ATI Radeon X800 Pro 256 MB

Reviews: Hardware

Motherboards | Power Supplies | Memory | Systems | Video Cards

Author:
Editor:
Sponsor:
Published:

Brian Kristensen
Kurtis
ATI
Sep. 8, 2004

<< Previous

Next >>

The Card (Continued)

The ATI Radeon X800 Pro has a core clock speed of 475 MHz and 256 MB of DDR3 clocked at 450 MHz (900 MHz DDR). The RAM chips are labeled as Samsung K4J55323QF-GC20. These chips are rated at 2 nanoseconds and have a theoretical maximum of 500 MHz (1000 MHz DDR). This should allow for some decent overclocking which we will get to later on in the review.

Technology-wise, ATI left Shader Model 3.0 out of the X800 Pro and X800 XT. While SM 2.0b has done a good job of providing great quality and performance, and considering games don't currently benefit from SM 3.0, it is still questionable whether or not they should have supported it. NVIDIA has, and we will have to see how it all plays out.

On another note, ATI did include 3Dc, a new technology with the X800 cards. 3Dc compression works with normal maps and allows extremely fine per-pixel control over how light reflects off of textured surfaces. The technology allows for 4:1 compression which allows for much more detail without hogging extra memory. However, game developers will have to support the new technology in their engines if it is to be taken advantage of.

The Bundle

ATI's cards generally don't have much in the way of extras. If you are looking for a card that comes packed with nifty gadgets or cool games, you should probably look to ATI's add-in-board partners. Previously, any Radeon 9600 or 9800 XT came with a Half-Life 2 voucher. However, while the vouchers are still valid, the promotion got the axe.

Included with the X800 pro is a CD which contains the drivers for the card, a manual and some cables and adapters. The cables include S-Video and Composite cables, a DVI to VGA converter and a rather long Molex power splitter with purple connectors. I am not sure why ATI decided to go with purple this time around, but it is hardly worth mentioning.

<< Previous

Page 3 of 13

Next >>

Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: The Card
Page 3: The Card (cont.) / The Bundle
Page 4: Test Setup
Page 5: Benchmarks: Doom 3
Page 6: Benchmarks: Half-Life 2
Page 7: Benchmarks: Far Cry
Page 8: Benchmarks: Need for Speed Underground
Page 9: Benchmarks: Splinter Cell
Page 10: Benchmarks: Call of Duty
Page 11: Image Quality
Page 12: Overclocking
Page 13: Conclusion

Subscribe to Video Cards [more info]

Add Comment

4 User Comments

1 - Posted by Rich on September 9, 2004 - 8:45 am

I am curious why you chose not to install SP2 for the testing. Any idea if there is a performance difference between SP1a and SP2 for XP?

2 - Posted by Brian on September 9, 2004 - 11:16 am

Testing of the cards began prior to the release of SP2. After the upcoming review of the XFX 6800 GT, the test system will have SP2 installed.

3 - Posted by Rich on September 10, 2004 - 8:42 am

Makes sense, I would be a bit interested to find out if there are any performance differences between SP1a and SP2.

4 - Posted by Brian on September 10, 2004 - 8:49 am

http://www.hardcoreware.net/reviews/review-237-1.h...

SP1 and SP2 seem to constantly switch places in different performance tests. Overall SP2 is slightly faster but definitely not noticeable unless you are comparing bench #s.

Add Comment

To add a comment without being a member, you may omit the password field, but you must enter your name (or nickname) along with your comment. * Denotes required fields.