ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT

[Pinchy]

The 8600GTS doesnt double the shader clock, but comes close.

8600GTS shader clock: 1450Mhz
2600XT shader clock: 800Mhz

 

[nflesher87]

I would just like to say that the reviews here on TPU are The Best anywhere, and that isn't just because I love TPU
they're the most organized, easy to read and navigate reviews around...not to mention the great review database and how easy it is to find just about any review out there
just wanted to say thanks to w1zzard and the TPU staff
and great review of the 2600xt!

 

[Ketxxx]

wtf?, its got 390mill transistors (more than an x1950, and it uses more power too), what DID amd do to ati?????????

I always said AMD buying ATi was a bad thing..

 

[ryboto]

I always said AMD buying ATi was a bad thing..

I don't get it...it had more transistors, and uses less power? how is that a bad thing? And the ATi merger is a long term thing, the benefits of which aren't going to be seen right away. The HD 2000 series is the last ati-engineered product we'll see, after this series is done, it'll be amd/ati products. Amd is going to have its hands in embedded devices, set-top boxes, not to mention the computer market.

 

[Ketxxx]

AMD had last min input on the 2000 series. The bad thing is paper spec clearly shows the 2600xt with a massive clock difference, but it performs like shit, at least the 256mb version. Best hope a 512MB version helps it out. If not, its yet more evidence proving my point ATi and nVidia have to make midrange cards 256bit now.

 

[devguy]

"Drivers: NVIDIA: 94.24 (GeForce 8: 158.22)
ATI: Catalyst 7.5 (HD 2400 and HD 2600 with 8.38.9.1 RC2)"

Hey, do the Catalyst 7.6 drivers make much of a difference in these benchmarks?

 

[erocker]

So when is ATi going to suprise us with the 2700 or 2800xt? There is a big gap between $150 and $400!

 

[W1zzard]

So when is ATi going to suprise us with the 2700 or 2800xt? There is a big gap between $150 and $400!

i'd speculate first we will see more gddr4 and 1 gb stuff then maybe some part that is based on disabled r600 pipelines, then some r600 refresh

 

[Tatty_Two]

So when is ATi going to suprise us with the 2700 or 2800xt? There is a big gap between $150 and $400!

512MB GDDR4 version of the 2600XT......prob over $200, this aint the top spec 2600XT....well it's not supposed to be! I wonder tho if in DX10 the speed of the shaders is more important than the quantity or if it might just be the other way round.....with of course a bug free DX10 finished game.

 

[ktr]

http://www.sapphiretech.com/us/products/browseproducts.php?pcat=3

Look at the agp section! x2k series in that section.

 

[Easy Rhino]

excellent review w1z. this is a solid performing card for $150. if the gddr4 version is going to be very nice and most likely not too much more money. people complained about the high price of graphics cards and both nvidia and ati answered with a nice set of solid cards for less than 200 bucks. and this i just the tip of the iceberg.

 

[Kasparz]

"Drivers: NVIDIA: 94.24 (GeForce 8: 158.22)
ATI: Catalyst 7.5 (HD 2400 and HD 2600 with 8.38.9.1 RC2)"

Hey, do the Catalyst 7.6 drivers make much of a difference in these benchmarks?

Yes, it does.
TBH from first 8.36 drivers to 7.6 catalyst, HD2900XT performance increased by 20-30%. Yes, it was slower than GTS in time of release when most of reviews was done, but with 7.6 catalyst HD2900XT IS competitor to GTX. You will see same with HD2600/HD2400.

 

[Tatty_Two]

Yes, it does.
TBH from first 8.36 drivers to 7.6 catalyst, HD2900XT performance increased by 20-30%. Yes, it was slower than GTS in time of release when most of reviews was done, but with 7.6 catalyst HD2900XT IS competitor to GTX. You will see same with HD2600/HD2400.

Did you not notice in this review that the 8600GTS beat the 2900XT in a couple of benches at low res/low detail? The 2900XT certainly IS a competitor to the GTX in some benches, saying that though, it still gets beaten by the 8800GTS 640MB in some benches, I think it's fair to say that the 2900XT is to the GTX what the 640MB GTS is to the 2900XT if you get my meaning.

 

[Kasparz]

Did you not notice in this review that the 8600GTS beat the 2900XT in a couple of benches at low res/low detail? The 2900XT certainly IS a competitor to the GTX in some benches, saying that though, it still gets beaten by the 8800GTS 640MB in some benches, I think it's fair to say that the 2900XT is to the GTX what the 640MB GTS is to the 2900XT if you get my meaning.

You are frigging nub? I mean...seriously guys, what kind of crap are you smoking lately? This TPU review with HD2900XT was done with 8.37 drivers! There was 8.36/8.37/8.38/7.4/7.4/7.6 not to mention 7.x betas, and each driver improved performance by ~5%. HD2900XT scores was simply copied into HD2600/HD2400 review. Sometimes its better to STFU instead of talking about what you really have no clue.

