Please Help Guys.... Buying Tonight!

[Blurred Reality]

It's not that Dual GPU isn't an "Option" for me, sorry if I made it out to sound like that. I would just PREFER to get one Graphics card that handles what I need. Like I said, I don't make a ton of money, and inbetween bills and gas and what not, I end up with about $300-500 spending cash every two weeks. So basically, a high end GPU is two weeks spending cash for me, if not slightly more. I would like to not have to make it a month's pay. But if in the future, that's what it requires, I'll look at it then.

3 AM here and I'm still up reading up and looking at the cards, like one poster mentioned, I'm sure I'll get a great card no matter what I go with. Just want to make sure its the best educated decision I can make.

 

[Jules]

Originally posted by: CaiNaM

Originally posted by: MyStupidMouth

Originally posted by: M0RPH

Originally posted by: MyStupidMouth
People who say the ATI 1900 has better IQ, try playing BF2 with a 7900GTX and see how crappy the shadows and the terrain look compared to a x1900xt

You don't make much sense. Is English your first language? Anyway I think you're trying to say that the 1900xt has bad IQ in BF2. I think you're full of it. My ATI card looks great in BF2. There is no blockiness to the shadows as you claimed in your other thread. If you're gonna go around repeating this nonsense in the forum, how about posting some screenshots to back it up? Along with a screenshot to show that you're using the latest Catalyst drivers.

Do you own a 7900gtx and can compare the 2? Then Leave it to PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY OWN IT.

And what are you? the grammar police? Stfu.

why so obnoxious? he has an ati card and doesn't experience the issues you claim (no less valid than those who aren't bothered by "shimmering"). he simply asked for you to share examples of what you're talking about.

certainly did not call for a response like that....

so how about posting some pics and sharing the issues with us?

How about stop being lazy and downloading the demo and see it for yourself?

 

[Kraptor]

Originally posted by: CaiNaM

Originally posted by: MyStupidMouth

Originally posted by: M0RPH

Originally posted by: MyStupidMouth
People who say the ATI 1900 has better IQ, try playing BF2 with a 7900GTX and see how crappy the shadows and the terrain look compared to a x1900xt

You don't make much sense. Is English your first language? Anyway I think you're trying to say that the 1900xt has bad IQ in BF2. I think you're full of it. My ATI card looks great in BF2. There is no blockiness to the shadows as you claimed in your other thread. If you're gonna go around repeating this nonsense in the forum, how about posting some screenshots to back it up? Along with a screenshot to show that you're using the latest Catalyst drivers.

Do you own a 7900gtx and can compare the 2? Then Leave it to PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY OWN IT.

And what are you? the grammar police? Stfu.

why so obnoxious? he has an ati card and doesn't experience the issues you claim (no less valid than those who aren't bothered by "shimmering"). he simply asked for you to share examples of what you're talking about.

certainly did not call for a response like that....

so how about posting some pics and sharing the issues with us?

I think he meant, that nvidia has worse shadows then ati. I switched from a 7800GTx to a 1900XT and there are some diff between the 2. They are mostly noticable when u look at the shadows and nvidia had worse shadow quality then ati in the following games Ive played. FarCry, BF2, BFME2

 

[Cookie Monster]

Someones looking for a quick ticket to vacation..

 

[M0RPH]

Originally posted by: Kraptor

I think he meant, that nvidia has worse shadows then ati. I switched from a 7800GTx to a 1900XT and there are some diff between the 2. They are mostly noticable when u look at the shadows and nvidia had worse shadow quality then ati in the following games Ive played. FarCry, BF2, BFME2

Well it does sound like that's what he's saying but that's because he can't express himself coherently. In fact if you see his other thread, he's actually claiming that the 1900XT is worse. Since he has both cards, I'd like to see him post some screenshots to back up his claims.

 

[M0RPH]

Originally posted by: Cookie Monster
Someones looking for a quick ticket to vacation..

And who would that someone be?

 

[deadseasquirrel]

Originally posted by: Blurred Reality
The above posters are right too, theres a 1900XT on sale on newegg for $434... I could use the extra $70 I save to get another 1GB Ram. (I posted 2GB as my current specs because I'm planning on ordering that tonight as well, along with whatever card...) So for the total of a XTX I could get a XT plus 1GB G.Skill ram.

If you haven't done this already, do it. It looks to me like the best option.

 

[Jules]

Originally posted by: Kraptor

Originally posted by: CaiNaM

Originally posted by: MyStupidMouth

Originally posted by: M0RPH

Originally posted by: MyStupidMouth
People who say the ATI 1900 has better IQ, try playing BF2 with a 7900GTX and see how crappy the shadows and the terrain look compared to a x1900xt

You don't make much sense. Is English your first language? Anyway I think you're trying to say that the 1900xt has bad IQ in BF2. I think you're full of it. My ATI card looks great in BF2. There is no blockiness to the shadows as you claimed in your other thread. If you're gonna go around repeating this nonsense in the forum, how about posting some screenshots to back it up? Along with a screenshot to show that you're using the latest Catalyst drivers.

