Mercutio,
that's what's weird. The X1600 HIS card is 150 bucks at new egg, and, I think that was open box. The X850XT from HIS is 180, full retail package with lots of goodies, from Newegg. WEIRD. I'd ordered the X1600, thinking it was close to the 1900, due to the numbering scheme. Then I looked for some reviews, and, at 1024 with eye candy, the X850XT will SERIOUSLY SPANK the X1600 by as much as 100%, in Quake 4. The X850XT and the X1900 are often REAL close in the tests I've looked at, except in price, where the X1900 goes, I can't, right now, or, really won't.
The X850XT is the ONLY 16 pipe video card I know of, for under 200 dollars, and, IIRC, it will do crossfire.
Have to open the box, and see if it's setup for such a beast, as far as venting the second card outside of the box.
Greg