 

[Grings]

wow, you really have a way of endearing yourself to tpu members dont you?, do you think thats the only review anyones read of 2900's? Sometimes its better to STFU instead of talking about something when you really have no clue.

 

[mullered07]

well im glad ive got a 8600gts coming today (and im gonna oc the shit out of it ) based on this review, although it would of been nice to run the lost planet dx10 demo to see the dx10 performance.

once again though top notch and in-depth review thanks W1zzard

 

[W1zzard]

You are frigging nub? I mean...seriously guys, what kind of crap are you smoking lately? This TPU review with HD2900XT was done with 8.37 drivers! There was 8.36/8.37/8.38/7.4/7.4/7.6 not to mention 7.x betas, and each driver improved performance by ~5%. HD2900XT scores was simply copied into HD2600/HD2400 review. Sometimes its better to STFU instead of talking about what you really have no clue.

you know what. just for you i'll rerun the 2900 xt benchmarks on 7.6

 

[ryboto]

you know what. just for you i'll rerun the 2900 xt benchmarks on 7.6

aww, now that's going to make him feel special, is that something we want to encourage?

But, kudos, I have yet to see benchmarks with 7.6's.

 

[Tatty_Two]

You are frigging nub? I mean...seriously guys, what kind of crap are you smoking lately? This TPU review with HD2900XT was done with 8.37 drivers! There was 8.36/8.37/8.38/7.4/7.4/7.6 not to mention 7.x betas, and each driver improved performance by ~5%. HD2900XT scores was simply copied into HD2600/HD2400 review. Sometimes its better to STFU instead of talking about what you really have no clue.

Yawn........I wont react to that comment, do you really think that the ONLY reviews I read are the early ones with the initial driver set? I will not do you the diservice of calling you a "nub" I will simply say....read a little more before you you start throwing around statements, the 8800GTS does beat the 2900XT in SOME benchmarks with more upto date drivers, maybe not the driver set issued on Monday of this week but then again, it will have been an older set of Forceware also, NVidia are still managing to get more out of their drivers so as I said in an earlier post, the ATi cards will improve with driver maturity, I will not post the 2 reviews I have read that were all done in the last 3-4 weeks that show that the 2900XT is the master across the board, NEVER have denied that, but it does show that it gets beat in SOME benchmarks still by the 8800GTS 640MB, I'll let you look again, if you can show me a fair review (as opposed to a slective one if you get my meaning) from recently that has a number of benches/real world games and it shows that in every test at every detail level/resolution the 640MB GTS gets beaten, I will gladly and proclaim my self the TPU "Nub" of the month.

Now to this composure thing, if you really do want to get unpleasant, please do let me know, it's a kind of subject I specialise in so I am sure I can accomodate, otherwise, it's good to disagree with opinion, it's actually OK to disagree with facts because thats how we all learn things but if you cannot do this in a civilised manner then we can always play "who's the nub" as you so pleasantly put it. I take critisism easily, insults I do not.

 

[Kasparz]

First, check performance gain with 7.6 vs 7.5 catalyst.
http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/1123/ati_catalyst_7_6_performance_analysis/index.html

Then read this review. This review was done with 7.5 catalyst.
http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/1122/1
So lets start comparison HD2900XT vs 8800GTS 640MB.

3dmark05 - ATI won by large margin.
3dmark06 the same. Its not surprise than ATI is very powerfull in 3dmarks, but lets move to gaming.
HL2 Lost Coast - ATI won by large margin.
Prey - At 1280resolution it loses, but at bigger resolutions ATI is faster.
F.E.A.R - At average FPS ATI is much faster again.
COH - Again ATI is much faster.
Supreme commander - at 1280 resolution ATi is faster by 1 FPS, but at bigger resolution ATI loses. But gap is very small.

So add about 5% to every test, and you see that ATI IS better than GTS, and its competitor to GTX. Note that ATi have software voltage control, and actually thats big reason to get HD2900XT over GTS or GTX. ATi consumes more power, but if you have rig that sucks 600w from your wallet, extra 50w is nothing to worry about.

 

[Tatty_Two]

First, check performance gain with 7.6 vs 7.5 catalyst.
http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/1123/ati_catalyst_7_6_performance_analysis/index.html

Then read this review. This review was done with 7.5 catalyst.
http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/1122/1
So lets start comparison HD2900XT vs 8800GTS 640MB.

3dmark05 - ATI won by large margin.
3dmark06 the same. Its not surprise than ATI is very powerfull in 3dmarks, but lets move to gaming.
HL2 Lost Coast - ATI won by large margin.
Prey - At 1280resolution it loses, but at bigger resolutions ATI is faster.
F.E.A.R - At average FPS ATI is much faster again.
COH - Again ATI is much faster.
Supreme commander - at 1280 resolution ATi is faster by 1 FPS, but at bigger resolution ATI loses. But gap is very small.