Do you own a 7900gtx and can compare the 2? Then Leave it to PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY OWN IT.

And what are you? the grammar police? Stfu.

why so obnoxious? he has an ati card and doesn't experience the issues you claim (no less valid than those who aren't bothered by "shimmering"). he simply asked for you to share examples of what you're talking about.

certainly did not call for a response like that....

so how about posting some pics and sharing the issues with us?

I think he meant, that nvidia has worse shadows then ati. I switched from a 7800GTx to a 1900XT and there are some diff between the 2. They are mostly noticable when u look at the shadows and nvidia had worse shadow quality then ati in the following games Ive played. FarCry, BF2, BFME2

Nope and i never talked about a 7800gtx i was talking about a 7900gtx thanks!

 

[Bull Dog]

I would go with the X1900XT(X).

Basically, if you don't mind the extra heat, then the XTX offers:
A smidgen of extra performance with AA on*. (XT offers a ever so small smidgen less performance with with AA on)
Better IQ.
HDR+AA (I just got through playing SS2 with HDR and AA on. For this reason, I wouldn't touch a nVIDIA card with a 10 foot pole now.)

*D3D games only

Here's a question for MyStupidMouth.
Do you have just the BF2 demo or do you own the full game?
If you have just the demo, then how do you know that the (supposed) shadow issue with ATI cards wasn't fixed in the full version of the game?

 

[Jules]

Originally posted by: Bull Dog
I would go with the X1900XT(X).

Basically, if you don't mind the extra heat, then the XTX offers:
A smidgen of extra performance with AA on*. (XT offers a ever so small smidgen less performance with with AA on)
Better IQ.
HDR+AA (I just got through playing SS2 with HDR and AA on. For this reason, I wouldn't touch a nVIDIA card with a 10 foot pole now.)

*D3D games only

Here's a question for MyStupidMouth.
Do you have just the BF2 demo or do you own the full game?
If you have just the demo, then how do you know that the (supposed) shadow issue with ATI cards wasn't fixed in the full version of the game?

full game

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: Kraptor
I think he meant, that nvidia has worse shadows then ati. I switched from a 7800GTx to a 1900XT and there are some diff between the 2. They are mostly noticable when u look at the shadows and nvidia had worse shadow quality then ati in the following games Ive played. FarCry, BF2, BFME2

No he actually said ATI has the worse shadows.

And now we have you saying the shadows on the NVidia cards are worse. So who's right? Or is it subjective like other issues?

 

[tuteja1986]

i was once owned a 7800gtx and i sold it and bought a x1900xtx and i ain't going back to nvidia untill G8X :! i do take a bullet for its IQ and also love AVIVO converter. i do encode alot of video. anyways i recommend wait till oblivion benchmark to see which one is the winner.

About the bf2 shadow :! it was fixed so don't worry about that.

 

[phantom404]

I had 2 EVGA 7800 GTX KOs and I switched to an x1900xt and over clocked it past xtx speeds. I give this round to ATI mostly because of the quality and the features that come with the card. I also have a 2005FPW and I've been able to play everything at their highest settings with no problems ast all.

 

[CaiNaM]

Originally posted by: MyStupidMouth
Nope and i never talked about a 7800gtx i was talking about a 7900gtx thanks!

really doesn't matter as 7800 and 7900 is identical architecture (die shrink and clockspeeds only differences)

Originally posted by: thilan29
No he actually said ATI has the worse shadows.

And now we have you saying the shadows on the NVidia cards are worse. So who's right? Or is it subjective like other issues?

here's a thread discussing the issue with shadows on nvidia cards.

afaik it's never been resolved.

 

[imported_Finny]

My take:

If you are definitely buying tonight, the X1900XT is undoubtedly the champ here. 'Bout equal to the 7900GTX in performance (Varies, but overall, they're about equal), costs over $50 less, and can easily be OC'd to XTX speeds. Not to mention the aforementioned better AA speeds (Although single cards are pretty much stuck at 4xAA regardless) and better AF (Although, TBH, no card does truly "quality" AF, but ATi's solution is better overall). It will be louder, and my previous experiences with CCC (Not that long ago) tend to make me lean away from it, but you can't beat the price-to-performance ratio here.

 

[v8envy]

Originally posted by: Blurred Reality
Not sure why the Shadows would be much better with a 7900GTX compared to a 1900XT. So really I have three choices, 7900GT, 7900GTX, and 1900XT(X). I really hate how there all so similar and with their own advantages and dis-advantages. I just don't want to feel like, whichever I pick up, I went with the wrong one. No room for buyers remorse here !

