2900xt goes on Sale - $320 at Best Buy [ooS now]

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BFG10K

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
22,709
2,995
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i didn't think so from what i read at MS ... i will look it up later ... i thought there was another option to keep DEP
Nope, in order to use hardware DEP the processor must be running in PAE mode.

and there are very [very] few dial-up modems that work with Vista
Just install a generic modem driver and it should work.

fortunately i CAN connect to the net .. and i found a new item
With your modem? Then why do you need drivers for it?
 

Keysplayr

Elite Member
Jan 16, 2003
21,209
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Well, I have HL2 -w- Lost Coast installed. And CS:Source for the stress test. What the heck right?
Apoppin, once you get settled and "stable" with everything, we need to equalize our rigs speed and I have several tests we can use to do this. After we get as close of a score to each other as possible, we can present those scores here in the forum. This is to satisfy everyone here that one rig or the other does not have an advantage/disadvantage in performance MINUS the graphics card. These tests are all CPU. Once everyone is satisfied that one does not have an unfair advantage over the other, we will then submit all our hardware, driver specs and software. Once everyone is satisfied with them and agree amongst themselves, we can proceed with graphics benches.

This has to be done in stages like this. It prevents crying later on from either side. And we need to hear from everyone possible.
I don't want to hear later on, "But apoppin used an older driver, or Keys didn't have the right chipset driver for his mobo, YADDA YADDA YADDA. This will be a one size fits all "shutup bench". It is what it is. Done. :)
 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
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alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: BFG10K
i didn't think so from what i read at MS ... i will look it up later ... i thought there was another option to keep DEP
Nope, in order to use hardware DEP the processor must be running in PAE mode.

and there are very [very] few dial-up modems that work with Vista
Just install a generic modem driver and it should work.

fortunately i CAN connect to the net .. and i found a new item
With your modem? Then why do you need drivers for it?

i have DEP but not PAE ... so i dunno

nope NO drivers for my dial-up modem work with Vista ... generic doesn't connect using Vista ... but my "vista certified" $8 Modem arrives Tuesday .. so no biggie

right NOW i am connecting thru Win2K on my back-up ide HD ... at 6x4 resolution ... i can't even answer PMs ... no button is visible ... it is a huge PitA but i transfer files back and forth to my Vista installation so it is being updated and applications installed

and G-D-it the HD2900xt by VisionTek is quieter then my x1950p - even under load

i KNOW ... i don't even have a CPU fan running [just my OCZ] ... and i hope that is the reason i can only get 2.43Ghz outta my OC at stock voltage ... my ASrock did better at 2.82 ... admittedly, the stock intel HS had a fan .... technically the Thermalright can get by without it ... but tomorrow i get my 120MM Scythe to cool her down

ANYWAY, i ran 3DMark06 ... at first i was disappointed till realized it ran as well as 3DMark05 ran on my x1950p ... stock ... my e4300@1.8Ghz got 7934 so waay held back by my CPU

at 2.43 Ghz it came alive with 9583 in 3DMark06 ... compare to 5300 with my x1950p running with a faster CPU OC ... significantly more of an upgrade than from my x850xt to 1950p


just checking out the scenes - especially in the Frozen zone, the AA was a LOT better than with my x1950p although there was a tendency for "texture crawl" in a couple of places

so far ... what can i say?
--it seems to be "in line" i guess

tomorrow i will OC the CPU, stick in the really fast PC8500 RAM and go for it!

unfortunately - till i get those two extra pins into the 8-pin pciE power connector, i am stuck at stock HD2900xt speeds - core reads as 507 and vRAM as 514[x2] ... i wonder how far she will OC
 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
1
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alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: mruffin75
So are you happy with the 2900XT so far? going to sell it again?

i don't know ... i haven't played a single game other than "3DMark06" ... i will put the rest of my rig together tonight [CPU cooling's fan/PC2-8500/dial-up modem] ... so i haven't tapped its potential yet [hoping for over 3 Ghz]

i am *guessing* that 3DMark06 9600 is pretty good for my system ... considering that my even more OC'd CPU only got 5300 with my x1950p/512 ... and HD2900xt showed a healthy increase going from 8000 with my CPU at 1.8G to 9500 at 2.43 Ghz.

it is *quiet* ... at least my VT is ... so ... unless it turns out slower than Key's GTS ... it seems a good deal for $320 ... and of course i will need to OC it ... what - just more power from the molex connectors into the 'plus' and 'minus' of the "extra" two holes, right?

again ... bear with me ... anyone trying to PM me will not get a reply until i set up dialup on Vista ... and i will not be able to really [finally] complete my installation until i get my modem ... probably tomorrow [it actually got sent out yesterday from Newegg]
 

nullpointerus

Golden Member
Apr 17, 2003
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Originally posted by: apoppin
unfortunately - till i get those two extra pins into the 8-pin pciE power connector, i am stuck at stock HD2900xt speeds - core reads as 507 and vRAM as 514[x2] ... i wonder how far she will OC

