I finally decided

[sgentry6]

256-P2-N517-AX

256-P2-N537-AX

256-P2-N518

These cards are $369, $395, and $399 respecitvely.

They are all eVGA 7800GT cards, which I think will more than suit me gaming wise. I want to game 1280 x 1024, likely with AA enabled. My monitor doesn't support higher resolutions, so I would like to have the benefit of AA to make graphics crisper.

Beyond that side point though the cheapest card of the lot has the highest Core clock, the nighest memory clock, and all other specs seem to be the same according to newegg.

The video card is the only piece of the pie I have left to pick out. I want to order these parts in the next day or two, but need to make a decision on a video card. Any reason why the cheapest card has the highest ratings? Is it "overclocked" out of the box?

Should I choose a different card due to the want of AA?

I am mainly building this box for Quake 4, and other new games. I will use this box as a development box as well as gaming, so I have made decisions on other hardware with that in mind. Below is the hardware I have decided on. Help me out with a video card suggestion though folks. Thanks in advance.

X2 3800+ Toledo
LP UT nF4 SLI-DR
OCZ Platinum (2x1GB)
Seagate 7200.9 160 GB Drive x 2
NEC ND-3540
Antec P-180
Antec Phantom 500
Typematrix 2030
MX518
Scythe Ninja
Nexus 120 MM fan x 4

 

[fierydemise]

As far as I can tell the only difference is the memory clock, the first is clocked at 1100MHz the 2nd at 1076MHz and the 3rd at 1070MHz, the heatsinks also look different but I can't really tell.

 

[CPlusPlusGeek]

1st = best

 

[sgentry6]

That is what I thought, just odd that it is $30 less than the other two.

Should that card suit my gaming needs and give me pretty good AA performance @ 1280 * 1024?

Or should I bump to a 7800 GTX or to an ATI product?

I know most of you hate ATi products, but they usually offer strong AA performance from what I have seen.

 

[mempf]

The first one the 256-P2-N517-AX is the eVGA 7800GT CO edition, basicly its got the higher clock speeds (Core=470, Mem=1100) and the heatsink is made of copper and has the 7800GTX fan on it. Basicly the first one is the best, however there is no reason why it's cheaper besides newegg dident update the prices on the other 2

 

[tuteja1986]

2nd one having BF2 !

 

[sgentry6]

TTT

Should that card suit my gaming needs and give me pretty good AA performance @ 1280 * 1024?

Or should I bump to a 7800 GTX or to an ATI product?

I know most of you hate ATi products, but they usually offer strong AA performance from what I have seen.

Still looking to have these questions answered.

 

[The Green Bean]

7800GT is enough for most games (except F.E.A.R)

 

[jlin123456us]

i just order the evga 7800gt 4700/1100 this week. i check a lot of review it is not far by 7800gtx.
check this review
nullhttp://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/evga_e-geforce_7800_gt_co_edition_review/

 

[sgentry6]

Well I decided. I went with the eVGA 7800 GTX. It is overkill for the monitor that I currently have, but a monitor upgrade is not out of the question. I will just have to wait for another Dell deal on the 2005 or 2405, or maybe even one of the new Gateway monitors. I will be extremely happy with this build.

X2 3800+ Toledo
LP UT nF4 SLI-DR
eVGA 7800 GTX
OCZ Platinum (2x1GB)
Seagate 7200.9 160 GB Drive x 2
NEC ND-3540
Antec P-180
Antec Phantom 500
Typematrix 2030
MX518
Scythe Ninja
Nexus 120 MM fan x 4

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: sgentry6
Well I decided. I went with the eVGA 7800 GTX. It is overkill for the monitor that I currently have, but a monitor upgrade is not out of the question. I will just have to wait for another Dell deal on the 2005 or 2405, or maybe even one of the new Gateway monitors. I will be extremely happy with this build.

X2 3800+ Toledo
LP UT nF4 SLI-DR
eVGA 7800 GTX
OCZ Platinum (2x1GB)
Seagate 7200.9 160 GB Drive x 2
NEC ND-3540
Antec P-180
Antec Phantom 500
Typematrix 2030
MX518
Scythe Ninja
Nexus 120 MM fan x 4

Second link points to an MX4000. Please don't get that one.

 

[sgentry6]

link fixed. Looks like they changed their item number due to the free COD 2.

Mute point now though, I decided to go for the GTX.

 

[Sunrise089]

Originally posted by: hatim
7800GT is enough for most games (except F.E.A.R)

I'm not going to call BS, but if F.E.A.R. really can only run well on a GTX, its going to go down as one of the worst selling titles in history.

 

[Cookie Monster]

It will run well, you people just have to remember that this gen card will run latest games at 16x12 at 2xAA and maybe 4xAF at playable settings.

Just like last gen, a 6800 ultra CANT play doom3 at 16x12 4xaa and 8xaf, but it did at 16x12 2xaa 4xaf.

Old games, like last 2 years the GTX/GT will run at settings like 16x12 4xaa 16xaf.
BUT nowadays, graphics are becomnig more instense, more realistic. AS the GPU becomes more powerfuk, graphics will also become more power hogs.

But thats just my 2 cents.