You're looking at it completely wrong. The cards *ARE* nearly identical with only minor fringe differences, which is why it's not only hard to choose, but also hard to make the 'wrong' choice.

It's been years since both companies had a nearly identical product at the same pricepoints. I would be *so* looking forward to a price war, except that I need a card by the 21th for Oblivion.

My choice is clear -- Nvidia. I've been playing with ATI Linux drivers for my Xpress 200, and oh my god they're awful. Looks like ATI hired a bunch of contractors for a while, made great driver progress and now went back to offshore or interns for driver dev. But for you, whatever choice you make (so long as it's the cheapest choice =) it'll be the right one.

 

[GOREGRINDER]

yeah like others have said,... theres not really a wrong choice if your buying the best of either one

if yer planning on getting into the fps genre,..one may be faster than the other in one game,. but the next game would be the opposite like nvidia would excel in doom3,quake4,serious sam,choronicles of riddick,.and most likely the same with prey.ati would excel in halflife2,farcry,f.e.a.r. blah blah blah you get the idea,.. not that they suck on opposite games,..youll just get a little more of a cherry experience with certain games on certain cards

if it was me,..and i could only have 1 card,and i had to buy it tonite,it most likely would be an x1900xt,but if a dual gpu solution is even a thought then the 7900gtx SLi hands down

 

[RussianSensation]

I'd either get preoverclocked 7900GT or X1900XT. X1900XT performance compares well to 7900 series while costing $50 less. It outperforms Nvidia in shader intensive games like COD2 and FEAR and will most likely pull away as games become more shader intensive. If you play doom3, quake 4, riddick and other OpenGL games, go with the Nvidia card instead. Here is a comparison of X1900XT vs. 7800GTX 512mb which is almost as fast as a stock 7900 GTX 512 card.

February 2006 video review

Either way there are no winners or losers here since both cards provide similar playability factor. ATi has better AF quality and costs $50 less. Those are my reasons for picking it. With that in mind, 7900GT at 550/1600+ and higher seems to be the real value card here. 7900GT XXX in action Definately upgrade to 2 gigs of ram though.

 

[gi0rgi0]

The IQ on the 1900xt(x is very noticably better over the 7800gt I had. Not sure how the 7900's look. And Mystupidmouth you keep bringing up BF2 . That game is sh!t, and I would not use that game to base
anything off of.

 

[Vesper8]

i'm in the exact same boat as you

i actually placed an order on a superclocked evga 7900gtx.. but now it's on backorder till last week of march

so i'm about to cancel that order.. and i'm leaning towards a sapphire x1900xtx oem for 610$ CDN (on ebay)

the only thing that bothered me and made my choice a hard one was the heat and noise that the XTX are supposed to make. that and the higher price.. but as it turns out.. the oem XTX is actually cheaper than the 7900gtx i was buying so that settles that

 

[KeepItRed]

Originally posted by: Elfear
After having played with the 7800 series (which is basically just a less powerful 7900 series) and the X1900 series, I 'd have to give the nod to ATI's solution this round. My reasons are these:

1) Better IQ
2) Less hit enabling AA in most cases
3) Easier to oc
4) Faster in the games that I play
5) HDR+AA (some people like this some don't, I really think it's a plus though after playing a few games with that option.)

I switched from two 7800GTs@550/1300 for my current X1900XT and I'm very happy about the decision.

 

[Reznick]

I just replaced my 6800GT with the X1900XT. Don't think the additional cost of the XTX is worth it, esp. if you want to OC the card a tad. I went with the ATI after seeing the 7900's. Comparable cost for performance, so the better AA and slightly better image quality with ATI helped me make the decision.

The difference between the 6800GT and the X1900XT? All I can say is, Oh My God...

 

[GOREGRINDER]

Originally posted by: Reznick

The difference between the 6800GT and the X1900XT? All I can say is, Oh My God...

hahah,.. ill bet,like goin from a skateboard to a car at this point in time

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: GOREGRINDER

Originally posted by: Reznick

The difference between the 6800GT and the X1900XT? All I can say is, Oh My God...

hahah,.. ill bet,like goin from a skateboard to a car at this point in time

That's sad. I've got a 6800GT.

 

[Zebo]

I sick of nV's poor IQ... basically they cheat you on image to make their cards seems as fast and don't even give you the option to make look as good as ATI cards.. OTOH I would never install microsofts .net or ATI's bloated drivers in my system.

nV pros:
price
drivers
good speed
cool
low power

Ati pros
fast, especially in forward looking titles
look good doing fast

Persoanlly if I had to buy a vcard right now I'd get a $299 7900GT because it's an awesome bang for buck for overclockers being full 24 pipe card like it's more expensive brother.