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For this we review, we used this testing platform:
- CPU: E6700 Intel Core 2 Duo at 2.67 GHZ (333 * 8)
- Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-N680SLI-DQ6
- Memory: 2 gigabytes of Corsair XMS2-5400UL DDR2 RAM (2 * 1024MB @ 833MHz 4-4-4-12/2T)
- Power Supply: OCZ 850W GXS
- Hard Drive: 250 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 SATA, w/16 MB cache
- CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U 12
As for the video cards that we chose to bench our RX2600XT against, we had two choices: either put the card up against only other mid-range offerings (HD 2600 XT/Pros, 8600 GT/GTS's), or broaden the landscape. We decided on the latter option.
We decided on the following cards:
| Core Clock | Memory Clock | Memory Type | Memory Interface | Memory Size | Price Estimate (USD) | |
| ATI HD 2900 XT | 740 | 1650 | GDDR3 | 512-bit | 512 MB | ~$440 |
| Asus EAX X1950 Pro | 580 | 1400 | GDDR3 | 256-bit | 256 MB | ~$175 |
| Asus EN8800 GTS 320 MB | 500 | 1600 | GDDR3 | 320-bit | 320 MB | ~$330 |
| MSI RX2600XT Diamond Plus | 850 | 2300 | GDDR4 | 128-bit | 512 MB | ~$175 |
| XFX 8600 GTS XXX | 730 | 2260 | GDDR3 | 128-bit | 256 MB | ~$225 |
| XFX 8600 GT XXX | 620 | 1400 | GDDR3 | 128-bit | 256 MB | ~$140 |
Keep in mind: take these estimate prices with a grain of a salt. Prices continously fluctuate; the chart as meant as a guideline only. You might find deals, better or worse, than the prices above.
We included the ATI HD 2900 XT and Asus EN8800 GTS to give a better indication of how large the performance gap is between the higher-end, and the mid-range. While a RX2600XT Diamond Plus is about half the price of a 8800 GTS, it will retail for somewhere between the price of a 8600 GT and a 8600 GTS.
The Asus EAX X1950 Pro is roughly at the same price point as the RX2600XT. As such, it is a good representation of the competition current mid-range cards like the RX2600XT face from the high-end cards of the last GPU generation still being sold.
One more note: MSI's 256MB RX2600 XT Diamond sells for about $25 less that the 512MB Diamond Plus.
Just thought id say, While the review was accurate at the time. Most of the performance issues from ATI/AMD Were driver related.
Ive owned both the Diamond and Diamond+, im currently using the Original Diamond on my Development Machine Temporarily and it easily keeps up with my EVGA 8800GTS320(G80){Science Box} at low resolutions(5-10fps lower average).
Its not a mid-range card by today's standards, but its still faster than nearly any low-end card still on the market today. But at a much better price-point.
out of Curiosity, i did benchmarks with the same games and applications you did in 2007. But this time running the 12.1 Catalyst Drivers. I wagered 46.2% average increase in FPS on high, through out all of those games...
I only wish i would of spent the extra $27/USD at the time to get the Diamond+ instead, as right now i would be better off.
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On a side note, the Diamond FAR outperformed my own BFG Geforce 8600GTS i have. I recycled it recently because its performance wasnt any near comparable.