HIS Radeon HD 2600 XT IceQ Turbo GDDR3 - bit-tech.net Forums

Tim S · 20th Aug 2007, 13:42

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/200...turbo_gddr3_/1

Last week we gave the Radeon HD 2600 XT GDDR4 a fairly rough ride. This week we're back with another Radeon HD 2600 XT from HIS, although this time the card uses GDDR3 memory. Read on to find out how it got on...

Amon · 20th Aug 2007, 15:42

What I learned from the review was to buy an X1950-based AGP card. Thanks, bit-tech.

mclean007 · 20th Aug 2007, 17:23

With previous generations these mid-range cards used to offer very decent performance for great prices, giving the best price/performance ratio. I'm thinking GeForce 6600 / 7600 and, going further back, Radeon 9500 (that was an absolute bargain, an overclocking monster with the ability, in some cases, to soft-mod to 9700 Pro level) in particular.

However, both ATi and nVidia have released pretty underpowered cards with this generation - the performance gap between the 8600/2600 and the 8800/2900 is just too great. Yes, you might get playable frame rates with today's games at modest settings, but what about the next 2-3 years a mid-range card might be expected to last? The 8800 GTS 320 MB version is so keenly priced that you get a whole lot more performance for not a lot more money - particularly compared to the overpriced / underpowered 8600 GTS. And if you can't stretch to the 8800 GTS 320, why bother with DX10 at all - the "mid-range" DX10 parts from this generation, based on what we've seen, aren't going to cope very well with any DX10 titles, so why not get a more powerful DX9 card from the last generation for less money?

The only place, IMHO, for the current gen mid-range parts is in fanless versions in HTPCs, to take advantage of their sophisticated acceleration of decoding HD video and (in some cases) HDCP support. And for that, you may as well get the cheapest card in the range since it will do what you need with low power / heat / noise.

Amon · 20th Aug 2007, 17:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by mclean007

going further back, Radeon 9500 (that was an absolute bargain, an overclocking monster with the ability, in some cases, to soft-mod to 9700 Pro level) in particular.

QFT!!

The 9500, 9600, and 9700 families were absolute legends in the overclocking world back then! which was why I snatched up a 9600 in 2003.

bubsterboo · 20th Aug 2007, 19:08

I find it sad that a lot of tests without AA and even some with AA my 7600gt beats it (barely).
Thats unacceptable IMO, thats a last get midrange beating a current gen midrange. Doesn't exactly make me want to upgrade to one of these, if you consider that an upgrade.

lamboman · 20th Aug 2007, 20:15

Good review (as always). I was actually kinda surprised how close the card was to the Pro for two games (CaC and Oblivion) but a rip off card anyway, as the X1950 Pro is about £75 from overclockers now.

g3n3tiX · 20th Aug 2007, 23:07

Interesting...good looking card, expecially the boltgun/black back.
Holding off till the end of the week might be a better idea though...see what worth this card is for...Bioshock...

Valve bundle did you say ? I'm interested !

20th Aug 2007, 13:42	#1
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	HIS Radeon HD 2600 XT IceQ Turbo GDDR3 http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/200...turbo_gddr3_/1 Last week we gave the Radeon HD 2600 XT GDDR4 a fairly rough ride. This week we're back with another Radeon HD 2600 XT from HIS, although this time the card uses GDDR3 memory. Read on to find out how it got on... __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

20th Aug 2007, 15:42	#2
Amon inch-perfect Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: cannoning into the reds, Toronto, Canada Posts: 2,456	What I learned from the review was to buy an X1950-based AGP card. Thanks, bit-tech. __________________ Defunct Socket 939 San Diego 4000+::2GB PC3200::Radeon 9600 SE 128MB::200GB HDD::24" Dell 2407WFP-HC::WinXP x64/x86 dual boot Dell Vostro 1500 laptop::Socket P Merom T7100::2GB PC5400::Go 8600m GT 256MB::660GB HDD::15.4" WXGA+, 24" Dell 2407WFP-HC::WinXP::Fanatec 911 Wheel+Pedals

20th Aug 2007, 17:23	#3
mclean007 Officious Bystander Join Date: May 2003 Location: Nodnol Posts: 1,595	With previous generations these mid-range cards used to offer very decent performance for great prices, giving the best price/performance ratio. I'm thinking GeForce 6600 / 7600 and, going further back, Radeon 9500 (that was an absolute bargain, an overclocking monster with the ability, in some cases, to soft-mod to 9700 Pro level) in particular. However, both ATi and nVidia have released pretty underpowered cards with this generation - the performance gap between the 8600/2600 and the 8800/2900 is just too great. Yes, you might get playable frame rates with today's games at modest settings, but what about the next 2-3 years a mid-range card might be expected to last? The 8800 GTS 320 MB version is so keenly priced that you get a whole lot more performance for not a lot more money - particularly compared to the overpriced / underpowered 8600 GTS. And if you can't stretch to the 8800 GTS 320, why bother with DX10 at all - the "mid-range" DX10 parts from this generation, based on what we've seen, aren't going to cope very well with any DX10 titles, so why not get a more powerful DX9 card from the last generation for less money? The only place, IMHO, for the current gen mid-range parts is in fanless versions in HTPCs, to take advantage of their sophisticated acceleration of decoding HD video and (in some cases) HDCP support. And for that, you may as well get the cheapest card in the range since it will do what you need with low power / heat / noise. __________________ Demand Naked DSL in the UK!

20th Aug 2007, 19:08	#5
bubsterboo Hypermodder Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 781	I find it sad that a lot of tests without AA and even some with AA my 7600gt beats it (barely). Thats unacceptable IMO, thats a last get midrange beating a current gen midrange. Doesn't exactly make me want to upgrade to one of these, if you consider that an upgrade. __________________ DFI LANPARTY UT P35-T2R - Q6600 @ 3.4ghz - 8GB OCZ Platinum - evga 9800gx2 - 2x500gb seagate, 1x250gb hitachi, 1x320gb seagate, 1x1tb samsung - Benq FP241W Last edited by bubsterboo; 20th Aug 2007 at 19:09. Reason: spelling

20th Aug 2007, 20:15	#6
lamboman Hypermodder Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 969	Good review (as always). I was actually kinda surprised how close the card was to the Pro for two games (CaC and Oblivion) but a rip off card anyway, as the X1950 Pro is about £75 from overclockers now. __________________ Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 @ 3.04GHz \| OCZ Platinum Rev 2 @ 760MHz (4-4-4-12) \| Asus P5K-E/WIFI-AP \| Asus EAX1950 Pro \| Coolermaster CM690 Corsair VX450 \| Samsung 932B \| Logitech G5/Media Elite/Z-3

20th Aug 2007, 23:07	#7
g3n3tiX Resident frenchie Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: localhost Posts: 588	Interesting...good looking card, expecially the boltgun/black back. Holding off till the end of the week might be a better idea though...see what worth this card is for...Bioshock... Valve bundle did you say ? I'm interested ! __________________ I also have a MTBF.