7800gt...vs X800 VANILLA!!

[johnnqq]

i've posted a LOT here about my rig, and i'm pretty much settled.
a64 3000
asus a8n-e
p150 when it comes out
seagate 7200.8 250gb
ocz value 2x1gb 3200
x800 vanilla (only $120)
nec 3540

CLIFF NOTES:
x800: $120
7800gt: $300 (comes with cod 2), faster, better cooler
which one and why?


BUT...i was doing a lot of thinking lately. i thought the x800 would be a great deal. this computer is mostly for gaming, but for $120 i thought it was a steal! with all the new fps games coming out that i really want to play (quake 4!!) the only games it can run at 1024 or 1280 is half life 2 or unreal tournament 2004...not far cry or quake 4 fear etc. the only thing it had going for it was the price. the 7800gt has: faster, better cooler, draws about the same power, DOESN'T HAVE A LOUD COOLER. the ONLY problem that i'm concerned with is the iq. a lot of people were complaining about the iq in far cry and i know there is a driver update so i'm hoping for the best if i do get the gt. i'm not worried about waiting, because by the time the p150 comes out prices mayd rop anyway. i was looking at the evga gt because it comes with call of duty 2 (and the $50 cardpool rebate thing which i probalby won't end up using). i originally really thought the x800 was a great deal...i woudl buy it for $120 and get a gt in about a year or so for $200. BUT, the 6800gt costed about the same and stil isn't $200 a year later...so that plan is gone because both cards will come out to around the price of a 7800 NOW (and i won't sell anything on ebay).

what should i do??

 

[Pabster]

What display setup do you have?
What resolution(s) do you typically game at?
How much money do you have to spend?

$180 is a pretty significant gap, but you are comparing a Ford to a Mercedes.

 

[johnnqq]

i have a 19inch trinitron still running strong. can easily do 1600x1200
i have a geforce 2 gts and i can't game anymore!! that's why i'm so eager to get a good video card
i have $3000 that i saved up but i want to use as little as possible

originally i was going to get something that could do 1280x1024 without eye candy, just to play games. then, get a faster card in a year or 2. witht he 6800gt not coming down in price, i can expect the same with a 7800gt-thus making it a worthwhile buy

ps: rollo i only want to hear the good about the 7800gt, not the bad about the x800

wow my 1,001st post

 

[Pabster]

Well the GT is good up to (and including) 16x12. After that it starts to diminish rather steadily whereas the GTX is able to do a bit better.

That said, I play at 19x12 with my GT and have no complaints.

You'll just have to decide if $180 is worth it to you.

 

[CPlusPlusGeek]

The 7800 GT is such a deal, its the second best on the market (And not 2nd by much) and its only $300

 

[johnnqq]

i forgot to ask

what's the difference between these two coolers?
evga 1
evga 2

and for those of you who have a 7800gt, can you hear the fan? should i replace it with somethign else?

the msi x800 vanilla for $120 ar ($30 rebate) is not shown under one of the card's that works with the vf700...and the cooler looks like a small whiner. :\

one more question: is shimmering still a big problem?

ps i can't wait to play the new unreal tournament with a 7800...

 

[tekkitan]

get an x800 gto2 from sapphire. you can unlock the pipes on it and runs as fast as an x850

 

[Cheesetogo]

Originally posted by: johnnqq
i forgot to ask

what's the difference between these two coolers?
evga 1
evga 2

and for those of you who have a 7800gt, can you hear the fan? should i replace it with somethign else?

the msi x800 vanilla for $120 ar ($30 rebate) is not shown under one of the card's that works with the vf700...and the cooler looks like a small whiner. :\

one more question: is shimmering still a big problem?

ps i can't wait to play the new unreal tournament with a 7800...

The second has a copper cooler, which is better. It's also clocked slightly higher.

 

[Rage187]

Originally posted by: tekkitan
get an x800 gto2 from sapphire. you can unlock the pipes on it and runs as fast as an x850

and half the speed of a 7800gt in quake 4.

why are people coming up w/ these crazy suggestions?

 

[crazydingo]

Originally posted by: Rage187

Originally posted by: tekkitan
get an x800 gto2 from sapphire. you can unlock the pipes on it and runs as fast as an x850

and half the speed of a 7800gt in quake 4.

why are people coming up w/ these crazy suggestions?

half the speed, where ?

http://www.amdzone.com/pics/gaming/quake4/quake4aaon.jpg

why are people coming up w/ these BS suggestions?

*EDIT* I'm also waiting for Nvidia to fix their iq issues before upgrading to 7800GT. My 6600GT needs to retire. :laugh:

 

[johnnqq]

what's so bad about their iq??

