7950 GX2 -- who's to buy, and with conroe?

[imported_trajan]

I?m a first time builder putting together a Conroe system-- hopefully soon. I?ve picked the E6600 and I?d really like to use a 7950 GX2. I?ve researched this as much as I can but I could really use some help from people who are actually good with this stuff

1. Anyone got a link to a comparison guide (or have their own opinion) on what the best manufacturer is for the 7950? I was looking at BFG but that was just a random starting point. I can?t find a good comparison of performance..

(disregard the next two if you'd rather I ask in the mobo forum!!)

2. Has there been any news on when the NForce 590 Conroe mobos are coming out? I?ve read everything from, ?early August? to ?around September.? I?d love to wait but it?s important to me to get started before I have to go back to (grad) school.

3. If I don?t wait for the NForce 5** boards, what do you recommend as a 7950-compatible, OC-friendly Conroe board? I?m willing to go high end.

Sorry for so many questions and I?ve done my best to make sure they weren?t answered elsewhere in the forum.. I kept putting off begging for help, but now my head is about to explode from research and I?d be really grateful for some direct advice!!

 

[adairusmc]

I dont know about the best manufactuer, but I have the Xtreme 570m edition 7950GX2 from XFX, and it has been an awesome card so far. I havent really heard anything bad about any particular manufacturer of these cards though.

I am still running s939, and will be for quite a while, so I wont pretend I know what I am talking about when it comes to Conroe, but I am sure someone will be along shortly to help you with that.

 

[Captante]

EVGA for the 7950 because of support & warranty.

Right now I'd go for the Asus ASUS P5W-DH Deluxe (Intel 975) for the mb... its pricy though so I'd say wait a bit for the NForce 5 if you can, or at least until more options are available & prices drop to more reasonable levels in the fall.

 

[lopri]

1. Go ahead with the BFG. They're one of the better manufacturers. There are no performance difference between different brands.
2. They'll probably be launched within next 2~3 weeks, but availability and, more than anything, OC-ability will be far below that of 975X/P965
3. Low end Conroe - Gigabyte DS3 / High end Conroe - ASUS P5W-DH

 

[aznrice54]

Originally posted by: lopri
2. They'll probably be launched within next 2~3 weeks, but availability and, more than anything, OC-ability will be far below that of 975X/P965

What is your source for this

 

[FireChicken]

Originally posted by: aznrice54

Originally posted by: lopri
2. They'll probably be launched within next 2~3 weeks, but availability and, more than anything, OC-ability will be far below that of 975X/P965

What is your source for this

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=29&threadid=1902063&enterthread=y

I bougt an XFX Extreme. Its OCed to 520. They have one OCed to 570. All the other manufactures have them clocked to 500. BFG is good but you eill be paying the same price for the XFX clocked at 520. Got mine at tiger direct $616 shipped no tax cause im in CA. Theres a guys in this forum catagory that sys he got his xfx 520 OCed to 600 with no problems.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=31&threadid=1890970&enterthread=y

 

[ShadowOfMyself]

1. Go ahead with the BFG. They're one of the better manufacturers. There are no performance difference between different brands.

Except if you get a XFX XXX edition like adairusmc has... And its clocked ALOT higher than stock, so I would go for it

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: Captante
EVGA for the 7950 because of support & warranty.

Right now I'd go for the Asus ASUS P5W-DH Deluxe (Intel 975) for the mb... its pricy though so I'd say wait a bit for the NForce 5 if you can, or at least until more options are available & prices drop to more reasonable levels in the fall.

That motherboard isn't listed in the NV 7950GX2 compatability list...

http://www.nvidia.com/content/geforce_gx2_sbios/us.asp

Does anyone know if it works? Personally, I think waiting for nForce 590 SLI is a good idea also.

 

[Jules]

Originally posted by: Captante
EVGA for the 7950 because of support & warranty.

Right now I'd go for the Asus ASUS P5W-DH Deluxe (Intel 975) for the mb... its pricy though so I'd say wait a bit for the NForce 5 if you can, or at least until more options are available & prices drop to more reasonable levels in the fall.

