X850XT AGP already in stock?

Are features not also a valid reason to consider in a new video card?

 

That depends on how useful the features will be. ie, ps 2.0a on nv3x was useless for typical users; ps 3.0 on nv4x should be useful to some extent or another.

It's a tough call in the current gen and I say that to the credit of both companies. I lean towards regarding ps 3.0 as unnecessary at the moment, but I understand why others disagree.

 

Personally, this is exactly why I've been holding off on upgrading my video card. I'm not sure whether to go with an X850XT or wait to see what the next gen of cards look like. If I get an X850XT, I might regret it later when more and more games start taking advantage of SM3.0.

While I won't disagree that the difference between SM2.0 and SM3.0 is negliable so far, I know I'd be miffed if I had just spent $400 on a videocard and couldn't turn on all the eyecandy in SC:CT.

edit: I opened a bunch of threads and didn't look at the date on this one. Sorry!

 

I wouldn't get an R520 because of SM3, I would get it because of FP32, FP buffering and the fact that it will be faster.

 

I would consider the other aspects of SM3 more important than FP32 for games (by a long shot).

Though FP blending is more important than either one for games.