7800GTX @ $450 or wait for X1800XT @ 550++ ?

[SuperU21]

I'm torn between just getting a 7800GTX and calling it a day and get another one around xmas. I know that SLI is a bit more refined that crossfire and I don't dig the idea of a mastercard. on the otherhand I can also live with just single card performance too. I suppose this decision all depends on how bad the price gouging is.

 

[Steelski]

what kind of games do you mainly play? do you have a multiple monitor setup?
It might be worth getting one card and a great monitor?

 

[SuperU21]

I'm running a dell 2005FPW the 20 inch @ 1680x1050 resolution.

Games currently : World of Warcraft, Battlefield 2, Half Life 2, Doom3
I usually play most everything when it comes to games.

 

[TraumaRN]

Why pay more for a product that isnt even released yet and you dont know if it'll be avalalible at launch....just my thought

 

[kamranziadar]

7800GTX is the best gaming card right now. X1800XT cannot match it as you can see in the reviews ATI lost big time to Nvidia.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: kamranziadar
7800GTX is the best gaming card right now. X1800XT cannot match it as you can see in the reviews ATI lost big time to Nvidia.

Wrong. ATI actually won in more benchies. Most people turn on AA and AF as you see it doesn't kill performance as badly anymore as it did say 2 years ago.

Despite the fact that the X1800XT is quite competetive and probably slightly better, the factor is price. I say get a 7800GTX and settle down. 7800GT even. Save your money. Get something better later on...

 

[Pabster]

7800GTX. And overclock it too

 

[ballmode]

The 512mb ram might be worth the extra 100 bucks in the long run. The GTX/XT is a very simliar comparision. Unlike the 7800GT/1800XL

 

[dnavarro]

or you can wait for NVIDIA's 512MB 7800GTX which should be coming soon. In fact I think it will probably be available by the time the x1800XT actually shows up in stores. That would be the smart thing for NVIDIA to do

My guess is that those two instances (COD2 and FEAR) where the x1800XT has a "real" lead over the 7800GTX are only memory differences between the two. Once the 512MB GTX is released we will see!

D

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: kamranziadar
7800GTX is the best gaming card right now. X1800XT cannot match it as you can see in the reviews ATI lost big time to Nvidia.

You're way off there my friend. The cards are very comparable to each other with availability and pricing leaning towards me saying that the 7800GTX is currently the way to go.

 

[malG]

Search harder, you can buy some models of 7800GTX for only $410. Is the X1800XT worth the $150 premium?

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: dnavarro
or you can wait for NVIDIA's 512MB 7800GTX which should be coming soon. In fact I think it will probably be available by the time the x1800XT actually shows up in stores. That would be the smart thing for NVIDIA to do

My guess is that those two instances (COD2 and FEAR) where the x1800XT has a "real" lead over the 7800GTX are only memory differences between the two. Once the 512MB GTX is released we will see!

D

I think the launch date was November 1st for the 512MB 7800GTX.

 

[Munky]

I dont think you can go wrong with either choice, but in the long run the x1800xt would be a better choice, unless you have a preference for Doom3-based games. If Nv releases a 512mb gtx, it'll probably be sold for the same price as the x1800xt, not $100 cheaper. So currently the gtx is not exactly a bargain, you get what you pay for. But since the gtx is overall slower and is missing some features, even a 512mb version should be cheaper than the x1800xt, but we'll see how that turns out.

 

[TStep]

today - 7800GTX

within 2 months - close, but the XT if it doesn't carry a premium price over the GTX. IQ differences would sway me. However, if I was going to wait, I'd be all over an XL if proven that XT speeds are attainable with a degree of confidence.

 

[Wreckage]

I would not recommend a XT over a GTX because of it's higher cost, dual slot cooler, broken SM3.0 support and poor OpenGL performance.

 

[Munky]

Originally posted by: Wreckage
I would not recommend a XT over a GTX because of it's higher cost, dual slot cooler, broken SM3.0 support and poor OpenGL performance.

OK.
Higher cost - becaues it has 2x the mem, more features
Dual slot - depends on personal preferences. I'd actually like dual slot better as long as it's not loud
broken SM3 - vertex texture fetch? The r520 can accomplish the same results using render to vertex buffer. In the first case, the performance hit is pretty big, we'll see if the second way is better/worse. Currently no games use this feature.
Poor OpenGL - again depends on whether or not you play a lot of OGL games.

