ATI Radeon x850 XT

[Soviet_Warlord]

To get this video card for $350 CAD (294 USD) , is it a good deal? It's on sale now (used to be $600 Canadian - about $505 USD) - so I think the time is ripe for me to buy a shiny new x850 xt. I think its a fantastic deal, especially cause the store is just 5 minutes away and I wouldn't have to wait for shipping or pay for it, for that matter.

I am trying to find a card suitable to replace my age- old Nvidia FX5200. With many issues in SHIII such as the white smoke and the periscope lag, I decided to try out ATI. I have been eyeing the card for quite a long time.

Does anyone have this card already? What are the average frame rates in ports and when out to see? With my FX5200 I'm only getting about 30 FPS underwater, and about 19 above, even without other ships in the vicinity.

I understand that this card does not support Pixel Shader Model 3, used in games like IL2 FB (water = 3) and many newer ones. Is this something crucial? Should I wait to buy a new card until the next generation of ATI comes out supporting the Pixel Shader Model 3? Or does it not make much of a difference?

I like getting new games, but I would like this card to last me about two years. Is that asking too much?

Some games I play often these day are

IL-2 Sturmovik Forgetten Battles/ ACE + Pacific Fighters
Silent Hunter III (obviously), and
Call of Duty 2
Rome: Total War

I would like to be able to play these games at top settings.

Can someone give me some tips?

Thanks

[Redwine]

I was in the same some time ago.....

Due to that i had read in reviews :

If you are looking for a X800XT, consider with the X800XL you losse a very few FPS and have a very low price.

In another way, the X800XT PE, has a better performance than X800XT and not too much price increase.

Almost in that time, i choice the X800XT PE.

[Panama Red]

I have a ATI X800XT PE and using the following settings with the Harbor Trafic 1.46 and 16km visibility mods (1280 x 1024 resolution; 4 AA & 8AF; 90% particle density) I get 22 FPS high and 14 FPS low (depends on what part of the busy harbor that I am looking at).

Out at sea, I get over 50 FPS. The reason I use the above specs is that it gives the best quality picture (no jags at all on the 3D objects) with decent FPS. In reality, it is the 16km visibility that is the greatest hit on the FPS, but the visual reality at sea is to good to pass up.

Go for it, it is a great video card.

[Gizzmoe]

To get this video card for $350 CAD (294 USD) , is it a good deal?

Yes, it´s a very good price. But you also need a high-quality power supply, don´t expect it to work with a cheap 300w PSU. Buy a 450w Enermax, Antec or BeQuiet PSU, then you are on the safe side. They are not cheap, I´ve paid 67USD for my 400w BeQuiet power supply.