Download the AMD GPU Clock Tool if you want to do some overclocking with 2x 6-pin PCIe.
 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
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alienbabeltech.com
Download the AMD GPU Clock Tool if you want to do some overclocking with 2x 6-pin PCIe.

thank-you! ... keep those suggestions coming

according to one thread's post - forgot who's - all i need to do is supply power to the "extra" two pins from a molex connector ... of course i want to be sure ... i think i can find it.

is 9600 "about right" for 3DMark06 with a 2.4G C2D ? ... just from watching the scenes in 3DMark06, HD2900xt appears to be "twice more powerful" than my x1950p ... i am SO looking forward to STALKER - especially considering it never dropped below 30 FPS with my x1950p and all in-game settings completely maxed out.

i am heading to work ... if you guys can suggest other benchmarking tools, etc. ... it would be best for me to plan to do them now [considering how long it takes]

AND ... ****PLEASE**** those of you sending me PMs ... i *can't reply* ... there is NO reply button at 4x6 ... use my e-mail for today and tomorrow - apoppn@netzero.net

of course, there are some PMs i'd rather ignore ... i now have the best "excuse"
:p
 

Keysplayr

Elite Member
Jan 16, 2003
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9600 is not bad at all considering the cards clocks are stock and your CPU is at 2.43GHz. With my CPU at 2.8GHz and my GTS clocked at 600/1800 I was just under 11000 in 3D06. All my stuff is stock speeds right now and has been since I got it. Just o/c'd that one time to see what the stuff could do (in moderation, as I didn't push anything further than those clocks).

320.00 is a great deal. As long as AMD can fix those few games where the 2900XT scores lower than a X1950XT, and I hope they do, you got a great deal. I paid 339.00 for my GTS after rebate. So I had a decent deal as well.

PM me when you have the ability, and I'll hook you up with all of the platform test links.
 

nullpointerus

Golden Member
Apr 17, 2003
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Originally posted by: apoppin
according to one thread's post - forgot who's - all i need to do is supply power to the "extra" two pins from a molex connector ... of course i want to be sure ... i think i can find it.

I've read in several places that those two pins are ground wires. The thread containing confirmation was one of those "My hd2900xt came today" threads. Someone reported successfully overclocking in CCC after connecting a modded a molex connector w/ 2 ground wires (i.e. total: 6-pin + 6-pin + modded 2-pin ground).
 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
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alienbabeltech.com
thanks, guys!

i will check in later ... hopefully with a completed rig
... curious .... Keys, what is your 3DMark06 score with your GPU at stock ... and ... what are you keeping your CPU at - stock? i need to "equalize" with my CPU's OC keeping in mind it has 1/2 the L2 cache of yours.

and i'm off to actually PAY for this new stuff
[ ... work
 

Keysplayr

Elite Member
Jan 16, 2003
21,209
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Originally posted by: apoppin
thanks, guys!

i will check in later ... hopefully with a completed rig
... curious .... Keys, what is your 3DMark06 score with your GPU at stock ... and ... what are you keeping your CPU at - stock? i need to "equalize" with my CPU's OC keeping in mind it has 1/2 the L2 cache of yours.

and i'm off to actually PAY for this new stuff
[ ... work

I'll run 3D06 again later this afternoon just for a goof. Cause you know we can't use 3DMark anything to compare benches these days. PCMark, the latest one, is one of the tools we can use to equalize the rigs. Yes, you have a 2MB cache deficit and also a slower stock fsb. It would probably be easier for me just to stay stock at 2.13GHz and let you keep edging up your rig til it equals mine. It's not going to be easy. Some games benefit from more L2 and others could care less. Lots of trial and error here til we get it as close as possible.

Ok, ran it again at all stock.
CPU 2.13GHz
GPU 500/1600
3D06 score: 8375
 

Keysplayr

Elite Member
Jan 16, 2003
21,209
50
91
Originally posted by: swtethan
So you dont have any 8 pin connectors? PS's arent future proof either ;)

I am actually a bit "stymied" that the card did not come with the proper adapters for the 6-pin and 8-pin connectors. My GTS came with an adapter from molex to PCI-e 6-pin although I did not need it since my PSU has two of them already. Unless it was a white box special, I can't understand why proper adapters were not included. AFAIK, this was a retail box purchase yes?
 

ND40oz

Golden Member
Jul 31, 2004
1,264
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86
Mine did not come with the adaptor either, seems like Visiontek doesn't include them. You can just ground the extra ground pin and it will unlock the overclocking options in the catalyst drivers. Personally, I just ordered a new power supply since i'd need it anyway to drive two of them.
 

