dale5605 said:
At this moment PS 3.0 is not fully utilized yet so you only see subtle difference but most people are basing this PS 3.0 argument on Lost Coast and that we will have to see. Most difference is on performance side right now but I am pretty sure you will be able to tell more of a difference in upcoming games. I can also see difference with the games now. Its not like comparing DX7 to DX9 but its there. But just think about it. You buy a videocard now that is $500. You expect the card to last for four years. PS 3.0 games are already starting to come out. All Valve games will have HDR from now on so lets use HL2: Afterlife for example. Many people who buy a $500 GPU EXPECTING it to play in full settings. Those who did not do research buy the X850XT expecting this because it is ATI's current flagship card. When HL2: Afterlife comes out they find out they can't play full settings. They will feel cheated. You have to remember I said the buyers should DO research. You did your research and you found the X850XT satisfactory for your needs. But I know people who even bought a X800XT not X850XT who did not do research at least enough to know what PS 3.0 is. So now that they find out they feel cheated. They are not the type of people who like to spend $500 on a GPU every year. No one can hold ATI liable because afterall it is a consumer purchase decision but to them tehy feel post purchase dissonance. I'm not saying this is you but I also know people who try to convince themselves they bought the right solution even though they feel post purchase dissonance. Of course PS 3.0 is only one thing. The X850XT will still play most Direct3D games better than Nvidia solution so PS 3.0 is not end all be all. But that is not my point, my point is that I know a few people who recently bought a GPU X800 and up who are now feeling post purchase dissonance. Many of them being HL2 fans citing Lost Coast as the main reason for motivating their post purchase dissonance. Of course one can also ask why didn't ATI put PS 3.0 in the X850XT anyways? I can understand not putting it in X800. In truth, X850XT isn't really a full next-gen card it is like DX9.0b. 6600 and 6800 are DX9.0c. If I'm wrong someone please correct me. I cannot say how you feel. If you're satisfied with your purchase then that is good. It is not any of my business anyways but I can tell you I know quite a few unsatisfied customers and truthfully most of the blame is really themselves. Many of those same people will now be tempted to "upgrade" because they want to play games like Lost Coast in its "full glory". Many of them are bitter because they chose their solution over another which they later find out can. As far as PC hardware innovators many of them will feel post purchase dissonance. Yes you're right in two years they will probably replace what they have now may it be X850XT or 6800 Ultra. It is their "behaviour" but to many of them in the present, some if not many will feel that buying a 6800 Ultra would have been a better solution because they can't play SM 3.0. Afterall, they want to be leading edge. To them a subtle difference is just as visible as a major difference. Playing Lost Coast with SM 2.0 is not leading edge.
Here are some examples of differences:
http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NjA5LDE=
Specs
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/winhec/partners/shadermodel30_NVIDIA.mspx
this card beefy?!? HA!! its at the bottom of the todom pole besides a 5200 lol. I just beef it up w/ this kinda crap!
