X800XL: Gigabyte or Sapphire?

Amraam · 10-02-2005, 08:34 PM

Hey all, from what Ive read, the XL seems a sweet card no matter who makes it. I like the gigbyte vresion, because of its price and that its silent, but the lack of a fan concerns me. The sapphire seems exellent also, with its nice coolant, and the VIVO functions, but the difference in price is about £30 more.

Also, the Sapphire has the Ultimate and the Hybrid versions or the 800XL- Whats the diff?
What would you all reccomend?

Thanks

grim reaper · 10-02-2005, 08:35 PM

As long as your case has good airflow the passively cooled on is fine.

If you don't mind noise go for the cheapest one.

Deathmaker · 10-03-2005, 02:57 PM

While Sapphire's cards are generally ok, their UK support and RMA service suck donkey balls in my experience. I've had problems getting replacement cards for customers in the past that were well within warranty, and, the last one I RMA'd (a 9800pro which happened to be my own) took 5 months, a £25 "administration fee", 15 plus e-mails, a few 'phone calls and a threat of legal action before it was replaced (unless you count the 2 second hand ones they tried to fob me off with, one of which had a burned power connector).

Needless to say, I won't be buying Sapphire for myself or my customers in the future.

Socialoutcast · 10-03-2005, 03:24 PM

In my personal experiance the Gigabyte has performed much better than the sapphire. Sapphire's were good back in the days of 9500's but when the X series came out they went down hill in my opinion. I right now Run a X800 Pro Gigabyte and have it over clocked a lot but am using an aftermarket cooling system. So far I have had no problems with it. Runs about 40 degrees C in game and 32 at desktop.

Dick_Justice · 10-03-2005, 03:34 PM

Yeah, my Sapphires being a bit ulky lately. I´d go with the Gigabyte one..

Amraam · 10-03-2005, 06:39 PM

Thats exellent, i was hoping you'd all say gigabyte. Too bad the gigabyte version doesnt have TV in

Also, what about HIS Excalibur?

420 · 10-03-2005, 11:46 PM

I have a x800 pro and run all games at 1600 without a prob. The xl is better right? and more expensive. I would have wasted my money on a xl since I dont have any probs with any games, so save some money and snag a pro. Mine is also a ATI x800 pro.

View Poll Results: Gigabyte or Sapphire??
Gigabyte	3	50.00%
Sapphire	3	50.00%
Voters: 6. You may not vote on this poll

10-02-2005, 08:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
Amraam First Lieutenant Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Newcastle, England Posts: 1,631	X800XL: Gigabyte or Sapphire? Hey all, from what Ive read, the XL seems a sweet card no matter who makes it. I like the gigbyte vresion, because of its price and that its silent, but the lack of a fan concerns me. The sapphire seems exellent also, with its nice coolant, and the VIVO functions, but the difference in price is about £30 more. Also, the Sapphire has the Ultimate and the Hybrid versions or the 800XL- Whats the diff? What would you all reccomend? Thanks

10-03-2005, 02:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
Deathmaker Sergeant Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Manchester, England Posts: 349	While Sapphire's cards are generally ok, their UK support and RMA service suck donkey balls in my experience. I've had problems getting replacement cards for customers in the past that were well within warranty, and, the last one I RMA'd (a 9800pro which happened to be my own) took 5 months, a £25 "administration fee", 15 plus e-mails, a few 'phone calls and a threat of legal action before it was replaced (unless you count the 2 second hand ones they tried to fob me off with, one of which had a burned power connector). Needless to say, I won't be buying Sapphire for myself or my customers in the future. __________________

10-03-2005, 03:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dick_Justice Major Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Marl, Germany Posts: 3,350	Yeah, my Sapphires being a bit ulky lately. I´d go with the Gigabyte one.. __________________ Plays BF 2 in Europe under the name of \"Erich_Felsner\"

10-02-2005, 08:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
grim reaper Forum Moderator Brigadier General Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: England Posts: 7,256	As long as your case has good airflow the passively cooled on is fine. If you don't mind noise go for the cheapest one.

10-03-2005, 03:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
Socialoutcast Private Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 20	In my personal experiance the Gigabyte has performed much better than the sapphire. Sapphire's were good back in the days of 9500's but when the X series came out they went down hill in my opinion. I right now Run a X800 Pro Gigabyte and have it over clocked a lot but am using an aftermarket cooling system. So far I have had no problems with it. Runs about 40 degrees C in game and 32 at desktop.

10-03-2005, 06:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
Amraam First Lieutenant Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Newcastle, England Posts: 1,631	Thats exellent, i was hoping you'd all say gigabyte. Too bad the gigabyte version doesnt have TV in Also, what about HIS Excalibur?

10-03-2005, 11:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
420 General Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 2,605	I have a x800 pro and run all games at 1600 without a prob. The xl is better right? and more expensive. I would have wasted my money on a xl since I dont have any probs with any games, so save some money and snag a pro. Mine is also a ATI x800 pro.