When we reviewed ATI's new Radeon X850 series of graphics chips a couple of weeks ago, we said that the more exciting development in ATI's re-spin of its high-end products was probably the Radeon X800 XL, a card slated to replace the Radeon X800 Pro. We are, after all, notorious cheapskates, and a sixteen-pipe card for under $400 is the kind of proposition we tend to appreciate. In fact, the GeForce 6800 GT has been one of our favorite high-end cards, often edging out the 12-pipe Radeon X800 Pro at the same basic price.

"Little did we know what ATI really had in store for the Radeon X800 XL. We tested this sixteen-pipe card against no less than twelve different competing configs, and it came out looking pretty good. Then ATI lowered the boom, unexpectedly slapping a lower price tag on this puppy right before its launch. Keep reading to find out about the Radeon X800 XL's killer combo of value and performance." TechReport Beyond3D PC Perspective AnandTech Firing Squad