 

[SuperU21]

Here is my thought process.. If I go with the X1800XT I will *NOT* be doing 'crossfire' because I think that lack of refinement and the 'master card' thing just makes it not worthwhile.

Where as I can pick up a 7800GTX for 400-500 right now w/ an SLI board and get another one down the road in a few months negating any benefit 512 megs on a single card will get you.

If I find a 7800GTX for 400 flat ... I'm pulling the trigger ^_^

 

[Munky]

Originally posted by: SuperU21
Here is my thought process.. If I go with the X1800XT I will *NOT* be doing 'crossfire' because I think that lack of refinement and the 'master card' thing just makes it not worthwhile.

Where as I can pick up a 7800GTX for 400-500 right now w/ an SLI board and get another one down the road in a few months negating any benefit 512 megs on a single card will get you.

If I find a 7800GTX for 400 flat ... I'm pulling the trigger ^_^

Nothing wrong with that. But just so you know, the memory doesnt add up in SLI. You'll still have 256mb of effective mem.

 

[Wreckage]

Originally posted by: munky

Originally posted by: Wreckage
I would not recommend a XT over a GTX because of it's higher cost, dual slot cooler, broken SM3.0 support and poor OpenGL performance.

OK.
Higher cost - becaues it has 2x the mem, more features
Dual slot - depends on personal preferences. I'd actually like dual slot better as long as it's not loud
broken SM3 - vertex texture fetch? The r520 can accomplish the same results using render to vertex buffer. In the first case, the performance hit is pretty big, we'll see if the second way is better/worse. Currently no games use this feature.
Poor OpenGL - again depends on whether or not you play a lot of OGL games.

More features - such as?
Dual slot - How could you prefer that? why waste and extra slot if you don't need to.
Broken SM3 - It appears now that ATI will have to use PS2.0 mode in this case.
Poor OpenGL - Quake 4 on Oct 18th!

If it were a $100 cheaper than the GTX it may be an option, but nothing I have seen justifies its cost.

 

[Munky]

Originally posted by: Wreckage
More features - such as?

Do I really have to list em all? HDR+AA, quality AF...

Dual slot - How could you prefer that? why waste and extra slot if you don't need to.

I usually leave an empty slot anyways for better airflow. This would just put it to better use and vent the hot air out of the case.

Broken SM3 - It appears now that ATI will have to use PS2.0 mode in this case.

We'll just have to wait and see whose implementation turns out better in actual games

Poor OpenGL - Quake 4 on Oct 18th!

For those that like the game... I'm actually more looking forward to CoD2.

If it were a $100 cheaper than the GTX it may be an option, but nothing I have seen justifies its cost.

If it were available for $100 cheaper right now, I'd be using one already. I guess we have different preferences in that regard...

 

[SuperU21]

Originally posted by: munky

Originally posted by: SuperU21
Here is my thought process.. If I go with the X1800XT I will *NOT* be doing 'crossfire' because I think that lack of refinement and the 'master card' thing just makes it not worthwhile.

Where as I can pick up a 7800GTX for 400-500 right now w/ an SLI board and get another one down the road in a few months negating any benefit 512 megs on a single card will get you.

If I find a 7800GTX for 400 flat ... I'm pulling the trigger ^_^

Nothing wrong with that. But just so you know, the memory doesnt add up in SLI. You'll still have 256mb of effective mem.

Only 256 megs of effective mem in SLI w/ 2x256meg cards... ouch
Now this I didn't know, any articles of info about this? >_<

 

[IeraseU]

If price were not a consideration, I tend to prefer the X1800XT. Not necessarily because of 3d performance with AA + AF, but also because of the nice video features like h2.64 acceration at launch, and soon to be enabled h2.64 transcoding acceration.

I do however give SLI a huge edge over crossfire, it seems much more hasslefree and is available right now.

So I guess I'd choose x1800xt for 1 card configuration, and I'd prefer SLI for a dual gpu setup.

 

[hitmanx2]

Originally posted by: malG
Search harder, you can buy some models of 7800GTX for only $410. Is the X1800XT worth the $150 premium?

that 410 PNY is a 7800GT. Click the link in atacom and check the spec.

 

[Corporate Thug]

check out the new article by Derek, the x1800xt generally pulls away from the GTX when AA/AF is enabled

 

[ddogg]

Originally posted by: Corporate Thug
check out the new article by Derek, the x1800xt generally pulls away from the GTX when AA/AF is enabled

well ya the XT is a slightly better card but is not worth $100+ over the GTX.