High End Video Card Choice..Need Opinions

[vikingblade]

OK...I have somehow moved into the mid to upper $500 range for my new video card budget. I am seriously looking at the 7800GTX cards below... However, things are getting complicated since the Radeon X1800XT is now actually available and can be had for around $579. I know this has been discussed, and I really dont want this to go the NVIDIA VS ATI route. What I need is honest opinions on the hardware itself...not politics etc.. Ive read alot of reviews and I know things are close...

7800 GTX LEADTEK EXTREME
7800 GTX ASUS TOP
7800 GTX EVGA KO

ATI X1800 XT - Sapphire/ATI etc..

All things considered, If price is basically the same, Is the ATI X1800XT with the 512 ram and newer technology a better decision? Keep in mind, I dont care either way, Im not a Fanboy, Ive owned both. I just simply will not have this kind of money again to spend on a video card upgrade for about 2 years. So, I need to future proof as much as possible here, and I cant afford to make the wrong decision.

Anyone out here actually had the luxury of using both a high-end 7800GTX like an EVGA KO and an ATI X1800XT??

So many factors to consider... 256 vs 512, Driver support..ATI vs Nvidia, Warranty..EVGA KO Lifetime vs only couple years for ATI, New Technology vs Mature.

Id greatly appreciate any help with a decision. I am honestly not trying to start a flame war, I really need some help. Its a tough choice.

Thanks

 

[CalamitySymphony]

I found the 1800xt to be only $495 here...http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=AT-180...918d32c7a0580b7c1adf46c7e4dba7dcebb772

and

http://www.excaliberpc.com/ATI_Sapphire..._Radeon/100134/partinfo-id-561175.html

I think your better off going with a card to tide you over in the 100s range, (X800GTO2 or GTO unlocked), and waiting until early next year for the R580.

 

[Zebo]

There's nothing tough about the $500 price range. Two GT's, at least 50% faster than anything in thier price range... search hot deals.
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant...duct_Code=190198&AFFIL=pricewatch&NR=1
Ati drivers suck big time and with 1800 series you must use Control Center which sucks down about 120MB of ram!

 

[CP5670]

Where can you get them that cheap? Two GTs are more around $600-650 as far as I can see.

Just noticed your edit, some big rebates there. How good is Monarch with those?

It looks like the rebate is only "one per household or address" and takes 12 weeks. Not sure if I would want to mess with that.

 

[Zebo]

$551.98 AR there are better deals I just went with pricewatch.

 

[edplayer]

you have to lay out over $750 for those two cards, get someone to buy one videocard/handle the rebate for you (one per name/address) and wait for 4 rebates

 

[Zebo]

Man do I have to do all the thinking here? Buy the ega combo w/ mobo then another evga card and that only two rebates and it's cheaper and qualified for one household. If you guys don't like rebates my post is of no use to you, pay retail and buy a slower card. I'm sure you can fiqure out a way to get into two GT's for around $550 if you try hard enough with no conflicts. Like this
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant...duct_Code=190198&AFFIL=pricewatch&NR=1

plus this

http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant...duct_Code=190339&AFFIL=pricewatch&NR=1

Sli is'nt for everyone either nesseitating a higher end board, beefy PSU, and additional noise.. but you can't deny this is best deal in high end from a pure performance standpoint

 

[vikingblade]

can someone please point me to a review where two 7800 gt's out perform an extreme 7800gtx like the asus top, evga ko or a x1800 xt?? especially by a large margin...big enough to be worth the xtra motherboard cost, hassle and power needs of a sli rig. not to mention the fact that 7800 gt's in my opinion are risky at best with the artifacting and bad ram im reading about everywhere.

 

[airborne82nd]

Why don?t you do a little research and come to your own conclusion?

 

[drifter106]

Originally posted by: vikingblade
can someone please point me to a review where two 7800 gt's out perform an extreme 7800gtx like the asus top, evga ko or a x1800 xt?? especially by a large margin...big enough to be worth the xtra motherboard cost, hassle and power needs of a sli rig. not to mention the fact that 7800 gt's in my opinion are risky at best with the artifacting and bad ram im reading about everywhere.

Here is a review thats shows a comparison

I just linked one page, you can go back to the beginning of the article and check out everything...

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: vikingblade
can someone please point me to a review where two 7800 gt's out perform an extreme 7800gtx like the asus top, evga ko or a x1800 xt?? especially by a large margin...big enough to be worth the xtra motherboard cost, hassle and power needs of a sli rig. not to mention the fact that 7800 gt's in my opinion are risky at best with the artifacting and bad ram im reading about everywhere.

