X-bit labs

Mainstream PCI Express Graphics Cards Review: PowerColor X600 XT vs. Albatron Trinity PCX 5750 (page 21)

Category: Video

by Alexey Stepin

[ 12/06/2004 | 06:29 PM ]

Conclusion: Price Factor

According to Pricewatch.com, a PowerColor X600 XT would cost you about $190, which is rather steep for a card with reduced frequencies. You may remember that the recommended price of the GeForce 6600 GT is $199 – that’s just a little more than the price of the PowerColor card, but the GeForce 6600 GT gives you much more performance. Moreover, the cheaper GeForce 6600 is going to come out soon, which is faster even than the original RADEON X600 XT, not to mention the PowerColor X600 XT. This high price doesn’t allow us to recommend that card to you. It may be of some interest to overclockers, again if the price suits them.

The Albatron Trinity PCX 5750, according to the same search system, costs about $135, and that’s more appropriate than the price of the PowerColor. On the other hand, the Albatron card uses the out-dated GeForce FX architecture, which makes it less suitable for modern games. Its excellent overclockability may be interesting to overclockers, but otherwise we don’t think it wise to purchase this card – it would be better to wait for the GeForce 6600.

So, the two mainstream graphics cards for the PCI Express platform we have reviewed today can suit to the current owners of this platform or to people who are going to transition to it right now, but don’t want to pay big sums for a GeForce 6800 GT or a RADEON X800 XT/PRO. If you’re going to make this transition a bit later on, you may want to wait for GeForce 6600/6600 GT cards to appear in shops. After these new cards arrive, prices for devices of the RADEON X600 and GeForce PCX families will surely go down, making them a more attractive buy for users with a limited budget.

Now let me sum up the highs and lows of the two tested solutions:

PowerColor X600 XT

Highs:

• Uses the reference PCB design;
• Fast memory;
• Good overclockability;
• Good accessories;
• High 2D quality.

Lows:

• Strange cooling solution;
• Noisy;
• Greatly reduced GPU frequency.

Albatron Trinity PCX 5750

Highs:

• Pretty looks;
• Good overclockability;
• High 2D quality.

Lows:

• Obsolete architecture;
• Low pixel shader performance;
• Slow memory in the TSOP packaging;
• Scanty accessories.