So add about 5% to every test, and you see that ATI IS better than GTS, and its competitor to GTX. Note that ATi have software voltage control, and actually thats big reason to get HD2900XT over GTS or GTX. ATi consumes more power, but if you have rig that sucks 600w from your wallet, extra 50w is nothing to worry about.

OK, firstly, can I ask you to read again my last 2 posts carefully, you are talking here as though someone has said tha GTS is better than the XT....I think I said in my last post that the XT was the faster card for the sake of this post I will quote from my previous one to save you looking again............

"I will not post the 2 reviews I have read that were all done in the last 3-4 weeks that show that the 2900XT is the master across the board, NEVER have denied that"

So whats your point? If it is that you contest my statement, and I will quote it from my previous post.................

"that it gets beat in SOME benchmarks still by the 8800GTS 640MB"

Which I am guessing is your point, then your post agrees with me as one of your points is that the 2900XT loses at prey in one resolution. I have not mentioned in ANY post the power consumption or heat so not sure why you are saying that, I did not even bother to mention the huge AA issues the card has had, because thats not what my sentance was about, I am not here to slag the 2900XT, I would hardly be saying it was the faster card if I was.....simple really. Anyone else care to disagree with my thoughts?

Now, we can all select reviews to support our arguments, hey let me show you how easy it is, take a look at this, this is a review from this week (Tuesday to be precise) with the new driver sets, I am the first to admit that the review also looked at the overclocking potential of the 2 cards and ran the tests at each cards max overclock (I could say that I didnt mention at stock or overclocked but that would not be fair), but hey, many of us in here do overclock so I post it for interest's sake only, I think you will find that the 8800GTS in this case beats the 2900 in more than just a couple but I stand by my origional statement which is that the 2900XT is the faster card across the board and is comparable with the GTX in some benches but it still does get beaten by the GTS in some also.

Now if you still think I am a "nub" for beleiving that, well I am either not sane, or you are either just ignoring facts or since I last looked I cannot read.

http://it-review.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1435&Itemid=91

Make sure you read the conclusion page also. Anyway, Wiz has said that he will do an upto date test soon, one thing you know with wiz, his reviews are fair and unbiased so he is going to have some in there with lots of AA enabled

If you like we can just agree to disagree and move on, unless of course you have some more insults you wanna throw? Ohhh and by the way.....no need to apologise.

 

[devguy]

wow.


I was just simply asking if the catalyst 7.6 drivers made any difference for the hd 2600XT (maybe on the Hd 2400xt/pro too). I had no intention of starting a flamewar between nvidia and ATI cards.

Forgive me.

 

[trt740]

Yawn........I wont react to that comment, do you really think that the ONLY reviews I read are the early ones with the initial driver set? I will not do you the diservice of calling you a "nub" I will simply say....read a little more before you you start throwing around statements, the 8800GTS does beat the 2900XT in SOME benchmarks with more upto date drivers, maybe not the driver set issued on Monday of this week but then again, it will have been an older set of Forceware also, NVidia are still managing to get more out of their drivers so as I said in an earlier post, the ATi cards will improve with driver maturity, I will not post the 2 reviews I have read that were all done in the last 3-4 weeks that show that the 2900XT is the master across the board, NEVER have denied that, but it does show that it gets beat in SOME benchmarks still by the 8800GTS 640MB, I'll let you look again, if you can show me a fair review (as opposed to a slective one if you get my meaning) from recently that has a number of benches/real world games and it shows that in every test at every detail level/resolution the 640MB GTS gets beaten, I will gladly and proclaim my self the TPU "Nub" of the month.

Now to this composure thing, if you really do want to get unpleasant, please do let me know, it's a kind of subject I specialise in so I am sure I can accomodate, otherwise, it's good to disagree with opinion, it's actually OK to disagree with facts because thats how we all learn things but if you cannot do this in a civilised manner then we can always play "who's the nub" as you so pleasantly put it. I take critisism easily, insults I do not.

Hey Tatty stop polishing your MP-5/ M-16 put it back in the closet. Kasp for God sakes man don't piss him off hes trained to kill in about 40 ways. Tatty sit down and drink some tea , take a few deep breaths and forgive him for he knows not what he does or for that matter who hes doing it to.

 

[Tatty_Two]

wow.


I was just simply asking if the catalyst 7.6 drivers made any difference for the hd 2600XT (maybe on the Hd 2400xt/pro too). I had no intention of starting a flamewar between nvidia and ATI cards.

Forgive me.

Lol, nothing to forgive, yes 7.6 is better....well amongst the fog I think thats what he is saying.

 

[Tatty_Two]

Hey Tatty stop polishing your MP-5/ M-16 put it back in the closet. Kasp for God sakes man don't piss him off hes trained to kill in about 40 ways. Tatty sit down and drink some tea , take a few deep breaths and forgive him for he knows not what he does or for that matter who hes doing it to.

Lol, thanks for that but he has as much right to vouice his opinion as me, the difference is I dont insult or flame, but then I am the quiet sort