Is an ATI radeon X850XT better than my current card?

The X850XT doesn't support DX10 and the 9600GSO you have does. The ATI card is also only 256MB. It would be a step backwards replacing your card with the ATI card because you'd lose your 3 and 4 shaders. Can get a new X850XT on Ebay for $111 delivered so I don't know where you are seeing that ridiculous price for them. Weren't even close to 1/2 that back when they were the card to have. I have an X850XT in one of the XP rigs on my LAN gaming network. Nice little card back in the days but not for a DX10 rig.