 

[Pabster]

Nothing. That's just spew from the fanboys.

 

[Cookie Monster]

IQ got better from 81.85 drivers with increased performance in many games.

 

[johnnqq]

so if i get the gt, should i stick witht he stock fan or go with the vf700

 

[Unkno]

Originally posted by: Rage187

Originally posted by: tekkitan
get an x800 gto2 from sapphire. you can unlock the pipes on it and runs as fast as an x850

and half the speed of a 7800gt in quake 4.

why are people coming up w/ these crazy suggestions?

it was told that in the next driver release (or maybe the one after it), it would improve up to 30% of the performance of ati cards. Up to 30% (the higher the resolution and AA/AF, the greater the increase) still might not be able to match nvidia but the x800gto2 has the best bang for the buck. Get the x800gto2, it's as good (if not a little better) than the 7800GT (when it's unlocked) in games like Far Cry and HL2.


It's not half the speed of a 7800GT, but it is close to half the price of the 7800GT (depends where you live, like in Canada, the GTO2 costs around $240 while the 7800GT costs $460)

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Not the VF700 - IMHO, the NV Silencer is a better idea, since it vents heat out of the system while the VF700 just puffs more hot air into your case.

 

[crazydingo]

Originally posted by: johnnqq
what's so bad about their iq??

I read it was related to hardware. If thats true then I'm afraid it wont get resolved. I'm waiting for confirmation/denying of it.

 

[Munky]

Just ask yourself what kind of games you're gonna play, and what settings you require. I'm using an OC'd x800 vanilla, with a zalman vf700cu, and it runs HL2, Farcry, Chaos Theory no sweat with high settings at 10x7 or 12x10 with AA. But if you want to play at 16x12 resolutions, or run newest games like FEAR or COD2 at high settings, then you'll need at least a 7800gt. As for the IQ issues, you can decrease the texture shimmering by setting the drivers to the highest quality setting, but that will cost you some performance. The blocky shadows are still an issue, though.

 

[jotosuds]

i said it before and i'll say it again. if you can afford the 7800GT, GET IT. video card is everything for games.

i have a X800 vanilla, but if i had the money, i would've gotten a 7800GT for sure. even if you don't need/want high res, you could crank every setting at 1024 w/ 4xaa w/high frames in practically every game imaginable right now.

 

[smthmlk]

if you plan on playing Quake4's multiplayer, FEAR, or just generally like to max out resolution and throw in some AA & AF, go with the 7800GT. It's a very good card. However, if you're on a budget, and don't play Q4's mp or FEAR and just need somethin to woop on bf2, the x800gto^2 (when moded to an x850) is perfect for you.. but yours may not unlock (it's never guarenteed until it says so on the box ). Just something to think about. I wouldn't pick up a vanilla x800. Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[jiffylube1024]

What's with the FUD? Looks like southpawuni's nonsense is having an effect. The 7800GT is most definitely not cooler than the X800 regular version. Than the X1800XT or XL, sure, it's cooler (in relative terms). Still loading at 70C and up.

On topic - I'd strongly recommend the 7800GT. The X800 is not that fast of a card, with only 8 pipelines. For just the games you mention, the 7800GT will let you go crazy on the settings (very high AA won't be a problem), and there will always be a game you want to play down the line, so having a fast card is always a benefit.

 

[aatf510]

Just beware that the 7800GT isn't really that cool.
I built a friend a shuttle box with a eVGA 7800GT CO (the one with copper cooler), and he is has to play games with the case door open or else it would overheat. Either way, it hurts to touch the card after an hour gaming on it.

 

[johnnqq]

its not taht i need or want performance now. i just want to make the computer...eh...future proof. at least for a year or two. i know an x800 can't give me that. now after reading about shimmering and blocking textures, i might just go with the x800.

 

[johnnqq]

bump because i want to hear what rollo has to say on the subject.

 

[Munky]

Originally posted by: jiffylube1024
What's with the FUD? Looks like southpawuni's nonsense is having an effect. The 7800GT is most definitely not cooler than the X800 regular version. Than the X1800XT or XL, sure, it's cooler (in relative terms). Still loading at 70C and up.

On topic - I'd strongly recommend the 7800GT. The X800 is not that fast of a card, with only 8 pipelines. For just the games you mention, the 7800GT will let you go crazy on the settings (very high AA won't be a problem), and there will always be a game you want to play down the line, so having a fast card is always a benefit.

For the record, the x800 is a 12 pipe card, not 8. And for $120 nothing can match its performance.