Looking For current most FUTURE PROOF Upgrade

[5150Joker]

If you are worried about future proofing, then X1900XTX AND G71 are worthless for the future since DX10/Vista are around the corner and Crysis (first DX10 game) will be released in November. If you want a future proof card, wait until this summer for R600/G80.

 

[Zebo]

Buy what you need to game now.. will probably most likly be a sinlge card.. future proofing expensive up front and never "future proofs" you as planned becasue the next single card or the next after that comes out trumps your overpriced loud slow dual cards with now no resale..

 

[Ronin]

SLi > Crossfire, BUT X1900XTX > GTX.

Go single card. If you can't wait 3 weeks to a month for a possible better product (there isn't rumors about production problems with the G71, there's rumor, and it's Inq based), that's your choice, but it's pretty silly not to if you're planning on future proofing. You don't buy a freakin card less than a month from a new product launch.

BTW, waiting for a vid card launch is one thing. Those of you waiting for the RD580 are funny.

 

[5150Joker]

Originally posted by: Ronin
SLi > Crossfire, BUT X1900XTX > GTX.

Go single card. If you can't wait 3 weeks to a month for a possible better product (there isn't rumors about production problems with the G71, there's rumor, and it's Inq based), that's your choice, but it's pretty silly not to if you're planning on future proofing. You don't buy a freakin card less than a month from a new product launch.

BTW, waiting for a vid card launch is one thing. Those of you waiting for the RD580 are funny.

It's silly for you to suggest he wait for G71 to future proof when that core will be nothing more than a die shrunk old G70 core with possibly more pipelines added to it. Of course being an nZone moderator and working for nVidia's partner Sony does make you prone to green blinders.

 

[ZOXXO]

BTW, waiting for a vid card launch is one thing. Those of you waiting for the RD580 are funny.

What's the difference between waiting for a gpu and mobo chipset that makes one acceptable and the other funny?

 

[Ronin]

Originally posted by: 5150Joker

Originally posted by: Ronin
SLi > Crossfire, BUT X1900XTX > GTX.

Go single card. If you can't wait 3 weeks to a month for a possible better product (there isn't rumors about production problems with the G71, there's rumor, and it's Inq based), that's your choice, but it's pretty silly not to if you're planning on future proofing. You don't buy a freakin card less than a month from a new product launch.

BTW, waiting for a vid card launch is one thing. Those of you waiting for the RD580 are funny.

It's silly for you to suggest he wait for G71 to future proof when that core will be nothing more than a die shrunk old G70 core with possibly more pipelines added to it. Of course being an nZone moderator and working for nVidia's partner Sony does make you prone to green blinders.

Continue, and you get lumped in with M0RPH. Do not force me to go on a crusade specific to the two of you in finding posts where you specifically post to go after one person. You really don't want me to do that. Stop harassing people, Joker.

 

[Pete]

If the 7900 is 32 pipes and 700MHz, it'd be pretty hard for it not to outpace the X1900, so the issue comes down to price and availability. I'd be pretty surprised to find NV can put out a 700+MHz 32 pipe monster at the same price as ATI's X1900, which seems to be a relatively sensible high-end card (very relative term, but $500 for 512MB and good availability isn't bad).

"Old" as the G70 is, it still kicks ass and trades marketing bullets with R5x0 (e.g., VTF vs. "HDR+AA"). If G71's faster and R580 has nicer IQ, at least we have a choice b/w IHVs, if not settings on a single card.

This thread would worry me WRT future-proofing. Then again, if there's a lesson we've learned time and time again, it's don't get too comfortable with your current resolution and/or video card. And, as 9700P showed us with its shader promise and 6800 with its HDR promise and 7800 with its VTF promise and now X1800 with its branching promise, don't expect too many GPU promises to be filled before the next GPU generation arrives.

I dunno, if G71 is a lot like RSX in PS3, you have to think it'll have some staying power, if only b/c game devs are going to optimize like crazy for it. It's a tougher call with Xenos in the 360, b/c it's probably closer to ATI's next gen than R5x0.

This reply has been brought to you by the word "moot," as the OP appears to have gone with SLIed KOs. Just thought I'd toss some stuff out there.

 

[Elfear]

Don't know if you've already bought the cards or not OP but personally, I'd buy a single X1900XT as others have suggested and than see if performs the way you need it too. There are only a couple games out right now that stress the high-end cards at 1600x1200. FEAR and COD2 are two of the most popular and the X1900XT will outperform SLI'd 256MB 7800GTXs in that game. Hard to say which would be better for UT2007 since it's not here but for modern games the X1900XT seems to be the better choice.

SLI is a better than Crossfire right now, but even with it's hickups, a pair of X1900XTs would perform better than two 256MB 7800GTXs except in a few unplayed titles.

 

[SickBeast]

There is *always* a new card 3 months down the line.

Now is a very good time to buy IMO.

 

[yacoub]

Originally posted by: ZOXXO

BTW, waiting for a vid card launch is one thing. Those of you waiting for the RD580 are funny.

What's the difference between waiting for a gpu and mobo chipset that makes one acceptable and the other funny?

It's made by ATI apparently. ;P

I say get an X1900XT if you're buying today. It will power all the games out there at 16x12 no problem. Just buy one of them. More than enough power.

If you're going to wait, then wait. Either way, a single card solution is more practical and there are single cards out now and coming out soon (G71) that can power 16x12 easy.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: BluePhaze
Ok so Alot of people are telling me to get the x1900xtx in crossfire but I want to hear from people who have actually seen it. I have had issues in the past with ATI drivers so my opinion on them is a bit Biased but I am willing to hear what anyone has to say. The order will be placed in the morning.

What could you possibly even run that requires 1900XT crossfire? :Q

What kind of monitor do you have?

The 1900XT even runs FEAR at 1600x1200, what more could you want?

 

[dev0lution]

Most future proof upgrade = upgrading in the future

 

[SpeedZealot369]

x1900xt, then if the new nvidia card comes out and it's better and you want it, sell your card and buy that one. if you do that pattern(sell and buy newest card) you will always have top of the line.

*edit*

and whats more future proof then that?

 

[BluePhaze]

Thanks for all the input guys! The 7800 GX's had already shipped I found out so not much of a debate anymore. One thing I really liked is the idea. I can probably sell both of them in the near future if the G71 comes out. That should cover atleast 1 aG71 and then I can always spring for another if anything comes out that actually requires it. I am not a fanboy but have always had better experience with nvidia cards. I have owned many from both companies and the ATI cards seem to always be the ones that give me the most issues. For now I will just stick with what I know. Thanks for all the input!

-James

 

[Dethfrumbelo]

Originally posted by: 5150Joker
If you are worried about future proofing, then X1900XTX AND G71 are worthless for the future since DX10/Vista are around the corner and Crysis (first DX10 game) will be released in November. If you want a future proof card, wait until this summer for R600/G80.

You really think either G80 or R600 will be out before fall? If that is indeed the case, then it's probably best to wait for those, if for nothing else than the unified architecture.

 

[whitewarrior11]

Originally posted by: dev0lution
Most future proof upgrade = upgrading in the future

Now, this is definetely my favorite quote in this topic! Obviously, I can't add much to the debate as I am still running a Radeon 9600XT with my "old" Pres-hot I will probably wait a long time before upgrading because I will have to change almost everything in my case (CPU, mobo, video card, even PSU). Anyway, just my 2 cents: looks like the X1900XT is pretty much the best card out there but in any case, I would stick to the quote above