If your going with a E6300 id Get a DS3 Board.

 

[nitromullet]

What's a DS3 board?

 

[lopri]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128012

Both 965P-DS3 and P5W-DH work with 7950GX2.

 

[nitromullet]

I had looked at the DS3 as well (forgot the name though). Looks like a solid single slot Conroe board - similar to the Asus P5B (non-deluxe) but prettier. Anyone got any news on when we might see the nForce 590 SLI for Intel boards?

 

[FireChicken]

Originally posted by: nitromullet
I had looked at the DS3 as well (forgot the name though). Looks like a solid single slot Conroe board - similar to the Asus P5B (non-deluxe) but prettier. Anyone got any news on when we might see the nForce 590 SLI for Intel boards?

read the link i posted above

 

[nitromullet]

thx, good stuff

 

[adairusmc]

Originally posted by: ShadowOfMyself

1. Go ahead with the BFG. They're one of the better manufacturers. There are no performance difference between different brands.

Except if you get a XFX XXX edition like adairusmc has... And its clocked ALOT higher than stock, so I would go for it

And it is warrantied at those clock speeds.

 

[imported_trajan]

The XFX OC'd version runs 520 and 1300 I think, which doesn't seem like a huge difference (but definitely matters). Or is that more significant than it seems? Also, is there a difference between getting and XFX and getting a BFG or EVGA and OCing them to match (or higher)?


And sorry to continue the theme of multiple questions a post but.. Lopri wrote above that the 7950 is compatible with the P5W-DH, even though its not on nVidia's list. I called ASUS last night and they told me the 7950 GX2 isn't on their list of P5W-DH either. None of which is to say that it *won't* work.. Lopri, what makes you say it will? I'd love to have confirmation.

 

[adairusmc]

XFX also has another overclocked version at 570 Mhz core, and the memory to 800Mhz (1600 DDR). This is the version I have, and the stock overclock does make a big difference. You could overclock the other cards with no problem, I bought the 570m edition of the 7950 because it was just ready to go at a much higher core speed than stock, rather than doing it myself. Its all up to you what you want to do though. You never know though, a BFG or a eVGA, or even another XFX standard 7950 may or may not achieve that high of an overclock and be stable.

 

[Nightmare225]

Get the EVGA, because you'll be sorry about not having the step-up program when G80 comes out if as rumored...

But, yes, the 7950GX2 will be great with an ASUS P5W, it's almost like my rig!

 

[imported_trajan]

Originally posted by: Nightmare225
Get the EVGA, because you'll be sorry about not having the step-up program when G80 comes out if as rumored...

But, yes, the 7950GX2 will be great with an ASUS P5W, it's almost like my rig!

Wow, no kidding -- that's pretty much exactly what I would like to build, at least the cpu/gpu/mobo combo. Can I ask what led you to the conclusion that it will work (the 7950gx2 and the P5W Deluxe)? I keep hearing "yes" which is great, but I want to be as sure as I can before buying...

 

[lopri]

It works otherwise I won't be able to see/type at this very moment.

 

[imported_trajan]

that's proof enough for me Thanks! And thanks to everyone else who posted suggestions or info.

Unless there's news in the next few days on a nForce 590 board, it looks like I'll be ordering:

Conroe E6600
GeForce 7950G2X (probably from EVGA, unless I can find the extra-OC'd XFX)
Asus P5W-DH Deluxe


Onward to the research on RAM, PSU, and case!

 

[FireChicken]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications...m-details.asp?EdpNo=2240945&CatId=2306

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=321074

 

[imported_trajan]

Originally posted by: FireChicken
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications...m-details.asp?EdpNo=2240945&CatId=2306

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=321074

I've seen those.. but they are OC'd to 520 core / 1300 memory, which is just slightly over the stock 500/1200. Someone mentioned above a 570/1600 OC XFX, which I've never seen and couldn't find online. That's what I meant by "extra OC'd"..

 

[lopri]

Hexus.net has a review of 590 SLI Intel Edition.

 

[akshayt]

get a 1900XT CF instead.