ArchAngel777

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2000
5,223
61
91
Well, as I was looking at the hot deals, a good decent 8800GTS was on sale at BB. So, I picked it up. I am not sure I really needed it, but the price was right. Fre shipping, so if I change my mind, back to BB it goes with my full refund. Actually, I think BB does not charge restocking, so maybe I will try it out and if I absolutely don't think the card is that great, back to BB it goes for a full refund! I normally dislike peopole who open things and return them, but with a big purchase, having that option is important. Plus, it is only the abusers that I dislike... Not that I have any love to BB or what not, because all retailers can go to hell :p
 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
1
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alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: swtethan
So you dont have any 8 pin connectors? PS's arent future proof either ;)

not yet ... i have plenty of power for a HD2900xt OC ... however, if i really want HD2900xt X-fire, then i will need a 'booster' PS ... because i'd like to OC them also

there is *always* a way to make things work
... except UPS ... it didn't arrive today ... there's always tomorrow... i still have lots of D/L'ing to do ... PCMark, huh?

============
Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

I'll run 3D06 again later this afternoon just for a goof. Cause you know we can't use 3DMark anything to compare benches these days. PCMark, the latest one, is one of the tools we can use to equalize the rigs. Yes, you have a 2MB cache deficit and also a slower stock fsb. It would probably be easier for me just to stay stock at 2.13GHz and let you keep edging up your rig til it equals mine. It's not going to be easy. Some games benefit from more L2 and others could care less. Lots of trial and error here til we get it as close as possible.

Ok, ran it again at all stock.
CPU 2.13GHz
GPU 500/1600
3D06 score: 8375
From nearly 11K down to 8300 !!
i'd say your CPU is a bottleneck for your GTS -- almost as bad as mine at 1.8G stock - 7934 to 9583 at 2.43Ghz ... i'd suggest that we try to get the highest CPU OC we can manage and try to "equalize" our rigs from there ... leave the GPUs at stock speeds .. --at least for the first round of testing.
(did i just say "first" round? :p)

of course we can use the CPU scores in 3DMark06 to help also and tract our changes
... anyway, until i add a Fan to my HS, i am not getting so good of an OC.
 

ArchAngel777

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2000
5,223
61
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Can't wait to see the numbers...

Assuming I keep my GTS, what is a good price to sell my 7800GTX (256mb) for? I was thinking $100 flat. Am I out of the ballpark? ! ! !

BenchZowner has a REALLY good comparison over the CPU limitation. Just make sure you guys choose settings that include equal AA/AF and at 1400 X 900 or whatever, you will eliminate the any CPU bottleneck down within the standard margin of error.

I'll be honest, I don't even CARE how close you guys get the CPU to each other, because frankly, unless you are using 3dMark, that should not matter much at all. Unless you guys go old school and run 640 X 480 or what not... Again, let me get the link (will edit for link) that shows a good review on what is CPU limited and what is not... Pretty awesome review.

CPU SCALING WITH 8800GTX!!!

Go there and see this very thorough review. In short, 1280 X 1024 4X/16X AA/AF has a very minimul performance difference and that is with a GTX, the results would be even closer in a GTS/2900XT.

Their "conclusion"

Congratulations!
You've reached the last page of this article ( yep, we can hear you saying "finally, the last page!" ).
From what we've experienced during the making of this Hardware Article, we can finally say that upgrading or overclocking a modern processor ( like the Intel Core 2 Duo & Core 2 Quad series ) will grant you none to minimal performance gains when using a display resolution of 1280x1024 pixels & over in combination with Anti-Aliasing & Anisotropic Filtering ( over 4x ) with your GeForce 8800GTX powered gaming system.
If you're gaming in 1024x768 or 1280x1024 without or with 2x/4x filtering you will benefit ( how much ? depends on the processor performance margin & the game itself ) at some point ( considering that every single game is more than playable at these resolutions with the GeForce 8800GTX, getting 10 more FPS out of your processor ain't bad ).
However I can't see myself a point in gaming at 1024x768 with a modern system, especially when powered by a high end graphics card like the eVGA GeForce 8800GTX.
 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
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alienbabeltech.com
well, to be fair ... we do want to get as close as possible to keep the GPU the main factor that is getting tested, not the CPU and sub systems

Anyway, i think it will be 'close enough' as you review shows

ANd i am now GLAD i got Vista 32-bit ... PCMark05 won't even run on the 64-bit version

64 bit is finally gonna be mainstream way after QuadCore ... when intel gives a crap ... not AMD ... unless Barcelona IS all 'that' and then 'some'

and Best Buy doesn't charge a restocking fee if everything is "perfect" ... at least not at the B&M ... but they do refuse the right to exchange it at all ... o be careful. Since i got mine for cheap, i can sell it for what i paid for it and doubt if i will refund it.

