- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Umm, not quite ;)
It uses the X800XL architecture, so it has a slower clock/memory speed and 12 pipelines as opposed to a faster and 16-pipeline X800XT or X800Pro.
The extra memory doesn't really make a difference right now. In two years, yes, 512MB will actually be the standard then. But for now, the VPU won't even need that much - the X800XT rarely utilizes even 180MB now, and that's on high settings.
That card is all about the ATi vs. nVidia war. Who can make theirs faster with more memory and do it first. That's what's going wrong with ATi. nVidia has a simple line: 6600, 6600GT, 6600Ultra, 6800, 6800GT, 6800 Ultra.
Meanwhile: X300, X600, X700 Pro, X800, X800XL, X800 Pro, X800XT, X800XT PE, X850 Pro, X850XT, X850XT PE - see what I'm getting at?
ATi had it right with the 9XXX series: simple numbering, only normal, pro, and xt. At that time nVidia confused everyone with the 5XXX series. Tables have turned, it's hard for many to keep up with the performance and price differences between the ATi cards. They've switched positions, hence why ATi is in the endless cycle of scrambling for domination while nVidia sits back...and pulls some strings.