400watt hps or 800watt cfl's

which would be a better buy?

400 HPS duh. You should know the answer or give more background, like what it is for, where it is going. Ya know all that jazz.

You can't compare the 2 wattage wise. Lumen output..

So 400 Hps is like 53000 Lumens and the CFL?

I want to do something with CFLS, but I am using my HPS for budding. I understand nothing can beat that regardless. So that is what leads to my first post.

HPS or more efficient in watts to lumen output than CFL so if you using yield to cost to determin the best buy HPS light would get you more bud the CFL in dollars spent, but you really shouldn' compare 400 watt HPS to 800 watt CFL 800 watts of cfl is going to give out more light than 400 watt but your using double the power I would compare = wattages.

OR GO WITH A 600W HPS that would be ideal and save you 200w