i dunno ArchAngel777, look in FS/T to see what other 7800GTXes are going for ... those guys are cheap [cheap] cheap ... which Version did you get? 640M for $316, was it? good deal
 

ArchAngel777

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2000
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Originally posted by: apoppin
and Best Buy doesn't charge a restocking fee if everything is "perfect" ... at least not at the B&M ... but they do refuse the right to exchange it at all ... o be careful. Since i got mine for cheap, i can sell it for what i paid for it and doubt if i will refund it.

i dunno ArchAngel777, look in FS/T to see what other 7800GTXes are going for ... those guys are cheap [cheap] cheap ... which Version did you get? 640M for $316, was it? good deal

I am not worried about an exchange, more so a return. I am not even sure I would open it up if I knew before.

I honestly don't like selling things to people, mostly because I am always scared someone will try and scam me. Even people I work with. For instance, I sold me Xbox 360 Premium to a guy at work. I kept it in meticulous condition, perfectly brand new. Sold it, 2 controllers and 3 games for $350, which was a good deal for him, but I still didn't like the idea of selling it to him. What if it breaks or something 2 weeks after he has it? Is he going to try and get his money back? I dunno... Plus I worry about the idiots that don't know how to handle computer parts properly, or try and O/C it or remove the heatsink and install an incorrect one and claim it was "DoA"... I guess I don't trust people that much. No idea why, but I am one suspicious SOB about EVERYTHING in life. Always looking for the "catch". Anyway, didn't mean to go off on tangent...

As for the version I purchased, Yes the 640m. The 320mb version is pathetic IMO. A major mistake for anyone who purchased one that planned to keep it for a few years. Future games are gonna kill it and kiss away AA/AF on the card. I am sure I am gonna get reamed for saying it. Sorry, I think the 320mb is a step in the wrong direction for anyone with a 7800GTX or newer. Even if you run low resolution, you probably won't be able to run much AA/AF since that eats up memory... agian, don't mean to go off... I did get the 640 version!!! It is also the super clocked one at 580/1700. So, it should be a good deal faster than stock, and I bet I can O/C to *maybe* 600 or so, or whatever speed increase the shader clock. Ok, enough ramble and I just know I am gonna get tore a new one for my comments about the 320mb.




 

Keysplayr

Elite Member
Jan 16, 2003
21,209
50
91
ArchAngel, I agree with you 100%! You know it, and I know it. But if we don't equalize the rigs "first", this will give ammunition for those people trying to discredit our little review here if they don't like the way it turns out. If we take our time, and do it "right", I have feeling all of us in here will be quite satisfied.

 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
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alienbabeltech.com
well, if i took good care of my HW .... and i usually do ... then i have no problem with selling it ... it is understood that what you buy or sell on FS/T is "as is" ... exactly like when you sell or buy a used car.

And although i would go for the 640MB version of the GTS, the 320MB version is no slouch either ... it depends at what resolution you game at, what details you like and how long you are gonna keep it

--and only a few hours left to go on D/Ling PCMark05
 

ND40oz

Golden Member
Jul 31, 2004
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What speed are you guys going to run your Core 2 Duos at? What tests as well, I'd like to give them a run as well if you don't mind.
 

Keysplayr

Elite Member
Jan 16, 2003
21,209
50
91
Originally posted by: apoppin
well, if i took good care of my HW .... and i usually do ... then i have no problem with selling it ... it is understood that what you buy or sell on FS/T is "as is" ... exactly like when you sell or buy a used car.

And although i would go for the 640MB version of the GTS, the 320MB version is no slouch either ... it depends at what resolution you game at, what details you like and how long you are gonna keep it

--and only a few hours left to go on D/Ling PCMark05

Damn. I hope you get wireless sooner than later. hehe.

I installed Far Cry, and I also found my copy of Vampire the Masquerade - Bloodlines. You still have yours?

 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
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alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: ND40oz
What speed are you guys going to run your Core 2 Duos at? What tests as well, I'd like to give them a run as well if you don't mind.

i don't know what speed my e4300 will reach in my new MB ... i had it at 2.82Ghz in my ASrock DualVSTA ... in my Gigabyte GA-P35-DSP, in can only get 2.43 Ghz ... but then i am now using a Thermalright Cooler HS without a fan [the 120mm Scythe hasn't arrived yet] ... so it is pretty held back by cooling at the moment

and intel's TAT does work with 32-bit Vista ... you need to start it with Admin privilieges, that's all

as to the tests ... i guess standard game benchmarks ... i dunno ...

how ARE we going to do the same benches, Keys?