6800gt.

Prolly best to go for the X850xt. Though ive had no problems with the 6800GT.

[doucy2]

well thats 2 votes for the XT

[Lord Blackadder]

X850XT.

With the ATI card, you'll be able to tweak settings with the ATI Display control panel. The oversize 6800GT blocks one of your PCI slots too - X850XT does not.

[Chaszmyr]

ATI whenever possible, especially in this case :)

[AppleAce]

Also, with an ATi card, you can use the ATi Displays control panel, for the OpenGL override settings to force anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering.

[wako]

my vote is for the XT ati products are denerally better then nvidia one and tend to last longer
but thats just my 2 cents worth


ROFL! What?!
They both are equally good companies and have equally good products.
How does the ATi "last longer?"


As for the thread question. I would say the 850XT because its definately is better over the 6800GT.

[wrxguy]

For the most part, a high end vid card is just that...a high end vid card...you prob wouldn't be able to look at the two and tell them apart...I am gettin the NVidia for my PC though but that is just for Counter Strike

[G5Unit]

I have an X800XT and it owns in everything even on a not so fast G5. X850XT for sure.

[bodeh6]

Another vote for the ATI. I like ATI better and their products are better in my opinion. Now all we need is a PowerMac that can run the ATI AVIVO.

[eva01]

well the Nvidia does better in certain things while the 850 does better in others.

Also the 6800 allows for two 30" displays while no ATI allows that currently.

that being said i go for the ATI

[Bear]

well the Nvidia does better in certain things while the 850 does better in others.

Also the 6800 allows for two 30" displays while no ATI allows that currently.

that being said i go for the ATIThe X850 XT does support a single 30" display + second display at lower (1920x1200 or less) resolution., while the 6800 GT DDL supports 2 of the 30" Displays.

Your reply almost makes it sound like the X850 XT doesn't support even one of the 30" displays.

[Mord]

x850XT, ATI's drivers are better on macs.

the 6800 only wins with doom 3.

[ammon]

I must agree with every one else. the X800XT is the way to go.

However, if you want to wait a little while longer ATI will be releasing their next core soon.

The next core (R520) will be amazing with core graphics! It can even help decode H.264 video. It will be a very nice step up from the current R420 core.

[Eric5h5]

However, if you want to wait a little while longer ATI will be releasing their next core soon.

The next core (R520) will be amazing with core graphics! It can even help decode H.264 video. It will be a very nice step up from the current R420 core.

But who knows if/when the Mac version will be released, and then who knows if/when Apple will offer it as a BTO option.

In the meantime, yes, go with the X850. If you do any gaming on the Mac at all, then ATI is pretty much a no-brainer.

--Eric

[Barham]

X850 XT

Here's the real reason besides what everyone else has said. The 850 XT is actually a higher end card than the 6800 GT. The card that you're seeing in the benchmarks is probably a 6800 Ultra. If I remember correctly nvidia brands their "budget" high end card with GT.

The ATI is superior. And a person that is looking to buy one of these cards CAN tell the difference, that's why they want it so high end.

-Hasta

[bloodfist]

Well it looks like the X850XT wins hands down. I'll be placing my order either tomorrow or Tuesday.

Thanks for you help in making the decision.

-bloodfist

[Chaszmyr]

I figure I should clarify something, because no one else mentioned it.

The 6800 GT and the X850 XT are the same price because the X850 XT is faster, but it can only drive one 30'' display, the 6800 GT can drive two 30'' displays.

[bloodfist]

Unless someone here wants to give me $3000 I don't think I'll be using even one 30" display.

:)

-bloodfist

[barneygumble]

well the Nvidia does better in certain things while the 850 does better in others.

Also the 6800 allows for two 30" displays while no ATI allows that currently.

that being said i go for the ATI

Do you know anyone in the world that actually runs dual 30 inchers? I know i don't, sure it is possible but who is actually going too ;) (prove me wrong), that being said the ATi cards i have used have be top notch, you will be happy :)

[MovieCutter]

Do you know anyone in the world that actually runs dual 30 inchers? I know i don't, sure it is possible but who is actually going too ;) (prove me wrong), that being said the ATi cards i have used have be top notch, you will be happy :)

Well, I run 2x23" in my video edit suite. I could really use 2x30"s, but I'm not paying over $6000 for displays. $2000 on the other hand I can deal with.

[FFTT]

The 6800 ultra uses up 2 expansion slots because it's so damn big

I'd got for the ATI. X850XT

[MovieCutter]

I would normally agree with the Ati X850XT. I have both that and the 6800 Ultra. The 850 is a bit quieter, but doesn't seem to perform any better in games based on my tests. I stick with the 6800 Ultra because it's performance in Motion beats the pants off the X850. Yeah, it's a bit louder and takes up 2 slots, but I don't use more than two slots myself (I don't generally think that because a powerful card takes up 2 slots is a reason to avoid it. Many people don't use all the slots), and the noise doesn't bother me, but it's performance is noticeably better than the X850 in a program I use constantly.

[Alyson]

I just bought a G5 2.7 with an Apple Cinima display 30" and have experienced problems. When working with Photoshop, Quicktime and After Effects it is not unusual for my screen to become garbled with artifacts...huge pixel blocks of repeated menus. Apple replaced my card but after one day, it exhibited the same problem. Today they are shipping the 6800 GT for me to swap. The Apple care specialist says there is an known issue with the 850XT that is being addressed but with no known timetable.

[bloodfist]

...The Apple care specialist says there is an known issue with the 850XT that is being addressed but with no known timetable.

Great. I ordered the computer on the 26th with the X850XT. Hopefully I wont experience any problems. It's nice to know that they will take care of the issue in a timely fashion though if any arise.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll keep a look out for artifacts.

-bloodfist

[Chaszmyr]

Great. I ordered the computer on the 26th with the X850XT. Hopefully I wont experience any problems. It's nice to know that they will take care of the issue in a timely fashion though if any arise.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll keep a look out for artifacts.

-bloodfist

Don't worry about it. By the way, I have a 6800 Ultra and it creates screen artifacts when I use any program in Microsoft Office.

[iQuit]

X850XT.