7800GS AGP reviews...

[imported_JamesDax]

Seems to me that alot of people who said that such a card would never exist in the first place are now trying to trash it because it does. But I understand. They don't want to feel like they were wrong. Bottom line though, the 7800GS is a better overall card then the X850XT and it's cheaper. A fine upgrade for anyone with an AGP system and 6800nu/le/xt or less video card.

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation
Also here is why spending more money on cpu and less on GPU makes no sense for gaming:

A3000+ and 7800GS beats A64 4000+ and 6800GT in every bench

I've been saying this for what seem like years now. CPU is of very little importance compared to video card. It's obvious. My Pentium 630 system holds up fine with my GTX.

 

[golem]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation

Originally posted by: Com80787

Not necessarily. The 7800GS beats an X850XT PE when not underclocked.

In what open GL games, by 5-10 frames? Wow for $150 more than what you could get X850XT for a whole month that's quite a deal....not to mention it loses in every shader intensive game. And wrt SM3.0, it wont be able to play any new modern games in 2006 at respectable frames. Look at Splinter Cell. I'd gladly take 20 more frames in SM2.0 mode. The point is AGP users will get better performance when you crank 7800GS but at what cost? Certainly it was not worth the wait over X850XT. Look at firingsquad benches -- they show clock for clock it barely beats 6800Ultra. Which means a 10-15% slower card comes in the form at EVGA 6800GS on PCIe with 16 pipes and 495 mhz core clock for $200.

Have you thought out what you have said at all?

Your comparing the MSRP of a newly launched (or even prelaunched) card against the SALES PRICE of a card thats been hanging around for 2 generations. Even discounting that that sale on the x850xt is over, are you assuming that the 7800 GS will never go on sale? Even if it's not the best deal now, what ur saying doesn't make sense.

 

[djnsmith7]

Originally posted by: TheSlamma
This card is at BEST worth $199.

Time to leave AGP, it's dead.. bury it with ISA, VLB and PCI vid cards.

Wow, it's been a long time since I've seen a reference to ISA & VLB cards...That brought back some memories...

 

[imported_JamesDax]

The still make PCI cards. The 6200 is the most current.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Cookie Monster

Originally posted by: bamacre
IMO, this is a waste. If the 7800 GS can't beat an X850 XT (both at stock), there's no reason in buying it. Who cares about SM 3.0?

Prices would drop, because the demand for the card wont be that big as many are going over to PCI-e.
The card has alot better feature set than the X850XT. Its cooler. It has a lower power requirment.

As of now... a statment like "Who cares about SM 3.0?" is pretty ignorant. Not only IQ differences are getting big, e.g AOE3, but they cant even do HDR. They are other disadvantages.. but i wont go into it.

let me venture . . . "Who cares about SM 3.0? . . . for $350"

the x850xt has been $200 for thirty days and all the orders and backorders were filled . . . i can't imagine "upgrading" my XT to the GS for $150 more.

unfortunately . . . .unless ATi brings something 'nice' to to AGP . . .

. . . it IS dead.

 

[imported_JamesDax]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: Cookie Monster

Originally posted by: bamacre
IMO, this is a waste. If the 7800 GS can't beat an X850 XT (both at stock), there's no reason in buying it. Who cares about SM 3.0?

Prices would drop, because the demand for the card wont be that big as many are going over to PCI-e.
The card has alot better feature set than the X850XT. Its cooler. It has a lower power requirment.

As of now... a statment like "Who cares about SM 3.0?" is pretty ignorant. Not only IQ differences are getting big, e.g AOE3, but they cant even do HDR. They are other disadvantages.. but i wont go into it.

let me venture . . . "Who cares about SM 3.0? . . . for $350"

the x850xt has been $200 for thirty days and all the orders and backorders were filled . . . i can't imagine "upgrading" my XT to the GS for $150 more.

unfortunately . . . .unless ATi brings something 'nice' to to AGP . . .

. . . it IS dead.

Yeah, HAS been. It is no longer on sale, and the 7800GS is cheaper. PERIOD.

 

[NoStateofMind]

Im going to take a stab here:

ATi had a firesale of the X850XT for what reason?

I bet they release an X1x00 part to replace it. Of course this is just a hunch. But what else could they be selling a card so cheap for? ATi knew that nVidia was releasing the 7800GS, I would't be surprised to see a new ATi AGP card in the near future.

 

[kknd1967]

2005 Q4 report?

Originally posted by: PC Surgeon
Im going to take a stab here:

ATi had a firesale of the X850XT for what reason?

I bet they release an X1x00 part to replace it. Of course this is just a hunch. But what else could they be selling a card so cheap for? ATi knew that nVidia was releasing the 7800GS, I would't be surprised to see a new ATi AGP card in the near future.

 

[Stack]

I have seen multiple folks saying that the ATI X850XT cost around $200, but I can't seem to find it for close to that price anywhere. Is there a rebate or something? I tried newegg, zipzoomfly, and pricewatch and I couldn't find an ATI X850XT for anywhere close to $200.

I am currently considering buying a 6800GS, X850XT, or 7800GS agp card to upgrade from my 9700pro. If I could find the X850XT for around $200, I would prolly go with that.

