Opinions on the Gainward 5950 Ultra

[mjolnir2k]

Hi All,
Just wondering if anyone has any opinions about the performance of the 5950 Ultra GPU. I am currently running a GF4 ti4400 128MB and have a Gainward 5950 Ultra 256mb on the way to me.

Test benches I have read suggest that it's on par w/ the high end ATI offerings (9800 pro) but I am mostly wondering if anyone has done the switch from a GF 4 ti card to this one and what type of performance upgrade I can expect (playing games like doom 3 etc).

Just curious as I am killing time until the card gets here at weeks end.

Thanks in advance.

 

[eVaoVe]

"Test benches I have read suggest that it's on par w/ the high end ATI offerings (9800 Pro)" If its on par why not just buy a 9800 Pro, its horrible at shader intensive games, and it can't even run DirectX 9 in Half-Life 2 / Counter-Strike Source.

 

[mjolnir2k]

why, because I got a great deal on the 5950 Ultra (a LOT less than a 9800 Pro).

So are you saying that the 5950U can't utilize DX 9.0 correctly in general or just on the specified games you listed?

 

[nitromullet]

The FX 5950 can run DX9 correctly, but not as quickly as ATi cards from the same generation. Consequently, Valve has decided to force the FX series to run DX8 instead of DX9 in HL2/CS Source. The FX series is generally not regarded very highly in terms of DX9 performance. That being said, the FX cards are still not bad cards by any means, and if you got one at a steal, you will be most pleased.

Edit: Not sure how much you paid, but I don't think I would be willing to spend more than $175 shipped on an FX 5950 at this point. I know this isn't the going rate for this card at the moment, but it should be. The 9800 Pro comes in at about $200, and the just launched GeForce 6600GT has an MSRP at $200 as well.

 

[mjolnir2k]

Gotcha.

Thanks for the reply. I couldn't pass up the deal and it seemed like the 5950 Ultra would get me through a year or two without me having to upgrade.

Heck, I am on year TWO with my GF4 ti4400 and it's still running like a champ! Best card I have ever purchased (to date).

Just hoping to see a decent jump in FPS with the 5950 on games like Doom 3. My GF4 will run D3, just not with all the goodies turned on.

 

[mjolnir2k]

Originally posted by: nitromullet
Edit: Not sure how much you paid, but I don't think I would be willing to spend more than $175 shipped on an FX 5950 at this point.

pretty close just a tad under..and factor in selling off my GF 4 Ti for around $75 or so, this will really be a bargain.

Oh, last question...is there REALLY a big deal with 256MB v 128MB on the Card?

The 5950 U has 256MB, but I am not sure if that will give any true performance advantage as opposed to the performance increase of the 500/1000 core/memory on the 5950 vs. the 300/600 on the GF4 ti

 

[nitromullet]

I wouldn't say it's a really big deal, but more memory never killed anyone...

BTW, you can't compare like this...

500/1000 core/memory on the 5950 vs. the 300/600 on the GF4 ti

The FX series and Ti's are completely different architectures.

 

[eVaoVe]

Don't believe so, the 5950 is too slow to utilize the 256mb of ram, or so I've heard.

 

[ronnn]

It will be a nice upgrade.