Read last 2/3 of this review
http://www.anandtech.com/printarticle.aspx?i=2607
7800gtx & x1800 get slaughtered.

I can't argue with you about Sli problems which is why I'm not a fan either but I presented it as the superior price/performance option in your range..hav'nt heard about GT's being "risky" though sounds like FUD to me...it's probably the hottest selling card in our little world here so your gonna have some n00bs screwing things up always..that's just statistics.

 

[vikingblade]

Well...it does indeed look like the GT SLI rig is a good/better performer. Unfortunately, the extra initial cost of the cards before rebates is difficult as well as the increased sli motherboard and power supply needs, makes this option next to impossible for me.

So...back to my original question and situation. If I am firm on a single card solution, With a budget in the mid 500's, what is the best overall choice for current performance and for future games. I dont think benchmark numbers alone tell the whole story.

 

[Nextman916]

x1800xt hands down!

 

[GOREGRINDER]

PNY GeForce 7800GT $299.00,...no rebates no bs!

i posted this in another thread too,...smokin deal get it before it goes up!!(i would but obviously its of no use to me)

 

[TecHNooB]

Go with the EVGA KO for a great one slot solution / great warranty. Go with the Leadtek Extreme for overclockability. Ignore the Asus Top.

 

[CalamitySymphony]

PNY is sketchy....

 

[garkon8]

Originally posted by: CalamitySymphony
PNY is sketchy....

I disagree, my PNY 6800GT was a great OC/stable/fast/$50 cheaper than the rest - card at the time I bought it!

 

[GOREGRINDER]

Originally posted by: garkon8

Originally posted by: CalamitySymphony
PNY is sketchy....

I disagree, my PNY 6800GT was a great OC/stable/fast/$50 cheaper than the rest - card at the time I bought it!

i disagree also,..i bought a 6800GT verto also the day the 6800gt came out and it outlasted my usage and its used in a friends pc now and its still impressing him and i sold it to him about 5-6 months ago,..sold him a 6800GT an ABIT NF8 a Creative Audigy2zs and 2x512mb OCZ EL 2-3-2-6(from another machine) for $300

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: vikingblade
I just simply will not have this kind of money again to spend on a video card upgrade for about 2 years. So, I need to future proof as much as possible here, and I cant afford to make the wrong decision.

Then clearly the best you can do is get $300 7800GT today. Then $300 8800GT or R600 series in 1 year from now or $300 9800GT and R700 in 2 years. It'll be better than spending $600 today on a graphics card if you can only spend $600 in 2 years. If you want to spend $600 though, 2x7800GT rules the roost.

 

[route66]

Originally posted by: GOREGRINDERsold him a 6800GT an ABIT NF8 a Creative Audigy2zs and 2x512mb OCZ EL 2-3-2-6(from another machine) for $300

Damn, that's a great deal - you have one lucky friend.

 

[vikingblade]

Anyone have a link to a review comparing the EVGA 7800 GTX KO vs ATI X1800XT

 

[vikingblade]

I keep seeing reviews of the X1800XT vs Reference 7800GTX, or an Extreme GTX like the Evga KO vs Reference GTX, GT or sli rig.

Has anyone seen a review comparing a high end 7800 GTX with an X1800XT?

I cant understand why this isnt being done...mid $500 single card option. I dont get it

Do most guys here really think an Overclocked GTX is a better choice than the X1800XT at the same price??? The 512 Ram and newer technology doesnt matter?

 

[Elfear]

From the reviews I've seen the oced versions of the 256MB 7800GTX still aren't as fast as the X1800XT. If I had the choice I'd go for the ATI card.

 

[vikingblade]

Yeah...I finally found a review at Hexus.net comparing a Leadtek 7800GTX Vivo Extreme to a Sapphire X1800 XT. Looks like the X1800XT has the advantage except in Open GL. Hopefully drivers will continue to improve this. However D3D games are quite a bit faster on the ATI.

Are most future games likely to be Open GL or D3D?

 

[RussianSensation]

X1800XT is faster than 7800GTX in both Doom 3 and Quake 4 (openGL games).

So it's not doing so bad in Open GL. The problem is X1800XT costs about $500 at the minimum. Like I said when you can get 2x 7800GTs for $300 x 2= $600, it really doesnt make sense to get x1800xt.

7800GT vs. 7800GTX vs. X1800XT vs. 7800GT SLI