Stack

 

[beggerking]

I truly don't understand why Nvidia would underclock / handicap 7800 GS so much to make it less than king of hill for AGP market...

I believe if they had stay with GT specs for GS, for the same price.. ~300, GS would sale like crazy.

 

[Lonyo]

Would be nice to see a review with a 6800GS, 6800Ultra, X850XT, X1600XT and 7800GS.
And also maybe a brief run with socket 754 and different speed CPU systems.
If you are on AGP still, what are the chances of a dual core CPU or an FX57!!!!!!

It's a semi-budget card (performance wise, although not price wise), yet it's being tested using X2's and FX chips.
AGP users aren't going to have those things, and if they do, then can damned well afford to upgrade to PCIe and get a better performing 7800GT.

 

[Bucksnort]

Originally posted by: Stack
I have seen multiple folks saying that the ATI X850XT cost around $200, but I can't seem to find it for close to that price anywhere. Is there a rebate or something? I tried newegg, zipzoomfly, and pricewatch and I couldn't find an ATI X850XT for anywhere close to $200.

I am currently considering buying a 6800GS, X850XT, or 7800GS agp card to upgrade from my 9700pro. If I could find the X850XT for around $200, I would prolly go with that.

Stack

This is link where it was 249 with 50 rebate:
Microcenter

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

They should be testing this with AMD 2500+ or around there. Most of these reviews suck.

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

I can't even find where you guys claim they sold these radeons for 200 dollars. if it was a short sale, how is that relevent to a retail starting price of a 7800GS? thats a shady comparison.

 

[kknd1967]

the X850XT deal is 250 (or 240) -50 rebate
It was there for like 2-3 weeks I think?

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

But now its like 400 dollars right? I don't see them at all on newegg, or mwave..

well here on zzf..

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=321333

364 bucks.

 

[Malladine]

The $50 rebate was for a $250 X850XT at microcenter. The offer expired Jan31st. The X850XT is currently hitting the high 300s.

 

[Wreckage]

Originally posted by: djmihow
I can't even find where you guys claim they sold these radeons for 200 dollars. if it was a short sale, how is that relevent to a retail starting price of a 7800GS? thats a shady comparison.

It was more like 250 and it was after rebate. (Micro Center I think). They went out of stock in about a day. (Common for Micro Center deals like that). When the GS shows up at Newegg, ZipZoomFly, Monarch, etc. It will be easy to make a price comparison between the 2 cards.

 

[Chriz]

I can't even find the X850XT on Microcenter's site anymore, but yeah it was 249.99 and then a 50 dollar mail in rebate that brought it down to 199.99, expired Jan 31st. Btw it was the normal XT they were selling not the XT PE, which is what was used in AT's benchmarks.

 

[imported_JamesDax]

So, in other words. The 7800GS is cheaper then the X850XT.

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

Originally posted by: JamesDax
So, in other words. The 7800GS is cheaper then the X850XT.

yep!

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: golem

Have you thought out what you have said at all?

Your comparing the MSRP of a newly launched (or even prelaunched) card against the SALES PRICE of a card thats been hanging around for 2 generations. Even discounting that that sale on the x850xt is over, are you assuming that the 7800 GS will never go on sale? Even if it's not the best deal now, what ur saying doesn't make sense.

Guys you all missed my point. My simple point is I do not endorse purchasing AGP cards when equivalent or very close in performance cards sell for PCIe for much less. I am not saying 7800GS is necessarily an awful deal if you missed the X850XT sale and are stuck with say P4 S478 and Radeon 9200 (esp now since X850XT is not at $200). That still doesnt change the fact that it is a ripoff since 20% slower 6800GS sells for $200 in PCIe and a much faster $280 7800GT 20 is available.

Why should I support a company that intentionally knows there is large demand from AGP users and strategically increases its profit margins for inferior products just because we have no choices? It's the principal that counts. We know Socket A cannot hold a candle in gaming anymore and as for S939 AGP users, I would gladly spend $100 more on a new motherboard for dual core support and a much longer PCIe upgrade path. Furthermore, what is the resale value on that AGP card going to be 1 year from now?

 

[imported_Com80787]

I think I am still missing your point RussianSensation.

The 7800GS is for those who are still stuck with an AGP board. Let's say someone has - for example - an Athlon 64 754 and AGP mobo with Radeon 9700. How would you come out ahead in the long run getting a 6800GS or 7800GT?

Let's say the user dumps the 9700 and gets the 7800GS for $300. That's it. No more expenses. (maybe can get $50 for the 9700 too)

OR the user can dump his mobo and get a 7800GT and decent PCIe board for $70+ more. That board is going to be GARBAGE in 18 months. Unless 18 months from now that user is going to stick with socket 754 for some reason and his outdated 7800gt. In other words you blew $70+ so you could do nothing more than have a PCIe version of essentially the same card rather than AGP. It reminds me of the people who dumped AGP 4X boards to do nothing more than get an AGP 8X board. What a waste.

As far as the 6800GS - once you throw in the PCIe board the expense is at least $270 for 6800GS and mobo. OR you can spend $30 more for a 20% performance increase with the 7800GS which is a great deal IMO.

I just don't see how a user moving from AGP to PCIe in either case is anything other than a waste.

 

[imported_JamesDax]

nevermind