256mb 7800gtx or 2x6800gs?

[SpeedZealot369]

Hi, I really need help on this one, I've been thinking about which one. I think the gtx will yield better results, but having 2 vid card is just bad @$$ no?
Let me know what you guys think.

 

[ItSells]

wait for 7900 gt or the x1900 xt 256mb.

 

[Bull Dog]

Having 2 video cards may seem cool but the reality is that about all the advantages that they provide. And if you are planning on upgrading "NOW", then I'd recommend a X1800XT. Its slightly cheaper, and it performs better in most games.

Granted the XTs are AMIR but still...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814127199 Cheapest X1800XT $399
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814161159 Second Cheapest X1800XT 409.99 (I'd spend the extra $10 bucks and get the HIS becuase I don't like MSI)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814141014 Cheapest 7800GTX $419 Less performance than a stock X1800XT.

 

[SpeedZealot369]

i can get 2 6800gs's for $320

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130267

 

[HomeyFoos]

I've been reading this forum for about 4 mos now and I think I have a pretty good idea of what most will tell you here.

The prevailing sentiment will be to wait. There is always something big coming up just around the corner. The problem is, you have either waited and are ready to buy or you need a part to make your system run.

If you do get advice to purchase, few if any will tell you to buy the 7800GTX 256 because they say the performance difference is not worth the extra cost. And then they will remind you that the next big thing is coming around the corner.

Once this has been covered, they will then tell you to get a 7800GT for now and then upgrade it to SLi soon or in the near future. It would be around $150 more (give or take depending on your vendor and model of choice) to get SLi'd GT's as opposed to GS's.

And, of course, all of the ATI guys will tell you to get an x1800 or x1900 and then try and convince you that problems with the drivers and software don't exist.

(I kid, I kid, these guys are great and will help you with anything, but if you hang around long enough, you know exactly what most people will say )

Personally? I think you should get what you want to get and make sure it's eVGA if you choose Nvidia. If you go dual 6800GS's, you have 90 days to upgrade both of them to whatever you want, including the new GPU coming around the corner. It just makes sense. You spend some money and get to have something new now, and if you are not quite thrilled with your system or you desire more power, they make it easy for you to upgrade direct from the manufacturer. And all the while you can suck as much performance out of those cards as you want and they will warranty any problems provided the board does not fracture.

I have the eVGA 7800GTX 256 and I am THRILLED with it's performance. I looked at the 7800GT and considered SLi, but at the time of my purchase, the drivers for SLi were not great and I didn't want to take the chance of getting anything less than awesome gaming performance. Though it's freaking gigantic, it stays cool (ACS3) and cranks out the FPS. Everything runs on high with no hiccups (though I haven't tried FEAR yet - I hear it will tax it - FarCry, BF2, NFSMW, HL2, GTR, and Battlefront 2 run blown out with no lag). I'm not an eVGA rep, I have only owned one of their products (this one) but I feel very strongly about the value and service I got from them (being able to OC and upgrade). I think this is a great path for anyone caught needing to buy just before the latest and greatest comes out. Also, if any other company would take the lead and one-up eVGA, I would probably be singing their praises too. This stuff is expensive and giving back, even if it's just a little, goes a long way to securing my entertainment dollar.



Good luck,

HomeyFoos

 

[rcllbrg]

^Nice post

 

[Sunrise089]

What display do you run OP? You have a nice card now, but I'm guessing it isn't doing what you want it to. I would advise you to get a 7800GT from eVGA, saving $70 over dual GSs, but that may not be enough of a performance jump. Honestly though, the cheapest GTX is $435, and SLI'd GTs for $500 would be much faster. As would one X1900XT, which is about the same price as SLI'd GTs or less.

Basically - One 7800GT if it's enough power for you, two 6800GS's if you really want that $320 price point, or $500 SLI 7800GTs or single X1900XT. I really don't see the 7800GTX working in terms of price/performance.

EDIT: a real quick look at AT'd FEAR benches shows that with and without AA there is no resolution where the 7800GTX is over 60fps and the 7800GT is below. Of course we all have out own definitions of "playable".

 

[Conky]

Dual videocards are essentially retarded unless you get them for free. You get heat issues, power issues, not to mention monetary issues if you actually have to buy them and then when the next wave of cards come out your dual cards do not even equal one card. Doh! :laugh:

 

[SpeedZealot369]

I guess I can wait, maybe I'll just wait for the new socket and make a whole new pc for myself . What I'm really looking foward to is getting one of those insane widescreens(like 20"+) and play games at super high resolutions. I've seen that in action, it's like a whole other world of gaming.

 

[Sunrise089]

Originally posted by: SpeedZealot369
I guess I can wait, maybe I'll just wait for the new socket and make a whole new pc for myself . What I'm really looking foward to is getting one of those insane widescreens(like 20"+) and play games at super high resolutions. I've seen that in action, it's like a whole other world of gaming.

1 word: FW900. 22.5" screen, 1920x1200 resolution, scaleable, $<400 used.

 

[SpeedZealot369]

sunrise i checked that model and its a crt...

did u make a mistake?

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: Crazyfool
Dual videocards are essentially retarded unless you get them for free. You get heat issues, power issues, not to mention monetary issues if you actually have to buy them and then when the next wave of cards come out your dual cards do not even equal one card. Doh! :laugh:

SLI 6800 Ultras is still a very fast system today...

Its SLIing low end cards that doesnt make sense.

 

[deadseasquirrel]

Originally posted by: Crazyfool
Dual videocards are essentially retarded unless you get them for free. You get heat issues, power issues, not to mention monetary issues if you actually have to buy them and then when the next wave of cards come out your dual cards do not even equal one card. Doh! :laugh:

I've got dual cards in a case that sits on the floor, runs 24x7, under a desk with no ventilation, in central Texas. If there were "heat issues" to worry about, I'd surely have noticed in the last 12 months. As for the "power issues"... anyone that buys 2 video cards but skimps on a $20 PSU deserves whatever power issues that come their way.

SLI 6800GT/U ran for over 7 months without a single-card solution arriving that would even MATCH it, much less beat it (though I don't see that same situation happening again soon). SLI 7800GTs had a good run for several months as a bang-for-buck champ, destroying any video card solution in the $500+ range (until the 1900XT just showed up).

I'm sure we'll see some very competitive Crossfire solutions soon as well.

Dismissing dual-card solutions by calling them "retarded" is a pretty weak evaluation. A better analysis would detail both performance and price, as well as taking into account a dual-card ready mobo and adequate power.

 

[HamidFULL]

Do EVGA 7800GTX 256MB @ 470 1250

 

[Sunrise089]

Originally posted by: SpeedZealot369
sunrise i checked that model and its a crt...

did u make a mistake?

No, I didn't, but I am sorry if I missed you saying you want an LCD. I know for those concerned about weight and space a 100lb CRT isn't the way to go, but you have to admit, that is a LOT of monitor quality, especially in black levels and lack of any ghosting, for the $$$.

 

[Cookie Monster]

FPW3007 2560x1600 maybe you can save up for quad SLI aka Dell xps 600 renegade

But that would be a waste of money. The prices of GTs are falling due to NV wanting to clear all inventory of G70 cores. If you want cards now, 7800GT SLi (GTs can be had for 250 after rebate or even lower).

 

[StrangerGuy]

Get a single 7800GT @ ~$270 then SLI it later for cheap. If not, wait for the 7900 series.