Any HL2 Benchmarks Yet

Of course not!!!

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

 

I'm running an XP2400+ and R9600XT, and get totally CPU limited at times in CS Source.

 

X-Bitlabs has some very recent CS:Source benchmarks up.
nVidia seem to be getting to grips with the 6800 series.

 

If someone wants to validate their purchase by waving a higher benchmark number around, I can understand why they might consider the ATI/Nvidia or AMD/Intel debate as "crucial" to their existence.

However, that's different from trying to decide what to upgrade to. IMO, that decision should be based on what gameS you expect to be playing. Making a purchase decision based on 2 FPS (for example) difference in one game makes no sense to me unless that's the only game you plan on playing. Substitute Doom3 for HL2 to taste.

[edit] Not looking to pick a fight, but the use of "crucial!!" to describe benchmark results seems a tad overwraught to me.

 

Unfortunately I know alot of kids who've only ever played HL and it's mods and only plan on playing HL2 and it's mods.

 

You really don't need that much for HL2. If you could play D3 with reasonable framerates @800x600, you'll be able to play HL2 maxed out @1280x1024 with about the same framerates.

Unless you want to have zillion fps, of course...