6800 GT vs. X800 XL (PCI Express)

[Jeff Lawson]

True, but at the same time you have to buy hardware sometime.]

I'm of the view that there's such a thing as smart waiting, and to do so before the central component of a gaming rig is updated is smart, I'm not asking people to wait forever.....if someone's already waited x no of months, well they "should" have purchased way back when, but it's close now....I hope someone doesn't do the equivalent of buying a 9800pro in late 2003 only to have the 6800/800 kick some serious GPU ass only a few months later.

Don't forget that you have to match your PC spec's, a AMD 3500 is still the price/performance champ, and that with a x800xl would mesh nicely, but you don't want to miss out on a next gen ATIpro for $100 more offering maybe 40-50% more grunt, or allow the x800xl to drop in price, just as the 9800pro did from $700Aud to the existing price of about $350aud after the release of the Nvidia line.

 

[gaara]

I personally prefer the 800XL because in my opinion it has a better price/performace ratio.

In all honesty though, the performance difference between either card is going to be miniscule, both are exceptional cards and you will not be disappointed with either.